Wheaton Precious Metals — Q121 results preview

Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX: WPM)

Last close As at 28/03/2024

CAD62.79

2.16 (3.56%)

Market capitalisation

CAD27,470m

More on this equity

Research: Metals & Mining

Wheaton Precious Metals — Q121 results preview

IIn the context of known production and sales, Q420 financial results were closely in line with our expectations, while results for the full year were characterised by record annual revenues and operating cash flows. In conjunction with virtually extinguished net debt, these caused management to increase Wheaton Precious Metals’ (WPM’s) declared quarterly dividend by 30% to US$0.13/share per quarter. After the conclusion of a series of new precious metals purchase agreements in the past 12 months (eg Marmato, Cozamin, Santo Domingo), we estimate that gold equivalent production will rise 13.3% in FY21, driving continued increases in earnings and revenues, notwithstanding the recent relative weakness in precious metals prices.

Lord Ashbourne

Written by

Lord Ashbourne

Director of Content, Mining

Metals & Mining

Wheaton Precious Metals

Q121 results preview

Q420/FY20 results and Q121 preview

Metals & mining

31 March 2021

Price

C$47.76

Market cap

C$21,467m

C$1.2571/US$

Net debt* (US$m) at end-December

2.3

*Excludes US$3.6m in lease liabilities

Shares in issue

449.5m

Free float

100%

Code

WPM

Primary exchange

TSX

Secondary exchange

LSE, NYSE

Share price performance

%

1m

3m

12m

Abs

4.6

(13.1)

20.6

Rel (local)

1.0

(18.5)

(15.9)

52-week high/low

C$75.14

C$38.73

Business description

Wheaton Precious Metals is the world’s pre-eminent ostensibly precious metals streaming company, with 32 high-quality precious metals streaming and early deposit agreements relating to assets in Mexico, Peru, Canada, Brazil, Chile, USA, Argentina, Sweden, Greece, Portugal & Colombia.

Next events

Q121 results

6 May 2021

Q221 results

12 August 2021

Q321 results

4 November 2021

Q420/FY20 results

March 2022

Analyst

Charles Gibson

+44 (0)20 3077 5724

Wheaton Precious Metals is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

In the context of known production and sales, Q420 financial results were closely in line with our expectations, while results for the full year were characterised by record annual revenues and operating cash flows. In conjunction with virtually extinguished net debt, these caused management to increase Wheaton Precious Metals’ (WPM’s) declared quarterly dividend by 30% to US$0.13/share per quarter. After the conclusion of a series of new precious metals purchase agreements in the past 12 months (eg Marmato, Cozamin, Santo Domingo), we estimate that gold equivalent production will rise 13.3% in FY21, driving continued increases in earnings and revenues, notwithstanding the recent relative weakness in precious metals prices.

Year end

Revenue (US$m)

PBT*
(US$m)

EPS*
(c)

DPS
(c)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/19

861.3

242.7

54

36

70.4

0.9

12/20

1,096.2

503.2

112

42

33.9

1.1

12/21e

1,312.0

680.0

151

59

25.2

1.6

12/22e

1,637.3

924.6

205

78

18.5

2.0

Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.

Almost total recovery from coronavirus disruptions

While future stoppages on account of COVID-19 cannot be entirely discounted, of the six of Wheaton’s partners’ mines that were directly affected by shutdowns and suspensions in FY20, five are now at, or close to, full capacity with only the relatively small Los Filos still producing below par (albeit for different reasons).

Longer-term exposure to major projects

In the medium to longer term, WPM has exposure to a number of large-scale projects, which will contribute to its production, earnings and cash flow, including Rosemont and Salobo III. As a consequence, WPM has recently increased its production guidance for FY21–25 from 750koz AuE pa to 810koz AuE pa and for FY21–30 to 830koz AuE per annum. Thereafter, it also has exposure to projects and assets such as Salobo IV and Pascua-Lama not yet included in its guidance.

Valuation: US$62.07/share

In normal circumstances and assuming no material purchases of additional streams in the foreseeable future (which we think unlikely given its business strategy), we forecast a value per share for WPM of US$62.07 or C$78.03 in FY23 (cf US$53.37 and C$67.44 previously). In the meantime, WPM’s shares are trading on near-term financial ratios that are cheaper than the averages of its peers on 86% of nine common valuation measures using our forecasts and 69% using consensus forecasts. Alternatively, if WPM’s shares were to trade at the same level as the average of its peers, then we estimate that its share price should be US$62.90 (C$79.07), based on Edison’s forward earnings, dividend and cash flow estimates. If precious metals return to favour, however, we believe that WPM is capable of supporting a premium valuation up to US$84.17 (C$106.36) per share.

Q420/FY20 results

Wheaton’s Q420/FY20 results were provided in the context of production and sales that were already known from the company’s production update of 11 February (see Edison’s note Looking to the long term, published on 17 February 2021). Among other things, the update indicated that the normal inventory cycle experienced by WPM, whereby sales are ‘flushed through’ and ounces produced but not delivered (PBND) decline in the fourth quarter of the year, had been (perhaps not surprisingly) disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed a quarter (Q3) in which silver inventories, in particular, increased modestly after declining sharply in Q2. By contrast gold ounces produced but not yet delivered to Wheaton declined in each of the three quarters from Q2–Q420 (inclusive). Otherwise, financial results were closely in line with our prior expectations, the only material variances being general and administrative costs, which were materially below our expectations (even on an underlying basis – see Exhibit 6), and a net interest charge that was slightly above. A summary of Wheaton’s financial and operating results in the context of both its results in the preceding quarters and Edison’s prior forecasts is as follows:

Exhibit 1: Wheaton Precious Metals underlying Q420 results vs Q320 and Q420e, by quarter*

US$000s
(unless otherwise stated)

Q419

Q120

Q220

Q320

Q420e

Q420a

Change
**(%)

Variance
***(%)

