Hecla Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results
Continued free cash flow generation as Casa Berardi achieves record quarterly throughput
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced third quarter 2021 financial and operating results.
HIGHLIGHTS*
- Sales of $193.6 million, consistent with the prior year quarter.
- Generated $42.7 million of cash provided by operating activities with $26.9 million of additions to properties, plant, equipment and mineral interests, resulting in $15.8 million of quarterly free cash flow reflecting increased exploration spend.1
- Record quarterly exploration spend of $13.7 million.
- Casa Berardi achieved record quarterly throughput of nearly 400,000 tons as the mill improvements delivered 13% higher gold production.
- Testing at the Lucky Friday of a new drill and blast mining method called Underhand Closed Bench (UCB) is showing good performance in controlling seismicity and improving safety with the potential to increase productivity.
- Strong balance sheet with $190.9 million in cash and over $420 million of available liquidity.
- Purchased carbon credits and anticipate offsetting scope 1 and scope 2 emissions to have net zero emissions in 2021.
“Hecla’s results reflect our commitment to improve and innovate our operations while delivering free cash flow,” said Phillips S. Baker Jr., President & CEO. “Casa Berardi achieved record quarterly throughput as our optimization programs in the mill increase recovery and ounce production. At the Lucky Friday, we continue to test our new drill and blast mining method, called Underhand Closed Bench, that allows improved management of seismicity which should increase safety and could possibly increase throughput. Greens Creek continued to lead the way because of its very low costs and despite staff shortages forcing a change in mine sequencing.”
Baker continued, “This operational performance allowed us to enhance our silver-linked dividend for the second time this year and return about 20% of our free cash flow to shareholders, while having our largest exploration program in the company’s history. In addition, while Hecla already has one of the industry’s lowest carbon footprints, we have taken the next step by investing in carbon credits that allows us to be net zero for our 2021 scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. We will continue our focus on reducing emissions as well as investing in credits in the future.”
* All comparisons to the third quarter of 2020, unless stated
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
|
|
Third Quarter Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||||
|
HIGHLIGHTS |
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
||||||||
|
FINANCIAL DATA |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Sales (000) |
$193,560 |
|
$199,703 |
$622,395 |
$502,983 |
|
||||||
|
Gross profit (000) |
$35,228 |
|
$58,688 |
$164,560 |
$110,188 |
|
||||||
|
(Loss) income applicable to common shareholders (000) |
($1,117 |
) |
$15,142 |
$22,806 |
($12,976 |
) |
||||||
|
Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share (in cents) |
(0.2 |
) |
2.9 |
4.3 |
(2.5 |
) |
||||||
|
Cash provided by operating activities |
$42,742 |
|
$73,439 |
$166,782 |
$115,892 |
|
||||||
Net loss applicable to common shareholders for the third quarter was $1.1 million, or 0.2 cent per share, compared to net income of $15.1 million, or 2.9 cents per share, for the same period in 2020. The lower third quarter results compared to the previous year were mainly due to the following items:
- Lower gross profit due to lower realized silver and gold prices and Greens Creek’s lower grades based on mine sequencing impacted by staff shortages.
- Exploration and pre-development expense increased by $12.9 million due to increased exploration at Midas, San Sebastian, Greens Creek, Casa Berardi and Kinskuch, and for drift development to the Hatter Graben area in Nevada.
- An unrealized loss on investments in other mining companies of $2.9 million compared to a gain of $4.0 million.
- $6.5 million payment in the third quarter of 2021 to settle a lawsuit related to a 1989 agreement for indemnification of certain environmental costs.
- Suspension costs increased by $5.4 million due to placement of the Fire Creek mine and Midas mill on care-and-maintenance during the second quarter of 2021.
These items were partially offset by:
- Gain on base metal derivatives contracts of $12.1 million compared to a loss of $6.7 million in the prior year period.
- Gross profit at Lucky Friday increased by $6.9 million as a result of the return to full production beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- Foreign exchange gain of $4.0 million versus a loss of $2.2 million in the prior year.
