Altius Minerals Corporation (TSX: ALS; OTCQX: ATUSF) (“Altius” or the “Corporation”) reports third quarter 2024 revenue of $13.0 million compared to $15.2 million in Q3 2023. Attributable royalty revenue(1) of $16.6 million ($0.36 per share(1)) compares to $21.8 million in Q2 2024 and to $17.8 million ($0.38 per share) reported in Q3 2023.
Brian Dalton, CEO commented, "Revenue in the current quarter reflects lower potash prices and seasonal mine maintenance activities, lower dividends from Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp. ("LIORC") on forest fire related disruptions and slightly weaker pricing, and the closure of the Genesee Mine. This was partially offset by higher base metal prices and continuing ramp up of the renewable royalty portfolio. The potash market has returned to its long-term demand growth trendline following a period of price shocks and affordability challenges for farmers. There is continued growth in the renewables segment as new royalty projects commission and incremental investments are completed. In base and battery metals, Chapada (copper) is expected to deliver a strong finish to the year, Voisey's Bay (nickel, copper, cobalt) is approaching completion of its underground conversion, Grota do Cirillo (lithium) has commenced its stage 2 expansion project and Tres Quebradas (lithium) nears construction completion. Several other pre-production royalty projects are seeing positive progress that indicate strong portfolio value growth potential. These include the commencement of early construction works at Curipamba (copper-gold), continuing resource expansion at the Sauva discovery (copper), resource expansion and development study progress at Silicon (gold), permitting and partnering activity advancement at Kami (DR quality iron ore) and further exploration success at Voisey's Bay".
Operating Royalty Portfolio Performance
Summary of attributable royalty revenue |
Q3 2024 |
Q2 2024 |
Q3 2023 |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Base and battery metals |
$ |
5,437 |
$ |
5,474 |
$ |
4,231 |
||
Potash |
|
3,585 |
|
4,755 |
|
3,869 |
||
Renewable energy |
|
3,449 |
|
2,100 |
|
2,648 |
||
Iron ore# |
|
2,618 |
|
4,114 |
|
3,553 |
||
Thermal (electrical) coal |
|
– |
|
– |
|
2,000 |
||
Interest and other |
|
1,509 |
|
5,319 |
|
1,507 |
||
Attributable royalty revenue |
$ |
16,598 |
$ |
21,762 |
$ |
17,808 |
||
(#) Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corporation dividends |
Quarterly Highlights
Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $10.5 million ($0.23 per share(1)) during Q3 2024 compares to $12.5 million ($0.26 per share) during Q3 2023 and follows the trend of revenue.
Q3 2024 adjusted operating cash flow(1) of $10.9 million ($0.23 per share(1)) compares to $11.0 million ($0.23 per share) in Q3 2023. The timing of interest, corporate tax payments and refunds positively impacted adjusted operating cash flow during the current quarter.
Net earnings of $3.2 million ($0.06 per share) for Q3 2024 compares to net earnings of $3.5 million ($0.08 per share) in Q3 2023 reflecting lower revenues as well as lower amortization offset by marginally higher costs. Adjusted net earnings per share(1) of $0.05 for the current quarter is comparable to the third quarter of 2023. The main adjusting items are summarized in the below table.
Adjusted Net Earnings |
Three months ended |
|||||
September 30,
|
September 30,
|
|||||
|
|
|
||||
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
2,852 |
|
$ |
3,703 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Addback (deduct): |
|
|
||||
Unrealized loss on fair value adjustment of derivatives |
|
(198 |
) |
|
(1,471 |
) |
Foreign exchange (gain) loss |
|
(510 |
) |
|
460 |
|
Exploration and evaluation assets abandoned or impaired |
|
65 |
|
|
– |
|
Realized gain on disposal of derivatives |
|
206 |
|
|
– |
|
Gain on disposal of mineral property |
|
– |
|
|
(276 |
) |
Tax impact |
|
138 |
|
|
166 |
|
Adjusted Net Earnings |
$ |
2,553 |
|
$ |
2,582 |
|
Liquidity and Capital Allocation Summary
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2024 were $109.6 million, compared to $130.4 million at the end of 2023. Cash, excluding $84.0 million held by ARR, was $25.6 million.
