Wheaton Precious Metals — Results closely in line with prior expectations

Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX: WPM)

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Research: Metals & Mining

Wheaton Precious Metals — Results closely in line with prior expectations

Wheaton Precious Metals produced 159,852 gold equivalent ounces (GEOs) in Q322, of which it sold 138,824 GEOs, representing a positive variance of 2.8% and a negative variance of 0.7% relative to our prior estimates, respectively. Its adjusted net earnings were US$1.4m, or 1.6%, above our prior forecast at US$93.9m and the fourth quarterly dividend for the year was maintained at US$0.15/share. In the wake of Q3 results we have revised our forecasts for Q422 and FY22 only very fractionally.

Lord Ashbourne

Written by

Lord Ashbourne

Director of Content, Mining

Metals & Mining

Wheaton Precious Metals

Results closely in line with prior expectations

Q322 results

Metals and mining

8 November 2022

Price

C$45.41

Market cap

C$20,512m

C$1.3527/US$, US$1.1295/£

Cash (US$m) at end-September

(excluding US$2.2m in lease liabilities)

494.6

Shares in issue

451.7m

Free float

100.0%

Code

WPM

Primary exchange

TSX

Secondary exchanges

LSE, NYSE

Share price performance

%

1m

3m

12m

Abs

4.2

5.9

(9.5)

Rel (local)

(1.0)

6.3

(0.7)

52-week high/low

C$64.70

C$39.11

Business description

Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) is the world’s pre-eminent ostensibly precious metals streaming company, with over 30 high-quality precious metals streams and early deposit agreements over mines in Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile, the US, Argentina, Peru, Sweden, Greece, Portugal and Colombia.

Next events

Ex-dividend date

18 November

Dividend payment date

c 1 December

Q422/FY22 results

March 2023

Analysts

Lord Ashbourne

+44 (0)20 3077 5724

Thomas Batho

+44 (0)20 3077 5700

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

Wheaton Precious Metals produced 159,852 gold equivalent ounces (GEOs) in Q322, of which it sold 138,824 GEOs, representing a positive variance of 2.8% and a negative variance of 0.7% relative to our prior estimates, respectively. Its adjusted net earnings were US$1.4m, or 1.6%, above our prior forecast at US$93.9m and the fourth quarterly dividend for the year was maintained at US$0.15/share. In the wake of Q3 results we have revised our forecasts for Q422 and FY22 only very fractionally.

Year end

Revenue (US$m)

PBT*
(US$m)

EPS*
(c)

DPS
(c)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/20

1,096.2

503.2

112

42

30.0

1.3

12/21

1,201.7

592.1

132

57

25.4

1.7

12/22e

1,094.6

505.6

113

60

29.7

1.8

12/23e

1,354.2

662.8

147

62

22.9

1.8

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

A rising production profile

After producing c 663k GEOs in FY22, WPM now expects its production to increase to an average of 835k pa GEOs in the four years from FY23–26 and then to an average 850k pa GEOs in the period from FY22–31 (implying production of c 900k pa GEOs in the period FY27–31).

US$494.6m (US$1.09/share) in cash and rising

Wheaton had US$492.5m (US$1.09/share) in net cash as at end-Q322. Depending on the timing of investments relating to its newly acquired streams, and the timing of its receipt of US$150m relating to its Yauliyacu stream sale, we estimate that it is possible that it will accumulate as much as US$892.6m in net cash by end-FY22.

Valuation: Trending higher with production

Using a CAPM-type method to value WPM and applying a nominal discount rate of 9.0% to cash flows implies a ‘terminal’ valuation for WPM at end-FY26 of US$55.35 (C$74.87) per share assuming zero subsequent long-term growth in real cash flows and 4% inflation. Stated alternatively, we calculate that WPM’s current share price of C$45.41 discounts a long-term compound annual average growth rate in nominal cash flows per share of just 2.8% pa, which is lower than the average rate of US inflation since 1981. Otherwise, assuming no purchases of additional streams in the foreseeable future (which we think unlikely), we forecast a value per share for WPM of US$34.11, or C$46.13 or £30.20 in FY22, based on a 30.1x historical multiple of contemporary earnings and US$56.43, or C$76.34 or £49.96, in FY26. In the meantime, WPM’s shares are trading on near-term financial ratios that are lower than those of its peers on at least 63% of common valuation measures regardless of whether Edison or consensus forecasts are used. If WPM’s shares were instead to trade at the average level of its peers, then we calculate that its FY22 share price would be US$36.33, or C$49.14 or £32.16 (based on Edison forecasts). Alternatively, if precious metals return to favour, then we believe that a near-term US$43.63 (C$59.02 or £38.63) per share valuation is possible.

Q322 results

Wheaton produced 159,852 GEOs in Q322, of which it sold 138,824 GEOs, representing a positive variance of 2.8% and a negative variance of 0.7% relative to our prior estimates, respectively. Notably strong performances were recorded at Zinkgruvan, Minto and Antamina for at least the second quarter in succession, while gold production at Salobo and silver production at Constancia both outperformed our expectations. In financial terms, the resulting small negative variance in revenues was more than offset by general and administrative expenses that were US$5.9m lower than our prior expectations to result in adjusted net earnings that were US$1.4m, or 1.6%, above our estimate. The fourth quarterly dividend for the year was maintained at US$0.15/share. A summary of WPM’s underlying financial and operating results relative to both Q222 and Edison’s prior expectations is provided in the exhibit below:

Exhibit 1: WPM underlying Q322 results cf Q222 and Q322e, by quarter*

US$000s
(unless otherwise stated)

