Resource stocks: Teck Resources’ earnings surge on higher coal and metal demand

Teck Resources Ltd., Toronto symbol TCK.B, is a leading producer of metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in steelmaking. It also produces other metals, including lead, copper and zinc. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, the resource stock’s earnings jumped 89.8%, to $1.12 a share from $0.59 a year earlier. Revenue rose 27.2%, to $2.8 billion from $2.2 billion. Teck saw higher prices for silver (up 111%), coal (up 49%), lead (up 32%), copper (up 30%), zinc (up 11%) and molybdenum (up 6%). However, higher operating costs and the strong Canadian dollar slightly offset these gains. The resource stock’s coal operations at Fording River and Elkview reached a five-year agreement with their workers early in the second quarter following a two-month strike. The agreement should help Teck keep its labour costs under control until 2016. Due to the strike, as well as delays in coal shipments to earthquake-damaged Japan, the resource stock’s coal volumes fell 13% from a year earlier. Teck negotiates coal prices with its major customers, mainly steelmakers in Asia, every three months. The company expects coal prices will average $280 U.S. to $290 U.S. per tonne in the third quarter of 2011, up about 5% from the second quarter. The company recently sold its 34% stake in the Carrapateena copper/gold project in South Australia for $134 million U.S. It now holds cash of $3.4 billion, or $5.75 a share. Its long-term debt of $4.7 billion is only 17% of its $28.0-billion market cap. You can get our latest analysis, including our clear buy/sell/hold advice, on Teck and dozens of other stocks in The Successful Investor. What’s more, you can get one month free when you subscribe today. Click here to learn how.

Jim is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for The Successful Investor and Wall Street Stock Forecaster and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Jim has held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation since 1992 and spent more than a decade at the Financial Post DataGroup before joining TSI Network. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.