Any time you see double-digit yield, you have to be concerned that the market is indicating things. At today’s strip price, nobody is safe. This company made the dividend cut and felt it was right sized for at least the next couple of quarters to see where prices go. They probably have to look at their dividend again in mid-2016 if we are still sub-$50 oil.
The only issue is that they have missed the last few quarters. Have gone through a crucial buildout phase where a couple of mines are ramping up, which is significant for their growth profile. It should go from about 2.9 million ounces to about 3.4 million in the next 18 months. This is a big growth producer.
The largest reason for this doing so poorly is that zinc prices are down about 25% year to date. Although they have a great outlook for growth, they will probably double production in the next year with Caribou starting up, to complement what they have in Peru. Right now the commodity is trading towards breakeven territory on an all-in basis, and not something that attracts the market. An issue overhanging zinc is the Glencore probably putting metal into the market to try and deleverage its balance sheet. Zinc will probably be his favourite commodity going into the latter half of 2016.
Downgraded to junk status recently. Involved with Fort Hills, which is the big cap spend they have through to 2017. Debt is not a big concern. They are in the met coal-copper space, and neither looks enticing, especially met coal. M&A is on the back burner and they want to focus on getting Fort Hills across the line and manage their debt.
CEO indicated he wished they had raised more equity when they did the Aurora transaction, which got them their move into the Eagleford in the US. This saddled them with above average debt to cash flow at a time when nobody anticipated oil did what it did. Although it is a great asset it is non-operated, so not as attractive.
A name that was painful to be in earlier this year until they did their cut in August. There has been a relatively good response since then. A great light oil, high margin producer focused in Saskatchewan. Balance sheet has been right sized with a cut in the dividend. He thinks they can maintain a 100% payout. If oil stays where it is for another 6-9 months, everyone will be susceptible to having to make some cuts. One of the “go to” names if you are looking for a large, liquid light oil producer that can give you some upside. Fairly well hedged at about 35% in 2016, near the $85 US per barrel range.
A copper leveraged name. Have had its teething pains in terms of crushing issues, throughput issues and secondary crusher decision outstanding, so it is not an easy one to get your hands around. Feels they are treading around the breakeven point with copper prices in the $2.30-$2.40 a pound range. Debt is high, but a lot of it is with their partner Mitsubishi, which provides some protection. He wouldn’t recommend this.
Markets. He is starting to see the US turn over, which was a very important part of the supply chain that we needed to see start to slow down. Starting to see growth going negative. The only thing that is a question is OPEC increasing their supply. That has really offset the benefits of the US. He is looking for a balance point of $60-$65 US a barrel in 2016. Sees oils improving in the 1st half of 2016.Has been telling clients who are in oil already, to try to high grade. Take those losses which can be valuable in the future as you create some gains from some new positions, and high grade into companies with the right balance sheets, assets that can continue to generate returns. If you can start layering in positions in October and working your way through January, you’ll start to see some better strength going into the latter half of the 1st half of 2016.