
Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX: AR) is pleased to announce today its operating and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. For the third quarter 2022, the Company reports production of 45,939 gold equivalent ounces, revenue of $75.3 million, cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital and other items of $13.6 million, net loss of $1.3 million or loss per share of $0.00, and adjusted net loss3 of $0.2 million or adjusted loss per share3 of $0.00. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise specified (C$ refers to Canadian dollars).
1 “Cash Flow” refers to “Cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash operating working capital and other items”. |
2 GEOs are based on a conversion ratio of 80:1 for silver to gold for 2022 and 85:1 for 2021. The silver to gold conversion ratio is based on the three-year trailing average silver to gold ratios. These are the referenced ratios for each year throughout this press release. |
3 This is a Non-IFRS Measure. Please refer to the section entitled “Non-IFRS Measures” for a discussion of these Non-IFRS Measures. |
“We made significant progress on the completion and construction of the Magino Project. We remain focused on the long-term strategic objective to generate increasing cash flow through low-cost production growth. Magino is a key driver of our future growth with a production potential of 142,000 ounces per year for the first five years of production at significantly lower life-of-mine cash costs3 of approximately $907 per ounce,” said Larry Radford, Argonaut President and CEO.
“Year-to-date, our production results are in-line with our expectations. We had a challenging third quarter at our La Colorada and Florida Canyon mines that was mostly offset by the consistent performance of our El Castillo Complex. The challenge at these two mines were due to the block model performance and seasonal rains at La Colorada that are expected but were heavier than normal. With infill programs ongoing in support of revised block models, we expect improved reconciliations in the future.”
Q3 2022 and RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Third Quarter 2022 Results
Key operating and financial statistics for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 are outlined in the following table:
3 Months Ended
September 30 |
9 Months Ended
September 30 |
|||||
2022 | 2021 | Change | 2022 | 2021 | Change | |
Financial Data (in millions except for earning per share) | ||||||
Revenue | $75.3 | $108.6 | (31 %) | $292.5 | $334.0 | (12 %) |
Gross profit | $7.0 | $29.1 | (76 %) | $48.4 | $96.5 | (50 %) |
Net income (loss) | $(1.3) | $15.0 | (109 %) | $22.7 | $63.8 | (64 %) |
Earnings (loss) per share – basic | $(0.00) | $0.05 | (104 %) | $0.05 | $0.21 | (77 %) |
Adjusted net income1 | $(0.2) | $17.2 | (101 %) | $15.3 | $46.9 | (67 %) |
Adjusted earnings per share – basic1 | $(0.00) | $0.06 | (100 %) | $0.03 | $0.15 | (78 %) |
Cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash operating working capital and other items | $13.6 | $39.6 | (66 %) | $62.0 | $106.6 | (42 %) |
Cash and cash equivalents | $89.2 | $167.6 | (47 %) | $89.2 | $167.6 | (47 %) |
Net cash | $9.2 | $167.6 | (95 %) | $9.2 | $167.6 | (95 %) |
Gold Production and Cost Data | ||||||
GEOs loaded to the pads2 | 76,144 | 111,584 | (32 %) | 257,946 | 355,818 | (28 %) |
GEOs projected recoverable2,3 | 40,445 | 64,768 | (38 %) | 146,288 | 199,088 | (27 %) |
GEOs produced2,4 | 45,939 | 58,777 | (22 %) | 160,645 | 182,230 | (12 %) |
GEOs sold2 | 39,930 | 60,606 | (34 %) | 155,543 | 185,372 | (16 %) |
Average realized sales price | $1,895 | $1,789 | 6 % | $1,883 | $1,788 | 5 % |
Cash cost per gold ounce sold1 | $1,403 | $992 | 41 % | $1,254 | $955 | 31 % |
All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold1 | $1,890 | $1,228 | 54 % | $1,595 | $1,248 | 28 % |
1This is a Non-IFRS Measure. Please refer to the section below entitled “Non-IFRS Measures” for a discussion of these Non-IFRS Measures. | ||||||
2GEOs are based on a conversion ratio of 80:1 for silver to gold for 2022 and 85:1 for 2021. The silver to gold conversion ratio is based on the three-year trailing average silver to gold ratio. | ||||||
3Expected recoverable GEOs are based on the assumptions and parameters as set forth in the El Castillo Gold Mine Technical Report dated February 14, 2022, the San Agustin Gold/Silver Mine Technical Report dated February 14, 2022, the La Colorada Gold/Silver Mine Technical Report dated February 14, 2022 and the Florida Canyon Technical Report dated July 8, 2020. In periods where the Company mines and processes material not specifically defined in a technical report (for example: low-grade stockpile material or run-of-mine ore), management uses its best estimate of recovery based on the information available. | ||||||
