As the result of the reallocation of resources, Red Cloud is discontinuing coverage on the following company: Aquila Resources Inc. (TSX:AQA) – now unrated (was BUY, C$0.45/sh target, Jacob Willoughby). Our previous estimates should no longer be relied upon.
If it looks like a bull market (technical breakout in gold), smells like a bull market (significant negative yielding debt) and feels like a bull market (funds flowing into gold), it must be a bull market. Our analysis shows that equities in smaller sized companies outperform during a bull market. However, not all junior miners are created equal, and we believe there are three keys to picking them.
We believe that we are in a new gold bull market, as evidenced by negative real and nominal interest rates and over US$5.5B in funds flowing into physical gold ETFs. Our view is that smaller companies outperform in a bull market. Three keys to look at when investing in junior gold equities include scarcity, catalysts and potential.
We believe that a new bull market has started in gold. This along with investor interest, caused us to host a pair of gold conferences in New York and Toronto, last week. Each conference was opened by Derek Macpherson, VP Research at Red Cloud, highlighting why we believe we are in a new bull market, and 3 keys to investing in it (link). Followed by presentations from Tonogold Resources (OTC:TNGL), Brixton Metals (TSXV:BBB), Mawson Resources (TSX:MAW), Fiore Gold (TSXV:F), Minera Alamos (TSX:MAI), NxGold (TSXV:NXN), Gran Colombia Gold (TSX:GCM), Orford Mining (TSXV:ORM), Pacton Gold (TSXV:PAC), Aquila Resources (TSX:AQA) and RNC Minerals (TSX:RNX).
Gold is on the move, looking for the companies we expect to be the big winners. Recent events have been very constructive for the gold price and point to it having the potential to move higher in the near-term. Taking this into account we have evaluated the leverage our current coverage universe has to the gold price (Figure 1). The companies with the highest leverage to gold in our coverage universe are: Gran Colombia Gold (TSX:GCM, FV est. C$6.00), De Grey (ASX:DEG, FV est. A$0.35) and Lion One (TSX:LIO, FV est. C$1.35). We note that while Seabridge (TSX:SEA, FV est. C$29.00) does not have the highest financial leverage to the gold price, it could be a go-to name because of its higher market cap and better liquidity. As well, while we do not have a NAVPS estimate on, Minera Alamos (TSXV:MAI) and RNC Minerals (TSX:RNX, FV est. C$1.00) both should also react favourably to a rising gold price.
Impact: Positive
Mawson has released assay results from three holes, which yielded another high-grade discovery within the company’s Rajapalot Project in Northern Finland. We are encouraged by Mawson’s ongoing drilling success and continue to believe that the company is likely to at least double the resource at Rajapalot.
We believe Aquila Resources (TSX:AQA; OTCQB:AQARF) is worth C$0.36/sh based on applying a 0.60x multiple to our initial NAVPS10% estimate of C$0.60/sh. Aquila is developing the high-margin Back Forty Au-Zn-Cu project in Michigan and is poised for a re-rating as it transitions from developer to producer. Additionally, the FCF expected from this project once in production, is likely to attract mid-tier producers looking to bolster their balance sheets and production profiles. We believe investors stand to benefit from the ongoing transition from developer to producer, as manifested by project derisking with the potential to be taken out at a substantial premium to the current share price in the medium-term.
We believe Aquila Resources (TSX:AQA; OTCQB:AQARF) is worth C$0.36/sh based on applying a 0.60x multiple to our initial NAVPS10% estimate of C$0.60/sh. Aquila is developing the high-margin Back Forty Au-Zn-Cu project in Michigan and is poised for a re-rating as it transitions from developer to producer. Additionally, the FCF expected from this project once in production, is likely to attract mid-tier producers looking to bolster their balance sheets and production profiles. We believe investors stand to benefit from the ongoing transition from developer to producer, as manifested by project derisking with the potential to be taken out at a substantial premium to the current share price in the medium-term.
Impact: Mildly Positive
Aquila released a positive permitting update, as one of the legal challenges for its permits was dismissed. While the legal challenge of permits is normal course in the U.S., this result acts as another positive step to advancing Back Forty towards production. We view Aquila as an undervalued take-out candidate on the verge of a re-rating through the development of the high-margin Back- Forty polymetallic project; the backdrop of a tightening commodities market should underpin the strategic value.
Impact: Positive
Following the receipt of permits, Aquila has announced the results of an open pit only feasibility study (FS) for its Back Forty project in Michigan, which demonstrates positive economics for a low-cost polymetallic open pit mine. Considerable upside remains for the project with the potential addition of an underground operation that was previously outlined in a 2014 PEA.