Figure 1

Site plan of Exploration drilling completed at the Black Butte Project January-March 2021.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Mont., Aug. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sandfire Resources America Inc. (“Sandfire America” or the “Company”), further to its news release dated May 27, 2021, is pleased to report final comprehensive drill results of the winter 2021 exploration core drilling program (the "Exploration Program"), with four of the nine exploration holes returning intercepts of greater than 1.2% copper. The Company has also entered into a contract with American Drilling commencing in August 2021 to complete 14,000m of diamond drilling over the Lowry deposit which has a reported Inferred Mineral Resource of 8.3 million tonnes of 2.4% copper (See press release dated October 27, 2020).

The Exploration Program drilling, which completed in March 2021, focused on drilling new targets that could be accessed from the currently planned and fully permitted underground mine in the Johnny Lee area. The Exploration Program recovered 5,267m of core in eight drill holes in four different target areas. Any resource development in these areas, including the Inferred Mineral Resource at Lowry, will require a thorough environmental review as part of the permitting process administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“MT DEQ”), as well as commercial studies, before the Company could make any decision to mine.

Highlights of the Exploration Program include (a full table of results is included at the end of this release):

• Hole SC21-256 – Lowry South extension in Lowry Lower Copper Zone – 12.45m of 3.4% copper and 6.5g/t silver (previously reported in the Company's May 27, 2021 news release)

• Hole SC21-262 – Strawberry West Upper Copper Zone – 6.8m of 1.2% copper and 33.0g/t silver.

• Hole SC21-263 – Lowry North extension in Lowry Middle Copper Zone – 9.8m of 1.7% copper and 12.2g/t silver

• Hole SC21-263 – Lowry North extension in Lowry Lower Copper Zone – 7.1m of 1.4% copper and 6.5g/t silver.

Hole SC21-263 intercepted copper mineralization in both the Lowry Middle Copper Zone and Lowry Lower Copper Zone, and so extended both zones north and east of previous intercepts. Together with the intersection in SC21-256 (reported May 27, 2021) these results show positive potential for expansion of the Lowry Lower Copper Zone in areas of its higher grades.

Hole SC21-262 tested the Upper Sulfide Zone in the Strawberry West area, about 600m west of the Johnny Lee Upper Copper Zone. Results from this hole plus historic holes outline a Strawberry West Upper Copper Zone reachable by underground access from the future Johnny Lee mine area.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/093e7b8e-ae66-4e1d-b727-77679b15cc13

Sandfire America is in the preparation stages for a fall-winter 2021-2022 drill program which will include 14,000m of infill drilling in the Lowry deposit to upgrade and expand the Middle Copper Zone and Lower Copper Zone resources. Approvals for the program have been received from the MT DEQ and a contract has been entered into with American Drilling to commence in August 2021 and work through to March/April 2022. The results of this drilling will support a Lowry Pre-Feasibility Study planned for completion in 2022. Additional work for the prefeasibility study will include hydrologic, metallurgical, mining, and geotechnical studies.

Sandfire America’s CEO Rob Scargill shared, “The successful winter drill program shows the potential of the Black Butte property to host economic copper mineralization within a mineable distance from the Johnny Lee mine infrastructure and processing facilities. The Lowry deposit has the potential to add significant value to the Black Butte project due to its size and grade. Its location could allow us to mine and treat the material with minimal impact on our already approved surface footprint which will protect the water resources and environment while providing benefits to all our stakeholders.”

Table 1. Black Butte Copper 2021 Winter Exploration Drilling Program.

*-Reported previously, See the Company's news release dated May 27, 2021

Intercept calculations included a minimum of 2 samples above a 1% copper cutoff grade.

Drilling conducted by Timberline Drilling Inc. of Hayden Lake, Idaho. HQ3-sized core was collected. Drill holes were oriented with dips varying between -80 to -70 degrees in relatively variably dipping mineral zones. Intercepts may be slightly longer than true thickness.

After being logged and photographed in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, all mineralized zones were sampled by cutting half-core splits which were delivered to Bureau Veritas labs in Reno, Nevada for processing. Bureau Veritas crushed the entire sample to 85% passing 2mm then split off 1kg, which was ground to 85% passing 75 micron and wet-sieved the split to ensure grinding passed specifications and then assayed for gold by fire assay with AA finish. Base metals were analyzed using a 4-acid digestion and ICP-ES analysis. Various other trace and major elements were also analyzed utilizing ICP and XRF procedures. Sandfire America utilized a QA/QC protocol which included inserting Certified Reference Materials (CRM) on a minimum of 1 CRM in 20 samples insertion rate. Assays of duplicates, and blanks were also included as part of the QA/QC program.

Bureau Veritas labs are accredited by ISO/IEC 170205:2017 methods for North America.

Contact Information:
Sandfire Resources America Inc.
Nancy Schlepp, VP of Communications
Mobile: 406-224-8180
Office: 406-547-3466
Email: nschlepp@sandfireamerica.com

Jerry Zieg, Sr. Vice President of Exploration for the Company, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has also reviewed and approved the information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this news release. Mr. Zieg verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this document constitute “forward looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the completion of the Exploration Program, the permitting process with MT DEQ and the Company’s plans for advancing the Black Butte Copper Project and expected outcomes. In making these forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Company will receive required regulatory approvals, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient funding to execute its plans, and that the results of exploration and development activities are consistent with management’s expectations. However, the forward-looking statements in this document are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including factors relating to the Company’s operation as a mineral exploration and development company, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and the Black Butte Copper Project, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including that results of exploration and development activities will not be consistent with management’s expectations, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, currency fluctuations,, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, competition and loss of key employees, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the risk of accidents, labor disputes, inclement or hazardous weather conditions, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground control problems, earthquakes, flooding and all of the other risks generally associated with the development of mining facilities. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Denver, CO, Aug. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intrepid Potash Inc. (NYSE:IPI) (“Intrepid”) today announced the following increase to its potash and Trio^® pricing, effective August 9, 2021.

• $80/ton increase to Ag potash price at all locations and for all product grades. Intrepid is now posted at $200/ton above the 2021 summer-fill price levels announced in May 2021.

• $50-$55/ton increase to Trio^® price depending on grade.

“Attractive grain prices and farmer economics continue to support the global and domestic potash market,” said Bob Jornayvaz, Intrepid’s Executive Chairman and CEO. “This price increase aligns our posted pricing with the spot potash price levels we are currently seeing in the Cornbelt, and we expect this announcement will give our customers the confidence to place orders for fourth quarter delivery. With robust demand expected to continue into the spring season, we plan to limit our potash and Trio^® orders to historic customers and volumes in the fourth quarter.”

About Intrepid:

Intrepid is a diversified mineral company that delivers potassium, magnesium, sulfur, salt, and water products essential for customer success in agriculture, animal feed, and the oil and gas industry. Intrepid is the only U.S. producer of muriate of potash, which is applied as an essential nutrient for healthy crop development, utilized in several industrial applications, and used as an ingredient in animal feed. In addition, Intrepid produces a specialty fertilizer, Trio^®, which delivers three key nutrients, potassium, magnesium, and sulfate, in a single particle. Intrepid also provides water, magnesium chloride, brine, and various oilfield products and services.
Intrepid serves diverse customers in markets where a logistical advantage exists and is a leader in the use of solar evaporation for potash production, resulting in lower cost and more environmentally friendly production. Intrepid's mineral production comes from three solar solution potash facilities and one conventional underground Trio^® mine.

Intrepid routinely posts important information, including information about upcoming investor presentations and press releases, on its website under the Investor Relations tab. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll at intrepidpotash.com, to receive automatic email alerts for new postings.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause Intrepid’s actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, statements regarding Intrepid’s expectation of its customer’s response to the price increase, its ability to achieve these price increases, and expectations regarding the future demand for potash and Trio^®. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting Intrepid is contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and other quarterly and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Intrepid undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

Contact:
Matt Preston, Vice President of Finance
Phone: 303-996-3048
Email: matt.preston@intrepidpotash.com

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.’s CLF 3-year labor contract with the United Autoworkers (“UAW”) for Dearborn Works operations has been ratified by its employees represented by the UAW Local 600. The contract is effective from Aug 1, 2021 through Jul 31, 2024. The new contract will cover roughly 1000 UAW-represented workers.