Capital expenditures totaled $26.9 million for the third quarter 2021 compared to $23.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, with the increase due to the reduced utilization of lease financing for equipment purchases and higher expenditures at Lucky Friday. Capital expenditures at the operations were $12.4 million at Casa Berardi, $6.2 million at Greens Creek and $7.5 million at Lucky Friday.
Metals Prices
The average realized silver price in the third quarter was $23.97 per ounce, 5% lower than the $25.32 in the third quarter of 2020. The average realized gold price was lower by 7%, at $1,792 per ounce. Average realized lead and zinc price increased 19% and 30%, respectively.
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||||
|
Silver – |
London PM Fix ($/ounce) |
$ |
24.36 |
|
|
$ |
24.40 |
|
|
$ |
25.78 |
|
|
$ |
19.22 |
|
||
|
|
Realized price per ounce |
$ |
23.97 |
|
|
$ |
25.32 |
|
|
$ |
25.75 |
|
|
$ |
19.72 |
|
||
|
Gold – |
London PM Fix ($/ounce) |
$ |
1,789 |
|
|
$ |
1,911 |
|
|
$ |
1,801 |
|
|
$ |
1,735 |
|
||
|
|
Realized price per ounce |
$ |
1,792 |
|
|
$ |
1,929 |
|
|
$ |
1,794 |
|
|
$ |
1,745 |
|
||
|
Lead – |
LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound) |
$ |
1.06 |
|
|
$ |
0.85 |
|
|
$ |
0.98 |
|
|
$ |
0.81 |
|
||
|
|
Realized price per pound |
$ |
1.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.86 |
|
|
$ |
1.00 |
|
|
$ |
0.81 |
|
||
|
Zinc – |
LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound) |
$ |
1.36 |
|
|
$ |
1.06 |
|
|
$ |
1.31 |
|
|
$ |
0.97 |
|
||
|
|
Realized price per pound |
$ |
1.35 |
|
|
$ |
1.04 |
|
|
$ |
1.34 |
|
|
$ |
0.94 |
|
||
∗ Realized prices are calculated by dividing gross revenues for each metal (which include the price adjustments and gains and losses on the forward contracts discussed below) by the payable quantities of each metal included in products sold during the period.
Base Metals Forward Sales Contracts
The following table summarizes the quantities of base metals committed under financially settled forward sales contracts, other than provisional hedges (which address changes in prices between shipment and settlement with customers), at September 30, 2021.
|
|
Pounds Under Contract (in thousands) |
Average Price per Pound |
||||
|
|
Zinc |
Lead |
Zinc |
Lead |
||
|
Contracts on forecasted sales |
|
|
|
|
||
|
2021 settlements |
7,771 |
6,779 |
|
$1.26 |
$0.94 |
|
|
2022 settlements |
60,043 |
63,769 |
|
$1.28 |
$0.98 |
|
|
2023 settlements |
76,280 |
70,327 |
|
$1.29 |
$1.00 |
|
|
2024 settlements |
43,762 |
— |
|
$1.31 |
— |
|
The contracts represent about 49% of the forecasted payable zinc production through 2024 at an average price of $1.29 per pound, and 40% of the forecasted payable lead production through 2023 at an average price of $0.99 per pound.
