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Contango ORE (CTGO)
:CTGO
US Market

Contango ORE (CTGO) AI Stock Analysis

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Contango ORE

(NYSE MKT:CTGO)

51Neutral
Contango ORE's stock score reflects the company's challenging financial performance, characterized by high leverage and ongoing losses typical of its development stage in the mining industry. However, strong technical momentum and positive outcomes from recent earnings calls and corporate events suggest potential for future growth and stabilization. Valuation concerns persist due to the lack of profitability.
Positive Factors
Debt Management
CTGO ended 3Q24 with an increase in unrestricted cash, indicating strong financial management.
Financial Performance
CTGO reported more gold sales and higher EBITDA than expected.
Production Growth
CTGO maintained 2025 gold production guidance for its share of production from the Manh Choh gold mine in Alaska of 60,000 ounces, up 36% year-over-year.
Negative Factors
Cost Management
CTGO has reduced its forecasts due to new guidance for 2025 gold production and higher costs associated with processing and transporting ore.
Exploration Costs
There are higher exploration expenses anticipated on other CTGO gold projects, which impact the EBITDA forecast negatively.
Hedging Losses
CTGO realizes a loss on the gold price hedges in its credit facility after receiving cash distributions.

Contango ORE (CTGO) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Contango ORE Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionContango Ore, Inc., an exploration stage company, engages in the exploration of gold and associated minerals in the United States. It also explores for copper and silver deposits. The company, through its subsidiaries, leases approximately 675,000 acres from the Tetlin Tribal Council and approximately 13,000 State of Alaska mining claims for exploration and development; and owns 100% interest in the mineral rights to approximately 200,000 acres of State of Alaska mining claims located north and northwest of the Tetlin Lease. The company also holds interest in the Shamrock property that consists of 361 Alaska state mining claims covering approximately 52,640 acres. Contango Ore, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is based in Houston, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyContango ORE makes money through its exploration and development activities in the mineral sector, primarily focusing on gold. The company's revenue model involves acquiring promising mineral properties, conducting exploration activities to assess and prove the viability of mineral deposits, and then developing these properties to increase their value. The company may also enter into joint ventures or partnerships to share the risks and costs associated with exploration and development. Key revenue streams include the potential sale of mineral resources, royalties from developed properties, and potential partnerships with larger mining companies that provide capital and operational expertise in exchange for a stake in the project.

Contango ORE Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Contango ORE shows no revenue generation and continued losses, reflecting operational challenges. A high debt-to-equity ratio and reliance on financing activities highlight financial risks, though recent equity improvements are a positive sign.
Income Statement
20
Very Negative
Contango ORE shows no revenue generation, with gross profit and net income remaining negative. The company experienced losses with negative EBIT and EBITDA margins. This indicates operational challenges and a lack of profitability, common in companies focused on exploration and development without current production.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The company has a high debt-to-equity ratio due to significant liabilities compared to its equity. The negative equity in previous years signals potential risks, though recent improvements in equity have been noted. The equity ratio is low, pointing to a leveraged position, common in the mining industry during development stages.
Cash Flow
25
Negative
Operating cash flow is marginally positive but insufficient to cover net losses. Free cash flow has been volatile, reflecting the company's ongoing cash burn in its development phase. The reliance on financing activities to support operations highlights operational cash flow challenges.
Breakdown
Dec 2023Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021Jun 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
0.000.000.000.000.00
Gross Profit
-117.81K-136.50K-55.74K0.000.00
EBIT
-17.65M-9.62M-23.20M-10.66M-5.59M
EBITDA
-76.70M-17.50M-23.23M35.83M-3.65M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-81.53M-39.74M-23.51M23.87M-9.17M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
15.50M11.65M23.10M35.22M3.01M
Total Assets
58.59M25.66M37.29M35.97M3.08M
Total Debt
44.68M25.46M19.24M0.000.00
Net Debt
29.18M13.81M-3.86M-35.22M-3.01M
Total Liabilities
73.14M30.44M24.02M1.42M1.09M
Stockholders Equity
-14.54M-4.77M13.27M34.55M1.99M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-14.68M-13.99M-8.41M-1.39M
Operating Cash Flow
-9.43M-14.68M-13.95M-8.38M-1.39M
Investing Cash Flow
-34.39M-21.12M-15.39M27.35M-3.72M
Financing Cash Flow
47.68M24.35M17.44M13.23M-476.67K

Contango ORE Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price13.92
Price Trends
50DMA
10.64
Positive
100DMA
10.78
Positive
200DMA
15.56
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
1.11
Negative
RSI
63.90
Neutral
STOCH
74.28
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CTGO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 13.92 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 11.85, above the 50-day MA of 10.64, and below the 200-day MA of 15.56, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 1.11 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.90 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 74.28 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CTGO.