The company stated that it embraces its unions as partners, and works with them as equals in achieving common objectives. This latest agreement will enable it to maintain its competitive cost structure in flat-rolled steel compared with any of its peers, union or non-union.

Through this labor agreement at Dearborn, it will continue its commitment toward good-paying middle class union jobs, the company stated.

Shares of Cleveland-Cliffs have skyrocketed 298.3% in a year compared with 25% rise of the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Cleveland-Cliffs, in its last earnings call, stated that it expects adjusted EBITDA of around $1.8 billion for the third quarter. It also expects free cash flows of $1.4 billion for the quarter. The company also raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $5.5 billion. Demand for steel remains solid and the company continues to negotiate its contract businesses with several clients in different sectors, Cleveland-Cliffs noted.

ClevelandCliffs Inc. Price and Consensus

ClevelandCliffs Inc. price-consensus-chart | ClevelandCliffs Inc. Quote

Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

Cleveland-Cliffs currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Some other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Nucor Corporation NUE, Dow Inc. DOW and Cabot Corporation CBT.

Nucor has a projected earnings growth rate of around 455.7% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged 126.3% in a year. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Dow has an expected earnings growth rate of around 403.01% for the current year. The company’s shares have gained 38.4% in the past year. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Cabot has an expected earnings growth rate of around 137.5% for the current fiscal. The company’s shares have rallied 36.8% in the past year. It currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.

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How far off is Base Resources Limited (ASX:BSE) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Base Resources

Step by step through the calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)
Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$226m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF₂₀₃₁ × (1 + g) ÷ (r – g) = US$13m× (1 + 1.9%) ÷ (7.0%– 1.9%) = US$269m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)¹⁰= US$269m÷ ( 1 + 7.0%)¹⁰= US$136m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$362m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.3, the company appears quite undervalued at a 31% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

Important assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Base Resources as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.082. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Base Resources, we've put together three fundamental items you should further examine:

1. Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Base Resources .

2. Future Earnings: How does BSE's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart.

3. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

The first Canadian gold rush—the Klondike–went down with picks and shovels and got individual miners some nice nuggets to take home.

On the other side of the country—the mother lode–could become the second gold rush … and this time it’s high-tech, high-grade, and high-volume.

A discovery last year in Quebec by Amex Exploration netted early-in investors up to 7,000% returns.

But we think this is just the beginning.

And this isn’t just a gold rush.

Gunning for a repeat of the Amex 2020 discovery that for some investors would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing … Starr Peak Mining Ltd. (TSX:STE.V; OTC:STRPF) is on track aiming for something even more than just gold.

The junior miner—with Amex’s founder on its advisory team and technical advisor for exploration—has struck an entire basket of precious and base metals on its maiden drill.

And then again on its second drill.

Now, after hitting high-grade gold, silver, copper, and zinc on its first two drills at the past-producing mine it acquired earlier this year, the company is fast-tracking expansion of its drilling program.

In May, it expanded drilling from 5,000 meters to 20,000 meters.

Now, it’s doubling even that—to 40,000 meters.

Why? Because this isn’t just gold. It’s a VMS deposit–a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide deposit that represents a cornucopia of commodities, many of them soaring in demand and price.

Proving up a commercial deposit of minerals is exactly what the major miners are after.

It’s all setting up Starr Peak to increase chances of success.

There are 3 key reasons we think this is the metals play of the decade for investors:

#1 A VMS proven deposit can attract major miners like nothing else

A junior miner can net investors huge returns if they make a discovery of commercial size and grade, and when that junior miner discovers something that has been eluding the big players, it’s on everyone’s radar.

Even more so when it’s hitting drill hole targets with a 98% success rate.

What exactly has Starr Peak found?

Using the same top geological consulting firm (Laurentia Exploration) that Amex used for its discovery, Starr Peak launched drilling in January, and by March it had released its first surprise results, which were big enough to bring on a second drill rig. But less than two months later, in May, investors got another pleasant surprise: indications of a VMS deposit. That sent shares up over 136%.

The May results showed evidence of a possible VMS deposit with rock containing multiple base metals, including zinc, copper, silver, and gold.

With those results, Starr Peak (TSX:STE.V; OTC:STRPF) expanded drilling from 5,000 meters to 20,000 meters and brought on a third rig.

In July, Starr Peak drill results returned even higher-grade results:

• Upper Zone (above 400m vertically)

• Deep Zone (below 400m vertically)

Spurred on by July’s high-grade results, Starr Peak moved to double its drilling program from 20,000 meters to 40,000 meters.

Gold is great.

But VMS deposits are better. They can render a junior mining company valuable beyond gold. These deposits, once proven up, are so incredibly valuable because they have particularly long-term production potential due to what Mining.com refers to as “the formation of clusters of deposits or ore lenses in close proximity, and the polymetallic nature of the ore”.

And they are coveted because they are rarer discoveries …

Source: Mining.com

One of the most famous VMS deposits is the Kidd Mine in Australia, which has produced 9 million tons of zinc, over 3.4 million tons of copper, and 12,000 tons of silver since 1966.

And Quebec is one of the hottest spots to search for VMS deposits … even though their discovery has eluded the majors for decades.

Source: Mining.com

But Quebec—a province that spans 1.7 million km² of a wildly diverse collection of metals—is one of the world’s most tantalizing, untapped mining venues. Right now, only 1% of the province is being mined, and only 5% is covered by mining rights.

That puts Starr Peak right in the middle of VMS discovery sweet spot, with high-grade results already from its first two drills. The hopes are that it could blow even the original Amex discovery away.

#2 One of the Fastest-Moving Expansion Plays We’ve Seen

Since Q2 2019, Starr Peak (TSX:STE.V; OTC:STRPF) has been on a tear.

It started in June 2019, when the company acquired a priority land package (NewMétal) in northwestern Quebec, directly east of Amex Exploration Inc.’s Perron Property and proximal to the past-producing Normétal Mine. In that move, Starr Peak acquired 53 mineral claims covering 1,420 hectares in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

By the same time in 2020, Starr Peak expanded its NewMétal property by acquiring another 11 mineral claims over 468 hectares.

Right afterwards, it acquired the past-producing Normétal Mine, with 10 mineral claims over 391.53 hectares. That mine, which was exploited from 1929 to 1975, produced over 10 million tonnes of high-grade gold, silver, zinc and copper through that period.

And then, two more highly-prospective properties: Rousseau Gold Property (12 mineral claims covering 470.17 hectares) and Turgeon Lake Gold Property (2 mineral claims covering 112.91 hectares).

#3 Fully-Funded with a Superstar Team

Starr Peak reports it’s fully funded for drilling, with CAD$7.5 million in the bank as of July 22nd, 2021. It’s easy enough to follow the announcements of private placement money:

• March 2020: closed first tranche of private placement for $450,000

• May 2020: closed final tranche of PP for $555,000

• August 2020: closed flow-through PP for $1,110,000

• November 2020: closed flow-through PP for $2,650,000

• June 2021: closed institutional flow-through PP for $3,756,000

• July 2021: closed institutional flow-through PP for $2,310,000

The same expert behind the Amex discovery at the Perron Project is now involved with Starr Peak’s exploration. Dr. Jacques Trottier, PhD, founder and executive chairman of Amex Exploration is now Starr Peak’s Chief Technical Advisor. He’s an expert on VMS deposits, and he’s confident we’re looking at another significant find here.

Starr Peak’s (TSX:STE.V; OTC:STRPF) new VP of Exploration, Yves Rougerie, PGeo, is also a VMS expert, with a track record across North America.

And CEO and Director Johnathan More, also the chairman of Power Metals Corp., was savvy enough to spot the enormity of the Amex Exploration discovery in 2019 and swoop in to scoop up the adjacent property. He’s been on an expansion binge ever since. For the earliest investors it’s paying off in a very short time.

