IAMGold pours the first gold at its Cote mine

Article Excerpt

Like most gold stocks, IAMGold’s shares are heavily influenced by gold prices. Still, the company’s positive cash flow and rising production provide lots of speculative appeal for investors. IAMGOLD, $5.05, is a buy. The miner (Toronto symbol IMG; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (www.iamgold.com; Shares outstanding: 493.6 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; No dividends paid) has just processed its first gold from its flagship Cote gold project. With first gold now achieved, the next step and focus for IAMGold is the ramp-up to commercial production in the third quarter of 2024, with the goal of exiting the year at a 90% throughput rate. IAMGold holds 64.75% of that massive gold deposit in northern Ontario through a joint venture with minority partner Sumitomo Metal Mining. The project is forecast to produce 495,000 ounces of gold annually for the first six years. Its reserves should last 16-18 years. When the mine begins commercial production, it will give IAMGold a significantly higher production base and a lower cost profile, as well as add to…