Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK) (TSX: EDR) released its financial results today for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Company operates three silver-gold mines in Mexico: the Guanacevi mine in Durango state, the Bolanitos mine in Guanajuato state and the El Compas mine in Zacatecas state.

Bradford Cooke, CEO, commented, “We are off to a good start in 2021, with the mining operations meeting our production plans notwithstanding the severe weather events that caused a slow down of production during the 1^st quarter. As a result, our operating costs were a bit higher than plan but we expect costs to be lower going forward.”

“Revenue, cash flow and earnings were all sharply higher in Q1, 2021 compared to Q1, 2020. The sale of El Cubo helped boost our earnings, offset by our decisions to hold back some metal inventory from sale near the end of the 1^st quarter as well as elevated general and administrative expenses.”

“The Terronera feasibility study is on track for completion in the 3^rd quarter and exploration is ongoing at each of our mines and projects to test highly prospective targets. We have a busy year ahead, as our attention turns to developing our next core asset at Terronera.”

2021 First Quarter Highlights

• Metal Production: Produced 1,039,710 ounces (oz) silver, up 22% and 10,894 oz gold, up 31%, in line with guidance of 1.9 million oz silver equivalent (AgEq), up 26%, at an 80:1 silver:gold ratio, compared to Q1, 2020.
• Gross Sales: Total $35.1 million, up 58%, from the sale of 623,379 oz of silver and 10,663 oz gold at average realized prices of $27.17 per oz silver and $1,703 per oz gold.  Held 523,235 oz silver and 1,123 oz gold of bullion inventory and 6,582 oz silver and 566 oz gold in concentrate inventory. Management withheld metal from sale during the price correction over last two weeks of March.
• Operating Costs: Cash cost⁽¹⁾ $7.86 per oz payable silver, flat year-on-year and all-in sustaining cost (AISC)⁽¹⁾ $19.94 per oz payable silver, up 8% year-on-year, both net of gold credits.
• Cash Flow: $5.2 million in cash flow from operations before working capital changes, up 205% compared to Q1, 2020 as the Company accumulated finished goods, invested in exploration activities and advanced the Terronera Feasibility Study.
• Net Earnings: Earnings of $12.2 million or $0.08 per share, up sharply compared to a loss of $15.9 million in Q1, 2020 due to the reversal of the historical impairment of the El Cubo asset sold in April, offset by increased exploration activities, evaluation activities, and higher tax expense. Excluding the impairment reversal, the adjusted earnings resulted in a loss of $4.5 million. At quarter end, the finished golds inventory was carried at a cost of $8.0 million compared to the fair market value of $15.9 million.
• Agreement to Sell the El Cubo Assets: Advanced the sale of the El Cubo assets in Guanajuato, Mexico to Vangold Mining Corp for $15 million in cash and share payments with up to $3 million in contingent payments, with the transaction closing April 9, 2021.
• Balance Sheet: Cash position $86.0 million, up 473% and working capital $113.1 million, up 316% compared to Q1, 2020. Raised $30.1 million in equity financing through an ATM facility. Only term liabilities are equipment loans of $8.7 million, entered into in previous years to upgrade the mobile fleet.

(1) Mine operating cash flow, cash costs and all-in sustaining costs are non-IFRS measures. Please refer to the definitions in the Company’s Management Discussion & Analysis.

Financial Overview

In Q1, 2021, net revenue increased 58% to $34.5 million as a result of higher metal prices and increased production. As a result, mine operating cash flows, operating cash flows and EBITDA all increased significantly compared to Q1, 2020. The Company recognized earnings of $12.2 million compared to a loss of $15.9 million in Q1, 2020. An impairment reversal of $16.8 million was recognized as a result of the classifying the El Cubo mine and related assets and liabilities, as held for sale in relation to the April 9^th sale.

Cost of sales for Q1, 2021 was $28.8 million, an increase of 16% over the cost of sales of $24.8 million for the same period of 2020. The increase in cost of sales was primarily related to significantly higher royalty costs and labour costs partially offset by improved productivity at the Guanacevi and Bolanitos operations. Royalties increased 187% to $2.5 million due to higher realized prices and the increased mining of the high grade Porvenir Cuatro extensions at the Guanacevi operation which is subject to the significantly higher royalty rates.