Contango ORE Risk Analysis

Contango ORE disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Contango ORE reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Contango ORE Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (49)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
51
Neutral
$170.50M-9999.00%18.69%
49
Neutral
$1.95B-1.61-21.88%3.78%0.55%-26.94%
IDIDR
45
Neutral
$230.26M25.1231.88%88.66%619.17%
PZPZG
45
Neutral
$28.28M-20.99%0.16%
39
Underperform
$87.44M
1.67%
36
Underperform
$42.91M-91.15%-34.57%-238.18%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CTGO
Contango ORE
13.92
-7.39
-34.68%
USAU
US Gold
9.64
5.34
124.19%
GORO
Gold Resource
0.36
-0.15
-29.41%
PZG
Paramount Gold Nevada
0.42
-0.01
-2.33%
HYMC
Hycroft Mining Holding
3.50
-0.14
-3.85%
IDR
Idaho Strategic Resources
16.85
8.12
93.01%

Contango ORE Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 14, 2024
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: 46.68%|
Next Earnings Date:Mar 17, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call provided a balanced view of Contango's performance in 2024. The company experienced significant successes, such as exceeding gold production guidance and achieving positive cash flow, which allowed for substantial debt reduction. However, challenges remained, including slightly higher cash costs and significant losses from hedge contracts. The sentiment is mixed with both positive achievements and operational challenges.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Exceeding Gold Production Guidance
Manh Choh exceeded production guidance by over 25% in 2024, producing just shy of 42,000 ounces of gold, surpassing the initial guidance of 30,000 to 35,000 ounces.
Positive Operating Cash Flow
The company reported positive operating cash flow for 2024, with plans to use the excess cash to pay down debt and deliver hedges, aiming to be debt-free and hedge-free by the end of 2026.
Debt Reduction Progress
The debt was reduced from $60 million at the start of 2024 to $38 million by the time of the call, with a projection to further reduce it to $15 million by the end of the year.
Improvement in Hedge Status
The company started with 124,000 ounces of gold hedges and reduced it to 86,000 ounces by the end of 2024, with plans to cut it in half by the end of 2025.
Successful Integration of Johnson Tract
The acquisition of Johnson Tract was deemed successful with no buyer's remorse, integrating well with Contango's business model.
Negative Updates
Cash Costs Slightly Above Guidance
Cash costs came in slightly over the guidance of $1,200 per ounce due to operational factors.
Hedge Loss Impact
In 2024, the company realized a $20 million loss on derivative contracts, contributing to a total of $54 million when combined with mark-to-market adjustments.
Debt Payments Deferred
A decision was made to defer $10.6 million in debt payments into 2027 due to bridge weight restrictions and revised mine plans, indicating some operational adjustments.
Limited Exploration Results at Manh Choh
Exploration results for 2024 at Manh Choh did not yield significant findings, focusing instead on evaluating a large land position.
Company Guidance
During the call, Contango provided an overview of their fiscal year 2024 performance and offered guidance for 2025. The company exceeded its gold production guidance by over 25%, producing nearly 42,000 ounces at a cash cost slightly above the $1,200 per ounce guidance. For 2025, Contango projects a gold production of about 60,000 ounces. The company reported positive operating cash flow in 2024, with a focus on using excess cash to pay down debt and deliver hedges, aiming to be debt and hedge-free by the end of 2026, though they have the flexibility to extend into mid-2027. The hedge delivery is planned to be reduced from 86,000 ounces to 43,000 ounces by the end of 2025. Contango started 2024 with $60 million in debt, reduced to $38 million by early 2025, and expects to end the year with $15 million remaining. The company also aims to maintain an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) between $1,200 and $1,600 per ounce for 2025.

Contango ORE Corporate Events

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Contango ORE Announces $9 Million Cash Distribution
Positive
Apr 24, 2025

On April 24, 2025, