Stillwater Mining Co. (SWC)

[ECole]

Q3 call transcript gives insight


http://www.earningsimpact.com/Transcript/84470/SWC/Stillwater-Mining-Company---Q3-2013-Earnings-Call

[Bill de MT]

It'll rebound. Always does. At least to $14.50. May not stay above $12 after this latest run. However, I'm surprised that it bounced off of $10 twice this year rather than hit sub-$8. I like trading SWC because it's so volatile and has well defined trading range.

[StockSleuth]

Hopefully, this can rebound like many of the metal companies indicated last week. Would be nice if it could hold and maintain $12+

[Bill de MT]

I'm still probably screwed for buying this last week. Bad decision. Hasn't quite wiped out the run of good trades I've made the last weeks. Patience, though- If I hold, it'll come back. Always has.

[Ichauway]

Looks like most of the big volume EOD was on the buy side.

[Bill de MT]

Yep. Pretty amazing for May.

[Ichauway]

Nice finish today !

[Ichauway]

Can it break 13. ?

[ironyman]

I'm here and going to ask hard questions.
1. What does everyone think about the Russian manipulation of the Platinum Group market and the attack on the board.
Is this company being real about the future?
Is this company being real about China and the effects on the PMG market?
Did the board hide information about a former deals going bad?
Should this company lock into a forward deal which locks in prices?
Should this company do any deals with groups in Russia?
Do you think that what SWC does,effects anything in this word in any way?

[Bill de MT]

Nice call on Feb 1 for the bounce. Haven't checked this board or SWC in awhile. Looks like it may bounce higher from here. Chart looks good and it went through its usual 5%-10% drop after a quarterly. Looking for at least 13.43 again.

[BSMeter]

From a technical standpoint, I think we bounce off these levels!

[BSMeter]

I have been in an d out of the stock for years and notice that from a technical perspective that if SWC can maintain and breakthrough the $13.90 level, it may want to go higher. Anyone have any insight on what is going on with the company?

[Bountiful_Harvest]

Short squeeze tomorrow! We could fly past $14 in one trading day.

[HoppaJohn]

American Elements Announces 2nd Annual Top Five "Endangered Elements" That Will Gravely Affect US Manufacturing

List of Most Threatened Metals on the Periodic Table Signal Danger for U.S. Industry
By American Elements
Published: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 - 6:13 am
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- There will be no more "Made in the USA," with millions of jobs lost if the United States doesn't start mining and stock piling certain strategic metals, according to Alisha A. Ahern, co-director of the Academics & Periodicals Department at American Elements, the global chemical and metals manufacturer which published the list. Today the company released its annual top five Endangered Elements List (EEL) of metals that can upset American Industry.

American Elements funds preparation of an annual EEL to help manufacturers, the government and consumers better understand the gravity of the situation. Twenty-first century metals such as copper, iron, nickel and tin have given way to critical metals, particularly the rare earths of which the US mines almost none.

"Today China mines a whopping 97 percent of all global rare earth production. America no longer has the resources to manufacture the things we invent," says Ahern. "Advanced metals like Niobium and Yttrium have become essential to thousands of household goods including computers, cell phones and cars. If we lose access or run out of these elements, there will be no more 'made in the USA.' "

According to American Elements CEO Michael Silver, this list goes to America's fundamental ability to generate prosperity, create jobs, defend itself and compete in the global economy. He adds, "Innovation is in fact only the starting point. To manufacture the products flowing from great ideas, a nation must also have access to the critical materials on which the discoveries are based."

The 2012 Endangered Elements List (EEL) describes this year's top five metals that can affect America's success in the 21st century.

2012 ENDANGERED ELEMENTS LIST

#5 NIOBIUM

Niobium is an essential ingredient in structural steel. It increases steel's strength and toughness. It is also used extensively in the super alloys from which jet engines are produced making it critical to the U.S. military and aerospace industries. Yet at present a single nation produces virtually all of the world's niobium. That nation is Brazil which last year produced 58,000 of the 63,000 total tons produced worldwide. Should Brazil suddenly discontinue niobium exports due to worker strikes, for political reasons or other events, it would have an immediate dramatic impact on global steel production. At present the U.S. produces no niobium importing 100% of its annual consumption in spite of the fact that one of the world's largest proven niobium deposits is located in Nebraska (Elk Creek Mine owned by Quantum Rare Earth Development Corp.)