Q320

Q420

Q121

Q221

Q321

Q421

Q122

Q222

Q322e

Q322a

Chg
**(%)

Variance
***(%)

Silver production (koz)

6,028

6,509

6,754

6,720

6,394

6,356

6,206

6,537

5,532 

5,883

-10.0

+6.3

Gold production (oz)

91,770

93,137

77,733

90,290

85,941

88,321

79,087

68,365

72,286 

73,508

7.5

+1.7

Palladium production (koz)

5,444

5,672

5,769

5,301

5,105

4,733

4,488

3,899

4,325 

3,229

-17.2

-25.3

Cobalt production (klbs)

1,161

380

370.5

381

234

136

241 

226

66.2

-6.2

 

 

Silver sales (koz)

4,999

4,576

6,657

5,600

5,487

5,116

5,553

5,848

4,868 

5,234

-10.5

+7.5

Gold sales (oz)

90,101

86,243

75,104

90,090

67,649

79,622

77,901

84,337

67,057 

62,000

-26.5

-7.5

Palladium sales (koz)

5,546

4,591

5,131

3,869

5,703

4,641

4,075

3,378

3,515 

4,227

25.1

+20.3

Cobalt sales (klb)

132.3

395

131.2

228

511

225

207 

115

-48.9

-44.4

 

 

Avg realised Ag price (US$/oz)

24.69

24.72

26.12

26.69

23.80

23.36

24.19

22.27

19.24 

19.16

-14.0

-0.4

Avg realised Au price (US$/oz)

1,906

1,882

1,798

1,801

1,795

1,798

1,870

1,872

1,727 

1,728

-7.7

+0.1

Avg realised Pd price (US$/oz)

2,182

2,348

2,392

2,797

2,426

1,918

2,339

2,132

2,080 

2,091

-1.9

+0.5

Avg realised Co price (US$/lb)

22.19

19.82

23.78

28.94

34.61

34.01

23.62 

22.68

-33.3

-4.0

 

 

Avg Ag cash cost (US$/oz)

5.89

5.51

6.33

6.11

5.06

5.47

5.10

5.61

5.40 

5.59

-0.4

+3.5

Avg Au cash cost (US$/oz)

428

433

450

450

464

472

477

465

454 

474

1.9

+4.4

Avg Pd cash cost (US$/oz)

383

423

427

503

468

340

394

408

374 

353

-13.5

-5.6

Avg Co cash cost (US$/lb)

4.98

4.41

5.15

4.68

5.76

6.86

4.25 

7.21

5.1

+69.6

 

 

Sales

307,268

286,213

324,119

330,393

268,957

278,197

307,244

302,922

221,664 

218,836

-27.8

-1.3

Cost of sales

 

 

Cost of sales, excluding depletion

70,119

64,524

78,783

78,445

62,529

68,190

69,994

74,943

58,923 

60,955

-18.7

+3.4

Depletion

60,601

59,786

70,173

70,308

54,976

59,335

57,402

65,682

53,455 

55,728

-15.2

+4.3

Total cost of sales

130,720

124,310

148,956

148,753

117,505

127,525

127,396

140,625

112,378 

116,683

-17.0

+3.8

Earnings from operations

176,548

161,902

175,164

181,640

151,452

150,672

179,848

162,297

109,286 

102,153

-37.1

-6.5

Expenses and other income

 

 

– General and administrative

21,326

9,391

11,971

18,465

13,595

16,954

20,118

12,453

15,772 

9,843

-21.0

-37.6

– Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

N/A

N/A

– Interest paid

2,766

2,196

1,573

1,357

1,379

1,508

1,422

1,389

1,357 

1,398

0.6

+3.0

– Other (income)/expense

391

850

420

136

(684)

(58)

229

(974)

(527) 

(3,003)

208.3

+469.8

Total expenses and other income

24,483

12,437

13,964

19,958

14,290

18,404

21,769

12,868

16,602 

8,238

-36.0

-50.4

Earnings before income taxes

152,065

149,465

161,199

161,682

137,162

132,268

158,079

149,429

92,684 

93,915

-37.2

+1.3

Income tax expense/(recovery)

58

24

67

56

75

36

72

144

250 

37

-74.3

-85.2

Marginal tax rate (%)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.3 

0.0

-100.0

-100.0

Net earnings

152,007

149,441

161,132

161,626

137,087

132,232

158,007

149,285

92,434 

93,878

-37.1

+1.6

Average no. shares in issue (000s)

449,125

449,320

449,509

450,088

450,326

450,614

450,915

451,524

451,524 

451,757

0.1

+0.1

Adjusted basic EPS (US$)

0.338

0.333

0.358

0.359

0.304

0.293

0.350

0.331

0.205 

0.208

-37.2

+1.5

Adjusted diluted EPS (US$)

0.336

0.331

0.358

0.358

0.303

0.293

0.350

0.330

0.199 

0.208

-37.0

+4.5

DPS (US$)

0.10

0.12

0.13

0.14

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.15 

0.15

0.0

0.0

Source: WPM, Edison Investment Research. Note: *As reported by WPM, excluding exceptional items. **Q322 versus Q222. ***Q322 actual versus Q322 estimate.