Foreign Currency Forward Purchase Contracts
The following table summarizes the Canadian dollars the Company has committed to purchase under foreign exchange forward contracts at September 30, 2021, which is roughly 72% of forecasted Canadian dollar direct production costs for the remainder of 2021, 48% for 2022, 37% for 2023, 18% for 2024 and 5% for 2025:
|
|
Currency Under Contract (in thousands of CAD) |
Average Exchange Rate CAD/USD |
||
|
2021 settlements |
29,450 |
$1.33 |
||
|
2022 settlements |
94,524 |
$1.31 |
||
|
2023 settlements |
75,165 |
$1.31 |
||
|
2024 settlements |
37,496 |
$1.31 |
||
|
2025 settlements |
9,000 |
$1.28 |
OPERATIONS OVERVIEW
Overview
The following table provides the production summary on a consolidated basis for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
Third Quarter Ended |
|
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||
|
|
|
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
|
September 30, 2021 |
September 30, 2020 |
||||||
|
PRODUCTION SUMMARY |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Silver – |
Ounces produced |
2,676,084 |
|
3,541,371 |
|
|
9,660,313 |
|
10,190,621 |
|
||
|
|
Payable ounces sold |
2,581,690 |
|
3,147,048 |
|
|
9,027,180 |
|
9,077,966 |
|
||
|
Gold – |
Ounces produced |
42,207 |
|
41,174 |
|
|
153,350 |
|
159,948 |
|
||
|
|
Payable ounces sold |
53,000 |
|
51,049 |
|
|
157,454 |
|
159,550 |
|
||
|
Lead – |
Tons produced |
9,904 |
|
9,750 |
|
|
32,148 |
|
24,620 |
|
||
|
|
Payable tons sold |
8,835 |
|
7,792 |
|
|
28,166 |
|
19,948 |
|
||
|
Zinc – |
Tons produced |
15,546 |
|
17,997 |
|
|
48,864 |
|
48,699 |
|
||
|
|
Payable tons sold |
11,174 |
|
12,892 |
|
|
33,344 |
|
34,717 |
|
||
The following tables provide a summary of the (i) final production; (ii) cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (“cost of sales”); (iii) cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver or gold ounce2; and (iv) all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”), after by-product credits, per silver or gold ounce3 for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021, with comparisons to the prior year periods:
|
Third Quarter Ended |
|
|
Greens Creek |
Lucky Friday |
Casa Berardi |
Nevada Ops |
|||||||||||||
|
September 30, 2021 |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
||||||||||
|
Production (ounces) |
2,676,084 |
|
42,207 |
|
1,837,270 |
|
9,734 |
|
831,532 |
29,722 |
|
7,012 |
2,751 |
|
270 |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
(865,287 |
) |
1,033 |
|
(797,166 |
) |
(3,104 |
) |
195,143 |
3,317 |
|
3,157 |
2,751 |
|
270 |
||||
|
Cost of sales(000) |
$78,784 |
|
$79,549 |
|
$55,193 |
|
— |
|
$23,591 |
$58,164 |
|
— |
$21,384 |
|
— |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
$3,219 |
|
$11,851 |
|
$7,088 |
|
— |
|
$2,091 |
$6,591 |
|
— |
$7,507 |
|
— |
||||
|
Cash costs per silver or gold ounce 2 |
$2.49 |
|
$1,163 |
|
$0.74 |
|
— |
|
$6.36 |
$1,175 |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
$(0.92 |
) |
$(235 |
) |
$(2.26 |
) |
— |
|
— |
$(223 |
) |
— |
— |
|
— |
||||
|
AISC per silver or gold ounce 3 |
$12.82 |
|
$1,450 |
|
$5.94 |
|
— |
|
$16.79 |
$1,476 |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
$2.30 |
|
$(404 |
) |
$(0.64 |
) |
— |
|
— |
$(378 |
) |
— |
— |
|
— |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Nine Months Ended |
|
|
Greens Creek |
Lucky Friday |
Casa Berardi |
Nevada Ops |
|||||||||||||
|
September 30, 2021 |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
Gold |
Silver |
||||||||||
|
Production (ounces) |
9,660,313 |
|
153,350 |
|
6,980,587 |
|
35,859 |
|
2,608,727 |
97,245 |
|
25,604 |
20,246 |
|
45,395 |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
(530,308 |
) |
(6,598 |
) |
(1,183,475 |
) |
(2,356 |
) |
1,407,053 |
13,332 |
|
10,320 |
(11,510 |
) |
7,952 |
||||
|
Cost of sales (000) |
$238,243 |
|
$219,592 |
|
$163,861 |
|
— |
|
$74,287 |
$172,760 |
|
— |
$46,832 |
|
— |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
$30,689 |
|
$27,516 |
|
$10,365 |
|
— |
|
$38,500 |
$31,867 |
|
— |
$2,484 |
|
— |
||||
|
Cash costs per silver or gold ounce 2 |
$1.26 |
|
$1,127 |
|
$(1.03 |
) |
— |
|
$7.37 |
$1,127 |
|
— |
$1,124 |
|
— |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
$(3.32 |
) |
$73 |
