Teck to produce more copper in Peru

Article Excerpt

TECK RESOURCES LTD. $41 (Toronto symbol TCK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 588.7 million; Market cap: $24.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; No dividends paid since July 2008; SI Rating: Extra Risk) owns 22.5% of the Antamina copper and zinc mine in Peru. The other partners are BHP Billiton (33.75%), Xstrata (33.75%) and Mitsubishi Corp. (10%). In light of rising copper prices, the partners plan to increase Antamina’s production by 30%. Teck’s share of the expansion cost is $290 million U.S. To put this in context, Teck earned $337 million (Canadian), or $0.59 a share, in the third quarter of 2009. This project should be finished in late 2011. The partners recently increased their estimates of Antamina’s reserves by 75%. That means its reserves should last until 2029. Teck Resources is a buy. buy…