Variance
***(units)

FY20e

FY20a

Silver production (koz)

5,962

6,704

3,650

6,028

6,509

22,892

Gold production (oz)

107,225

94,707

88,631

91,770

93,137

367,419

Palladium production (koz)

6,057

5,312

5,759

5,444

5,672

22,187

Silver sales (koz)

4,684

4,928

4,729

4,999

4,576

4,576

-8.5

0.0

0

19,232

19,232

Gold sales (oz)

89,223

100,405

92,804

90,101

86,243

86,243

-4.3

0.0

0

369,553

369,553

Palladium sales (koz)

5,312

4,938

4,976

5,546

4,591

4,591

-17.2

0.0

0

20,051

20,051

Avg realised Ag price (US$/oz)

17.36

17.03

16.73

24.69

24.44

24.72

0.1

1.1

0.28

20.71

20.78

Avg realised Au price (US$/oz)

1,483

1,589

1,716

1,906

1,875

1,882

-1.3

0.4

7

1,765

1,767

Avg realised Pd price (US$/oz)

1,804

2,298

1,917

2,182

2,349

2,348

7.6

0.0

-1

2,183

2,183

Avg Ag cash cost (US$/oz)

5.13

4.50

5.23

5.89

5.98

5.51

-6.5

-7.9

-0.47

5.39

5.28

Avg Au cash cost (US$/oz)

426

436

418

428

426

433

1.2

1.6

7

424

426

Avg Pd cash cost (US$/oz)

321

402

353

383

423

423

10.4

0.0

0

389

389

Sales

223,222

254,789

247,954

307,268

284,348

286,213

-6.9

0.7

1,865

1,094,359

1,096,224

Cost of sales

Cost of sales, excluding depletion

63,764

66,908

65,211

70,119

66,035

64,524

-8.0

-2.3

-1,511

268,273

266,763

Depletion

63,645

64,841

58,661

60,601

57,862

59,786

-1.3

3.3

1,924

241,965

243,889

Total cost of sales

127,408

131,748

123,872

130,720

123,898

124,310

-4.9

0.3

412

510,238

510,652

Earnings from operations

95,814

123,040

124,082

176,548

160,450

161,902

-8.3

0.9

1,452

584,121

585,572

Expenses and other income

– General and administrative

11,695

13,181

21,799

21,326

13,627

9,391

-56.0

-31.1

-4,236

69,933

65,698

– Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

0

0

0

0

0

N/A

N/A

0

0

– Net interest paid/(received)

9,607

7,118

4,636

2,766

1,519

2,196

-20.6

44.6

677

16,039

16,715

– Other (income)/expense

814

-1,861

234

391

850

117.4

N/A

850

(1,236)

(387)

Total expenses and other income

22,116

18,438

26,669

24,483

15,145

12,437

-49.2

-17.9

-2,708

84,735

82,026

Earnings before income taxes

73,698

104,602

97,413

152,065

145,305

149,465

-1.7

2.9

4,160

499,386

503,546

Income tax expense/(recovery)

(3,447)

8,442

59

58

250

24

-58.6

-90.4

-226

8,809

211

Marginal tax rate (%)

(4.7)

8.1

0.1

0.0

0.2

0.0

N/A

-100.0

-0.2

1.8

0.0

Net earnings

77,145

96,160

97,354

152,007

145,055

149,441

-1.7

3.0

4,386

490,577

503,335

Average no. shares in issue (000s)

446,802

447,805

448,636

449,125

449,125

449,320

0.0

0.0

195

448,673

448,964

Basic EPS (US$)

0.17

0.215

0.217

0.338

0.323

0.333

-1.5

3.1

0.01

1.093

1.12

Diluted EPS (US$)

0.17

0.214

0.216

0.336

0.321

0.331

-1.5

3.1

0.01

1.091

1.12

DPS (US$)

0.09

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.12

0.12

20.0

0.0

0.00

0.42

0.42

Source: Wheaton Precious Metals, Edison Investment Research. Note: *As reported by WPM, excluding exceptional items. **Q420 vs Q320. ***Q420 actual vs Q420 estimate.

Readers will note that the tax expense for the full year does not equal the sum of the tax expenses for the individual quarters. In the case of Q120, in particular, a deferred income tax expense of US$8.4m was recognised (being primarily related to the reversal of deferred income tax assets on previously recognised non-capital and capital losses, which offset unrealised capital gains relating to the company’s long-term equity investments) and it is likely that this was subsequently reversed later in the year.

From an operational perspective, production from Sudbury, Constancia, Los Filos and Zinkgruvan was slightly below our expectations, while that from San Dimas, Antamina and Stratoni, in particular, was above (for the second quarter in succession in the cases of Antamina and San Dimas). At the same time, notably positive sales performances (relative to production) were recorded at Minto and the 777 mine. Of the six of Wheaton’s partners’ mines that were directly affected by shutdowns and suspensions earlier in the year, almost all are now at or close to full capacity:

Exhibit 2: Mines affected by COVID-19 performance in Q220

Name

Approximate percentage of ‘normal’ production achieved

Comment

Q220

Q320

Q420

Penasquito

47%

97%

100%

Production halted in early April in line with Mexican government decree; restarted at the beginning of June and reached pre-coronavirus record throughput rates by mid-June.

San Dimas

67%

100%

100%

Production halted in early April in line with Mexican government decree; restarted again in late May. Delays in supply of parts and equipment for mill modernisation and optimisation programmes mean that installation of high intensity grinding mill will not occur until Q221.

Antamina

53%

100%

100%

Production suspended in mid-April; restarted in late May after Peruvian government decreed mining to be an ‘essential’ industry. Outperformance in Q3 and Q4 attributed to higher grades and throughput, partially offset by lower recovery.