4Produced ounces are calculated as ounces loaded to carbon. | ||||||
The Company sold fewer ounces than it produced in the third quarter 2022 due to timing of gold sales. Those ounces in finished goods inventory were sold in October 2022. The average realized gold price was $1,895 per gold ounce as compared with the average price of $1,728 for the third quarter 2022. This higher price was realized by delivering into the gold forward pricing contracts for the quarter and into future forward contracts.
Guidance and Outlook
Argonaut maintains its 2022 GEO production guidance and, primarily due to inflationary pressures on key consumable costs, is adjusting its cost guidance higher as outlined in the table below.
2022 GEO Production and Cost Guidance
Guidance (August 2022) | Amended Guidance for 2022 | |
GEO production(1) | 200,000 – 230,000 | 200,000 – 230,000 |
Cash cost per gold ounce sold(2) | $1,200 – $1,300 | $1,300 – $1,350 |
AISC per gold ounce sold(2) | $1,500 – $1,600 | $1,650 – $1,725 |
Capital (including exploration and excluding Magino construction capital) | $53 million – $63 million | $60 million – $65 million |
Magino Construction Capital | $400 million – $423 million | $400 million – $423 million |
1Based on a silver to gold ratio of 80:1 in 2022 and 85:1 in 2021. | ||
2This is a Non-IFRS Measure. Please see “Non-IFRS Measures” section. | ||
Argonaut’s condensed interim consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion & analysis (“MD&A”), for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2022, are available via Argonaut’s website at https://www.argonautgold.com/English/investors/financial-reports/default.aspx and will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures including “Cash cost per gold ounce sold”, “All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold”, “Adjusted net (loss) income”, “Adjusted (loss) earnings per share – basic” and “Net cash” in this press release to supplement its financial statements, which are presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Cash cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver sales divided by gold ounces sold. All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver sales plus general and administrative, exploration, accretion and other expenses and sustaining capital expenditures divided by gold ounces sold. Adjusted net (loss) income is equal to net (loss) income less foreign exchange impacts on deferred income taxes, foreign exchange (gains) losses, non-cash impairment write down (reversal) of work-in-process inventory, non-cash impairment write down (reversal) of mineral properties, plant and equipment, unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives and care and maintenance expenses. Adjusted (loss) earnings per share – basic is equal to adjusted net (loss) income divided by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Net cash is calculated as the sum of the cash and cash equivalents balance net of debt as at the statement of financial position date. The net debt calculation excludes the convertible debentures and lease liabilities, due to the nature of the obligations, in order to show the nominal undiscounted debt. The Company believes that these measures provide investors with an alternative view to evaluate the performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The following table provides a reconciliation of production costs per the financial statements to cash cost per gold ounce sold:
All Mines | Three months ended
September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, | ||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |
Production costs, as reported ($000s) | $ 56,239 | $ 61,936 | $ 197,971 | $ 185,472 |
Less silver sales ($000s) | 2,031 | 3,885 | 9,816 | 15,314 |
Net cost of sales ($000s) | $ 54,208 | $ 58,051 | $ 188,155 | $ 170,158 |
Gold ounces sold | 38,639 | 58,528 | 150,089 | 178,255 |
Cash cost per gold ounce sold | $ 1,403 | $ 992 | $ 1,254 | $ 955 |
AISC includes net cost of sales at the Company’s mining operations, which forms the basis of the Company’s cash cost per gold ounce sold. Additionally, the Company includes general and administrative, exploration, accretion and other expenses, and sustaining capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures exclude all expenditures at the Company’s pre-production, development stage, and advanced exploration stage projects and certain expenditures at the Company’s operating sites that are deemed expansionary in nature.
