Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What are your thoughts on First Majestic Silver?

Article Excerpt

First Majestic Silver Corp., $5.78, symbol FR on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 117.5 million; Market cap: $679.0 million; www.firstmajestic.com), owns and operates five silver mines in Mexico: La Parrilla, San Martin, Del Toro, La Guitarra and La Encantada. In the three months ended September 30, 2014, First Majestic’s production rose 4.5% from a year earlier, to 3.5 million ounces of silver equivalent (including lead, zinc and gold by-products) from 3.4 million. In contrast, revenue fell 46.9%, to $40.8 million from $76.9 million (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). The discrepancy between rising output and falling revenue is due to the fact that the company kept 834,000 ounces silver in inventory in the latest quarter, instead of selling it. It says it is waiting for higher silver prices. In the year-earlier quarter, it sold all the silver it produced. Cash flow remained positive in the latest quarter, but fell 75%, to $0.08 a share from $0.32. The company’s balance sheet…