Quality reserves will spur Teck’s rebound

Article Excerpt

TECK RESOURCES LTD. $25 (Toronto symbol TCK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 576.2 million; Market cap: $14.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 3.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.teck.com) is a leading producer of metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in steelmaking. Its six coal mines (five in B.C. and one in Alberta) have lifespans from six to 70 years. The company sells most of its coal to customers in Asia. In 2013, coal accounted for 43% of Teck’s revenue and 41% of its earnings. Teck also produces copper (30%, 41%), which manufacturers use to make electrical wire, auto parts and components for electronic devices. As well, Teck is a major supplier of zinc (27%, 18%), which prevents rusting when added to steel. Results reflect erratic resource prices Prices for these cyclical commodities rise and fall with the overall economy. Thanks to a rebound in manufacturing after the recession, Teck’s revenue jumped 50.0%, from $7.7 billion in 2009 to $11.5…