High-quality reserves give Teck an edge

Article Excerpt

TECK RESOURCES LTD. $31 (Toronto symbol TECK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 574.9 million; Market cap: $17.8 billion; Price-to sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 0.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.teck.com) is a leading producer of metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in steel making. The reserves at its five active coal mines (four in B.C. and one in Alberta) should last between 8 and 45 years. In the latest quarter, coal supplied 47% of Teck’s revenue. Generally, Asian customers buy 70% of its coal. The company also produces zinc (27% of revenue), which is added to steel to prevent rusting. In addition, Teck is a major supplier of copper (19%) and other metals like gold, lead and molybdenum (used in steelmaking). Oil sands project helps diversify its revenues The remaining 7% of overall revenue comes from the company’s 21.31% stake in the Fort Hills oil sands project in northern Alberta. Suncor owns 54.1% of that project, and operates it; France’s Total SA holds the remaining…