Gary Brown
Analyst · Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead
Thank you, Randy and good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The company’s precious metal interest produced 7.7 million ounces of silver and a record 109,200 ounces of gold in the third quarter of 2016. With respect to silver, this represented an increase of 11%, with production from the recently acquired Antamina stream being partially offset by decreased production from San Dimas and Peñasquito. Gold production increased 86%, primarily due to the 25% increase in the gold interest relative to Salobo, combined with gold production at Minto increasing by over 12,000 ounces. Sales volumes amounted to 6.1 million ounces of silver and 85,100 ounces of gold in Q3 2016, representing a 7% increase for silver and a 77% increase for gold. The decrease in the silver sales volumes was attributable to changes in the balance of payable silver produced, but not yet delivered to Silver Wheaton partially offset by the increased production. The increase in gold sales volumes, which represented a third conservative quarterly record, was attributable primarily to the increase in the company’s interest in gold production from Salobo as well as the increased production from Minto, partially offset by changes in payable gold ounces produced, but not yet delivered to the company. As of September 30, 2016, approximately 3.8 million payable silver ounces and 63,300 payable gold ounces had been produced, but not yet delivered to the company, representing an increase during the quarter of approximately 800,000 ounces of silver and 18,500 ounces of gold. It is important to remember that we estimate a normal level for ounces produced, but not delivered to equate to approximately 2 months worth of payable production. So, the increase in the quantum of these ounces during the third quarter of 2016 brought the balance in the line with our guidance. Revenue for the third quarter of 2016 amounted to $233 million, representing a 52% increase due to the increased gold sales volumes combined with average selling prices increasing by 30% for silver and 18% for gold. Of this revenue, 51% was attributable to silver sales, while 49% related to gold. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2016 increased by 61% to $99 million, cash based G&A expenses amounted to $8 million in the third quarter of 2016, representing a $3 million increase from Q3 2015, due to a combination of higher legal costs relating to the company’s ongoing dispute with the CRA and a higher accrued expense relating to the company’s outstanding performance share units. The company currently estimates that non-stock based G&A expenses, which exclude expenses relating to the value of the stock options granted in PSUs, will be approximately $31 million to $32 million for 2016. Interest costs for the third quarter of 2016 amounted to $6 million, resulting in an effective interest rate on outstanding debt of 2.27%. All of this interest was expensed in the calculation of net income. This compares to $3 million of interest costs incurred in the prior year, of which only $1 million was expensed with $2 million having been capitalized in relation to the Barrick silver interest. Net earnings amounted to $83 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to a net loss of $96 million in Q3 2015, with the loss in the prior year reflecting impairment charges, net of tax effects amounting to $146 million. After negating the effect of these impairment charges, adjusted net earnings in the third quarter of the prior year amounted to $50 million. The $33 million increase in net earnings in the most recently completed quarter relative to the adjusted net earnings in Q3 2015 was attributable primarily to the higher gross margins being partially offset by higher G&A and interest costs. Basic earnings per share increased 53% to $0.19 compared to adjusted basic earnings per share of $0.12 in the prior year. Operating cash flow for the third quarter of 2016 amounted to $162 million or $0.37 per share compared to $100 million or $0.25 per share in the prior year, representing a 48% increase on a per share basis, once again highlighting the accretiveness of the company’s acquisitions over the past year. Based on the company’s dividend policy, the company’s Board has declared a dividend of $0.06 a share payable to shareholders of record on November 23, 2016, a 20% increase relative to the previous quarter. Under the dividend reinvestment plan, the Board has elected to offer shareholders the option of having their dividends reinvested in newly issued common shares of the company at a 3% discount to market. The operational highlights for the third quarter of 2016 included the following. Attributable silver production relative to the San Dimas mine decreased 11% to 1.3 million ounces, due to lower throughput and grade. Silver sales volumes in Q3 2016 relative to San Dimas decreased 47% to 1.1 million ounces due to a combination of lower production and negative changes in payable ounces produced but not yet delivered to Silver Wheaton, with such balances having decreased by approximately 600,000 ounces in the comparable period of the prior year. Peñasquito generated 1.5 million ounces of attributable silver production in Q3 2016, representing a 29% decrease, reflecting lower throughput grades and recoveries. However, Gold Corp has indicated that mining has shifted from the lower grade upper transitional ore into higher grade in the lower portion of the pit. Additionally, Gold Corp has indicated that throughput is expected to increase due to a lower level of plant maintenance. Finally, the Northern Well Field project has reportedly ramped up as expected and reached full design capacity in the fourth quarter of 2016. Antamina generated 1.5 million silver ounces of attributable production and 1.6 million ounces of silver sales in Q3 of 2016, with this stream having been added in the fourth quarter of the prior year. The lower levels of production relative to prior quarters was expected and is attributable to lower throughput and recoveries, partially offset by higher grades. It is important to highlight that Antamina is on track to well will exceed the company’s original full year guidance. The Sudbury mines produced 10,000 ounces of attributable gold during Q3 2016, representing an increase of 36% attributable primarily to higher grades and recoveries at the Coleman and Totten mines. Sales volume relative to Sudbury increased by 84% to 12,300 ounces of gold due to a combination of increased production and positive changes in gold ounces produced, but not yet delivered to Silver Wheaton. Salobo production almost doubled to 68,200 ounces of attributable gold during Q3 2016, with such being primarily due to the increase in the company’s attributable gold interest from 50% to 75% effective July 1, 2016. The two lines operated at an average rate of approximately 88% of capacity during the third quarter of 2016. Sales volume relating to Salobo increased 128% to 50,000 ounces of gold in Q3 2016, with such being attributable to the increased production, partially offset by negative changes in gold ounces produced but not yet delivered to Silver Wheaton. Other gold interests generated over 31,000 ounces of attributable gold production in Q3 2016, 99% higher than the prior year, primarily due to record gold production from Minto combined with the strong gold production from 777. Sales volumes from other gold interests increased 17% to 22,700 ounces in Q3 2016, with the increased production being largely offset by a buildup in ounces produced but not yet delivered in Q3 2016, compared to a significant reduction in such balances in Q3 2015. During the third quarter of 2016, the company drew down $780 million on the revolving facility and disbursed $800 million relative to the closing of the previously announced amendment to the Salobo gold purchase agreement. In addition, the company received $20 million from the exercise of the stock option, repaid $141 million of bank debt and disbursed $19 million in dividend. Overall, net cash increased by $1 million in Q3 2016, resulting in cash and cash equivalents at quarter end of $126 million. This combined with the $1.3 billion outstanding on the revolving facility, resulted in a net debt position as of September 30, 2016, of just over $1.2 billion. The company’s cash position strong forecast future operating cash flows, combined with available credit capacity under the revolving facility, positions the company well to satisfy its funding commitments, sustain its dividend policy, while at the same time, providing flexibility to consummate additional accretive precious metal purchase agreements. Finally, there is no material update relative to the company’s ongoing dispute with the CRA. We continue to work diligently with counsel to advance the case as expeditiously as possible. And that concludes the financial summary. And with that, I will turn the call back over to Randy.