Outlook brightens for Teck

Article Excerpt

TECK RESOURCES LTD. $32 (Toronto symbol TECK.B; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 576.5 million; Market cap: $18.4 billion; Price-to sales ratio: 2.2; Dividend yield: 0.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.teck.com) is a leading producer of metallurgical coal, a key ingredient in steel making. It also produces copper and zinc. The stock fell to just $3.65 a share on January 13, 2016, due to slumping coal prices. As well, in vestors feared that weak oil prices would hurt the viability of its 20%-owned Fort Hills oil sands development in Alberta. Fort Hills is now over 70% complete, and should start up in late 2017. However, in March 2016, China reduced the number of days per year that each coal mine in that country can operate. As a result, Chinese steel mills had to import more coal from overseas suppliers. That caused prices to soar 300%. The jump prompted producers to re-open some mines, and coal prices have since moved down from that…