The following table provides a reconciliation of AISC per gold ounce sold to the consolidated financial statements:
Three months ended
September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, | |||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |
Net cost of sales ($000s) | $ 54,208 | $ 58,051 | $ 188,155 | $ 170,158 |
General and administrative expenses ($000s) | 3,521 | 4,248 | 13,113 | 12,719 |
Exploration expenses ($000s) | 2,705 | 1,561 | 3,497 | 3,252 |
Accretion and other expenses ($000s) | 3,418 | 2,728 | 10,098 | 8,334 |
Sustaining capital expenditures ($000s) | 9,169 | 5,311 | 24,581 | 28,005 |
AISC ($000s) | $ 73,021 | $ 71,899 | $ 239,444 | $ 222,468 |
Gold ounces sold | 38,639 | 58,528 | 150,089 | 178,255 |
AISC per gold ounce sold | $ 1,890 | $ 1,228 | $ 1,595 | $ 1,248 |
Adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted (loss) earnings per share – basic exclude a number of temporary or one-time items described in the following table, which provides a reconciliation of adjusted net income to the consolidated financial statements:
Three months ended
September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, | |||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |
Net (loss) income, as reported ($000s) | $ (1,295) | $ 14,996 | $ 22,735 | $ 63,781 |
Unrealized gain on derivatives ($000s) | (140) | (2,794) | (12,200) | (17,239) |
Other non-operating expense (income), net of tax ($000s) | 1,164 | 1,723 | 3,315 | (1,921) |
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net of tax ($000s) | (344) | 2,515 | 1,481 | 3,040 |
Impact of foreign exchange on deferred income taxes ($000s) | 397 | 903 | (458) | 664 |
Inventory write-down (reversal), net of tax ($000s) | 51 | (155) | (76) | (1,412) |
Loss on sale of marketable securities ($000s) | — | — | 534 | — |
Adjusted net (loss) income ($000s) | $ (167) | $ 17,188 | $ 15,331 | $ 46,913 |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, as reported | 743,259,299 | 310,735,042 | 466,228,242 | 306,889,421 |
Adjusted (loss) earnings per share – basic | $ (0.00) | $ 0.06 | $ 0.03 | $ 0.15 |
Net cash or debt is calculated as the sum of the cash and cash equivalents balance net of debt as at the statement of financial position date. The net debt calculation excludes the convertible debentures and lease liabilities, due to the nature of the obligations, in order to show the nominal undiscounted debt.
A reconciliation of net cash (debt) is provided below:
September 30, 2022 |
June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents ($000s) | $ 89,195 | $ 75,816 | $ 199,235 |
Debt ($000s) | (80,000) | (80,000) | (80,000) |
Net cash (debt) ($000s) | $ 9,195 | $ (4,184) | $ 119,235 |
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and associated MD&A for the same periods, which are available from the Company’s website, www.argonautgold.com, in the “Investors” section under “Financial Filings”, and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
About Argonaut Gold
Argonaut Gold is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and production. Its primary assets are the El Castillo mine and San Agustin mine, which together form the El Castillo Complex in Durango, Mexico, the La Colorada mine in Sonora, Mexico and the Florida Canyon mine in Nevada, USA. The Company also holds the construction stage Magino project, the advanced exploration stage Cerro del Gallo project and several other exploration stage projects, all of which are located in North America.
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