Topic: How To Invest

What are your thoughts on Aura Minerals? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Aura Minerals, $2.18, symbol ORA on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 200.2 million; Market cap: $545.6 million; www.auraminerals.com), owns the San Andres gold mine in Honduras, and the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil. Aura also owns the Aranzazu copper/gold/silver mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. This mine started up on February 1, 2011. The company’s other assets include the advanced-stage Serrote copper/gold/iron ore deposit at the Arapiraca project in Brazil. In the three months ended December 31, 2010, Aura earned $0.01 a share before one-time items, and produced 44,440 ounces of gold. At the end of 2010, the company’s total debt was $64.2 million, or just 10.4% of its market cap. It held cash of $36.5 million, or $0.18 a share. Aura’s cost of production is a high $887 U.S. an ounce; that has held back the company’s earnings. However, its production will likely rise 67% in 2011, to 205,000 ounces from 138,000 ounces in 2010. Aura also aims to cut its…