For Starr Peak, it’s just beginning. But the momentum of this VMS discovery is hoped to soar past the “early-in” days very quickly. No doubt, all the major miners are watching this one now because this kind of deposit, if proven to be commercial size, is where economies of scale are creating and cash cost profiles for companies are enhanced significantly. There’s nothing more attractive to some investors.

Gold Majors Are Making Big Moves

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) is one of the most diverse and exciting miners on the planet, shielding itself from country-specific regulatory troubles or civil strife. It has operations on four continents including Africa, Australia, South America and North America. And though it has had some problems over the past decade, specifically in the early 2010s when the gold market took a major hit forcing many miners, including AngloGold to shutter operations, the mining giant has persevered.

AngloGold has been recording highly impressive bottom-line expansion. The miner’s performance has been underpinned by a record year at Geita as well as remarkable performances at the Kibali, Sunrise Dam, Iduapriem, Siguiri, and AGA Mineração operations.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM) has seen its stock price nearly double from $30 in mid-February 2020 to its current price of $47.23. Sociedad Química y Minera, for example, signed in December a long-term supply deal with LG Energy Solution, which in turn supplies batteries to carmakers such as Tesla and GM. Under the deal, SQM will supply battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide to LG Energy Solution between 2021 and 2029.

Sociedad Química y Minera sees the lithium industry growing at around 20 percent per year in the long term, supported by rising EV sales and emission reduction goals from China to the United States.

While Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) is primarily known for its significant copper mining operations, the resource giant also has a fair influx of gold as well. In fact, its Grasberg mine in Indonesia holds of the world's largest deposits of copper and gold. But that’s just scratching the surface of the miner’s global assets. Freeport-McMoRan also has extensive operations across the Americas, including mines in Arizona, Mexico and Peru.

Though its business struggled as global demand for copper took a hit, panic-buying from China has lifted prices higher in recent months – and that’s good news for Freeport-McMoRan. In addition to climbing copper prices, gold prices hit record levels, which will add even more to the mining giant’s bottom line.

Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE:KGC, TSX:K), one of the world’s largest gold producers, is constantly looking to expand its operations and has found success in many regions. The company mines for gold across six continents, with operations in Brazil, Ghana, Mauritania, Russia and the United States. It also operates a joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti Limited that provides mining services at two sites in West Africa—one of which was recently awarded an environmental permit from the government of Guinea.

Kinross Gold Corporation is a profitable company–consistently. It’s a safer bet, if not one that will deliver you stunning upside. This is for the more cautious gold investor.

Just like AngloGold, Kinross has been enjoying dramatic improvements in profit margins and cash flow thanks to the surge in gold prices–and this trend appears set to continue with the gold outlook remaining decidedly bullish. With all factors remaining constant, Kinross should be able to realize high single-digit EPS expansion in the current year.

Kirkland Lake Gold (NYSE:KL, TSX:KL) is another one of Toronto’s finest gold miners. Though not quite as established as Barrick or Newmont, Kirkland is no stranger to striking headline grabbing deals in the industry. In fact, just recently, Kirkland and Newmont signed a $75 million exploration deal that could wind up being a game-changer for the industry. The two companies have agreed to split the cost 50/50 over five years with each company investing $15 million every year into joint projects between both companies for exploration purposes only – at this point it seems like a win.

According to a joint press release in late 2020, “Newmont has acquired an option from Kirkland on the mining and mineral rights subject to a royalty payable by Newmont to Royal Gold, Inc. (the Holt Royalty) in exchange for a $75 million payment to Kirkland Lake Gold. Newmont can exercise the Option only in the event Kirkland intends to restart operations at the Holt Mine and process material subject to the Holt Royalty”

This alliance will provide Kirkland with cash flow to evaluate new alternatives for the future of the mining complex, dive deeper into its existing properties, and weigh other opportunities where the two gold companies may be able to find common ground in the future.

After years of anti-gold rhetoric, one of the world’s most famous billionaire investors, Warren Buffett, has finally changed his stance on precious metals. In an announcement last year, Berkshire Hathaway said it was buying half a billion dollars’ worth of Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD; TSX:ABX) shares at a time when gold nearing its all-time highs This change in attitude towards gold by Buffett could affect how many other investors view it as an investment opportunity. Buffett’s investment in Barrick and change in tune on the gold front shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, however. As the future of the economy looks more-and-more uncertain, and the Federal Reserve continues to print money at a record rate, solid gold miners like Barrick have drawn a lot of attention for investors, especially considering the healthy 0.96% dividend per share that comes with the purchase

Barrick is a top-tier gold miner with a global footprint. The Toronto-based gold giant operates in 13 countries, including Argentina, Canada, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Mali, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, the United States and Zambia. Though Newmont surpassed Barrick as the largest gold miner when it acquired Goldcorp, Barrick is still a force to be reckoned with.

Newmont (NYSE:NEM, TSX:NGT) is a global mining company with operations in the United States, Australia, Peru and Ghana. They are one of the world's largest gold producers and they have been operating for over 100 years. Newmont has its headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colorado (a suburb of Denver) where it was founded in 1921 by William Boyce Thompson.

Following its acquisition of Goldcorp, Newmont became the single biggest gold company in the world, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still have some room to run. As far as management goes Newmont doesn't have any weak spots. Its board includes veteran mining executives like Bob McAdam of Barrick Gold Corp., Tom Albanese of Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO), Joe Jimenez of Dow Chemical Company (DOW) and John Wiebe of Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC).

Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY, TSX:YRI), one of the world's top gold companies, has seen its share price hit especially hard this year. Yamana had been on an upward trend since February when it announced that three mines were closing and more than 1 billion dollars would be cut from their budgets as part of ongoing austerity measures due to slumping prices for precious metals and weak demand for mining equipment across the industry.

Earlier this year, Yamana signed a deal with industry giants Glencore and Goldcorp to develop and operate another Argentinian project, the Agua Rica. Initial analysis suggests the potential for a mine life in excess of 25 years at average annual production of approximately 236,000 tonnes (520 million pounds) of copper-equivalent metal, including the contributions of gold, molybdenum, and silver, for the first 10 years of operation.

By. Tom Kool

**IMPORTANT! BY READING OUR CONTENT YOU EXPLICITLY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE READ

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Forward-Looking Statements

This publication contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this publication include that prices for gold, silver, copper, zinc and other base metals will retain their value in future as currently expected, or could continue to increase due to global demand and political reasons; that Starr Peak can fulfill all its obligations to acquire its Quebec properties; that Starr Peak’s property can continue to achieve drilling and mining success for gold and other metals; that historical geological information and estimations will prove to be accurate or at least very indicative; that high-grade targets exist; that Starr Peak will be able to carry out its business plans, including future exploration and drilling programs; that the preliminary drilling results will be confirmed as further exploration continues; that the lab results from Starr Peak’s initial exploration program will confirm evidence of a significant VMS deposit; that Starr Peak’s exploration results will gain the attention and interest of larger mining companies and investors; that Starr Peak’s exploration results will continue to show promising results justifying ongoing exploration and possible development efforts. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that politics don’t have nearly the strong effect on gold and other base metal prices as expected; that demand for base metals may not continue to increase; that the Company may not complete all its announced mineral property purchases for various reasons; that the Company may not be able to finance its intended drilling and exploration programs; Starr Peak may not raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans; that geological interpretations and technological results based on current data may change with more detailed information or testing; that the lab results from Starr Peak’s initial exploration program may not support evidence of a significant VMS deposit; that the preliminary drilling results may not be confirmed during further exploration efforts; that Starr Peak will fail to gain the attention and interest of other mining companies and investors; that Starr Peak’s exploration results may fail to find additional promising results justifying ongoing exploration and/or development efforts; and despite promising results from drilling and exploration, there may be no commercially viable minerals or ore on Starr Peak’s property. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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This communication is for entertainment purposes only. Never invest purely based on our communication. We have not been compensated by Starr Peak but may in the future be compensated to conduct investor awareness advertising and marketing for TSXV:STE. The information in our communications and on our website has not been independently verified and is not guaranteed to be correct.