From an operational perspective, Sudbury’s operator, Vale, reported that the first phase of the Copper Cliff Complex South Mine Project was opened, including the development of more than 12km of tunnels to reunite the south and north shafts of the mine, which is expected to nearly double ore production at the Copper Cliff Mine (which has historically represented approximately 20% of production attributable to Wheaton from Sudbury). At the same time, production of gold and palladium at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Stillwater mine was adversely affected by floods for the second quarter in succession, which resulted in it being suspended for seven weeks until 29 July (although access to the East Boulder mine and the Columbus metallurgical facility was maintained and both facilities continued to operate throughout the flooding). Meanwhile, production of cobalt at Voisey’s Bay was down 39% relative to Q321, owing to lower grades during the transition from the depleted Ovoid open-pit mine and the ramp-up to full production of the Voisey’s Bay underground mine. However, relative to Q222 production was up 77.2%. As per Vale’s Q322 Performance Report, physical completion of the Voisey’s Bay underground mine extension is now 78% (cf 74% at the end of Q222), with production from the Eastern Deeps anticipated to start in the near future.

Production at WPM’s flagship asset, Salobo in Brazil (also operated by Vale), increased by 29.5% relative to Q222 (cf a 17.2% increase in copper production) as it ramped up after planned and corrective maintenance to the plant’s mill liners (which was the subject of our note, Incorporating Salobo Q222 operating results, published on 27 July). However, sales lagged the recovery in production, with the result that Salobo sold 12,394 (or 28.0%) fewer ounces than it produced during the quarter. In the meantime, according to Vale’s most recent performance report, physical completion of the Salobo III mine expansion was 98% at end-Q322, with the commissioning of the primary crushing circuit, hot commissioning of the conveyor system and the start of wet commissioning of the flotation circuit. The degree of advancement of the project over successive quarters is shown in the table below:

Exhibit 2: Physical completion of Salobo III, by quarter, Q219–Q322

Q219

Q319

Q419

Q120

Q220

Q320

Q420

Q121

Q221

Q321

Q421

Q122

Q222

Q322

Physical completion (%)

15

27

40

47

54

62

68

73

77

81

85

90

95

98

Implied quarterly completion (%)

8

12

13

7

7

8

6

5

4

4

4

5

5

3

Source: Vale, Edison Investment Research

As such, Salobo III is expected to be fully commissioned in the near future followed by a 15-month ramp-up to full capacity.

Ounces produced but not yet delivered

At 11.0% the degree of under-sale of silver during the quarter, relative to production, was in line with the long-run average of 11.9% since Q112 and closely in line with the previous two quarters. By contrast, the 15.7% under-sale of gold relative to production was noticeably above the long-run average of 6.5% (albeit all of the under-sale could be attributable to Salobo).

Exhibit 3: Over/(under) sale of silver and gold as a percentage of production, Q112–Q322

Source: Edison Investment Research, WPM. Note: As reported.

Gold and silver ounces produced but not yet delivered as at 30 September amounted to 67,247oz and 3.6Moz respectively (cf 59,331oz and 3.7Moz at end-Q222). At the period end, we estimate that ounces produced but not yet delivered equated to 2.63 months and 1.77 months of gold and silver production for FY22, respectively (cf 2.34 months and 1.86 months as at end-Q222) and compare with WPM’s target of two to three months of gold and palladium production and two months of silver production.

Exhibit 4: WPM ounces produced but not yet delivered, Q316–Q322 (months of production)

Source: Edison Investment Research, WPM. Note: As reported.

General and administrative expenses

At the time of its Q122 results, WPM provided guidance for non-stock general and administrative (G&A) expenses of US$47–49m or US$11.75–12.25m per quarter (cf US$42–44m or US$10.5–11.0m per quarter for FY21 and US$40–43m in FY20), including all employee-related expenses, charitable contributions, etc, but excluding performance share units (PSU) and equity settled stock-based compensation. In the event, at US$9.8m, non-stock G&A expenses in Q322 were 16.9% below the bottom of the range implied by guidance and below guidance for the seventh quarter in succession.

Exhibit 5: WPM general and administrative expenses, Q320–Q322 (US$000s)

Item

Q320

Q420

FY20

Q121

Q221

Q321

Q421

FY21

Q122

Q222

Q322

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

4,037

4,466

16,733

4,709

4,634

4,283

4,618

18,244

5,345

5,061

4,629

Other (inc. depreciation, donations and professional fees)

5,488

5,957

22,013

5,632

5,852

5,173

6,818

23,475

4,871

5,784

5,137

Non-stock based G&A

9,525

10,423

38,746

10,341

10,486

9,456

11,436

41,719

10,216

10,845

9,766

Guidance

10,000–10,750

10,000–10,750

40,000–43,000

10,500–11,250

10,500–11,250

10,500–11,250

11,717–13,717

42,000–44,000

11,750–12,250

11,750–12,250

11,750–12,250

PSU* accrual

10,482

(2,336)

21,520

305

6,672

2,824

4,203

14,004

8,560

110

(1,491)

Equity settled stock-based compensation

1,319

1,305

5,432

1,325

1,307

1,315

1,315

5,262

1,342

1,498

1,568

Stock-based G&A

11,801

(1,031)

26,952

1,630

7,979

4,139

5,518

19,266

9,902

1,608

77

Total general & administrative

21,326

9,392

65,698

11,971

18,465

13,595

16,954

60,985

20,118

12,453

9,843

Total/Non-stock based G&A (%)

+123.9

-9.9

+69.6

+15.8

+76.1

+43.6

+48.3

+46.2

+96.9

+14.8

+0.8

Source: WPM, Edison Investment Research. Note: *Performance share units.

