Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: I’d like to know what you think of First Quantum Minerals. They are in the process of acquiring Lumina Copper, which I own. As always, thank for your valuable input.

Article Excerpt

First Quantum Minerals, $24.72, symbol FM on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 590.8 million; Market cap: $14.6 billion; www.first-quantum.com), became Canada’s biggest copper producer after its April 2013 acquisition of Inmet Mining. The company now operates seven mines and five development projects worldwide. It produces copper, nickel, gold, zinc and platinum group metals. The Inmet acquisition included the Cobre Panama copper project in Panama. Inmet had estimated a cost of $6.4 billion to build an open-pit mine at the site. However, First Quantum believes it can do so faster and cheaper than Inmet’s estimates. Planning is now underway, and first production could come as soon as 2017. In the three months ended June 30, 2014, First Quantum’s revenue rose 8.7%, to $945.1 million from $869.3 million a year earlier (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Earnings per share gained 27.8%, to $0.23 from $0.18. First Quantum borrowed about half the $5 billion it paid for Inmet. Its debt now stands at…