At September 30, 2024 the approximate market value of various public equity holdings included:
During the third quarter the Corporation made scheduled debt repayments of $2.0 million and paid cash dividends of $3.9 million and issued 12,389 shares under the dividend reinvestment plan. There were no shares repurchased and cancelled under the Corporation's Normal Course Issuer Bid during the quarter. The Corporation renewed its Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") during the third quarter, which commenced August 22, 2024 and will end no later than August 21, 2025.
At September 30, 2024 the Corporation carried a balance of $98.7 million under its term debt facilities and $9.0 million under its revolving credit facility. On August 30, 2024, the Corporation amended its credit facility to extend the term from August 2025 to August 2028 and replace the combination of its previously outstanding term and revolver debt. The total available credit of $225,000,000 and its principal repayments are consistent with its previous credit facility and the Corporation did not draw any additional amounts during the period. The amended credit facility consists of a $50,000,000 term credit facility, a US$36,000,000 term credit facility and a $125,000,000 revolving credit facility.
Dividend Declaration
The Corporation’s board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share. The current quarterly dividend is payable to all shareholders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2024. The dividend is expected to be paid on or about December 16, 2024.
This dividend is eligible for payment in common shares under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) announced by press release May 20, 2020, and available to shareholders who are Canadian residents or residents of countries outside the United States.
In order to be eligible to participate in respect of the December 16, 2024 dividend, non-registered shareholders must provide instruction to their brokerage and registered shareholders must provide completed enrollment forms to the transfer agent by November 22, 2024, five business days prior to record date. Stock market purchases made under the DRIP for the December 16, 2024 payment will be satisfied by issuance from treasury at the 5 day volume weighted average price ending at the close of trading the day before payment date. Shareholders who have already provided instruction to be enrolled previously will continue to be enrolled unless they direct otherwise. For more information, please see Altius Minerals Corporation Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Participation in the DRIP is optional and will not impact any cash dividends payable to shareholders who do not elect to participate in the DRIP. The declaration, timing and payment of future dividends will largely depend on the Corporation’s financial results as well as other factors. Dividends paid by Altius on its common shares are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes unless otherwise stated.
Non GAAP Financial Measures
Third Quarter Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast Details
Date: November 08, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM ET
Toll Free Dial-In Number: +1-800-717-1738
International Dial-In Number: +1-289-514-5100
Conference Call Title and ID: Altius Minerals Q3 2024 Financial Results, ID 15582
Webcast Link: Q3 2024 Financial Results
About Altius
Altius’s strategy is to create per share growth through a diversified portfolio of royalty assets that relate to long life, high margin operations. This strategy further provides shareholders with exposures that are well aligned with sustainability-related global growth trends including the electricity generation transition from fossil fuel to renewables, transportation electrification, reduced emissions from steelmaking and increasing agricultural yield requirements. These macro-trends each hold the potential to cause increased demand for many of Altius’s commodity exposures including copper, renewable based electricity, several key battery metals (lithium, nickel and cobalt), clean iron ore, and potash. In addition, Altius runs a successful Project Generation business that originates mineral projects for sale to developers in exchange for equity positions and royalties. Altius has 46,479,865 common shares issued and outstanding that are listed on Canada’s Toronto Stock Exchange. It is included in each of the S&P/TSX Small Cap, the S&P/TSX Global Mining, and the S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats indices.
Forward-looking information
This news release contains forward-looking information. The statements are based on reasonable assumptions and expectations of management and Altius provides no assurance that actual events will meet management's expectations. In certain cases, forward‐looking information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "may", "shall", "will", or "would". Although Altius believes the expectations expressed in such forward‐looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Altius does not undertake to update any forward-looking information contained herein except in accordance with securities regulations.
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