Constancia*

34–38%

42–64%

100%

Production furloughed at the end of March; resumed at full capacity in mid-May after Peruvian government deemed mining an ‘essential’ industry. Ramp up to full production once again achieved in Q420, but lower grades generally cf FY19 and strict ongoing COVID-19 measures and controls.

Yauliyacu

48%

100%

79%

Shut 2 April; restarted mid-May after Peruvian government deemed the mining industry to be ‘essential’.

Los Filos

19%

47%

16%

Production halted in early April in line with Mexican government decree; restarted 5 May.

Source: Edison Investment Research, Wheaton Precious Metals. Note: *Underlying excluding contractual delivery of 2,005oz gold in respect of delay in mining Pampacancha deposit.

Readers should note however that, although Los Filos production figures in the fourth quarter remained below normal levels, the cause, in this case, was an illegal blockade which caused a temporary suspension of mining activities, rather than COVID-19, and that the mine was restarted on 23 December 2020.

In the meantime, according to Vale’s most recent performance report, physical completion of the Salobo III mine expansion was at 68% at end-Q420 (cf 62% at end-Q3, 54% at end-Q2, 47% at end-Q1, 40% at end-Q419 and 27% at end-Q319) and remains on schedule for start-up in H122.

Ounces produced but not yet delivered, aka inventory

Production and sales figures were already known from Wheaton’s earlier production update. As expected, the sales shortfall of 7.2% of gold ounces relative to production in Q420 was in line with the historical quarterly average since Q112. At 30% of production, the silver sales shortfall relative to production was larger than the historical average of 11.4%, although consistent with the period Q319–Q120.

Exhibit 3: Over/(under) sale of silver and gold as a percentage of production, Q112–Q420

Source: Edison Investment Research, Wheaton Precious Metals. Note: As reported.

As at 31 December, payable ounces attributable to WPM produced but not yet delivered to WPM amounted to 4.5Moz silver and 71,590oz gold (cf 3.4Moz silver and 75,750oz gold as at end-September and 3.2Moz silver and 79,632oz gold as at end-June). This ‘inventory’ equated to 2.35 and 2.33 months of FY20 silver and gold production, respectively (cf 1.80 and 2.51 months as at end-Q320 and 1.62 and 2.59 months as at end-Q220) and compares with WPM’s target level of two months of silver and two to three months of gold and palladium production, respectively.

Exhibit 4: WPM ounces produced but not yet delivered, Q316–Q320 (months of production)

Source: Edison Investment Research, Wheaton Precious Metals. Note: As reported.

Note that, for these purposes, the use of the term ‘inventory’ reflects ounces produced by WPM’s operating counterparties at the mines over which it has streaming agreements, but which have not yet been delivered to WPM. It in no way reflects the other use of the term in the mining industry itself, where it typically refers to metal in circuit and ore on stockpiles etc.

FY21: Five-year and 10-year guidance

In the event, silver production in FY20 exceeded the top end of WPM’s revised guidance range by 1.7% and was within the company’s original (pre-coronavirus crisis) guidance range, while gold production was within WPM’s revised guidance range and within 5.8% of its original (pre-coronavirus crisis) range. Towards the top end of the revised guidance range, gold equivalent production was therefore within 1.9% of achieving its original guidance range.

In addition to its results, WPM provided production guidance of 720–780koz AuE for FY21, updated five-year production guidance from its operations of 810,000oz AuE per annum and maiden 10-year guidance of 830,000oz AuE per annum. This compares with prior guidance of 750,000oz AuE per annum on average for the period FY20–24 (inclusive) and with Edison’s (updated) forecasts as follows:

Exhibit 5: WPM precious metals production – Edison forecasts vs guidance

FY20

FY21e

**FY22–25

FY26–30

Current Edison forecast

Silver production (Moz)

*22.9

24.3

Gold production (koz)

*367.4

374.6

Cobalt production (klb)

*0

2,100

Palladium production (koz)

*22.2

22.2

Gold equivalent (koz)

*671.7

761

788

778

WPM guidance

Silver production (Moz)

21.5–22.5

22.5–24.0

Gold production (koz)

365–385

370–400

Cobalt & palladium production (koz AuE)

0

40–45

Palladium production (koz)

23.0–24.5

N/A

Gold equivalent (koz)

655–685

720–780

810

830

Source: Wheaton Precious Metals, Edison Investment Research forecasts. Note: *Actual; **Edison forecasts include a contribution from Salobo III from FY23e and Rosemont from FY25e.

Wheaton’s updated five-year guidance and its 10-year guidance are now based on standardised pricing assumptions of US$1,800/oz Au, US$25.00/oz Ag, US$2,300/oz Pd and US$17.75/lb Co, compared to US$1,500/oz Au, US$18.00/oz Ag, US$2,000/oz Pd and US$16.00/lb Co previously. Of note in this context is the reduction of the gold/silver ratio to 72.0x from 83.3x previously, and compared with a ratio of 69.8x currently and a long-term average of 61.5x (as implied by silver’s correlation with gold since the latter was demonetised in 1971). Readers should note that Edison’s (updated) production forecasts are 2.7% below WPM’s guidance for FY22–25 and 6.2% below its guidance for FY26–30. However, this difference is largely negated in its translation into financial results by the fact that sales have historically been recorded at a level c 8.5% below production (at prevailing prices) whereas Edison’s financial forecasts typically assume that the two are closely aligned. Moreover, our forecasts exclude (for the moment) any contribution from Santo Domingo (see below), which we expect to be in the order of 42,350oz Au per annum on average in the period FY24–25 and 25,520oz Au per annum on average in the period FY26–30.

Short-term outlook

In the short term, First Majestic has announced plans to increase production at San Dimas by restarting mining operations at the past-producing Tayoltita mine and expects to ramp up production to add another 300tpd (12%) to throughput. In addition, it intends to install a new 3,000tpd high-intensity grinding mill circuit and an autogenous grinding mill in Q221 to further improve recoveries and reduce operating costs. Production of palladium and gold at Stillwater (operated by Sibanye-Stillwater) will similarly increase into FY21 under the influence of the Fill-the-Mill project at East Boulder (although the Blitz project has now been delayed by two years, until 2024, following the suspension of growth capital activities owing to COVID-19).

Similarly, Hudbay expects gold production from its Constancia mine in Peru to increase by 263.0% in FY21 and silver production to increase by 22.3% (of which, WPM is entitled to 50% and 100%, respectively). Notwithstanding these increases, we expect production to remain at lower levels than would otherwise have been the case had the Pampacancha satellite deposit (which hosts significantly higher gold grades than those mined hitherto) been in operation for the entire 12-month period. Nevertheless, Hudbay reports that it has now received the final mining permit for Pampacancha and that it commenced pre-development activities in January with a view to pre-stripping once the one remaining individual land user agreement has been completed. Consequently, it expects to start mining at Pampacancha ‘later in 2021.’ Note that, until Pampacancha is in production, WPM continues to be entitled to receive an additional 2,005oz gold per quarter from Hudbay relative to its precious metals purchase agreement (PMPA).

Medium-term outlook

Santo Domingo

On 25 March, WPM announced that it had entered into a definitive PMPA with Capstone Mining regarding the Santo Domingo project in the Atacama region of Chile. Under the terms of the proposed PMPA, WPM will acquire 100% of the gold production of Santo Domingo until 285,000oz gold have been delivered, whereupon the stream will drop to 67% of gold production for the remainder of the life of the mine. WPM will pay Capstone a total cash consideration of US$290m for the stream, of which US$30m will be payable upon closing (subject to certain customary conditions) with the remainder payable during the construction of the project. In addition, WPM will make ongoing delivery payments equal to 18% of the spot price of gold until the market value of gold delivered to the company, net of the per ounce cash payment, exceeds the initial upfront cash deposit, at which point it will make payments equal to 22% of the spot price of gold.

The Santo Domingo project is forecast to be a bottom cost quartile copper mine with an 18-year mine life. Attributable gold production is forecast to be 35–40koz per annum for the first five full years of production and 25–30koz for the first 10 full years, with construction commencing in late 2021 and with the first full year of production expected to be 2024.

In crude terms therefore, we estimate that WPM is acquiring an average annual positive cash flow of c US$40.5m over the first 10 years of the mine’s life for an upfront consideration of US$290m. Note that, pending final closing of the transaction, cash flows from Santo Domingo are not yet included in our WPM forecasts.

Longer-term outlook

Salobo

On 24 October 2018, Vale announced the approval of the Salobo III brownfields mine expansion, intended to increase processing capacity at Salobo from 24Mtpa to 36Mtpa, with start-up scheduled for H122 and an estimated ramp-up time of 15 months. According to its agreement with Vale, depending on the grade of the material processed, WPM will be required to make a payment to Vale in respect of this expansion, which WPM estimates will be US$570–670m in FY23, in return for which it will be entitled to its full 75% attributable share of expanded gold production. This compares to its purchase of a 25% stream in August 2016 for a consideration of US$800m (see our note, Going for gold, published on 30 August 2016), the US$900m it paid for a similar stream in March 2015 (when the gold price averaged US$1,179/oz) and the US$1.33bn that it paid for its original 25% stream in February 2013.

According to Vale’s Q420 performance report, the Salobo III mine expansion is now 68% complete (cf 62% at the end of Q320, 54% at the end of Q220, 47% at the end of Q120, 40% at the end of Q419 and 27% at the end of Q319) and remains on schedule for start-up in H122.

Once Salobo III has been completed however, Wheaton now believes that reserves and resources could support a further 33% capacity increase at Salobo, from 90ktpd to 120ktpd (so-called Salobo IV). Despite its long-term underground mining potential, WPM believes that such an expansion could nevertheless still be supported by output from the open pit. Under the terms of its agreement with Vale, there would be no additional payment due from Wheaton in respect of this expansion, although Vale could exercise a right to alter the timing of the incremental payment due in respect of Salobo III.

Pascua-Lama

Wheaton’s contract with Barrick provides for a completion test that, if unfulfilled by 30 June 2020, resulted in WPM being entitled to the return of its upfront cash consideration of US$625m less a credit for any silver delivered up to that date from three other Barrick mines (at which point it would have no further streaming interest in the mine). Given the test was unfulfilled, we calculate that WPM had the right to an estimated US$252.3m (the carrying value of Pascua-Lama in WPM’s accounts) repayment from Barrick in FY20. Given the long-term optionality provided by the Pascua-Lama project, however, Wheaton instead opted not to enforce the repayment of its entitlement and to instead maintain its streaming interest in the project (which was originally expected to deliver an attributable 1.7–12.0Moz silver pa, averaging 5.2Moz Ag pa, to WPM at a cost of US$3.90/oz (inflating at 1% per year).

Rosemont

Another major project with which WPM has a streaming agreement for attributable gold and silver production is Rosemont copper in Arizona.

The proposed Rosemont development is near a number of large porphyry-type producing copper mines and would be one of the largest three copper mines in the US, with output of c 112,000t copper in concentrate per year and accounting for c 10% of total US copper production. Total by-product production of silver and gold attributable to WPM is estimated to be c 2.7Moz Ag pa and c 16,100oz Au pa.

Rosemont’s operator Hudbay has received both a Section 404 Water Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers and a Mine Plan of Operations from the US Forest Service. The Section 404 permit regulates the discharge of fill material into waterways according to the Clean Water Act and was effectively the final material administrative step before the mine could be developed. Subsequently, Hudbay indicated it would seek board approval to start construction work by the end of CY19, which would have enabled first production ‘by the end of 2022’. In the meantime, it started early works to run concurrently with financing activities (including a potential joint venture partner).