|
$(5.48 |
) |
— |
|
— |
$(54 |
) |
— |
$408 |
|
— |
||||
|
AISC per silver or gold ounce 3 |
$8.88 |
|
$1,349 |
|
$2.40 |
|
— |
|
$15.00 |
$1,387 |
|
— |
$1,167 |
|
— |
||||
|
Increase/(decrease) |
$(1.21 |
) |
$50 |
|
$(4.63 |
) |
— |
|
— |
$(106 |
) |
— |
$380 |
|
— |
||||
Greens Creek Mine – Alaska
The Greens Creek Mine produced 1.8 million ounces of silver and 9,734 ounces of gold with the mill operating at an average of 2,295 tons per day (tpd). The decrease in silver production compared to the third quarter of 2020 was due to lower grades resulting from mine sequencing which was primarily driven by manpower scheduling issues as a result of COVID-19 and increased competition for labor. With limited personnel, production came partially from more easily accessible but lower grade areas. In the future, we anticipate adequate staffing which will allow mining higher-grade material, that is in deeper parts of the mine. Compared to 2020, cost of sales decreased by $7.1 million, due to lower production costs, driven partially by lower COVID-19 related costs. The per ounce silver cash cost and AISC decreased by $2.26 and $5.48, respectively, due to lower production costs as well as higher by-products credits resulting from higher by-product prices and lower treatment costs from favorable changes in smelter terms.2,3
The Company’s estimated 2021 silver production is lowered to 9.2 – 9.5 million ounces to reflect lower production from the third quarter. Gold production guidance of 43 – 45 thousand ounces is unchanged. Estimated cost of sales for 2021 are maintained at $222 million and cash cost and AISC, each per silver ounce is also unchanged at ($1.00)-$1.00 and $3.25-$4.00, respectively.2,3
Casa Berardi Mine – Quebec
At the Casa Berardi Mine, 29,722 ounces of gold were produced compared to 26,405 ounces in the third quarter of 2020 due to higher mill throughput, partially offset by lower grades. The mill operated at an average of 4,328 tpd, which was 38% higher than the prior year period and achieved record quarterly throughput of 398,143 tons milled as the mill optimization continues to deliver results. Mill recoveries have continued to increase due to improvements in the grinding, gravity and CIL circuits. The increase in cost of sales was due to higher throughput, mill contractor maintenance costs, and underground maintenance costs resulting from repairs and replacements of major components for the production fleet. The decrease in cash cost and AISC per gold ounce for the third quarter of 2021 compared to 2020 was the result of the higher gold production, partially offset by higher production costs, with AISC also impacted by lower sustaining capital, partially offset by higher exploration spending.
In the 160 pit, 1.0 million tons of overburden and waste rock was removed during the quarter. Mining and processing of 160 pit ore is expected to commence during Q4 2021.
The Company is increasing 2021 gold production guidance to 130 – 135 thousand ounces. The estimate for 2021 cost of sales is increased to $230 million. Estimated cash cost per gold ounce is unchanged at $1,000-$1,125 per gold ounce as 72% of the direct production costs are hedged at an average USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.33.2 All-in sustaining cost guidance is increased to $1,350-$1,400 to reflect in the increased sustaining capital spend which is currently unhedged under the Company’s foreign exchange hedging program.3
Lucky Friday Mine – Idaho
At the Lucky Friday Mine, 0.8 million ounces of silver were produced in the quarter, an increase of 31% compared to the third quarter of 2020, with the mine at full production. The mill operated at an average of 850 tpd. A new mining method, with a patent pending, called the Underhand Closed Bench (UCB), has been in testing for the past year with the third quarter mining 87% of tons with the method. The benefit of the method is better management of seismicity, increasing safety and potentially increasing production. With the success of this new drill and blast mining method, the Remote Vein Miner (RVM), a continuous rock cutting machine, will be tested at another property. Additionally during the quarter, the land needed for Lucky Friday’s planned tailings facilities was acquired.