Given the performance of WPM’s shares during the quarter, stock-based G&A expenses in Q322 were approximately US$3.7m below our prior estimate for the quarter (as shown in Exhibit 6, below):

Exhibit 6: Graph of historical share price move (US$/share) versus quarterly stock-based G&A expenses, Q419–Q222

Source: Edison Investment Research (underlying data: Bloomberg and Wheaton Precious Metals)

The analysis of stock-based G&A expenses over the past 12 quarters relative to the change in WPM’s share price (also in US dollars) continues to exhibit a relatively close Pearson product-moment (correlation) coefficient between the two of 0.78, which remains statistically significant at the 5% level for a directional hypothesis (ie there is less than a 5% probability that this relationship occurred by random chance) and this therefore continues to form the basis of our quarterly and full-year forecasts for G&A expenses in Exhibit 8.

FY22 and five-year and 10-year guidance

In the light of Q322 results (as well as the Keno Hill and Yauliyacu stream sales), Edison’s short-, medium- and long-term production forecasts relative to Wheaton’s official guidance are now as follows (including the Marathon, Curipamba and Goose streams, but not yet the Fenix stream):

Exhibit 7: WPM precious metals production – Edison forecasts cf guidance

FY22e

Implied *FY23–26 average

FY22–31 average

Prior Edison forecast

Silver production (Moz)

23.8

Gold production (koz)

305.1

Cobalt production (klb)

958

Palladium production (koz)

17.5

Gold equivalent (koz)

669.3

854

853

Current Edison forecast

Silver production (Moz)

24.0

Gold production (koz)

306.4

Cobalt production (klb)

943

Palladium production (koz)

16.4

Gold equivalent (koz)

663.0

824

825

WPM updated guidance

Silver production (Moz)

22.5–24.0

Gold production (koz)

300–320

Cobalt & palladium production (koz AuE)

35–40

Gold equivalent (koz)

640–680

835

850

WPM prior guidance

Silver production (Moz)

22.5–24.0

Gold production (koz)

300–320

Cobalt & palladium production (koz AuE)

35–40

Gold equivalent (koz)

640–680

860

870

Source: WPM, Edison Investment Research forecasts. Note: *Edison forecasts include Salobo III from FY23e, Rosemont/Copper World from FY27e and Antamina extension from FY28.

WPM’s updated five-year and 10-year guidance is based on standardised pricing assumptions of US$1,800/oz gold, US$24.00/oz silver, US$2,100/oz palladium and US$33.00/lb cobalt. Of note in this context is an implied gold/silver ratio of 75x, which compares with its current ratio of 81.0x and a long-term average of 61.5x (since gold was demonetised in August 1971). Self-evidently, at the standardised prices indicated, our gold equivalent production forecast of 663.0koz gold equivalent (AuE) for FY22e lies well within WPM’s guidance range of 640–680koz AuE.

Otherwise, readers will note that Edison’s medium-term production forecasts are within 1.5% of WPM’s (implied) guidance for the period FY23–26 and within 3.0% of its longer-term guidance for FY22–31 (albeit this estimate necessarily excludes potential future stream acquisitions).

Short-term organic growth opportunities

In the short term, First Majestic is in the process of increasing production at San Dimas by restarting mining operations at the past-producing Tayoltita mine to add another 300tpd (12%) to throughput. In addition, it is investigating installing a 3,000tpd high-intensity grinding mill circuit and an autogenous grinding mill to improve recoveries and reduce operating costs. Production of palladium and gold at Stillwater (operated by Sibanye-Stillwater) will increase under the influence of the Fill-the-Mill project at East Boulder (although the Blitz project has now been delayed by two years, to 2024, following the suspension of growth capital activities owing to COVID-19). Similarly, the Voisey’s Bay underground project is in the process of ramping up to full production.

Medium-term growth opportunities

In the medium term, Wheaton has four projects that are progressing on their route to production:

Sabina Gold & Silver Corp has announced a formal construction decision for the Goose project and noted that it will be in a position to commence full construction in early 2023 with first production expected in 2025.

Artemis Gold announced the commencement of site preparation work at the plant site at its Blackwater project including site clearing, bulk earthworks and sediment/erosion control. Artemis believes the Blackwater plant site will start major construction works in Q123.

Generation Mining has delivered the environmental assessment report for its Marathon project to federal and provincial ministers and announced the purchasing of an unused, surplus SAG mill and ball mill ahead of the start of construction late in Q123.

Adventus Mining announced an Investment Protection Agreement commitment declaration by the government of Ecuador indicating a significant milestone in the development of the Curipamba Project. In this context, the company is planning for the start of formal construction of the project in Q223.

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 at that point scheduled for H222 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 for this expansion, which WPM estimates will be in the range US$550–670m in FY23, in return for which it will be entitled to its full 75% attributable share of expanded gold production. Note, however, that the timing of this payment is dependent upon Salobo III successfully navigating a 90-day completion test, based largely on throughput, the start of which is at Vale’s discretion. The payment also compares to WPM’s purchase of a 25% stream from Salobo 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 it paid for its original 25% stream in February 2013.

According to Vale’s Q222 performance report, the Salobo III mine expansion is now 98% complete (see Exhibit 2) with start-up now imminent. Once Salobo III has been completed, however, WPM believes reserves and resources could support a further 33% capacity increase at Salobo, from 90ktpd to 120ktpd (denoted Salobo IV). In addition to its long-term underground potential, WPM believes such an expansion could nevertheless still be supported by open-pit mining alone. Under the terms of its agreement with Vale, there would be no additional payment due from WPM in respect of the Salobo IV expansion, although Vale could exercise a right to alter the timing of the incremental payment due for Salobo III.

Rosemont/Copper World

Another major project with which WPM has a streaming agreement for attributable gold and silver production is Rosemont in Arizona (now part of the wider Copper World complex).

