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Capstone Copper Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

In This Article:

All amounts in US$ unless otherwise indicated

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capstone Copper Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX: CS) (ASX: CSC) today reported financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 ("Q4 2024"). Copper production in Q4 2024 totaled 53,942 tonnes at C1 cash costs1 of $2.56 per payable pound of copper produced. Link HERE for Capstone’s Q4 2024 webcast presentation.

John MacKenzie, CEO of Capstone, commented: "We achieved record copper production and EBITDA generation in 2024, representing tangible delivery on our peer leading growth. During the year we realized the first phase of the transformation of Capstone Copper by ramping up Mantoverde and Mantos Blancos, while improving our balance sheet strength and financial flexibility. As we delivered near-term growth, we also advanced our future phases of growth by releasing feasibility studies for Mantoverde Optimized and the neighbouring Santo Domingo project. This year represents an inflection point for Capstone, with our recently released 2025 guidance demonstrating increased cash flow generation highlighted by continued copper production growth and decreasing unit costs. We will be focused on operational execution across our portfolio and further deleveraging of our balance sheet, while continuing to advance our pipeline of organic opportunities. It is our intention to commence construction of the highly attractive Mantoverde Optimized project in the second half of 2025, once the permit has been received."

Q4 2024 OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Consolidated copper production for Q4 2024 was 53,942 tonnes at C1 cash costs1 of $2.56/lb. Consolidated copper production consisted of 22,029 tonnes at Mantoverde, 13,563 tonnes at Mantos Blancos, 11,626 tonnes at Pinto Valley and 6,724 tonnes at Cozamin. Total Q4 2024 copper sold of 50,014 payable tonnes was approximately 2,300 tonnes below payable production. This was directly impacted by seasonal swells at load ports in Chile. Record consolidated copper production for the full year ended December 31, 2024 was 184,460 tonnes at C1 cash costs1 of $2.77/lb.

  • Net income attributable to shareholders of $45.9 million, or $0.06 per share for Q4 2024 compared to net loss attributable to shareholders of $12.3 million, or $(0.02) per share for Q4 2023, primarily due to higher copper production and a higher realized copper price of $4.04/lb compared to $3.74/lb. Net income attributable to shareholders for the full year was $82.9 million or $0.11 per share.

  • Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders1 of $29.6 million, or $0.04 per share for Q4 2024, compared to adjusted net income attributable to shareholders1 of $10.8 million in Q4 2023. Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders1 for the full year was $71.5 million or $0.10 per share.

  • Adjusted EBITDA1 nearly doubled to $171.9 million for Q4 2024 compared to $88.3 million for Q4 2023. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA1 is primarily driven by higher copper production and realized copper price and was impacted by the seasonal swells at load ports in Chile. Adjusted EBITDA1 for the full year was $496.1 million.

  • Operating cash flow before changes in working capital of $132.8 million in Q4 2024 compared to $80.4 million in Q4 2023. Operating cash flow before changes in working capital for the full year was $414.8 million.

  • Net debt1 of $742.0 million as at December 31, 2024 was slightly lower compared to net debt of $750.7 million as at September 30, 2024 and significantly decreased compared to $927.2 million as at December 31, 2023, with the MVDP capital build complete. Total available liquidity1 of $506.4 million as at December 31, 2024, comprising of $132.4 million of cash and short-term investments, and $374.0 million of undrawn amounts on the corporate revolving credit facility.

  • During Q4 2024, the Company announced the results of a Feasibility Study for its Mantoverde Optimized brownfield expansion project. Mantoverde Optimized is a capital efficient expansion of the existing sulphide concentrator from throughput of 32,000 to 45,000 ore tpd. The study increased sulphide reserves from 236 million tonnes at 0.60% copper to 398 million tonnes at 0.49% copper and 0.10 g/t gold, which extended the mine life from 19 to 25 years. MV Optimized is a high return and low risk expansion project that is expected to bring on an additional 20,000 tonnes of copper per annum for approximately $146 million of expansionary capital.

  • During Q4 2024, the Company announced its leadership succession plan. At the next Annual General Meeting on May 2, 2025, John MacKenzie will transition from CEO and be nominated to the role of Non-Executive Chair of the Board, with Cashel Meagher succeeding him as CEO and also to be nominated as a member of the Board, while James Whittaker will become COO. Founder of Capstone Mining Corp. and current Chair of Capstone Copper, Darren Pylot, will step down from the Board after more than 20 years of combined service to the Company.

  • Expected 2025 consolidated copper production growth of approximately 30% mostly driven by a full-year of production from Mantoverde sulphides, resulting in 2025 production guidance of 220,000 to 255,000 tonnes of copper at approximately 15% lower C1 cash costs1 of $2.20 to $2.50 per payable pound of copper.

  • In January 2025, Mantoverde sulphides produced a record 6,600 tonnes of copper driven by mill throughput of 33,409 tpd, copper grades of 0.79%, and copper recoveries of 81.0%, marking the first month with average throughput exceeding the plant's nameplate capacity. In addition, Mantos Blancos sulphides produced 4,226 tonnes of copper in January 2025, driven by mill throughput of 20,628 tpd, copper grades of 0.83%, and copper recoveries of 80.1%, highlighting a third consecutive month operating above its nameplate capacity.