Cigna earnings beat by $0.04, revenue topped estimates
On Friday, H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating and price target of $3.90 on shares of Largo Resources Ltd. (NASDAQ:LGO), despite a year-over-year decline in production. The firm highlighted a 25% decrease in vanadium equivalent production, which fell to 2.9 million pounds for the quarter. The total mined ore also saw a reduction, coming in at 446,614 tonnes, marking a 26% drop from the previous year. This production decline coincides with a broader revenue decrease of 37.13% over the last twelve months, according to InvestingPro data.
In contrast to the decline in ore production, Largo Resources experienced an increase in overall mining activity. Total (EPA:TTEF) material mined on a dry basis rose by 21% year-over-year to 3.9 million tonnes. This was primarily due to a significant increase in waste moved, which grew by 32% to 3.5 million tonnes. The company, currently valued at $104.38 million, has been facing challenges with gross profit margins, which stand at -1.94%.
The effective grade of vanadium equivalent produced by Largo Resources also saw a decrease, dropping by 23% year-over-year to 0.41%, compared to 0.53% in the first quarter of 2024. Despite these challenges, H.C. Wainwright pointed out several operational improvements at the company’s mining sites. InvestingPro analysis indicates the company maintains a ’FAIR’ overall financial health score, though it currently faces cash flow challenges. Subscribers can access 6 additional key ProTips and a comprehensive Pro Research Report for deeper insights.
One notable advancement mentioned by the firm is the enhanced recovery rates, which have improved markedly to 77.8%, up from 70.5% in the same quarter of the previous year. H.C. Wainwright anticipates that continuous optimization efforts at the mining sites will lead to increased production over the coming quarters.
The reaffirmation of the Buy rating and the $3.90 price target by H.C. Wainwright reflects their expectation of Largo Resources’ potential to improve its operational efficiencies and increase production levels in the near future.
In other recent news, Largo Resources has reported a decline in its financial performance, with revenue dropping to $124.9 million for the year and a net loss increasing to $50.6 million, or $0.78 per share. This marks a downturn from the previous year’s figures of $198.7 million in revenue and a net loss of $32.4 million, or $0.51 per share. The decrease in revenue is attributed to a significant reduction in production and lower market prices for vanadium, a key product for the company. Despite these challenges, Largo has initiated several cost reduction strategies to improve margins, which H.C. Wainwright believes could lead to increased free cash flow in the future.
The firm has maintained a Buy rating on Largo Resources, raising its price target to $3.90 from $3.70, citing optimism about operational improvements expected in 2025 and beyond. In another update, H.C. Wainwright had previously adjusted Largo’s price target to $3.70, down from $4.20, following the company’s 2024 production results. Largo reported producing 9,264 tonnes of vanadium, a 4% decrease year-over-year, and meeting its guidance range. Despite a 28% increase in annual ore production, a 22% decline in ore grade and a 5% decrease in recovery rates contributed to the reduced vanadium production.
Largo’s ilmenite concentrate production, however, showed promising results, aligning closely with sales volumes. H.C. Wainwright continues to express confidence in Largo’s strategic adjustments, maintaining a Buy rating even with the adjusted price targets.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.