#4 ANTIMONY

All car batteries, commonly referred to as lead-acid batteries, contain antimony to improve their charging ability. And this accounts for less than 20% of antimony's uses. In the form of antimony oxide, it is an essential ingredient in flame retardants required for fire protection. For the U.S. auto industry to compete with other newly emerging national auto industries, such as China's, America will require a ready access to antimony. Yet America produces no antimony and 90% of the world's antimony production comes only from China.

#3 STRONTIUM

Most only know strontium due to Strontium 90, an isotope of the element that is produced in nuclear fission reactions and is therefore a major component in the nuclear fallout from an atomic bomb blast. However, few know that strontium in the form of strontium nitrate is the propellant that causes air bags in cars to open. It is also heavily used in ceramic and glass production. Yet again the U.S. is 100% reliant on foreign producers, with 2 countries- China and Spain- controlling most of its production.

#2 PLATINUM

If you look at a periodic table you might note that all the metals found in a jewelry store are touching each other in a little island in the center. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium form a class of metals we commonly call the "precious metals" because unlike most other metals they always remain shiny and lustrous. However, they also share other even more significant properties for industry and science. They constitute the catalysts which run much of our modern industrial world. Look hard enough in the catalytic converter on your family car and you will find platinum, gold and/or palladium. We can make neither food nor energy without these precious metal catalysts. And these metals have far greater pressure on their availability and cost than other metals which derive their value based solely on their industrial importance. Precious metals have the additional demand pressure that comes from their inherent monetary value. Emerging nations such as India are consuming record volumes of gold simply for investment or decorative purposes. Yet, for example, the U.S. produces almost none of its platinum consumption. Nearly all of the world's platinum production coming from one country—South Africa—and much of the balance from Russia. The two countries combined account for 86% of world production. The heavy future demand for precious metals, particularly platinum, as catalysts in industry and as safe havens of choice for emerging wealth will put significant pressure on their availability in the future.

#1 YTTRIUM

The number of state of the art technologies that require yttrium are too many to list here. The toughest hardest commercial ceramic material known to man is made with yttrium (YSZ). YSZ can be found in hundreds of important applications from gas turbine blades to dental crowns. Like many advanced elements, when combined with other elements yttrium has numerous wholly unrelated magical properties that form the basis for future billion dollar industries. It is ionically conductive as YSZ which makes it the electrolyte in fuel cells. It is superconducting as yttrium-barium-copper oxide. Combined with aluminum or iron it forms a garnet that is the crystal in most commercial and medical lasers. Yttrium is in all automobile spark plugs. Access to yttrium will determine which nations will compete in manufacturing many of the innovations of the 21st Century. Yttrium is the last of a group of 17 metals at the very bottom of the periodic table known collectively as the lanthanide series or "rare earths." Each of the rare earth metals has its own unique set of properties that are critical to some future trillion dollar industry. #1 and #2 on last year's EEL were also rare earths (lanthanum and neodymium). Today China mines 97% of all global rare earth production. America presently produces from only one rare earth mine, the recently re-opened Molycorp mine in Mountain Pass, California which was closed in the 1990s. Other U.S. rare earth mines, such as the Ucore mine at Bokan Mountain, Alaska are years from approval unless the federal government and environmentalists can find a way to expedite the approval process.

American Elements is the world's manufacturer of engineered & advanced materials with corporate offices and primary research & laboratory facilities in the United States and manufacturing & warehousing in the United States, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom. www.americanelements.com

SOURCE American Elements

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/29/5018283/american-elements-announces-2nd.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/29/5018283/american-elements-announces-2nd.html

[highline]

Strange things going on with the commodity markets. In regards to platinum, price has been weakening but the demand for the actual precious metal seems to be increasing.