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The lithium miner significantly raised its full-year 2021 guidance for both revenue and a key profitability metric.

The market rally is at highs, but tricky to navigate. Apple and Square are in buy range. Tesla pushed Cybertruck production to 2022.

While Capstone Mining Corp. (TSE:CS) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 16% in the last quarter. But that doesn't undermine the fantastic longer term performance (measured over five years). To be precise, the stock price is 524% higher than it was five years ago, a wonderful performance by any measure. So it might be that some shareholders are taking profits after good performance. Only time will tell if there is still too much optimism currently reflected in the share price.

We love happy stories like this one. The company should be really proud of that performance!

Check out our latest analysis for Capstone Mining

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During the five years of share price growth, Capstone Mining moved from a loss to profitability. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here. Given that the company made a profit three years ago, but not five years ago, it is worth looking at the share price returns over the last three years, too. We can see that the Capstone Mining share price is up 435% in the last three years. In the same period, EPS is up 38% per year. Notably, the EPS growth has been slower than the annualised share price gain of 75% over three years. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. This free interactive report on Capstone Mining's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Capstone Mining shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 369% over the last year. That's better than the annualised return of 44% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Capstone Mining that you should be aware of.

Capstone Mining is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA exchanges.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

On the call this morning, we have Rob Henderson, president and CEO; Sandra Daycock, chief financial officer; and Fernando Cornejo, chief operating officer. Thank you, Fiona, and thank you, everyone, for dialing in today.

RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited (NASDAQ: PLL) (“Piedmont”) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities during the Class Period may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453; toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at info@ktmc.com; or click https://www.ktmc.com/piedmont-lithium-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=piedmont

Piedmont engages in the exploration and development of resource projects. Piedmont primarily holds a 100% interest in a lithium project covering 2,322 acres in the North Carolina. On May 17, 2021, in connection with Piedmont’s redomiciliation from Australia to the United States, Piedmont’s American Depositary Share (“ADS”) holders received one share of Piedmont common stock for each ADS.

The Class Period commences on March 16, 2018, when Piedmont filed a Registration Statement on a Form 20-F. On June 14, 2018, Piedmont issued a press release entitled “PIEDMONT LITHIUM ANNOUNCES MAIDEN MINERAL RESOURCE” which stated, in part, its “strategy of building an integrated lithium processing business based on proven, conventional technologies and benefitting from the inherent advantages of Piedmont’s strategic North Carolina location, including; … [s]trong local government support.” Throughout the Class Period, Piedmont informed investors regarding its plan for completing necessary permitting and zoning activities required to commence mining and processing operations in North Carolina.

The truth began to emerge on July 20, 2021. Before market hours, Reuters published an article entitled “In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors” which reported the following, in pertinent part, regarding Piedmont’s regulatory issues in North Carolina: (1) Piedmont had not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so; (2) five of the seven members of the county’s board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, said they may block or delay the project; and (3) Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days’ notice, further straining the relationship.

Following this news, Piedmont shares fell $12.56 per share over the trading day, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont had not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business did not have “strong local government support”; and (5) as a result, the defendants’ public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Piedmont investors may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member’s claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(844) 887-9500 (toll free)
info@ktmc.com

New York, New York–(Newsfile Corp. – August 8, 2021) – WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a/ Piedmont Lithium Limited (NASDAQ: PLL) (NASDAQ: PLLL) between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 21, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action commenced by the firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Piedmont securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Piedmont class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2124.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 21, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont, and its lithium business, does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Piedmont class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2124.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

——————————-

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/92373

(Bloomberg) — A months-long wage negotiation at the world’s biggest copper mine is heading into a tense finale over the coming days.

The main union at Chile’s Escondida is calling on workers to be ready to strike amid limited progress in mediated talks. But owner BHP Group said it had made substantial improvements and vowed to continue its practice of not sweetening offers during strikes.

Wage talks at a mine that accounts for about 5% of global production are being closely watched by the copper market as trillions of dollars in government stimulus fuel demand for industrial metals. Traders will have to navigate Chile’s somewhat complex labor rules to figure out the likely next steps.

After workers rejected BHP’s final wage offer in regular talks, the company exercised its option of a five-day mediation period in a bid to avert a strike. That period ends Monday. If the two sides fail to reach a deal by then, they could agree to extend mediation for as many as five more business days or a legal strike could begin.

The two sides don’t seem too far apart in terms of benefits. The union requested a bonus equivalent to 1% of the company’s profit, which would be about 21 million pesos ($26,600) each worker. In regular talks, the company offered 18 million pesos apiece and says it has sweetened terms during mediation. They may be further apart in base wages.

Read More: A Copper Supply Shock Is Brewing as Miners Dig in on Wage Talks

According to consultancy firm Plusmining, any strike would probably be shorter than the 44-day stoppage that roiled the copper market in 2017. The union would have the option, as it took up four years ago, to end the strike by freezing the current contract for 18 months and negotiate again, without receiving any bonus now. But given the company submitted an offer higher than the legal floor, workers could only take up that option after 30 days, which would put pressure on their personal finances.

While the union says BHP hasn’t done enough during mediation and attached conditions to proposed benefits, the company is ratcheting up its own pressure to get a deal done. The cost of a prolonged strike at a time of sky-high copper prices would also be heavy for the Melbourne-based miner.

“We have gone to great lengths to reach an agreement during the process, and especially in mandatory mediation,” the company said in a text message late Friday. “We hope that these efforts will be appreciated by the workers because the offer in mediation will be the best that the company will present.”

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Today is shaping up negative for CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE:CNX) shareholders, with the analysts delivering a substantial negative revision to this year's forecasts. Revenue estimates were cut sharply as analysts signalled a weaker outlook – perhaps a sign that investors should temper their expectations as well.

Following the downgrade, the latest consensus from CNX Resources' eight analysts is for revenues of US$1.5b in 2021, which would reflect a reasonable 5.5% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Before the latest update, the analysts were foreseeing US$1.7b of revenue in 2021. The consensus view seems to have become more pessimistic on CNX Resources, noting the substantial drop in revenue estimates in this update.

See our latest analysis for CNX Resources

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the CNX Resources' past performance and to peers in the same industry. The analysts are definitely expecting CNX Resources' growth to accelerate, with the forecast 11% annualised growth to the end of 2021 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 2.9% per annum over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to grow their revenue at 2.2% per year. It seems obvious that, while the growth outlook is brighter than the recent past, the analysts also expect CNX Resources to grow faster than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The clear low-light was that analysts slashing their revenue forecasts for CNX Resources this year. They're also forecasting more rapid revenue growth than the wider market. Overall, given the drastic downgrade to this year's forecasts, we'd be feeling a little more wary of CNX Resources going forwards.

But wait – there's more! At least one of CNX Resources' eight analysts has provided estimates out to 2023, which can be seen for free on our platform here.

Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

The market rally is at highs, but tricky to navigate. Apple, Tesla and Square are near buy points. BioNTech earnings loom.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 27% share price jump in the last month. Looking back a bit further, it's encouraging to see the stock is up 60% in the last year.

Following the firm bounce in price, Albertsons Companies may be sending bearish signals at the moment with its price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 21x, since almost half of all companies in the United States have P/E ratios under 17x and even P/E's lower than 10x are not unusual. However, the P/E might be high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

While the market has experienced earnings growth lately, Albertsons Companies' earnings have gone into reverse gear, which is not great. It might be that many expect the dour earnings performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. If not, then existing shareholders may be extremely nervous about the viability of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Albertsons Companies

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on Albertsons Companies.

Does Growth Match The High P/E?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as high as Albertsons Companies' is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 32% decrease to the company's bottom line. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 40% overall rise in EPS, in spite of its unsatisfying short-term performance. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would probably welcome the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 25% each year as estimated by the analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 12% per year growth forecast for the broader market.