Rosemont/Copper World is near a number of large porphyry-type producing copper mines and will be one of the largest copper mines in the United States, with initial output of c 86,000t copper per year from mined sources, accounting for c 8% of total US copper production, rising to c 101,000tpa after 16 years. Total by-product production of silver attributable to WPM is estimated to be c 1.7Moz Ag pa for Phase I, followed by c 2.4Moz Ag pa for Phase II.

Rosemont/Copper World’s operator, Hudbay, received both a Mine Plan of Operations from the US Forest Service and a Section 404 Water Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers in March 2019, which was effectively the final material administrative step before the Rosemont mine could start development. 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).

A legal challenge, lunched in July 2019, has since stalled the project. In the meantime, however, Hudbay has continued to explore in and around the area of the mine and, on 22 September 2021, announced the intersection of additional high-grade copper sulphide and oxide mineralisation predominantly located on its wholly owned patented mining claims (denoted Copper World). To date, seven deposits have been identified at Copper World with a combined strike length of over 7km and, on 15 December 2021, Hudbay announced a maiden mineral resource at Copper World of 272Mt in the indicated category and 142Mt in the inferred category, both at an average grade of 0.36% copper. The mineralisation consists of both skarn and porphyry copper sulphides with a significant oxidised component along a regional fault along the west side of the Rosemont, Bolsa and Broad Top Butte deposits known as the Backbone Fault. As a consequence of this exploration, it was determined that approximately 33Mt of inferred mineral resources at the Bolsa deposit, which were previously considered to be waste in the resource pit shell used for Rosemont’s NI 43-101 feasibility study, could now potentially be converted into reserves, which would result in less waste being mined at Rosemont, thereby reducing costs and energy consumption per tonne of ore mined. In addition, the Rosemont deposit also contains oxide mineralisation that was previously classified as waste, which could be processed with the oxide mineralisation at Copper World, and it is expected that further synergies will be identified as Hudbay explores the gap between Bolsa and Rosemont. Note, the Copper World discovery is included in WPM’s area of interest under its precious metals purchase agreement (PMPA) with Hudbay.

As a result of these discoveries, Hudbay has adjusted its plan to develop the district. Among other things, it has now acquired a private land package totalling approximately 4,500 acres to support an operation on private lands. The initial technical studies for Copper World were incorporated into a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) investigating the development of the Copper World deposits in conjunction with an alternative plan for the Rosemont deposit, which was announced to the market on 8 June, and proposed a two-phase mine development plan. The first phase of the mine plan requires only state and local permits and reflects an approximate 16-year mine life. The second phase then extends the mine life to 44 years and incorporates an expansion onto federal lands to mine the entire Rosemont and Copper World deposits. The second phase of the mine plan would be subject to the federal permitting process and the company expects that it will be able to pursue the federal permits within the constraints imposed by the courts’ most recent legal decisions if any subsequent appeals are not successful.

Within this context, on 24 May, Hudbay received a favourable decision from the US District Court for the District of Arizona on all issues relating to the development of Copper World, including that Copper World and Rosemont are not connected under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and, therefore, that the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) does not have an obligation to include Copper World as part of its NEPA review of Rosemont. The District Court also granted Hudbay’s motion to dismiss the Copper World preliminary injunction request filed by the plaintiffs in the two lawsuits challenging the Section 404 Clean Water Act permit for Rosemont on the basis that the lawsuits were moot after the company surrendered its 404 permit back to the ACOE in April 2022. The ACOE has never determined that there are jurisdictional waters of the United States on the Copper World site and Hudbay has independently concluded through its own scientific analysis that there are no such waters in the area. In this respect, Hudbay believes the District Court’s decision, together with the 12 May decision, clarifies the permitting path for Copper World, including the requirements to receive federal permits for the second phase only (ie years 16 to 44 of the project) under existing mining regulations.

Resources were reported to have expanded materially to 792Mt in the measured category, 381Mt in the indicated category and 262Mt in the inferred category at the time of Hudbay’s PEA at an average grade of 0.40% copper. In April 2022, the company commenced early works at Copper World with initial grading and clearing activities at site. It expects to advance a pre-feasibility study for Phase I of the Copper World project by the end of this year, which will focus on converting the remaining inferred mineral resources to measured and indicated status and the evaluation of many of the project’s optimisation and upside opportunities. It will then complete a definitive feasibility study as well as receiving all required state and local permits during 2023, while simultaneously evaluating a variety of financing options, including a potential minority joint venture partner, prior to project sanction potentially as early as 2024. As a consequence, Edison is now forecasting production from Rosemont/Copper World attributable to WPM in FY27 (cf FY26 previously). However, readers should note that any acceleration in the process of being granted federal permits could allow Hudbay earlier access to higher-grade areas of the orebody, especially at Rosemont. In the meantime, it is continuing exploration and technical work at site with seven drill rigs conducting infill drilling to support its feasibility studies.

Antamina

In April, Antamina announced a US$1.6bn investment that will lengthen the mine’s useful life from 2028 to 2036. Currently, the mine is carrying out a third and final ‘public participation’ with residents of the northern Andean region of Ancash, where the mine is located, and is awaiting a response from the local authority, Senace, regarding the company’s request to modify its environmental impact assessment to allow the mine to extend its operating life by eight years. Production and the mine’s operational footprint would remain the same. The mine, which is co-owned by Glencore, BHP, Teck and Mitsubishi Corp and which is Peru’s largest, and the world’s second-largest, copper mine, anticipates being granted approval for the extension from the country’s environmental authority either later this, or early next, year.

