Pivoting to Gold Mining, Focusing on Gold Development
发布时间:2024-09-12 来源:华泰金融(HK)
Pivoting to gold mining, initiate at OVERWEIGHT
Yulong Gold (Yulong) has pivoted to gold mining, with gold output of 2.85 tonnes in 2023; it projects output of Pajingo gold mine (Pajingo), its core asset, being stable going forward. Amid high government budget deficits and high inflation, gold is becoming increasingly attractive. Given this, coupled with a ramp-up of market expectations for Fed rate cuts amid signs of a US economy cooldown, we believe gold prices could continue rising, and thus estimate Yulong’s 2024/2025/2026 attributable net profit at RMB510/612/780mn, with EPS of RMB0.65/0.78/1.00. Given its lower gold output vs peers, and potentially stable production, we value the stock at 20.0x 2024E PE, vs its peers’ average of 21.01x on Wind consensus. Our target price is RMB13.00. Initiate at OVERWEIGHT.
Mining blueprint finalized, great potential for reserves expansion
Since Jinan Hi-tech Holding Group became its de facto controller in 2021, Yulong has regarded gold and new energy mineral resources as its focal points, acquiring Pajingo in 2022; production of deposits rose significantly from 1.59 tonnes for 2020 to 2.85 tonnes for 2023, and was 1.53 tonnes for 1H24. In addition, the company has endeavored to increase reserves; as of June, its area of deposits expanded from 1,700 sq km to 3,050 sq km, suggesting great potential to lift reserves. We estimate, owing to the high grade of the mine, its operating cost of mineral gold in 2023 was a mere RMB210/g, a low level in the industry. In addition, Yulong has operated Barto gold mine by charging service fees; according to the mining and dressing plan, the mine’s earnings turned around in 2023, and it projects producing more than 6 tonnes of gold after operating at full capacity.
Dabbling in new energy resources such as vanadium and graphite
In a move to dabble in new energy mining assets, Yulong has acquired a 67% stake in Loufanggou vanadium ore resources, located in Shangnan County (Shaanxi province), and a 11.44% stake in Triton Minerals (Triton), which owns a number of graphite mines. In terms of vanadium ore, Yulong plans vanadium capacity of 5ktpa, which it projects coming on stream in 2025. For graphite resources, Yulong proposes to acquire a 70% stake in Ancuabe Project and Cobra Plains (both held by Triton) through its subsidiary; if the acquisition materializes, the company should gain control of the above two large graphite mines. In addition, Yulong plans to increase its shareholding in Dengta Shuangli Silicone Mining to 45%, and the project is scheduled to come on stream in 2024.
Risks: volatile gold prices; disappointing progress in capacity under construction; operational risks of overseas mines.