Silver Standard (SSRM) Q1 Earnings Top Estimates, Shares Up
Silver Standard Resources Inc.’s SSRM shares have gained 6% since the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter 2021 earnings on May 6. Adjusted earnings per share for the reported quarter came in at 47 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 40 cents. The bottom-line figure surged 147.3% from the 19 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. Increase in gold equivalents sold, higher average realized prices for gold and silver, and lower costs drove earnings during the quarter.
Including one-time items, earnings came in at 24 cents per share compared with the prior-year quarter’s 19 cents.
Silver Standard Resources Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Silver Standard Resources Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Silver Standard Resources Inc. Quote
Operational Update
Silver Standard’s total revenues surged 123.2% year over year to $366 million during the first quarter. The top-line figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $346 million.
Production shot up 83% year on year to 196,094 gold equivalent ounces in the reported quarter. Gold equivalents sold soared 92.4% to 201,494 ounces in the quarter on a year-over-year basis.
Average realized gold price was up 12.6% to $1,798 per ounce from the year-ago period. Average realized silver price was $26.02 per ounce in the quarter, reflecting a year-over-year jump of 49%.
Cash cost per gold equivalent ounce declined 19.2% year over year to $665 during the first quarter. All-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) per gold equivalent ounce sold decreased 20.3% to $1,004 in the reported quarter from the prior-year quarter’s $1,261.
Income from mine operations skyrocketed 230% year over year to $148 million during the March-end quarter. Gross margin was 40% in the reported quarter compared with the year-earlier quarter’s 27%. Operating income was $128 million, up a whopping 265.7% from the year-ago quarter’s $35 million.
Financial Results
As of Mar 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were $866 million, up from $861 million as of Dec 31, 2020. The company generated $145 million of cash flow from operations in the first quarter compared with the year-ago quarter’s $64 million.
Price Performance
Shares of Silver Standard have gained 2.7% over the past three months, compared with the industry’s growth of 28.9%.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Silver Standard currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include ArcelorMittal MT, Celanese Corp. CE and Dow Inc. DOW. All of these stocks flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
ArcelorMittal has a projected earnings growth rate of 984.7% for the current fiscal year. The company’s shares have soared nearly 179% in the past year.
Celanese has an expected earnings growth rate of 68.3% for the current fiscal year. The company’s shares have rallied around 90% over the past year.
Dow has an estimated earnings growth rate of 261.6% for the current fiscal year. The company’s shares have gained roughly 75% in a year’s time.
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2021
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 best buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2021?
Last year's 2020 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +386.8%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.
Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2021 today >>
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
ArcelorMittal (MT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Dow Inc. (DOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Celanese Corporation (CE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Silver Standard Resources Inc. (SSRM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
