Silver Wheaton (SLW) Tops Q4 EPS by 3c

Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW) reported Q4 EPS of $0.19, $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of $0.16. Revenue for the quarter came in at $258 million versus the consensus estimate of $244.54 million.

• Attributable production in Q4 2016 of 7.6 million ounces of silver and 107,300 ounces of gold, compared with 10.3 million ounces of silver and 72,400 ounces of gold in Q4 2015, with silver production having decreased 26% and gold production having increased 48%.
• On a silver equivalent basis¹ and gold equivalent basis¹ attributable production in Q4 2016 was 15.2 million SEOs or 214,100 GEOs, compared with 15.7 million SEOs or 209,800 GEOs in Q4 2015, with silver production having decreased 3% and gold production having increased 2%.
• Sales volume in Q4 2016 of 7.5 million ounces of silver and a record 108,900 ounces of gold, compared with 8.8 million ounces of silver and 64,900 ounces of gold in Q4 2015, with silver sales volume having decreased 14% and gold sales volume, which represented a record, having increased 68%.
• On a silver equivalent basis¹ and gold equivalent basis¹, record sales volume in Q4 2016 was 15.2 million SEOs or 214,500 GEOs, compared with 13.6 million SEOs or 181,800 GEOs in Q4 2015, an increase of 12% and 18%, respectively.
• As at December 31, 2016, payable ounces attributable to the Company produced but not yet delivered³ amounted to 3.2 million payable silver ounces and 61,700 payable gold ounces, representing a decrease of 0.6 million payable silver ounces and 2,200 payable gold ounces during the three month period ended December 31, 2016.
• Revenues of $258 million in Q4 2016 compared with $200 million in Q4 2015, representing an increase of 29%.
• Average realized sale price per ounce sold in Q4 2016 of $16.95 per ounce of silver and $1,205 per ounce of gold representing an increase of 15% and 10%, respectively, compared to Q4 2015.
• Net earnings of $11 million ($0.02 per share) in Q4 2016 compared with a net loss of $169 million ($0.42 per share) in Q4 2015.
• Adjusted net earnings² of $82 million ($0.19 per share) in Q4 2016 compared with adjusted net earnings² of $57 million ($0.14 per share) in Q4 2015, representing an increase of 43%. Earnings were adjusted by removing the impact of the $71 million after tax impairment charge taken in Q4 2016 and the $227 million after tax impairment charge taken in Q4 2015.
• Operating cash flows of $175 million ($0.40 per share²) in Q4 2016 compared with $133 million ($0.33 per share²) in Q4 2015, representing an increase of 31%.
• Cash operating margin² in Q4 2016 of $12.36 per silver ounce sold and $817 per gold ounce sold, representing an increase of 16% for both as compared with Q4 2015.
• Average cash costs² in Q4 2016 were $4.59 and $389 per ounce of silver and gold, respectively.
• Declared quarterly dividend of $0.07 per common share, representing an increase of 17% relative to the previous quarterly dividend.
• Asset Highlights
  • Record Salobo attributable gold production in Q4 2016 of 71,328 ounces compared with 39,395 ounces in Q4 2015, representing an increase of 81% due to the acquisition of an additional 25% of attributable gold in the third quarter of 2016 and increased throughput.

OUTLOOK

• Silver Wheaton's estimated attributable production in 2017 is forecast to be 28 million ounces of silver and 340,000 ounces of gold. For 2017 guidance, Silver Wheaton has assumed the ongoing strike at San Dimas will continue for a three-month period and that San Dimas will otherwise achieve production in line with 2016.
• Silver Wheaton's estimated average annual attributable production over the next five years is anticipated to be in line with 2017 production at approximately 29 million ounces of silver and 340,000 ounces of gold.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Silver Wheaton (SLW) click here.

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