Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: What do you think about Sandstorm Gold?

Article Excerpt

Sandstorm Gold, $1.27, symbol SSL on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 376.3 million; Market cap: $477.9 million; www.sandstormgold.com), has royalties on gold production at the following mines: Aurizona (Brazil), 17%; Santa Elena (Mexico), 20%; Black Fox (Canada), 12%; the Ming project (Canada), 12%; the Bracemac-McLeod project (Canada), 17.5%; the Bachelor Lake project (Canada), 20%; and the Summit mine (U.S.), 22%. The company acquires these royalties through gold-purchase agreements. Under these deals, Sandstorm makes an upfront cash payment to gold-mine operators. In exchange, Sandstorm gets the right to purchase a percentage of the gold produced for the life of the mine at a fixed price per ounce. Combined, Sandstorm forecasts that its share of annual gold production will be between 14,000 and 17,000 ounces this year. That would rise to an estimated 50,000 ounces by 2014. The company reported cash flow of $4.3 million, or $0.013 a share, in the three months ended June 30, 2011. Sandstorm’s royalties from gold production give it steady cash flow…