Cost of sales for the second quarter was $23.6 million, and the cash cost per silver ounce was $6.36. AISC was $16.79 per silver ounce.2,3
The Company’s estimated 2021 silver production of 3.4 – 3.8 million ounces is unchanged. Estimated 2021 cost of sales are $103 million and cash cost and AISC, each per silver ounce, are unchanged at $7.60-$8.50 and $14.25-$16.25, respectively.2,3
Nevada Operations
At the Nevada operations, 2,751 ounces of gold were produced from approximately 12,000 tons of previously stockpiled refractory material processed at a third-party autoclave facility. Total cost of sales for the third quarter was $21.4 million. Cash cost and AISC per gold ounce were $1,038 and $1,167, respectively, in the third quarter of 2021.2,3 The increase over the prior year period was primarily due to costs associated with the previously stockpiled material processed in the current period.
We anticipate production and sales from the remaining approximately 2,200 tons of previously stockpiled refractory material processed at the third-party autoclave facility will be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Hollister’s exploration drift to access the Hatter Graben is ongoing and drilling began in the fourth quarter while we continue surface drilling at Midas.
EXPLORATION
In the third quarter exploration expenditures were $13.7 million, an increase of $10.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2020, primarily due to increasing exploration activity at Midas, Greens Creek, Casa Berardi, San Sebastian, Heva-Hosco and Kinskuch since there were fewer limitations due to COVID. This is the largest quarterly exploration expense in the company’s history and about 50% more than the second quarter. For more details on Hecla’s exploration activities please see the Exploration Update provided on September 14th.
PRE-DEVELOPMENT
Pre-development spending was $3.4 million for the quarter, compared to $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2020. The increase is principally due to development of the decline at Hollister to allow drilling of the Hatter Graben to begin in the fourth quarter.
With the Federal District Court’s ruling setting aside the federal agencies’ Record of Decision and related Biological Opinion for the Rock Creek project, Hecla will provide the next steps for both Rock Creek and Montanore by early 2022.
DIVIDENDS
Common
On September 8th, 2021, the Board of Directors added 1 cent per share for the annual silver-linked dividend component and approved a reduction in the minimum realized silver price threshold to $20 from $25 per ounce. On November 3, 2021, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 0.625 cent per share of common stock, consisting of 0.375 cent per share for the minimum dividend component and 0.75 cent per share for the silver-linked component of our dividend policy. The common dividend is payable on or about December 3, 2021, to shareholders of record on November 19, 2021. The realized silver price was $23.97 in the third quarter satisfying the criteria for the silver-linked dividend component of the Company’s dividend policy.
Preferred
The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 87.5 cent per share on the outstanding shares of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, payable on or about January 3, 2021, to shareholders of record on December 15, 2021.
2021 ESTIMATES4
The Company has updated its guidance for annual production and cost as follows:
2021 Production Outlook
|
|
Silver Production (Moz) |
Gold Production (Koz) |
||
|
|
Previous |
Current |
Previous |
Current |
|
Greens Creek * |
9.5-10.2 |
9.2-9.5 |
43-45 |
43-45 |
|
Lucky Friday * |
3.4-3.8 |
3.4-3.8 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Casa Berardi |
N/A |
N/A |
128-132 |
130-135 |
|
Nevada Operations |
N/A |
N/A |
20-21 |
20-21 |
|
Total4 |
12.9-14.0 |
12.6-13.3 |
191-198 |
193-201 |
Silver equivalent production for 2021 is estimated at 42.0 – 43.5 million ounces while gold equivalent production is expected to be 469 – 485 thousand ounces.
