Topic: Mining Stocks

New mine in Argentina gives Yamana Gold strong growth prospects

Gold Bars Stock Photo

YAMANA GOLD (Toronto symbol YRI; www.yamana.com) owns eight operating gold mines in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. It also holds a 12.5% stake in the Alumbrera copper/gold mine in Argentina and has a number of other properties in advanced stages of development.

In the quarter ended March 31, 2013, Yamana’s revenue fell 4.4%, to $534.9 million from $559.7 million a year earlier (all figures except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Gold production rose, but prices for gold, as well as copper and silver, which are both significant by-products of Yamana’s gold mining, dropped. Cash flow per share fell 3.3%, to $0.29 from $0.30.

Yamana held a high cash balance of $342.6 million, or $0.46 a share, on March 31. Its $860.5 million of debt is just 10.6% of its market cap. The shares yield 2.5%.

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Gold stocks: Cerro Morro carries political risk but with promise of 2.4 million ounces of gold

The company is conducting a feasibility study on its advanced-stage Cerro Moro project in Argentina, which holds as much as 2.4 million ounces of gold. Yamana bought Cerro Moro from Extorre Gold for $404 million U.S. last year. It hopes to start up a mine as early as 2016.

Cerro Morro carries above-average political risk. Argentina nationalized the Argentine oil unit of Spanish energy firm Repsol last year, and investors are concerned about similar moves in the mining industry. However, Yamana got a bargain, and it already operates one mine in Argentina.

The company will likely produce over 1.44 million ounces of gold this year, up 20.0% from 1.20 million ounces in 2012.

In the latest edition of Stock Pickers Digest, we look at Yamana’s prospects for success with its Cerro Morro mine and whether the company can count on significant production from the mine within the next four years. We conclude with our clear buy-hold-sell advice on this stock.

(Note: If you are a current subscriber to Stock Pickers Digest, please click here to view Pat’s recommendation. Be sure to log in first.)

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