Nobody likes the junior mining companies these days. Gold, silver and commodity prices in general are all soaring. Yet the tiny explorers can hardly catch a bid. How long can this persist?
Truth be told, the juniors are set up to throw quite a party. Think back to your most memorable high school “extra curricular activity” and let’s get ready for a replay. Toss in financial rewards as a bonus.
Junior explorers are tiny, efficient and mobile. They do the heavy lifting in global resource discoveries. Especially the Canadian companies. If you’re Canadian and have a geological background you likely also have wanderlust. Have drill- will travel!
On the other hand, the larger “senior” gold mining companies have a long standing and clear cut problem. They produce gold each and every year and thereby chew through their quantified reserves. These reserves must be replaced or the company’s reason for existence goes away.
The seniors are not the ones who find the largest percentage of gold deposits. They have been maintaining or growing reserves through mergers and acquisitions for several years now. When Newmont Mining (NEM) acquired Franco Nevada in 2002 there were zero new ounces of gold reserves created. One company simply went away and a larger company was created. The same thing happened when Barrick Gold (ABX) took out Placer Dome in 2006.
The larger gold companies do most everything through committee. They have a level of bureaucracy that isn’t present in the small companies. The juniors can act quicker in staking a property or deal making. Qualified geological personnel are in short supply due to the decades-long resource bear market of yesteryear. When a Barrick Gold geologist makes a discovery he gets a big thank you and maybe a pretty plaque. When a geologist with a tiny micro-cap explorer makes one he’s found the mother lode. He has tremendous financial incentive to succeed through company stock, options or warrants.High quality geological talent has moved to the juniors.
I’ve been aware of this game of “reserve replacement” problems for over 10 years. The seniors need gold and they will inevitably have to come looking in the direction of smaller companies with proven goods. Guess who?
The seniors don’t like to pay up, but they inevitably do. Goldcorp (GG) bought out junior Virginia Gold’s Eleonor gold discovery in a deal valued at $475 million. Those of us who bought shares early saw returns of $50 to $100 for every initial dollar invested. If you find it, they will pay. So, how are the companies doing that are designated the most significant gold finders?
Junior stocks have hit the skids over the last 12 months. When the relative strength index has gone near or below 50 this decade a rally has ensued. We’re there again. The juniors are oversold.
Stocks like the old Virginia Gold are best bought during such times of overall sector weakness. They are on sale. If Buffet advocates buying “straw hats in winter” we can correspondingly buy Canadian parkas in summer.
Yes, the biggest mining companies must replace their reserves. They will be looking to quality junior projects with proven ounces in the ground. The juniors are set to throw a monster ball.