Pascua-Lama

WPM’s contract with Barrick provided for a completion test that, if unfulfilled by 30 June 2020, would result 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, 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, WPM 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). A Chilean court ordered Pascua-Lama to close in 2020, but Barrick has raised the possibility that the orebody could be developed in a different manner, with an investment decision anticipated in 2024.

Other potential future growth opportunities

In general, WPM expects to be conducting due diligence processes on approximately 10–12 projects at any one time, which it expects to narrow to three to four target projects over the course of c 12 months. Most of the opportunities currently being evaluated by WPM are reported to be the precious metal by-product streams of base metal mines, although there are also reported to be some high-margin, purely precious metals mines included as well. In the first instance, WPM would fund any such transactions via the US$2bn available under its revolving credit facility, plus the US$494.6m in cash that it has on its balance sheet (at end-Q322) 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 by-product stream at Sudbury (operated by Vale); and

the 30% of the gold output at Constancia that is not currently subject to any streaming arrangement.

FY22 guidance and forecasts

In the light of WPM’s Q322 results, and recent moves in metals prices, forex rates and WPM’s share price, Edison has updated its quarterly estimates for WPM for FY22 as follows:

Exhibit 8: WPM FY22 forecast, by quarter*

US$000s
(unless otherwise stated)

Q122

Q222

Q322

Q422e

(prior)

Q422e

FY22e

(current)

FY22e

(prior)

Silver production (koz)

6,206

6,537

5,883

5,532

5,392

24,018

23,806

Gold production (oz)

79,087

68,365

73,508

85,393

85,393

306,353

305,131

Palladium production (koz)

4,488

3,899

3,229

4,750

4,750

16,366

17,462

Cobalt production (klb)

234

136

226

347

347

943

958

Silver sales (koz)

5,553

5,848

5,234

5,392

5,252

21,887

21,661

Gold sales (oz)

77,901

84,337

62,000

85,361

85,361

309,599

314,656

Palladium sales (oz)

4,075

3,378

4,227

4,731

4,731

16,411

15,699

Cobalt sales (klb)

511

225

115

347

347

1,198

1,289

Avg realised Ag price (US$/oz)

24.19

22.27

19.16

19.63

20.19

21.51

21.42

Avg realised Au price (US$/oz)

1,870

1,872

1,728

1,659

1,668

1,786

1,783

Avg realised Pd price (US$/oz)

2,339

2,132

2,091

2,045

1,922

2,112

2,148

Avg realised Co price (US$/lb)

34.61

34.01

22.68

23.36

23.36

30.10

29.73

Avg Ag cash cost (US$/oz)

5.10

5.61

5.59

5.46

5.45

5.44

5.39

Avg Au cash cost (US$/oz)

477

465

474

446

446

464

460

Avg Pd cash cost (US$/oz)

394

408

353

368

300

372

385

Avg Co cash cost (US$/lb)

5.76

6.86

7.21

4.20

4.20

5.66

5.29

Sales

307,244

302,922

218,836

265,220

265,582

1,094,584

1,097,050

Cost of sales

Cost of sales, excluding depletion

69,994

74,943

60,955

70,699

69,801

275,692

274,558

Depletion

57,402

65,682

55,728

66,953

69,095

247,907

243,492

Total cost of sales

127,396

140,625

116,683

137,652

138,895

523,598

518,050

Earnings from operations

179,848

162,297

102,153

127,568

126,686

570,985

579,000

Expenses and other income

– General and administrative**

20,118

12,453

9,843

17,255

17,438

59,852

65,598

– Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

0

0

0

– Net interest paid/(received)

1,422

1,389

1,398

1,357

1,357

5,566

5,525

– Other (income)/expense

229

-974

(3,003)

-547

(2,069)

-5,817

-1,819

Total expenses and other income

21,769

12,868

8,238

18,064

16,726

59,601

69,304

Earnings before income taxes

158,079

149,429

93,915

109,504

109,960

511,384

509,697

Income tax expense/(recovery)

72

144

37

250

250

503

716

Marginal tax rate (%)

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

Net earnings

158,007

149,285

93,878

109,254

109,710

510,881

508,981

Average no. shares in issue (000s)

450,915

451,524

451,757

451,524

451,757

451,488

451,372

Basic EPS (US$)

0.350

0.331

0.208

0.242

0.243

1.13

1.13

Diluted EPS (US$)

0.350

0.330

0.208

0.235

0.243

1.10

1.10

DPS (US$)

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.60

0.60

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

Our basic EPS forecast of US$1.13/share for FY22 is 4.2% below the consensus forecast of US$1.18/share (source: Refinitiv, 4 November 2022). In this context, it is worth noting that our gold and silver price forecasts for the remainder of the year are now US$1,671/oz and US$20.62/oz, respectively, which are those prevailing at the time of writing (cf US$1,653/oz and US$19.87/oz previously).

Exhibit 9: WPM FY22 consensus EPS forecasts (US$/share), by quarter

Q122

Q222

Q322

Q422e

Sum Q1–Q422e

FY22e

Edison forecasts

0.350

0.331

0.208

0.243

1.132

1.13

Mean consensus

0.350

0.331

0.208

0.280

1.169

1.18

High consensus

0.350

0.331

0.208

0.360

1.249

1.47

Low consensus

0.350

0.331

0.208

0.220

1.109

1.07

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: As at 4 November 2022.

We note that our EPS forecast of US$1.47/share for FY23 is based upon expected gold and silver prices of US$1,749/oz and US$24.55/oz, respectively. In the event of precious metals prices remaining at current levels for the whole of FY23, then we estimate that this figure would instead moderate to approximately US$1.19/share.