With this information, we can see why Albertsons Companies is trading at such a high P/E compared to the market. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock.

The Bottom Line On Albertsons Companies' P/E

Albertsons Companies' P/E is getting right up there since its shares have risen strongly. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

We've established that Albertsons Companies maintains its high P/E on the strength of its forecast growth being higher than the wider market, as expected. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident future earnings aren't under threat. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to provide strong support to the share price.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 5 warning signs for Albertsons Companies that you need to be mindful of.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Albertsons Companies, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

Radnor, Pennsylvania–(Newsfile Corp. – August 6, 2021) – The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces to Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited (NASDAQ: PLL) ("Piedmont") investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period").

Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or acquired Piedmont securities during the Class Period may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453; toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at info@ktmc.com; or click https://www.ktmc.com/piedmont-lithium-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=piedmont

Piedmont engages in the exploration and development of resource projects. Piedmont primarily holds a 100% interest in a lithium project covering 2,322 acres in the North Carolina. Throughout the Class Period, Piedmont informed investors regarding its plan for completing necessary permitting and zoning activities required to commence mining and processing operations in North Carolina.

The truth began to emerge on July 20, 2021. Before market hours, Reuters published an article entitled "In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors" which reported the following, in pertinent part, regarding Piedmont's regulatory issues in North Carolina: (1) Piedmont had not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so; (2) five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, said they may block or delay the project; and (3) Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days' notice, further straining the relationship.

Following this news, Piedmont shares fell $12.56 per share over the trading day, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Piedmont had not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business did not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, the defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Piedmont investors may, no later than September 21, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(844) 887-9500 (toll free)
info@ktmc.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/92333

The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has The Mosaic (MOS) been one of those stocks this year? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Basic Materials sector should help us answer this question.

The Mosaic is one of 251 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #4 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. MOS is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MOS's full-year earnings has moved 24.17% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

According to our latest data, MOS has moved about 33.42% on a year-to-date basis. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 13.64%. This means that The Mosaic is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Looking more specifically, MOS belongs to the Fertilizers industry, which includes 7 individual stocks and currently sits at #23 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 12.71% so far this year, so MOS is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

MOS will likely be looking to continue its solid performance, so investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to the company.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Piedmont To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

New York, New York–(Newsfile Corp. – August 5, 2021) – Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) and reminds investors of the September 21, 2021 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 investing in Piedmont stock or options between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/PLL.

There is no cost or obligation to you.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia.

As detailed below, the lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have "strong local government support"; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

Specifically, on July 20, 2021, before market hours, Reuters published an article entitled "In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors" which, among other things, reported various regulatory issues regarding the Company's prospective mining operations in North Carolina.

On this news, Piedmont shares fell $12.56 per share over the trading day, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021, damaging investors.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Piedmont's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/92245

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 6, 2021 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Piedmont Lithium Inc. ('Piedmont' or 'the Company') (NASDAQ:PLL) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company's securities between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the ''Class Period''), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 21, 2021.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Piedmont would not follow the steps or timeline to secure all necessary permits from governmental agencies. The Company failed to inform appropriate governmental agencies and authorities of its planned activities. The Company failed to file applications with relevant authorities including the state and local governments. Despite its claims, the Company did not have 'strong local government support.' Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Piedmont, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
info@schallfirm.com

SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm

View source version on accesswire.com:
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ST. LOUIS, Aug. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Peabody (NYSE: BTU) today announced it has extended the expiration date of its previously announced offer to purchase (the "Offer") for cash up to $13.281 million (the "Available Repurchase Amount") in aggregate accreted value of its 8.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the "2024 Notes") at a purchase price equal to 73.840% of the accreted value of the 2024 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest as set forth in the Indenture (as defined below), to, but excluding, the settlement date, to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 3, 2021 (as the same may be further extended, the "Expiration Time"). Tendered 2024 Notes may be validly withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Time, unless extended or earlier terminated by Peabody. As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 6, 2021, $66,692.00 aggregate principal amount of 2024 Notes and $0 aggregate principal and commitment amounts of Priority Lien Obligations under the LC Agreement (as defined below) had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn. The Offer is being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated July 7, 2021 (the "Offer to Purchase"). Except as otherwise described in this press release, all other terms of the Offer as described in the Offer to Purchase remain unchanged. The Offer is being made to satisfy the requirements of the Indenture.

Subject to the Available Repurchase Amount, for each $1,000 accreted value of 2024 Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Expiration Time and accepted by Peabody, holders of 2024 Notes will receive $738.40 in cash (the "Offer Price"), plus accrued and unpaid interest as set forth in the Indenture, to, but excluding, the settlement date. The settlement date is currently expected to be the second business day following the Expiration Time. As previously disclosed, Peabody is making a concurrent debt repurchase offer (the "Concurrent LC Agreement Offer") under the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2021, among Peabody, the lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the "LC Agreement").

If the aggregate accreted value of the 2024 Notes tendered in the Offer and the aggregate principal and commitment amounts of Priority Lien Obligations (as defined in the LC Agreement) under the LC Agreement tendered in the Concurrent LC Agreement Offer collectively exceed the Available Repurchase Amount of $13.281 million, Peabody will select the Notes, subject to the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company, to be purchased on a pro rata basis with such adjustments as needed so that no 2024 Notes in an unauthorized denomination are purchased in part based on the aggregate accreted value of the 2024 Notes tendered.

For example, if $15 million aggregate accreted value of Notes are tendered in the Offer and $10 million in aggregate principal and commitment amounts of Priority Lien Obligations incurred under the LC Agreement are tendered in the Concurrent LC Agreement Offer, Peabody would purchase $7,968,600 aggregate accreted value of Notes in the Offer, with such Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis in accordance with the procedures set forth in the preceding paragraph. Under this example, Peabody also would purchase $5,312,400 of Priority Lien Obligations under the LC Agreement pursuant to the Concurrent LC Agreement Offer.

The 2024 Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of January 29, 2021, by and among Peabody, the guarantors party thereto (the "Guarantors") and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the "Trustee") (as amended and restated by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 3, 2021, among Peabody, the Guarantors and the Trustee, and as further amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified to the date hereof, the "Indenture"). Under the terms of the Indenture, within 30 days of June 30, 2021, the end of Peabody's second fiscal quarter (such fiscal quarter, the "Debt Repurchase Quarterly Period"), Peabody is obligated to offer to purchase for cash an aggregate accreted value of up to the Available Repurchase Amount of its outstanding 2024 Notes at the price described above. The Offer is intended to satisfy this requirement.

The Available Repurchase Amount for the Offer is equal to 25% of $53.127 million, which is the total aggregate principal and commitment amounts of Priority Lien Debt (as defined in the Indenture) repurchased by Peabody pursuant to open-market repurchases during the Debt Repurchase Quarterly Period. In addition, the Offer Price of $738.40 represents the price per $1,000 accreted value of Notes that is the weighted-average repurchase price for all Priority Lien Debt repurchased by Peabody during the Debt Repurchase Quarterly Period.

None of Peabody, its board of directors (or any committee thereof), Wilmington Trust, National Association, the depositary for the Offer, or the Trustee or their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether or not holders should tender all or any portion of their 2024 Notes in the Offer.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities. The Offer is being made solely by the Offer to Purchase. The Offer is not being made to holders of 2024 Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

Peabody (NYSE: BTU) is a leading coal producer, providing essential products to fuel baseload electricity for emerging and developed countries and create the steel needed to build foundational infrastructure. Our commitment to sustainability underpins our activities today and helps to shape our strategy for the future. For further information, visit PeabodyEnergy.com.

