‘Best-in-Class’ Miner Upgraded on Anticipated Production, Cash Flow Increases

Source: Streetwise Reports 05/31/2018

Andrew Kaip, a BMO Capital Markets analyst, provided the outlook for this Canadian, growth-focused gold producer and the rationale for the updated metrics.

In a May 29 research report, analyst Andrew Kaip indicated that BMO Capital Markets upgraded Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM:TSX; AEM:NYSE) to Outperform from Market Perform and raised its target price on the miner to US$55 from US$47 per share. This compares to US$44.97, the price at which the company’s shares are currently trading.

Kaip outlined the following five reasons for the upward revisions on Agnico Eagle, a company BMO considers “Best in Class.”

1. Production to Increase: BMO expects Agnico Eagle to grow production by about 30% between 2018 and 2020 from its core assets, including Meliadine where a mine is under construction. The miner should consistently produce about 2 million ounces per year between 2020 and 2025.

2. Pipeline is Robust: Agnico Eagle “has identified a number of potential opportunities at existing operations to enhance its production profile in 2019 to 2022 and early-stage opportunities for production growth beyond 2022,” reported Kaip.

3. Management Team Delivers: Agnico Eagle consistently meets its targets and has actually exceeded its production and cash cost estimates for the past six years. This trend of surpassing the targets is what differentiates Agnico from the other best-in-class companies that routinely meet their guidance.

4. Jurisdictions are Favorable: The countries and regions in which Agnico Eagle operates are generally “stable” and “subject to lower political risk,” noted Kaip. “Approximately 80% of our project net present value for the company resides within Canada.”

5. Balance Sheet to Strengthen: Following the near-term period of high capital outlay and project execution, Agnico Eagle’s cash flow should “increase materially,” said Kaip. In fact, the company is expected to pursue ways to boost its dividend and lower its debt.

Kaip concluded the report by noting that Agnico’s forecasted increase in production and free cash flow should “translate into an improving balance sheet, the potential for increased dividends and the company setting the stage for its next leg of growth.”

Want to read more Gold Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you’ll learn when new articles have been published. To see a list of recent articles and interviews with industry analysts and commentators, visit our Streetwise Interviews page.

Disclosure:
1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports’ terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.

Disclosures from BMO Capital Markets, Agnico Eagle Mines, May 29, 2018

Analyst’s Certification: I, Andrew Kaip, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

Analysts who prepared this report are compensated based upon (among other factors) the overall profitability of BMO Capital Markets and their affiliates, which includes the overall profitability of investment banking services. Compensation for research is based on effectiveness in generating new ideas and in communication of ideas to clients, performance of recommendations, accuracy of earnings estimates, and service to clients.

Analysts employed by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and/or BMO Capital Markets Limited are not registered as research analysts with FINRA. These analysts may not be associated persons of BMO Capital Markets Corp. and therefore may not be subject to the FINRA Rule 2241 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account.

Company Specific Disclosures:

Disclosure 2: BMO Capital Markets has provided investment banking services with respect to Agnico Eagle Mines within the past 12 months.

Disclosure 4: BMO Capital Markets or an affiliate has received compensation for investment banking services from Agnico Eagle Mines within the past 12 months.

Disclosure 5: BMO Capital Markets or an affiliate received compensation for products or services other than investment banking services within the past 12 months from Agnico Eagle Mines.

Disclosure

6A: Agnico Eagle Mines is a client (or was a client) of BMO …read more

From:: The Gold Report