Valuation

Absolute

WPM is a multi-asset company that has shown a willingness and desire to buy streams in the past to maintain production and maximise shareholder returns. As a result, rather than our customary method of discounting maximum potential dividends over the life of operations back to FY22, in the case of WPM (as with Newmont and Endeavour), we discount forecast cash flows back over five years from the start of FY22 and then apply an ex-growth terminal multiple to forecast cash flows in that year (ie FY26) based on an appropriate discount rate.

In this case, in the wake of Q322 results, our estimate of WPM’s ‘terminal’ pre-financing cash flow in FY26 is ostensibly unchanged at US$2.67/share, as shown below:

Exhibit 10: WPM cash flow per share and related valuation (US$/share), FY22–26

Source: Edison Investment Research. Note: Valuation line assumes ex-growth cash flow per share growth rate of 4.0% pa post-FY26 in nominal terms, which equals the average US rate of CPI inflation since 1972 (ie 0% per annum growth in real terms).

Assuming 4% growth in nominal cash flows beyond FY26 (ie 0% growth in real cash flows) and applying a discount rate of 9.0% (being the expected long-term required nominal equity return), our terminal valuation of the company at end-FY26 is US$55.35/share, which, when discounted back to FY22 in combination with intervening cash flows, results in a valuation at the start of FY22 of US$40.24/share, or C$54.43/share (cf US$40.20/share previously). However, this valuation is inherently conservative in that it is based on the assumption of zero growth in (real) cash flows beyond FY26. This is inconsistent with the gold price, which has risen at a compound average annual growth rate of 7.6% per annum since 1968 and at a simple average annual growth rate of 9.7% per annum (as depicted below).

Exhibit 11: Gold price annual performance, 1968–2021

Source: Edison Investment Research (underlying data: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bloomberg, kitco.com, South African Chamber of Mines).

It is also inconsistent with WPM’s longer-term historical performance, wherein operational cash flows have increased at a compound average annual growth rate of 23.2% pa for the 16 years between FY05 and FY21, while its operational cash flows per share have increased at compound average annual growth rate of 15.8% pa.

Stated alternatively, we can say that WPM’s current share price of C$45.41 discounts a long-term compound annual average growth rate in cash flows per share of 2.8%, which is less than the compound average annual increase in US consumer prices from 1981 to the end of 2021.

Exhibit 12: US consumer price inflation, 1965–2021 (%)

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Historical

Excluding FY04 (part-year), WPM’s shares have historically traded on an average P/E multiple of 30.1x current year basic underlying EPS, excluding impairments (cf 29.7x Edison or 25.8x Refinitiv consensus FY22e – see Exhibit 14).

Exhibit 13: WPM’s historical current year P/E multiples, 2005–21

Source: Average share price data Bloomberg, Edison Investment Research calculations

Applying this 30.1x multiple to our (unchanged) EPS forecast of US$1.88 in FY26 implies a potential value per share for WPM of US$56.43 or C$76.34 in that year. However, the graph above suggests that the investing environment post-2017 has been able to support an enhanced WPM multiple relative to earlier years. We would ascribe this observation to macro-economic uncertainty and loose monetary policy combining to create a supportive environment for precious metals prices. As such, we believe that a multiple of 38.6x (the average of FY18–21) may still be supported in the event of a return to favour of precious metals and precious metals stocks. In this case, applying a 38.6x earnings multiple to our unchanged EPS forecast of US$1.47 in FY23 implies a potential value per share for WPM in that year of US$43.63 or C$59.02.

Relative

In the meantime, from a relative perspective, it is notable that WPM is cheaper than its peers on 63% (23 out of 36) of the valuation measures observed in Exhibit 14 if Edison estimates are used or 63% (23 out of 36) of the same valuation measures if consensus forecasts are used.

Exhibit 14: WPM comparative valuation versus 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

31.8

32.7

31.7

1.1

1.1

1.1

22.8

22.4

22.4

Royal Gold

25.6

22.7

22.3

1.6

1.7

1.7

14.1

12.3

12.1

Sandstorm Gold

23.4

36.0

31.8

1.3

0.0

0.0

10.6

11.9

11.5

Osisko

39.6

29.2

23.9

1.2

1.5

1.5

19.0

14.3

13.7

Average

30.1

30.2

27.4

1.3

1.1

1.1

16.6

15.2

14.9

WPM (Edison forecasts)

29.7

22.9

22.7

1.8

1.8

2.0

19.3

15.6

15.0

WPM (consensus)

25.8

25.4

24.6

2.2

2.0

2.2

18.5

17.2

16.4

Implied WPM share price (US$)*

34.03

44.20

40.49

45.95

57.39

60.79

29.01

32.77

33.30

Source: Refinitiv, Edison Investment Research. Note: Peers priced on 4 November 2022. *Derived using Edison forecasts and average consensus multiples.

Financials: US$492.5m (US$1.09/share) in net cash

At 30 September, WPM had US$494.6m in cash on its balance sheet and no debt outstanding under its US$2bn revolving credit facility. As such (including a modest US$2.2m in leases), it had US$492.5m in net cash overall after generating US$154.5m in operating cash flow during the quarter, consuming US$47.5m in investing activities and paying out US$59.5m in dividends.

