UBS cuts Lundin Mining stock rating, lowers price target

Published 02/05/2025, 06:04
UBS cuts Lundin Mining stock rating, lowers price target

On Friday, UBS analysts downgraded Lundin Mining (OTC:LUNMF) Corp. (LUN:CN) (OTC: LUNMF) stock rating from Buy to Neutral and reduced the price target to Cdn$13.00 from Cdn$13.50. The decision comes in light of the company’s recent strategic moves and the broader economic context affecting the mining sector. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades at a relatively high P/E ratio of 839.65, with notably volatile price movements over the past year, showing a 22% decline.

According to UBS, Lundin Mining’s sale of its European assets is seen as a positive step, focusing the company on higher quality copper assets and strengthening its balance sheet. This move is expected to support Lundin’s future capital expenditures and growth, particularly through the Vicuna Joint Venture in Argentina. The company maintains a healthy financial position with a current ratio of 1.72 and a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, as reported by InvestingPro.

Despite the strategic benefits, UBS expressed concern over the impact of trade wars and market uncertainty on the company’s growth prospects. They forecast a challenging environment for Lundin Mining as it enters a period of high capital expenditure and potential negative free cash flow, coupled with increasing leverage. However, InvestingPro analysis reveals some positive indicators, including expected net income growth this year and a strong free cash flow yield of 10%. Subscribers can access 5 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis through the Pro Research Report, providing deeper insights into Lundin Mining’s future prospects.

UBS noted that while Lundin Mining is well-positioned for the medium to long term and could benefit from copper price increases, there is a considerable journey ahead. The firm anticipates that it will take several years for Lundin to de-risk its growth initiatives in Argentina.

As a result of these factors, UBS sees better risk versus reward opportunities in other copper equities over the next 12 months, citing Antofagasta PLC (LON:ANTO:LSE), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), and Anglo American (JO:AGLJ) PLC (AAL:LSE) as examples. The downgrade reflects a more cautious stance on Lundin Mining’s near-term prospects amid a complex global economic landscape.

In other recent news, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Lundin Mining Corp. with a Buy rating and set a price target of C$16.60. This decision is influenced by the promising prospects of Lundin Mining’s Vicuña project in Argentina, which is considered a significant copper opportunity. The project, in partnership with BHP, is expected to cost around $15 billion and could produce up to 480,000 tonnes of copper annually by the mid-2030s. Analysts from Goldman Sachs forecast a 15% internal rate of return for the project, assuming copper prices remain at $4.50 per pound. They suggest that the market may be undervaluing the Vicuña project, with its potential post-development value exceeding $30 billion. An update on the Filo del Sol sulphide resource is anticipated in the second quarter of 2025 and is seen as a key milestone. Goldman Sachs also notes that Lundin Mining might need additional equity funding of $2 to $2.5 billion beyond 2028. Options for raising this capital could include a sell-down of the Vicuña project, a shareholder loan from BHP, or issuing new equity.

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