Contact:
Alice Tharenos
314.342.7890

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words or variation of words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "targets," "would," "will," "should," "goal," "could" or "may" or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements provide management's current expectations or predictions of future conditions, events or results. All statements that address operating performance, events, or developments that Peabody expects will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. They may also include estimates of sales targets, cost savings, capital expenditures, other expense items, actions relating to strategic initiatives, demand for the company's products, liquidity, capital structure, market share, industry volume, other financial items, descriptions of management's plans or objectives for future operations and descriptions of assumptions underlying any of the above. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and reflect Peabody's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance or events. Furthermore, Peabody disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, a variety of economic, competitive and regulatory factors, many of which are beyond Peabody's control, including the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and factors that are described in Peabody's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2020 and Peabody's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2021, and other factors that Peabody may describe from time to time in other filings with the SEC. You may get such filings for free at Peabody's website at www.peabodyenergy.com. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and, consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peabody-announces-extension-of-the-expiration-date-for-its-offer-to-purchase-up-to-13-281-million-in-aggregate-accreted-value-of-its-8-500-senior-secured-notes-due-2024–301350583.html

SOURCE Peabody

Comstock Mining, Inc. LODE is scheduled to report second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 10, before the market opens.

Q2 Estimates

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is currently pegged at $0.07 million, suggesting growth of 40% from the prior-year quarter. The consensus mark for earnings stands at 1 cent per share, indicating a decline of 80% from the 5 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. The earnings estimate has remained unchanged over the past 30 days.

Q1 Results

Comstock Mining reported earnings per share of 2 cents per share against a loss of 5 cents in the prior-year quarter. The figure compared favorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 4 cents per share. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 97.6%, on average.

Comstock Mining, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Comstock Mining, Inc. price-eps-surprise | Comstock Mining, Inc. Quote

Factors to Note

The company’s mining segment comprises mining, mine development, processing, and environmental and reclamation operations, related mineral properties, water rights, properties, plant and equipment, investments in Tonogold and Pelen, and general and administrative expenses. The company ceased mining in 2015 and has concluded processing material from its leach pad in December 2016. Thus, no production or mining revenues will be reported in the company’s second-quarter results.

The real estate segment consists of real estate rental operations, including the Daney Ranch and Gold Hill Hotel, and related properties and equipment, as well as assets held for sale to Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund, Inc. (“SSOF”), and investments in and advances to SSOF. Real estate revenues for the second quarter might have witnessed growth, courtesy of an increase from the Daney Ranch lease signed Sep 1, 2020. This is likely to be partly offset by decrease in rentals of its metallurgical labs at the company's processing site and a decreased rental rate with the Gold Hill Hotel lessees.

Real estate costs and expenses for the to-be-reported quarter are likely to have witnessed year-over-year escalation due to higher depreciation expenses associated with the Gold Hill Hotel and Daney Ranch properties, which were classified as assets held for sale prior to September 2020. With certain assets becoming fully depreciated, mining costs and expenses are likely to have been low. These costs include depreciation expense on temporarily idled mining equipment, processing facilities and heap leach pads. General and administrative expenses may have been higher primarily due to higher professional service and directors' fees and performance-based stock compensation expense. On Mar 5, 2021, the company extinguished all of its debt obligations totaling $3.6 million, leading to expected saving of more than $0.3 million in annual interest expenses. This might have contributed to earnings in the second quarter as well. All of these factors might get reflected in the company’s to-be-reported quarter results.

What the Zacks Model Unveils

Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Comstock Mining this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here as you will see below.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Comstock Mining is 0.00%.

Zacks Rank: The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3.

Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Comstock Mining’s shares have soared 258.8% in the past year against the industry’s decline of 22%.

Stocks Poised to Beat Estimates

Here are some companies in the basic materials space you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post earnings beat this quarter:

Nutrien Ltd. NTR has an Earnings ESP of +1.44% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

GrowGeneration Corp. GRWG has an Earnings ESP of +3.45% and a Zacks Rank of 2, currently.

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. WPM has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.18%, at present.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Comstock Mining, Inc. (LODE) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

GrowGeneration Corp. (GRWG) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 6, 2021 / Pinetree Capital Ltd. (TSX:PNP) ('Pinetree' or the 'Company') today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. All financial information provided in this press release is unaudited and all figures are in $'000 except per share amounts and shares outstanding. The information below does not account for the 100:1 consolidation and 1:50 share split of the common shares which occurred on July 12, 2021.

Unaudited financial results for the period ended June 30, 2021

The following information should be read in conjunction with our annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') and our annual Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020, which can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Selected Financial Information

¹ Refer to "Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures"
Shares Outstanding and Book Value amounts are as at the Quarter End date
Operating Expenses amounts are for the Three months ending the Quarter End date
² Operating Expenses do not include Foreign Exchange gain (loss) on financial assets other than investments

As at June 30, 2021, Pinetree's BVPS was $2.10 as compared to $2.11 as at December 31, 2020, representing a decrease of $0.01 or 0.5%. This represented a sequential decrease of $0.23 or 10% from $2.33 as of March 31. The decline was primarily due to the dilutive effects of the financing which occurred in the quarter as described below. Excluding the effects of the financing, Pinetree's BVPS would have been approximately $2.34. As a reminder, Pinetree completed a 100:1 consolidation and 1:50 split after the end of the reporting period, on July 12, 2021, which has not been reflected in the above information.

As at June 30, 2021, the Company held investments at fair value totaling $22,821, which represented 58% of book value. This compares to investments at fair value of $16,493 representing 86% of book value as at December 31, 2020

On March 29, 2021 the Company announced a rights offering to holders of its common shares. Each right entitled the holder to subscribe for one common share of Pinetree upon payment of the subscription price of $1.85 per common share. The offering was significantly oversubscribed. At the close on May 17^th, shareholders exercised 9,420,198 rights for 9,420,198 common shares of Pinetree. This resulted in net proceeds of $17,298 after transaction costs of approximately $129. Insiders, as a group, subscribed for and received an aggregate of 4,808,576 common shares. All other rights holders, as a group, subscribed for and received an aggregate of 4,661,622 common shares

During the period ended June 30, 2021, the Company continued to take a disciplined approach to capital allocation and OpEx control. OpEx for the twelve months ended June 30, 2021 were $611 which corresponds to 1.5% of book value as at June 30, 2021. This compares to OpEx of $473 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2020 which corresponds to 3.1% of book value as at June 30, 2020. Since expenses fluctuate from quarter to quarter, management monitors costs on a trailing twelve month basis.

The net investment gains for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were $397 (three months ended June 30, 2020 – losses of $72) as a result of net realized gains on investments and the net change in unrealized gains.

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, other income totalled $97 as compared to other income of $71 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Other income is comprised of interest and dividend income.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements herein may be "forward-looking" statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Pinetree or the industry to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to vary significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect current assumptions and expectations regarding future events and operating performance and are made as of the date hereof and Pinetree assumes no obligation, except as required by law, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.

Non-IFRS Measures, Non-GAAP Measures
BVPS (book value per share) is a non-IFRS (international financial reporting standards) measure calculated as the value of total assets less the value of total liabilities divided by the total number of common shares outstanding as at a specific date. The term BVPS does not have any standardized meaning according to IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. There is no comparable IFRS measure presented in Pinetree's consolidated financial statements and thus no applicable quantitative reconciliation for such non-IFRS financial measure. The Company has calculated BVPS consistently for many years and believes that BVPS can provide information useful to its shareholders in understanding its performance and may assist in the evaluation of its business relative to that of its peers.

About Pinetree Capital Ltd.
Pinetree is a value-oriented investment and merchant banking company focused on the technology sector. Pinetree's common shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol 'PNP'.

For further information:
John Bouffard
Chief Financial Officer
416-941-9600 x 200
jbouffard@pinetreecapital.com
www.pinetreecapital.com

SOURCE: Pinetree Capital Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
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NEW YORK, August 06, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of those who acquired Piedmont Lithium Inc. f/k/a Piedmont Lithium Limited ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) securities from March 16, 2018 through July 19, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors have until September 21, 2021 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

On July 20, 2021, before market hours, Reuters reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." According to the article, a majority of the board of commissioners said, "they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected." On this news, the Company’s stock price declined by $12.56 per share, or approximately 19.9%, from $63.08 per share to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

The lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Piedmont has not, and would not, follow its stated steps or timeline to secure all proper and necessary permits; (2) Piedmont failed to inform relevant people and governmental authorities of its actual plans; (3) Piedmont failed to file proper applications with relevant governmental authorities (including state and local authorities); (4) Piedmont and its lithium business does not have strong local government support; and (5) as a result, Defendants’ statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Piedmont securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP at 212-371-6600, by email at investigations@kmllp.com, or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you.

Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP’s website: http://www.kmllp.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210806005517/en/

Contacts

Kirby McInerney LLP
Thomas W. Elrod, Esq.
212-371-6600
https://www.kmllp.com
investigations@kmllp.com

(Bloomberg) — Higher labor and supply costs will slow but not stop expansion in lithium mining, according to the chief of the world’s largest producer of the key ingredient in rechargeable batteries.

Labor tightness in Western Australia has caused a three-month delay at Albemarle Corp.’s Kemerton II expansion. The miner has to pay rates that more than double the level before the pandemic to retain workers there, while dealing with higher electricity prices in North America and Europe. Freight rates have also increased 30% to 40% globally.

Producers are starting to ramp up amid signs the market is recovering from a glut, with the lithium supply tightening and prices surging. Global demand is projected to rise as much as five fold as a shift to low-carbon energy sources fuels sales of electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Covid-triggered shortages in materials have driven up costs across industries, with U.S. inflation exceeding forecasts in the last four months.

“I don’t think they really stop capacity,” Kent Masters, Albemarle’s chief executive officer, said in an interview Thursday. “In the near term, they slow it down, especially if you plan to build plants in Western Australia.” Higher cost of shipping and power also won’t affect capacity, he added.

Masters expects the “extraordinary cost pressure” in labor, energy and freight to come back down after supply-chain issues are solved, possibly “in a year’s time post Covid.”

A global index of lithium prices has jumped more than 80% this year, rebounding from a decline that had started in mid-2018.

BloombergNEF expects the supply of lithium hydroxide, or battery-grade lithium, to be tight this year and prices to rise along with battery consumption. It also expects lithium demand to grow five-fold by 2030 from this year’s levels.

For Albemarle, Western Australia is a unique market where capital-intensive projects have been difficult to process. With Covid-related lockdowns, workers there are in even higher demand as mining companies can’t transfer people from other regions and they will have to offer higher wages to attract more workers.

“We’re fighting to keep the resources we have,” Masters said about retaining the workforce in the Australian state. “And we have to pay significant rates to keep those resources. That’s why the delay at Kemerton II.”

Shares of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company rose 1.3% to $221.545 at 9:36 a.m. in New York trading.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

How far off is Fresnillo plc (LON:FRES) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Fresnillo

The calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)
Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$4.1b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF₂₀₃₁ × (1 + g) ÷ (r – g) = US$532m× (1 + 0.9%) ÷ (7.9%– 0.9%) = US$7.7b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)¹⁰= US$7.7b÷ ( 1 + 7.9%)¹⁰= US$3.6b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$7.6b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK£8.2, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula – garbage in, garbage out.

Important assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Fresnillo as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.116. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Fresnillo, we've compiled three important items you should further examine:

1. Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Fresnillo .

2. Future Earnings: How does FRES's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart.

3. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the LSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 6, 2021 / Strategic Metals Ltd. (TSXV:SMD) ("Strategic") announces results from the Oli and Bix projects, two of its many, wholly-owned critical metals projects.

The Oli and Bix projects are located in the prolific Tombstone/McQuesten mineral belt of central Yukon, which hosts active mines, past producers and undeveloped deposits that contain a variety of metals including gold, silver, base metals and critical metals (Figure 1). Production has come from hard-rock and placer deposits, and spans more than a century.

All of the major mineral deposits in the Tombstone/McQuesten belt are associated with mid-Cretaceous to early Tertiary intrusive activity. Hard-rock deposits in the belt include Alexco's Keno Hill silver-lead-zinc mines, Victoria Gold's Eagle gold mine and Mar tungsten deposit, St. James' Florin gold deposit, Banyan's AurMac gold deposit and Golden Predator's Brewery Creek gold mine. Many creeks within the belt have yielded significant placer gold production and one has been mined for tin and gold.

The tin mineralization in the belt typically occurs as cassiterite hosted in veins, breccia zones and skarns. Mapping done by the Yukon Geological Survey suggests that the tin is related to two-mica granites and quartz monzonites of the peraluminous McQuesten plutonic suite (64-67 Ma).

The Oli Project is located on the south-side of the McQuesten River and is connected by a bulldozer trail to roads servicing nearby placer operations. The area of interest lies on a vegetated, north-facing slope that is mostly blanketed by glacial overburden. Bedrock exposures are limited to creek cuts and old bulldozer trenches dating to exploration done in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The target was first identified by a stream sediment pan concentrate sample that assayed 7.4% Sn and 1.9% WO3. Follow-up prospecting and soil sampling outlined targets that were partially tested by trenching and 12 diamond drill holes. Several of the holes contained well-mineralized, skarn and vein intervals, with the best intervals grading 1.0% Sn over 6.0 m, 0.31% Sn over 10.4 m and 15.0% Sn over 0.80 m. Soil sampling and prospecting by Strategic have confirmed earlier results and shown that the tin usually occurs with elevated silver and zinc. Copper, cobalt and gold values are locally elevated in some trenches, but are not closely correlated with tin, suggesting that two or more phases of mineralization may be present. Rock samples collected by Strategic from bedrock exposed in trenches returned promising results for several metals including 0.33% Sn, 4.0 g/t gold, 921 g/t silver, 0.51% Co, 0.34% Mo, 0.45% Pb, 0.43% Zn and greater than 1% Cu and 100 ppm W. Historical drill core was not analyzed for many of these metals. Soil sampling is somewhat hampered by frozen ground and glacial overburden, but it has proven to be a useful technique to outline general areas of interest. Figure 2 shows tin-in-soil results for the Oli project.

The Bix Project is situated north of the McQuesten River and east of the Clear Creek placer gold district. The project area lies below treeline in a glaciated area characterized by dendritic drainages and rolling hills. The project host two historical breccia zones comprised of quartzite fragments within a quartz-orthoclase-tourmaline-cassiterite matrix. These zones (A and B) were locally tested by five diamond drill holes in 1979. The best results came from Zone A where hole SC79-4 intersected 0.28% Sn over 7.62 m. The historical area of interest was restaked in 2020, and Strategic purchased it and staked more claims in spring of 2021. Soil sampling and prospecting, done in 2020 and 2021, have identified a new target that lies south of the historical breccia zones. This target is marked by a prominent soil anomaly containing high tin, tungsten and copper values (Figure 3). Rock sampling done across the property has returned many values grading better than 200 ppm Sn, including a sample collected on the western side of the main soil anomaly, which assayed 14.9% Sn.

"Strategic Metals is pleased to have added these tin prospects to our strong portfolio of critical metal projects, which includes: another high-grade tin project; several very prospective tungsten occurrences; large, drill-confirmed vanadium prospects; and promising cobalt and nickel targets", states Doug Eaton, President and CEO of Strategic Metals. "The critical metals in many of these projects are hosted in settings that are conducive to large deposits and they are often accompanied by precious and base metals, making them very attractive opportunities in a broad-based, bull market for metals."

Rock sample preparation and multi-element analyses were carried out at ALS in Whitehorse, YT and North Vancouver, BC, respectively. Each sample was dried, fine crushed to better than 70% passing 2 mm and then a 250 g split was pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns. The fine fractions of the Bix samples were analyzed for 51 elements using four acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma (ME-MS41). An additional 30 g charge was further analysed for gold by fire assay and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy finish (Au-ICP21). Additional analysis for tin using a lithium borate fusion and ICP-MS finish (ME-MS85). Samples with overlimit values were further analyzed using a lithium borate 50:50 flux and XRF Spectroscopy for tin (Sn-XRF10). The fine fractions for the Oli samples were analyzed for 48 elements using a four acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma combined with mass spectroscopy and atomic emission spectroscopy (ME-MS61). An additional 30 g charge was further analysed for gold by fire assay and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy finish (Au-ICP21). Samples with overlimit values were further analyzed by four-acid digestion for copper using Cu-OG62.