On 31 July 2019, however, the US District Court for the District of Arizona issued a ruling relating to a number of lawsuits challenging the US Forest Service’s issuance of the Final Record of Decision effectively halting construction, saying that:

the US Forest Service ‘abdicated its duty to protect the Coronado National Forest’ when it failed to consider whether the mining company held valid unpatented mining claims; and

the Forest Service had ‘no factual basis to determine that Rosemont had valid unpatented mining claims’ on 2,447 acres and the claims were invalid under the Mining Law of 1872.

In response, Hudbay said that it believed the ruling to be without precedent and that the court had misinterpreted federal mining laws and Forest Service regulations as they apply to Rosemont. It pointed out that the Forest Service issued its decision in 2017 after a ‘thorough process of 10 years involving 17 co-operating agencies at various levels of government, 16 hearings, over 1,000 studies, and 245 days of public comment resulting in more than 36,000 comments’ and with a long list of studies that have examined the potential effects of the proposed mine on the environment. Hudbay also pointed out that various agencies had accepted that the company could operate the mine in compliance with environmental laws. As a result, Hudbay is appealing the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which it expects to be successful, not least as a result of there being legal precedents to its waste disposal plan. As an alternative, however, it is also able to adapt its plan to accommodate its waste dumps on privately owned, patented land alone, if necessary.

Once in production, we estimate Rosemont will contribute c 16,750oz gold and 2.7Moz silver to WPM’s production profile in return for an upfront payment of US$230m in two instalments of US$50m and US$180m (of which neither has yet been paid). Note that, whereas before, we had not included Rosemont in our longer-term forecasts, we are now including it from FY25.

Other potential future growth

WPM reports that it is as busy as it has ever been on the corporate development front. Whereas potential deals in FY19 were generally reported to be with development companies in the US$100–350m range, more recent overtures are reported to have been from producing companies, especially within the base metals sub-sector, looking to strengthen their balance sheets with mooted transactions in the >US$1bn range. In the first instance, WPM would fund any such transactions via the US$1,805m available under its revolving credit facility, plus US$192.7m in cash (as at end-FY20) and, potentially, its US$300m at-the-market equity programme.

While it is difficult, or impossible, to predict potential future stream acquisition targets with any degree of certainty, it is possible to highlight two that may be of interest to WPM in due course for which it already has strong, existing counterparty relationships:

the platinum group metal (PGM) by-product stream at Sudbury (operated by Vale); and

the 50% of the gold output at Constancia that is currently not subject to any streaming arrangement.

Otherwise, WPM also has streaming agreements with other potential producing mines, including (but not limited to) Navidad and Cotabambas.

General and administrative expenses

WPM provided guidance for non-stock general and administrative (G&A) expenses of US$42–45m (or US$10.5–11.25m per quarter) in FY21, compared to a guided range of US$40–43m in FY20 and an actual outcome of US$38.7m (ie 3.1% below the bottom of the range), including all employee-related expenses, charitable contributions, etc, but excluding performance share units (PSUs) and equity settled stock-based compensation.

Exhibit 6: WPM Q419-FY21 general and administrative expense (US$000s)

Item

FY21

FY20

Q420

Q320

Q220

Q120

FY19

Q419

G&A excluding PSU* and equity settled stock-based compensation

16,733

4,466

4,037

4,095

4,135

13,840

7,434

Other (inc. depreciation, donations and professional fees)

22,013

5,957

5,488

6,302

4,266

17,802

Sub-total

38,746

10,423

9,525

10,397

8,401

31,642

7,434

Guidance

42,000–45,000

40,000–43,000

33,000–36,000

PSU* accrual

21,520

(2,336)

10,482

10,097

3,277

17,174

2,830

Equity settled stock-based compensation

5,432

1,305

1,319

1,305

1,503

5,691

1,432

Total general & administrative

65,698

9,392

21,326

21,799

13,181

54,507

11,696

Total/sub-total (%)

+69.6

-9.9

+123.9

+109.7

+56.9

+72.3

+57.3

Source: Wheaton Precious Metals, Edison Investment Research. Note: *Performance share units.

Investors are reminded that stock-based compensation costs and PSUs are now included in our financial forecasts in Exhibits 7 and 11 notwithstanding their inherently unpredictable nature.

FY21 updated forecasts by quarter

Our updated forecasts for WPM for FY21 are as shown in Exhibit 7, below. The forecasts assume that operations will continue throughout the remainder of the year without major interruptions. Apart from precious metals prices, the principal remaining risk to our forecasts relates to the extent to which sales differ from production and therefore the extent to which inventory (in the form of ounces produced but not yet delivered to Wheaton) either increases or decreases during the year.

Exhibit 7: Wheaton Precious Metals FY20 forecast, by quarter*

US$000s
(unless otherwise stated)

FY20

Q121e

Q221e

Q321e

Q421e

FY21e

Silver production (koz)

22,892

6,049

6,061

6,086

6,086

24,281

Gold production (oz)

367,419

92,925

93,925

91,830

95,930

374,610

Palladium production (koz)

22,187

5,561

5,561

5,561

5,561

22,244

Silver sales (koz)

19,232

6,049

6,061

6,086

6,086

24,281

Gold sales (oz)

369,553

92,892

93,892

91,797

95,897

374,478

Palladium sales (oz)

20,051

5,539

5,539

5,539

5,539

22,155

Avg realised Ag price (US$/oz)

20.78

26.29

24.61

24.61

24.61

25.03

Avg realised Au price (US$/oz)

1,767

1,799

1,718

1,718

1,718

1,738

Avg realised Pd price (US$/oz)

2,183

2,403

2,538

2,352

2,353

2,411

Avg Ag cash cost (US$/oz)

5.28

6.10

6.04

6.05

6.05

6.06

Avg Au cash cost (US$/oz)

426

429

427

429

428

428

Avg Pd cash cost (US$/oz)

389

432

457

423

424

434

Sales

1,096,224

339,453

324,515

320,513

327,562

1,312,043

Cost of sales

Cost of sales, excluding depletion

266,763

79,116

79,218

78,480

80,162

316,976

Depletion

243,889

62,089

62,339

59,635

63,042

247,105

Total cost of sales

510,652

141,205

141,557

138,115

143,204

564,081

Earnings from operations

585,572

198,247

182,959

182,398

184,358

747,962

Expenses and other income

– General and administrative**

65,698

18,329

18,329

18,329

18,329

73,316

– Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

0

– Net interest paid/(received)

16,715

187

(863)

(1,837)

(2,799)

(5,312)

– Other (income)/expense

(387)

0

Total expenses and other income

82,026

18,516

17,466

16,492

15,530

68,004

Earnings before income taxes

503,546

179,731

165,492

165,906

168,829

679,958

Income tax expense/(recovery)

211

250

250

250

250

1,000

Marginal tax rate (%)

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

Net earnings

503,335

179,481

165,242

165,656

168,579

678,958

Ave. no. shares in issue (000s)

448,964

449,466

449,466

449,466

449,466

449,466

Basic EPS (US$)

1.12

0.399

0.368

0.369

0.375

1.51

Diluted EPS (US$)

1.12

0.389

0.358

0.359

0.365

1.47

DPS (US$)

0.42

0.13

0.16

0.15

0.15

0.59

Source: Wheaton Precious Metals, Edison Investment Research. Note: *Excluding impairments and exceptional items. **Forecasts now include stock-based compensation costs. Totals may not add up owing to rounding.

Readers should note that, consistent with past practice, for the purposes of FY21 we are assuming production and sales are closely aligned and that there is little or no change in the level of ounces produced but not yet delivered. Within this context, our basic EPS forecast of US$1.51/share for FY21 is closely in line with the consensus forecast of US$1.58/share (source: Refinitiv, 26 March 2021) and towards the middle of the range of analysts’ expectations, of US$1.25–1.85 per share for the period:

Exhibit 8: WPM FY21e consensus EPS forecasts (US$/share), by quarter

Q121e

Q221e

Q321e

Q421e

Sum Q1–Q421e

FY21e

Edison forecasts

0.399

0.368

0.369

0.375

1.51

1.51

Mean consensus

0.37

0.39

0.41

0.41

1.58

1.58

High consensus

0.43

0.47

0.49

0.53

1.92

1.85

Low consensus

0.31

0.32

0.33

0.32

1.28

1.25

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: As at 26 March 2021.

In the meantime, our basic EPS forecast of US$2.05/share for FY22 (see Exhibit 11) compares with a consensus of US$1.65/share within a range of US$1.19–2.25/share (source: Refinitiv, 29 March 2021). In this case, our estimate is, once again, predicated on an average gold price during the year of US$1,892/oz and an average silver price of US$30.78/oz, which assumes, among other things, the silver price will revert to the long-term correlation that it has exhibited with gold since the latter was demonetised in 1971. If both metals instead remain at current levels, however (US$24.61/oz Ag and US$1,718/oz Au at the time of writing), our forecast for WPM’s EPS in FY22 would moderate to US$1.58 per share and our forecast for its DPS to US$0.65/share.

Valuation

Excluding FY04 (part-year), WPM’s shares have historically traded on an average P/E multiple of 30.0x current year basic underlying EPS, excluding impairments (vs 25.2x Edison or 24.3x Refinitiv consensus FY21e, currently – see Exhibit 10).

Exhibit 9: WPM’s historical current year P/E multiples, 2005–20

Source: Edison Investment Research

Applying this 30.0x multiple to our EPS forecast of US$2.07 in FY23 (previously US$1.81 in FY21) would ordinarily imply a potential value per share for WPM of US$62.07 in FY21 or C$78.03 in that year. However, the graph above suggests that the current year multiple has been on a broadly upward trend between FY12 and FY19, on which basis we would argue that a multiple in excess of 40x (as evidenced by FY18 and FY19) could be supported, not least given the fact that these years were not subject to the extraordinary trials and tribulations experienced in FY20. In this case, applying a 40.7x earnings multiple (the average of FY18, FY19 and FY20) to our updated EPS forecast of US$2.07 in FY23 implies a potential value per share for WPM of US$84.17 in FY21 or C$106.36 in that year and/or for as long as precious metals prices remain at higher levels and/or the current coronavirus crisis persists. Even at such elevated levels, however, a multiple of over 40.7x would still leave WPM’s shares at no more than on a par with Franco-Nevada (see Exhibit 10).

In the meantime, from a relative perspective, it is notable that WPM has a lower valuation than the average of its royalty/streaming ‘peers’ on all of nine valuation measures if our forecasts are used or all but two if consensus forecasts are used. On an individual basis, it is cheaper than its peers on 86% (31 out of 36) of the valuation measures used in Exhibit 10 if our estimates are adopted or 69% (25 out of 36) of the same valuation measures if consensus forecasts are adopted. Among other things, this could possibly indicate the market has more conservative precious metal pricing expectations than we do (especially in FY22 and FY23).

Exhibit 10: WPM comparative valuation vs a sample of operating and royalty/streaming companies

P/E (x)

Yield (%)

P/CF (x)

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Royalty companies

Franco-Nevada

38.7

35.9

35.8

0.9

0.9

1.0

25.3

24.2

24.8

Royal Gold

30.7

28.1

28.4

1.1

1.1

1.1

16.3

15.4

15.7

Sandstorm Gold

40.3

33.6

36.6

0.0

0.0

0.0

16.2

15.1

17.5

Osisko

28.7

23.5

21.7

1.4

1.4

1.4

14.7

12.6

11.8

Average

34.6

30.3

30.6

0.9

0.9

0.9

18.1

16.8

17.5

WPM (Edison forecasts)

25.2

18.5

18.4

1.6

2.0

2.2

18.0

13.8

13.6

WPM (consensus)

24.3

24.3

26.3

1.4

1.6

1.6

17.0

16.9

17.7

Implied WPM share price (US$)*

52.22

62.18

63.29

69.62

90.15

95.47

38.17

46.37

48.60

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: Peers priced on 30 March 2021. *Derived using Edison forecasts and average consensus multiples.