The Company increased its finished goods silver and gold inventory to 529,817 oz and 1,689 oz, respectively at March 31, 2021 compared to 116,484 oz silver and 1,459 oz gold at December 31, 2020. The cost allocated to these finished goods was $8.0 million at March 31, 2021, compared to $3.6 million at December 31, 2020. At March 31, 2021, the finished goods inventory fair market value was $15.9 million, compared to $5.8 million at December 31, 2020.

Financial Results (Consolidated Statement of Operations Appended Below)

For the period ended March 31, 2021, the Company generated net revenue of $34.5 million an increase of 58% compared to $21.9 million. Gross sales of $35.1 million in Q1, 2021 represented a 57% increase over the $22.8 million for the same period in 2020. There was a 6% decrease in silver ounces sold and a 77% increase in the realized silver price resulting in a 66% increase to silver sales. There was a 43% increase in gold ounces sold with a 4% increase in realized gold prices resulting in a 49% increase in gold sales. During the period, the Company sold 623,379 oz silver and 10,663 oz gold, for realized prices of $27.17 and $1,703 per oz respectively, compared to sales of 665,500 oz silver and 7,454 oz gold, for realized prices of $15.33 and $1,633 per oz, respectively, in the same period of 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, silver and gold spot prices averaged $26.26 and $1,794, respectively.

After cost of sales of $28.8 million (Q1, 2020 – $24.8 million), mine operating earnings amounted to a $5.7 million (Q1, 2020 – loss of $2.9 million) from mining and milling operations in Mexico.

Excluding depreciation and depletion of $7.5 million (Q1, 2020 – $6.0 million), stock-based compensation of $0.1 million (Q1, 2020- $0.1 million) mine operating cash flow before taxes was $13.3 million in Q1, 2021 (Q1, 2020 – $4.3 million). Operating earnings were $14.3 million (Q1, 2020 – loss of $8.6 million) after exploration and evaluation expenditures of $4.1 million (Q1, 2020 – $2.4 million), general and administrative expense of $3.5 million (Q1, 2020 – $2.0 million) and El Cubo care and maintenance costs of $0.5 million (Q1, 2020 – $1.3 million). An impairment reversal of $16.8 million was recognized as a result of the classifying the El Cubo mine and related assets and liabilities as held for sale in relation to the April 9^th sale.

Net earnings amounted to $12.2 million ($0.08 per share) compared to a net loss of $15.9 million (loss of $0.11 per share) in Q1, 2020.

Current income tax expense increased to $0.7 million (Q1, 2020 – $0.3 million) related to an increase in special mining duty, while deferred income tax expense of $3.1 million was recognized due to the estimated use of loss carry forwards to reduce taxable income at Guanacevi and Bolanitos (Q1, 2020 – $1.9 million).

Direct operating costs per tonne in Q1, 2021 increased 16%, to $112.36 compared with Q1, 2020 due to higher operating costs at Guanacevi and Bolanitos, offset by lower costs at El Compas. Guanacevi and Bolanitos have seen increased labour costs and increased third party ore purchased at Guanacevi compared to prior year. Including royalties and special mining duty, direct costs per tonne increased 24% to $126.23. Royalties increase 187% to $2.5 million as increased production from the El Curso concession at Guanacevi and higher prices substantially increased the royalty expense. The higher prices and higher grades increased special mining duty expense to $0.4 million for Q1, 2021.

Consolidated cash costs per ounce, net of by-product credits (a non-IFRS measure and a standard of the Silver Institute) was flat at $7.86 as the higher grades and higher prices offset the higher direct costs per tonne. All-in sustaining costs (also a non-IFRS measure) increased 8% to $19.84 per ounce in Q1, 2021 as a result of higher corporate general and administrative costs and increased capital expenditures at Guanacevi to accelerate mine development within the El Curso ore body. In Q1, 2020 corporate general and administrative included a $1.1 million mark to market recovery of deferred share units expense whereas the mark to market recovery was $0.2 million in Q1, 2021.

The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.edrsilver.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. All amounts are reported in US$.

About Endeavour Silver 

Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns and operates three high-grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a development decision and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.  Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.