Seems something is not jiving with the platinum price and the reality of demand.

I just received a notice that catalytic converter prices would be seeing an increase over the next month due to platinum costing more. Doesn't seem quite right with the "spot" price of platinum not moving too much. The company I buy from said their price paid for the physical product (platinum) is going to increase.

*Seen 3 price drops throughout 2012 and this is the first increase.

[Bill de MT]

Good call. No idea where you came up with 13.05. You must have set your resistance line higher than mine based on that sideways movement in March. Mine is 12.91. Your line looks more accurate now. I'm out at 12.81. Didn't look like it was going to close over resistance like it did yesterday, so I'm out and looking to buy back in after a retrace. And not sure what it'll bounce off of- 11.18 and moving up daily, 12.08 to 12.12, or 12.24 are my best guesses. Leaning more towards 12.08 as it needs to test that support again. Definitely needs to come back inside the bollinger bands and it's pushing about its limits on the ULT.

Whatever- clearly this and the rest of the market is in a serious uptrend. Just hoping that it retraces rather than continues to move up. Been burned here before. But, odds are it'll come back down a bit.

And wondering if it's making a cup-and-handle formation. That'll take months to confirm, but could be really nice upside.

[Ichauway]

Missed calling the HOD by .04 so far. Maybe I'm improving. LOL Go SWC!

[Ichauway]

Then again, you are a better judge of this one than I am. I would be happy at 13.05 for the moment.

[Ichauway]

Would be wise to lock in some profits.

[Bill de MT]

Just got lucky. Wow! What a ride today. Hitting that 12.90 resistance. Deciding whether to stay in or get out. Looking at similar patterns over the last year. Could go either way tomorrow. But volume is weak compared to what it should be on a day like today and it's way up over the bollinger band- the smart thing would be to take profits and look for another entry on a pullback.

[Ichauway]

You have a better grip on this one than I do. LOL

[Bill de MT]

I was doing really well this year clawing my way back from some horrific losses last year. Should have sold TVIX and VXX when I was green and saw the sell signals. Oh well. S&P looks like it's topped out, ready to roll over, and test support at 1370-ish. If the Fed doesn't cut lose with QE3 in September, the S&P should drop even lower. Should be enough to drag TVIX and VXX up. Despite today's Fed minutes, I'm thinking QE3 won't happen. If it does happen, it'll be really ugly for me.

Spending actually little time trading and looking at charts. Checking a couple of times a day and maybe 15 minutes at night. Check iHub occassionally.

[bundyelvis]

I am in the same boat your in. Got killed on the vxx and tecs and swc and nova gold and gold. Bad year for stocks for me right now. Maybe I can make a strong finish. I had 1000 shares of SWC at 7.89. I could of made 3000. Crap. Platinum over 30.00 today. This is my last post. I am over 15 message. IHub would probably give me a margin call with my luck.

[Bill de MT]

Ain't trading stocks fun?

I made some money on this run, but sold 1.50 ago on some pretty solid sell signals. Didn't see this coming. And looked up until yesterday like the chart could fall apart. Now, it looks as though it may run a lot higher if it can break out over 10.84. Some pretty solid resistance here and the volume is tapering off.

My ass beating right now is with shorting the S&P. I'm still in VIX ETNs. Killing me. I know the market will pull back- just banking that the pull back will be enough to drag these POS ETNs back up to where I can get out with some skin. If SWC gets back under 8 anytime soon, I'll sell what I'm in and go back to trading what I know.

[bundyelvis]

I can't believe its at 10.50. I sold for a loss at 7.89 a couple weeks ago. I feel like a sucker.

[Bill de MT]

Sold earlier today at 9.12 for 8.6% gain. Looks like it hit some resistance and should retrace a bit. ...only bright spot in my trading in the last few weeks.

[mopower2u]

Boy, that guy at Steiful Nicolas is really "talking his book" because many small investors have left the market.