Financials: Solid equity base

As at 31 December 2020, WPM had US$192.7m in cash (cf US$209.8m in Q320) and US$195.0m of debt outstanding (cf US$487.5m in Q320) under its US$2bn revolving credit facility (which attracts an interest rate of Libor plus 120–220bp and now matures in February 2025), such that (including a modest US$3.6m in leases) it had net debt of US$6.0m overall (cf US$281.4m in Q320) after US$208.0m of cash generated by operating activities during the quarter (cf US$228.1m in Q320). Relative to the company’s balance sheet equity of US$5,714.6m, this level of net debt equates to a financial gearing (net debt/equity) ratio of just 0.1% (cf 5.1% in Q320) and a leverage (net debt/[net debt+equity]) ratio similarly of just 0.1% (cf 4.8% in Q320). Self-evidently, such a level of debt is well within the tolerances required by WPM’s banking covenants that:

net debt should be no more than 0.75x tangible net worth; and

interest should be no less than 3x covered by EBITDA (we estimate that it was covered 45.7x in FY20).

Exhibit 11: Financial summary

US$'000s

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021e

2022e

2023e

Year end 31 December

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

PROFIT & LOSS

Revenue

 

 

891,557

843,215

794,012

861,332

1,096,224

1,312,043

1,637,339

1,659,960

Cost of Sales

(254,434)

(243,801)

(245,794)

(258,559)

(266,763)

(316,976)

(325,902)

(337,513)

Gross Profit

637,123

599,414

548,218

602,773

829,461

995,067

1,311,437

1,322,447

EBITDA

 

 

602,684

564,741

496,568

548,266

763,763

921,751

1,238,121

1,249,131

Operating Profit (before amort. and except.)

 

293,982

302,361

244,281

291,440

519,874

674,646

923,677

928,011

Intangible Amortisation

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Exceptionals

(71,000)

(228,680)

245,715

(156,608)

4,469

0

0

0

Other

(4,982)

8,129

(5,826)

217

387

0

0

0

Operating Profit

218,000

81,810

484,170

135,049

524,730

674,646

923,677

928,011

Net Interest

(24,193)

(24,993)

(41,187)

(48,730)

(16,715)

5,312

876

2,406

Profit Before Tax (norm)

 

 

269,789

277,368

203,094

242,710

503,159

679,958

924,553

930,417

Profit Before Tax (FRS 3)

 

 

193,807

56,817

442,983

86,319

508,015

679,958

924,553

930,417

Tax

1,330

886

(15,868)

(181)

(211)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Profit After Tax (norm)

266,137

286,383

181,400

242,746

503,335

678,958

923,553

929,417

Profit After Tax (FRS 3)

195,137

57,703

427,115

86,138

507,804

678,958

923,553

929,417

Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m)

430.5

442.0

443.4

446.0

448.7

449.5

449.5

449.5

EPS - normalised (c)

 

 

62

63

48

54

112

151

205

207

EPS - normalised and fully diluted (c) 

 

62

63

48

54

112

147

200

201

EPS - (IFRS) (c)

 

 

45

13

96

19

113

151

205

207

Dividend per share (c)

21

33

36

36

42

59

78

83

Gross Margin (%)

71.5

71.1

69.0

70.0

75.7

75.8

80.1

79.7

EBITDA Margin (%)

67.6

67.0

62.5

63.7

69.7

70.3

75.6

75.3

Operating Margin (before GW and except.) (%)

33.0

35.9

30.8

33.8

47.4

51.4

56.4

55.9

BALANCE SHEET

Fixed Assets

 

 

6,025,227

5,579,898

6,390,342

6,123,255

5,755,441

5,696,336

5,419,892

5,753,771

Intangible Assets

5,948,443

5,454,106

6,196,187

5,768,883

5,521,632

5,462,527

5,186,083

5,519,962

Tangible Assets

12,163

30,060

29,402

44,615

33,931

33,931

33,931

33,931

Investments

64,621

95,732

164,753

309,757

199,878

199,878

199,878

199,878

Current Assets

 

 

128,092

103,415

79,704

154,752

201,831

691,371

1,542,771

1,765,042

Stocks

1,481

1,700

1,541

43,628

3,265

2,356

2,940

2,980

Debtors

2,316

3,194

2,396

7,138

5,883

3,595

4,486

4,548

Cash

124,295

98,521

75,767

103,986

192,683

685,421

1,535,345

1,757,514

Other

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Current Liabilities

 

 

(19,057)

(12,143)

(28,841)

(64,700)

(31,169)

(49,409)

(50,290)

(51,435)

Creditors

(19,057)

(12,143)

(28,841)

(63,976)

(30,396)

(48,636)

(49,517)

(50,662)

Short term borrowings

0

0

0

(724)

(773)

(773)

(773)

(773)

Long Term Liabilities

 

 

(1,194,274)

(771,506)

(1,269,289)

(887,387)

(211,532)

(211,532)

(211,532)

(211,532)

Long term borrowings

(1,193,000)

(770,000)

(1,264,000)

(878,028)

(197,864)

(197,864)

(197,864)

(197,864)

Other long term liabilities

(1,274)

(1,506)

(5,289)

(9,359)

(13,668)

(13,668)

(13,668)

(13,668)

Net Assets

 

 

4,939,988

4,899,664

5,171,916

5,325,920

5,714,571

6,126,766

6,700,840

7,255,847

CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow

 

 

608,503

564,187

518,680

548,301

784,843

943,189

1,237,526

1,250,174

Net Interest

(24,193)

(24,993)

(41,187)

(41,242)

(16,715)

