Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shares tumble after conservatorship comments
On Thursday, Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James reaffirmed its Outperform rating and Cdn$1.20 price target for Orezone Gold Corp . (TSX:ORE:CN) (OTC: ORZCF). The company’s fourth-quarter financial results for 2024 slightly exceeded the firm’s expectations. According to InvestingPro data, Orezone maintains a healthy 44% gross profit margin and has demonstrated profitability over the last twelve months. The company, which operates the Bombore Mine in Burkina Faso, announced its 2024 production figures, achieving 119,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,447 per ounce. These numbers align with the company’s projected guidance of 110,000 to 125,000 ounces at an AISC of $1,400 to $1,475 per ounce.
The company is preparing for the first stage of its Phase II Expansion, which is expected to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2025. This expansion will include a new 2.5 million tonne per annum (tpa) hard rock plant, complementing the existing 6 million tpa oxide plant from Phase I. The expansion was initially presented in a study announced in October 2023, which outlined a larger plant and higher capital expenditure. However, in May 2024, Orezone decided to split the expansion into two stages to manage financing and reduce near-term capital needs.
In July, Orezone disclosed a financing package of $105 million for the first stage of the Phase II Expansion. A significant portion of this funding, a $58 million senior secured term loan from Coris Bank, was finalized in December 2024, with principal repayments set to start in January 2026. The company concluded the year with $74 million in cash and $29 million of undrawn debt. InvestingPro analysis shows the company operates with a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, maintaining a strong Altman Z-Score of 4.46, indicating solid financial health. For deeper insights into Orezone’s financial position and detailed valuation metrics, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro. Last week, Orezone completed an equity financing round, issuing 42.7 million shares at C$0.82 per share, raising C$35 million in gross proceeds. Following this, an over-allotment option was exercised earlier this week, adding 6.4 million shares for an additional C$5.3 million. Nioko Resources Corporation, the largest shareholder of Orezone, contributed $8.8 million to maintain its 19.9% ownership stake before the exercise of the over-allotment option.
Management at Orezone Gold anticipates that the first stage of the Phase II Expansion will boost gold production to between 170,000 and 180,000 ounces in 2026. The proceeds from the recent equity financing will be directed towards early works for the second stage of the Phase II Expansion, which involves enlarging the hard rock plant to 5 million tpa, with an estimated cost of $90 to $95 million. With a current market capitalization of $312 million and trading at an attractive EV/EBITDA multiple of 3.5x, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, presenting a potential opportunity for investors interested in gold mining expansion stories. This expansion is projected to increase annual production to between 220,000 and 250,000 ounces by late 2026. Alongside these developments, Orezone continues its exploration activities, with current reserves standing at 2.4 million ounces at an average pit depth of less than 40 meters, and measured and indicated (M&I) resources of 4.5 million ounces along a 14-kilometer strike. The company is also working towards obtaining a secondary listing on the Australian Securities Exchange by mid-2025.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.