DON'T WORRY, EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE. WHAT ELSE COULD HE SAY...HE'S PROTECTING HIS LIVELYHOOD.

Just another case of fleecing the small investor BUT IT'S OK!!

lts...SHINE ON

[highline]

Latest Market Glitch Shows 'Trading Out of Control':

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48443271

[bundyelvis]

Looks like the shorts are out in full force.

[bundyelvis]

I did listen to it but it was too late. I sold on the 24th.

[mopower2u]

Apparently, you didn't read my post(#848). The article spells it out clearly.


LTS...shine on

[bundyelvis]

Go figure. I buy it at 7.96 and it goes down everyday. I sell at 7.80 for a loss and it goes up everyday. I think there is a camera in my house watching when I buy and sell. The investors short it down under 8.00 and all the sheep follow by selling. Then they cover and run it back up and the sheep buy back in at 9.00 only to get fleeced when the shorters come back in. What a game.

[Ichauway]

8.80, nice finish.

[bundyelvis]

Poor shorts got there heads handed to them.

[bundyelvis]

Short covering. Wonder when the shorts are going to start there crap again and take it down to the 7's again. I am learning there game the hard way.

[Ichauway]

The Bulls had it today.

[bundyelvis]

ou re right. I should not of sold. I am on margin and can't take the chance on the earnings missing. Look at American Barrick and Nova Gold. abx ng

[mopower2u]

Bundy, interesting follow up article on stock and the market. Check this out...

http://www.silver-prices.net/home/the-new-economic-collapse-video-it-makes-uncomfortable-but-u.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SilverPrices+%28Silver+Prices%29

LTS...shine on

[bundyelvis]

Good post. I agree.

[Bill de MT]

If you sold at break even or better, that's a smart move. After looking at the chart, it'll probably move up more but the risk is too great, IMO. Nice bounce up today, but don't know how much more it'll bounce.

This morning's PR on production is good news and in-line with 2011 production for palladium. However, when SWC hit 25 in 2011, the spot price for palladium was 873/ounce. It's 565 right now and appears trending lower. Plus, SWC took on a pile of debt after the 2011 high, expanded into copper and gold (still hasn't seen any profits from that move yet), and there seems to be some legal problems with mining in Argentina.

I might be too cynical, but releasing those production figures before earnings call seems to be a play on SWC's part to attract investor interest before some really crappy numbers come out.

Wondering if I'm going to get out of this with any profit or if I'll be looking for the bottom to average down.

[bundyelvis]

Had to sell. Can not afford to be on margin through earnings report.

[bundyelvis]

Looks like the shorts reloaded at 7.92. More down side for the dow until stemulis goes in effect. The dow will finish red today taking down even the miners. Gold will continue to go up this week and we should recover here SWC.

[bundyelvis]

Hoping the shorts get burned. The talking heads say the Metals are going higher in the next few days. We have earnings coming out on the 30th. From what I read in the PR looks like they may beat the est.

[USSilverBug]

Glad to hear. I hate the manipulation that comes from wall street. Everyone knows the PM stocks are kept down to support the shorting of the physical PMs. There will come a day of reckoning.

[bundyelvis]

Thanks. I didn't sell. I read the PR this morning. Great news. They mined 253,000 ounces this year and not much less than last year when the stock was at 25.00. We are way undervalued as you said.

[USSilverBug]

bundyelvis,
Don't capitulate to the evil bankers on wall street. That's exactly what they want you to do! You bought SWC because it was undervalued in the low $8's. It is WAY undervalued now and will go back to $10 in short order. I would hate to see you lose on such a good stock and let wall street beat another main street into submission. Hang in there my friend and wait for it to come back. It will!
-bug

[bundyelvis]

7.59 I am closing my account today. After today I will never lose money in the stock market again. I am done. Good Luck all.

[bundyelvis]

Anyone have a guess on how the earnings are going to go??????????

[bundyelvis]

Had to buy this low. 7.94.

[bundyelvis]

Shorts are covering. The Shorts that shorted at 8.00 are getting burned good.