5,312

876

2,406

Tax

28

(326)

0

(5,380)

(2,686)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Capex

(805,472)

(19,633)

(861,406)

10,571

149,648

(188,000)

(38,000)

(655,000)

Acquisitions/disposals

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Financing

595,140

1,236

1,279

37,198

22,396

0

0

0

Dividends

(78,708)

(121,934)

(132,915)

(129,986)

(167,212)

(266,763)

(349,478)

(374,411)

Net Cash Flow

295,298

398,537

(515,549)

419,462

770,274

492,738

849,924

222,169

Opening net debt/(cash)

 

 

1,362,703

1,068,705

671,479

1,188,233

774,766

5,954

(486,784)

(1,336,708)

HP finance leases initiated

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Other

(1,300)

(1,311)

(1,205)

(5,995)

(1,462)

0

0

(0)

Closing net debt/(cash)

 

 

1,068,705

671,479

1,188,233

774,766

5,954

(486,784)

(1,336,708)

(1,558,877)

Source: company sources, Edison Investment Research


General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Wheaton Precious Metals and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Wheaton Precious Metals. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2021 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

General disclaimer and copyright

This report has been commissioned by Wheaton Precious Metals and prepared and issued by Edison, in consideration of a fee payable by Wheaton Precious Metals. Edison Investment Research standard fees are £49,500 pa for the production and broad dissemination of a detailed note (Outlook) following by regular (typically quarterly) update notes. Fees are paid upfront in cash without recourse. Edison may seek additional fees for the provision of roadshows and related IR services for the client but does not get remunerated for any investment banking services. We never take payment in stock, options or warrants for any of our services.

Accuracy of content: All information used in the publication of this report has been compiled from publicly available sources that are believed to be reliable, however we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this report and have not sought for this information to be independently verified. Opinions contained in this report represent those of the research department of Edison at the time of publication. Forward-looking information or statements in this report contain information that is based on assumptions, forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable, and therefore involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of their subject matter to be materially different from current expectations.

Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent allowed by law, Edison shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profits, damages, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by you arising out or in connection with the access to, use of or reliance on any information contained on this note.

No personalised advice: The information that we provide should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as, personalised advice. Also, the information provided by us should not be construed by any subscriber or prospective subscriber as Edison’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, any transaction in a security. The securities described in the report may not be eligible for sale in all jurisdictions or to certain categories of investors.

Investment in securities mentioned: Edison has a restrictive policy relating to personal dealing and conflicts of interest. Edison Group does not conduct any investment business and, accordingly, does not itself hold any positions in the securities mentioned in this report. However, the respective directors, officers, employees and contractors of Edison may have a position in any or related securities mentioned in this report, subject to Edison's policies on personal dealing and conflicts of interest.

Copyright: Copyright 2021 Edison Investment Research Limited (Edison).

Australia

Edison Investment Research Pty Ltd (Edison AU) is the Australian subsidiary of Edison. Edison AU is a Corporate Authorised Representative (1252501) of Crown Wealth Group Pty Ltd who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (Number: 494274). This research is issued in Australia by Edison AU and any access to it, is intended only for "wholesale clients" within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia. Any advice given by Edison AU is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, needs or objectives. You should, before acting on this advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. If our advice relates to the acquisition, or possible acquisition, of a particular financial product you should read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement or like instrument.

New Zealand

The research in this document is intended for New Zealand resident professional financial advisers or brokers (for use in their roles as financial advisers or brokers) and habitual investors who are “wholesale clients” for the purpose of the Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FAA) (as described in sections 5(c) (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the FAA). This is not a solicitation or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe, or underwrite any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. For the purpose of the FAA, the content of this report is of a general nature, is intended as a source of general information only and is not intended to constitute a recommendation or opinion in relation to acquiring or disposing (including refraining from acquiring or disposing) of securities. The distribution of this document is not a “personalised service” and, to the extent that it contains any financial advice, is intended only as a “class service” provided by Edison within the meaning of the FAA (i.e. without taking into account the particular financial situation or goals of any person). As such, it should not be relied upon in making an investment decision.

United Kingdom

This document is prepared and provided by Edison for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities mentioned or in the topic of this document. A marketing communication under FCA Rules, this document has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

This Communication is being distributed in the United Kingdom and is directed only at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments, i.e. investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "FPO") (ii) high net-worth companies, unincorporated associations or other bodies within the meaning of Article 49 of the FPO and (iii) persons to whom it is otherwise lawful to distribute it. The investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to such persons. It is not intended that this document be distributed or passed on, directly or indirectly, to any other class of persons and in any event and under no circumstances should persons of any other description rely on or act upon the contents of this document.

This Communication is being supplied to you solely for your information and may not be reproduced by, further distributed to or published in whole or in part by, any other person.

United States

Edison relies upon the "publishers' exclusion" from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws. This report is a bona fide publication of general and regular circulation offering impersonal investment-related advice, not tailored to a specific investment portfolio or the needs of current and/or prospective subscribers. As such, Edison does not offer or provide personal advice and the research provided is for informational purposes only. No mention of a particular security in this report constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, or that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

1185 Avenue of the Americas

3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036

United States of America

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 4, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

More on Wheaton Precious Metals

View All

Latest from the Metals & Mining sector

View All Metals & Mining content

Research: TMT

Cliq Digital — Moving the dial on marketing effectiveness

CLIQ Digital made significant progress in FY20 as its good value proposition resonated well with its target audience. The shift to direct media buying adopted in the US allowed it to shift the dial on its marketing effectiveness, with revenues ahead by 70% year-on-year and EBITDA margins rising from 9.1% to 14.9%. Management guidance is for further premium (>30%) revenue growth in FY21, with EBITDA margin at 15.7%. The share price is up 102% year to date, and up from €2.60 a year ago.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to Edison

Get access to the very latest content matched to your personal investment style.

Sign up for free