Exhibit 15: WPM cash, net cash and operating cash flow, by quarter, Q420–Q322

(US$m)

Q420

Q121

Q221

Q321

Q421

Q122

Q222

Q322

Cash/(debt)

192.7

191.2

235.4

372.5

226.0

376.2

448.6

494.6

Net cash/(debt)

6.0

187.7

232.1

369.4

223.2

373.5

446.2

492.5

Operating cash flow

208.0

232.2

216.3

201.3

195.3

210.5

206.4

154.5

Source: Wheaton Precious Metals

In FY22 we estimate that WPM will generate US$787.2m from operating activities, before consuming US$379.5m in investing activities and paying out up to US$270.9m in forecast dividends to leave the company with net cash of US$494.9m on its balance sheet as at end-FY22. However, investors should note that the timing of disbursements relating to the Santo Domingo, Blackwater, Goose, Curipamba and Marathon streams is uncertain and only US$131.8m has been invested in the year to date (cf US$379.5m forecast) and that the timing of receipts is also uncertain, with Wheaton having the potential to receive payment of US$150m relating to its sale of the Yauliyacu stream similarly before the end of the year. In as much as receipts are received early and investments are delayed therefore, we calculate that it is possible that Wheaton could accumulate as much as US$892.6m in net cash on its balance sheet by the year’s end.

Subject to the same caveats relating to timing, in FY23, we forecast that Wheaton will generate US$973.5m from operating activities, before consuming US$945.7m in investing activities, including significant instalments relating to Salobo III (although readers should note that the timing of this payment is dependent on a successful completion test and could therefore easily slip into FY24), Rosemont/Copper World and also Kutcho and, potentially, Fenix. On this basis, we estimate that WPM will end FY23 with net cash on its balance sheet of US$244.6m (after US$278.1m in dividend payments), before reverting to its upward trend once more thereafter.

Exhibit 16: Financial summary

$000s

 

2020

2021

2022e

2023e

2024e

Year end 31 December

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

PROFIT & LOSS

Revenue

 

 

1,096,224

1,201,665

1,094,584

1,354,192

1,390,239

Cost of Sales

(266,763)

(287,947)

(275,692)

(323,402)

(320,285)

Gross Profit

829,461

913,718

818,892

1,030,790

1,069,954

EBITDA

 

 

763,763

852,733

759,040

970,938

1,010,102

Operating profit (before amort. and excepts.)

 

 

519,874

597,940

511,133

661,938

667,385

Intangible Amortisation

0

0

0

0

0

Exceptionals

4,469

162,806

103,333

0

0

Other

387

190

5,817

0

0

Operating Profit

524,730

760,936

620,283

661,938

667,385

Net Interest

(16,715)

(5,817)

(5,566)

891

440

Profit Before Tax (norm)

 

 

503,159

592,123

505,567

662,828

667,826

Profit Before Tax (FRS 3)

 

 

508,015

755,119

614,717

662,828

667,826

Tax

(211)

(234)

(503)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Profit After Tax (norm)

503,335

592,079

510,881

661,828

666,826

Profit After Tax (FRS 3)

507,804

754,885

614,214

661,828

666,826

Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m)

448.7

450.1

451.5

451.8

451.8

EPS - normalised (c)

 

 

112

132

113

147

148

EPS - normalised and fully diluted (c)

 

 

112

131

110

143

144

EPS - (IFRS) (c)

 

 

113

168

136

147

148

Dividend per share (c)

42

57

60

62

66

Gross Margin (%)

75.7

76.0

74.8

76.1

77.0

EBITDA Margin (%)

69.7

71.0

69.3

71.7

72.7

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

47.4

49.8

46.7

48.9

48.0

BALANCE SHEET

Fixed Assets

 

 

5,755,441

6,046,427

6,043,054

6,679,730

6,736,726

Intangible Assets

5,521,632

5,940,538

5,937,165

6,573,841

6,630,837

Tangible Assets

33,931

44,412

44,412

44,412

44,412

Investments

199,878

61,477

61,477

61,477

61,477

Current Assets

 

 

201,831

249,724

506,342

258,126

567,621

Stocks

3,265

12,102

2,575

3,186

3,271

Debtors

5,883

11,577

5,998

7,420

7,618

Cash

192,683

226,045

497,768

247,519

556,732

Other

0

0

0

0

0

Current Liabilities

 

 

(31,169)

(29,691)

(42,948)

(47,653)

(47,346)

Creditors

(30,396)

(28,878)

(42,135)

(46,840)

(46,533)

Short term borrowings

(773)

(813)

(813)

(813)

(813)

Long Term Liabilities

 

 

(211,532)

(16,343)

(16,343)

(16,343)

(16,343)

Long term borrowings

(197,864)

(2,060)

(2,060)

(2,060)

(2,060)

Other long term liabilities

(13,668)

(14,283)

(14,283)

(14,283)

(14,283)

Net Assets

 

 

5,714,571

6,250,117

6,490,105

6,873,860

7,240,658

CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow

 

 

784,843

851,686

793,219

973,610

1,009,512

Net Interest

(16,715)

(5,817)

(5,566)

891

440

Tax

(2,686)

(503)

(503)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Capex

149,648

(404,437)

(244,534)

(945,676)

(399,713)

Acquisitions/disposals

0

0

0

0

0

Financing

22,396

7,992

0

0

0

Dividends

(167,212)

(218,052)

(270,893)

(278,074)

(300,027)

Net Cash Flow

770,274

230,869

271,723

(250,249)

309,213

Opening net debt/(cash)

 

 

774,766

5,954

(223,172)

(494,895)

(244,646)

HP finance leases initiated

0

0

0

0

0

Other

(1,462)

(1,743)

0

0

0

Closing net debt/(cash)

 

 

5,954

(223,172)

(494,895)

(244,646)

(553,859)

Source: Company sources, Edison Investment Research


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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 £60,000 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.

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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.

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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 £60,000 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 2022 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

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