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Heather Burrell, P.Geo., a senior geologist with Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited and qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.

About Strategic Metals Ltd.

Strategic is a project generator with 11 royalty interests, 8 projects under option to others, and a portfolio of more than 100 wholly owned projects that are the product of over 50 years of focussed exploration and research by a team with a track record of major discoveries. Projects available for option, joint venture or sale include drill-confirmed prospects and drill-ready targets with high-grade surface showings and/or geochemical anomalies and geophysical features that resemble those at nearby deposits.

Strategic has a current cash position of over $8 million and large shareholdings in a number of active mineral exploration companies including 38.9% of GGL Resources Corp., 33.5% of Rockhaven Resources Ltd., 19.9% of Honey Badger Silver Inc., 19.2% of Precipitate Gold Corp. and 18.7% of Silver Range Resources Ltd. All of these companies are well funded and are engaged in promising exploration projects. Strategic also owns 21.9% of Terra CO2 Technologies Holdings Inc., a private Delaware corporation which recently completed a US$9.2 million financing to advance its environmentally-friendly, cost-effective alternative to Portland cement. The current value of Strategic's stock portfolio is approximately $22 million.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"W. Douglas Eaton"

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information concerning Strategic or its various exploration projects please visit our website at www.strategicmetalsltd.com or contact:

Corporate Information
Strategic Metals Ltd.
W. Douglas Eaton
President and C.E.O.
Tel: (604) 688-2568

Investor Inquiries
Richard Drechsler
V.P. Communications
Tel: (604) 687-2522
NA Toll-Free: (888) 688-2522
rdrechsler@strategicmetalsltd.com
http://www.strategicmetalsltd.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

SOURCE: Strategic Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/658623/Strategic-Metals-Advances-Oli-and-Bix-Tin-Projects-Central-Yukon

By Ernest Scheyder

(Reuters) – A North Carolina county imposed a 60-day mining moratorium on Friday, giving officials time to rework local regulations before Piedmont Lithium Inc applies for a necessary zoning variance.

Commissioners in Gaston County, west of Charlotte, unanimously approved a resolution that says the company "cannot be trusted without adequate local controls to protect the health, safety and welfare" of citizens.

Piedmont representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. The company's shares fell 1.3% in after-hours trading.

If developed, the mine would become one of the largest U.S. sources of lithium for electric vehicle batteries. But officials have worried it could taint groundwater supplies and cause light and noise pollution, among other concerns.

Piedmont told an investment conference this week it expects state approval by mid-2022. County approval would be the next step.

Piedmont has said it intends to engage in blasting – common for open-pit mines – multiple times per day. That has fueled concerns the company could blast during overnight hours, potentially affecting roughly 500 homes near the mine site.

"It is abundantly clear that a mine of this size … was never anticipated in your development regulations," Tom Terrell, an attorney the county commissioners hired to advise them on the Piedmont project, said at the 15-minute Friday meeting.

Piedmont has heavily promoted its mine to Wall Street for years, including hiring Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman to narrate a nearly 3-minute promotional video.

The company last autumn signed a deal to supply Tesla Inc with lithium sourced from North Carolina, sending its stock up tenfold, though the timeline to begin supply was pushed back indefinitely earlier this week.

Piedmont, though, only first approached county commissioners last month about its project. The delay has strained relations with the six-member board.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; editing by Diane Craft and David Gregorio)

Los Angeles, California–(Newsfile Corp. – August 6, 2021) – The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company's securities between March 16, 2018 and July 19, 2021, inclusive (the ''Class Period''), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 21, 2021.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Piedmont would not follow the steps or timeline to secure all necessary permits from governmental agencies. The Company failed to inform appropriate governmental agencies and authorities of its planned activities. The Company failed to file applications with relevant authorities including the state and local governments. Despite its claims, the Company did not have "strong local government support." Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Piedmont, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
info@schallfirm.com

SOURCE:

The Schall Law Firm

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/92340.

A dramatic recovery in dividends has gathered pace across the London stock market as profits rebound. Experts have forecast payouts to continue to climb as British stocks shake off the effects of the pandemic.

Dividends surged by 51pc between April and June and the companies that led the rebound have set the stock market on course for the next leg of its recovery.

Miners and banks, the biggest contributors to that forecast-beating jump, have announced a series of increases in their dividends over the past fortnight. These payments will be made in September, so DIY investors who buy now can still benefit.

James Lowen, co-manager of the JOHCM UK Equity Income fund, said British firms were “coming out of Covid very strongly” after a 43pc crash in dividend payments last year.

“The results from UK companies are off the charts. Every day we are hearing very good updates,” he said.

Rio Tinto, the miner, has led the way, unveiling a huge $5.61 per share dividend to be paid in September. That payout, which equates to 404p for British shareholders, is more than double last year’s payment. Analysts have forecast a final dividend of $5.70, to be paid in April. If accurate, it would mean the shares yield about 13pc relative to today’s share price.

Yields, or dividend payments as a percentage of share prices, have surged among mining companies. Anglo American announced a $1.71 per share interim dividend last week, six times higher than last year’s equivalent, plus an additional 80 cent special payout. The shares are expected to yield 9pc over the next year, based on the current share price.

Mr Lowen said miners were offloading a “tsunami” of cash to investors as profits surged thanks to booming commodity prices. “The money has nowhere to go other than to shareholders,” he said.

Yields on bank shares are lower, but dividends are forecast to rise sharply after the Bank of England lifted the last of its restrictions on payouts last month. Banks were barred from returning money to shareholders in 2020 and still faced curbs earlier this year, but have now announced their first unrestricted payouts.

Their shares are expected to yield between 3.3pc for NatWest and 5.6pc for HSBC over the next 12 months and dividends are forecast to rise sharply over the following two years. NatWest’s are tipped to increase by 43pc, Barclays’ by 29pc and Lloyds’ by 10pc. HSBC’s dividend for its 2023 financial year is expected to be 46pc higher than this year’s.

Richard Buxton, manager of the Jupiter UK Alpha fund, said: “All that cash the banks are generating – an awful lot of it is going to come back to the shareholders quite dramatically over the next three years.”

Those rising payouts should lead to a rally in bank shares, said Kevin Murphy, manager of the Schroder Income fund. “The payouts are not just attractive today but over five years. When people recognise this, investors will be rewarded not just with that income but also with share price growth,” he said.

Dividends from miners are expected to dip from this year’s elevated levels but remain high. Analysts at JPMorgan Cazenove, the broker, have forecast Rio Tinto to pay out a third of its market value in dividends over the next three years.

Investors expect a fall in iron ore prices to lead to lower dividends, but Mr Buxton said Rio Tinto was still worth backing. “I fully expect profits to fall and the dividend to fall with them, but it will still be extremely attractive,” he said. “The level of yield on offer remains incredibly high.”

Across the London market, dividends are forecast to rise by 64pc from last year’s low by 2024. A £1,000 investment in a fund that tracks the FTSE All-Share, such as iShares UK Equity Index, is forecast to pay £136 in income over that period.

Investors looking for stocks in the Consumer Products – Staples sector might want to consider either Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) or Chewy (CHWY). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.

Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. and Chewy are both sporting a Zacks Rank of # 2 (Buy) right now. Investors should feel comfortable knowing that both of these stocks have an improving earnings outlook since the Zacks Rank favors companies that have witnessed positive analyst estimate revisions. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

ACI currently has a forward P/E ratio of 10.19, while CHWY has a forward P/E of 782.47. We also note that ACI has a PEG ratio of 0.85. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. CHWY currently has a PEG ratio of 39.12.

Another notable valuation metric for ACI is its P/B ratio of 6.36. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, CHWY has a P/B of 553.32.

These metrics, and several others, help ACI earn a Value grade of A, while CHWY has been given a Value grade of F.

Both ACI and CHWY are impressive stocks with solid earnings outlooks, but based on these valuation figures, we feel that ACI is the superior value option right now.

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