* Equivalent ounces include Lead and Zinc production
2021 Cost Outlook
|
Cost of Sales (millions) |
Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver/gold ounce2 |
AISC, after by-product credits, per produced silver/gold ounce3 |
||||||
|
|
Previous |
Current |
Previous |
Current |
Previous |
Current |
||
|
Greens Creek |
$222 |
$222 |
($1.00)-$1.00 |
($1.00)-$1.00 |
$3.25-$4.00 |
$3.25-$4.00 |
||
|
Lucky Friday |
$103 |
$103 |
$7.50-$8.50 |
$7.50-$8.50 |
$14.25-$16.25 |
$14.25-$16.25 |
||
|
Total Silver |
$325 |
$325 |
$1.00-$2.00 |
$1.00-$2.00 |
$9.00-$11.00 |
$9.00-$11.00 |
||
|
Casa Berardi |
$220 |
$230 |
$1,000-$1,125 |
$1,000-$1,125 |
$1,200-$1,325 |
$1,350-$1,400 |
||
|
Nevada Operations |
$43 |
$43 |
$1,300-$1,425 |
$1,300-$1,425 |
$1,385-$1,525 |
$1,385-$1,525 |
||
|
Total Gold |
$263 |
$273 |
$1,050-$1,200 |
$1,050-$1,200 |
$1,250-$1,350 |
$1,300-$1,375 |
||
CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST
A conference call and webcast will be held Thursday, November 4, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. We recommend that you dial in at least 10 minutes before the call is due to commence. You may join the conference call by dialing toll-free 1-833-350-1380 or for international dialing 1-647-689-6934. The Participant Code is 5460648 and must be provided when dialing in. Hecla’s live and archived webcast can be accessed at www.hecla-mining.com under Investors.
One-on-One Calls
Hecla will be holding a Virtual Investor Event on Thursday, November 4, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET.
Hecla invites shareholders, investors, and other interested parties to schedule a personal, 30-minute virtual meeting (video or telephone) with a member of senior management to discuss ESG, exploration, operations, or general matters. Click on the link below to schedule a call (or copy and paste the link into your web browser). You can select a topic once you have entered the meeting calendar. If you are unable to book a time, either due to high demand or for other reasons, please reach out to Russell Lawlar, Sr. Vice President – CFO and Treasurer at [email protected] or 208-769-4130.
One-on-One meeting URL: https://calendly.com/2021-november-vie
NYSE CELEBRATORY EVENT
Hecla is celebrating 130 years and will ring the NYSE closing bell on November 16th, 2021. Hecla will be holding a celebratory event at the NYSE and invites shareholders, investors and other interested parties to the event. If you would like to attend, please contact Cheryl Turner at [email protected] or 208-209-1261 by November 5th, 2021.
ABOUT HECLA
Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest silver producer in the United States. In addition to operating mines in Alaska, Idaho, and Quebec, Canada, the Company owns a number of exploration and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.
NOTES
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standard meaning prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(1) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure calculated as cash provided by operating activities less additions to properties, plants and equipment.
(2) Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver or gold ounce is a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of which to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (sometimes referred to as “cost of sales” in this release), can be found at the end of the release. It is an important operating statistic that management utilizes to measure each mine’s operating performance. It also allows the benchmarking of performance of each mine versus those of our competitors. As a silver and gold mining company, management also uses the statistic on an aggregate basis – aggregating the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian mines – to compare performance with that of other silver mining companies, and aggregating Casa Berardi and the Nevada operations, to compare its performance with other gold mining companies. Similarly, the statistic is useful in identifying acquisition and investment opportunities as it provides a common tool for measuring the financial performance of other mines with varying geologic, metallurgical and operating characteristics. In addition, the Company may use it when formulating performance goals and targets under its incentive program. Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce is not presented for Lucky Friday for the third quarters and first nine-month periods of 2020 and 2019, as production was limited due to the strike and subsequent ramp-up and results are not comparable to those from prior periods and are not indicative of future operating results under full production.
(3) All-in sustaining cost (AISC), after by-product credits, is a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of which to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the closest GAAP measurement, can be found in the end of the release. AISC, after by-product credits, includes cost of sales and other direct production costs, expenses for reclamation and exploration at the mine sites, corporate exploration related to sustaining operations, and all site sustaining capital costs. AISC, after by-product credits, is calculated net of depreciation, depletion, and amortization and by-product credits
Current GAAP measures used in the mining industry, such as cost of goods sold, do not capture all the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain silver and gold production.
Contacts
Russell Lawlar
Senior Vice President – CFO and Treasurer
Jeanne DuPont
Senior Communications Coordinator
800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)
Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hecla-mining.com
