Seeking Alpha: Thompson Creek Not Yet Past The Point Of Hard Decisions

This has been a pretty good year for a number of Canadian base metal miners, with First Quantum (OTCPK:FQVLF), HudBay (NYSE:HBM), Copper Mountain (OTCPK:CPPMF), and Thompson Creek (NYSE:TC) all doing pretty well since the start of the year. Thompson Creek's path to this point hasn't exactly been smooth (the shares are down about 25% over the past 12 months), and there are still quite a few uncertainties with respect to the company's plans for its molybdenum operations, as well as it how will resolve ongoing ore hardness issues at Mt. Milligan.

The company seems to be past the worst of its liquidity pressures, though, and should be free cash flow-positive from 2014 forward (unless base metal prices get very weak). Future decisions on how to proceed at the Thompson Creek mine and whether to add a second crusher to Mt. Milligan could have material impacts on the net asset value, but as things stand today, I believe the shares are still undervalued.

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Thompson Creek Not Yet Past The Point Of Hard Decisions

Seeking Alpha: Improving Costs, Clean Balance Sheet Not Sparing Pan American Silver

If you mine anything, 2013 was probably a painful year and if you mine precious metals, it was a horror show. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is down more than 50% over the past year, the Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) is down more than 60%, and the Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) is down about as much as the GDX (52%). It's not hard to figure out why, as falling prices, rising costs, and debt-laden balance sheets have all contributed to a mass exodus from the space.

In the rush to the door, I think Pan American Silver (PAAS) may have been unfairly trampled. It is absolutely true that PAAS is going to be hard-pressed to attract investor interest if silver prices keep falling, but there is at least the downside protection of an improving cost structure, lower capex, and a clean balance sheet. Trading just under its net asset value, I believe Pan American may be a good place to look for those investors who still want to own a silver miner.

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Improving Costs, Clean Balance Sheet Not Sparing Pan American Silver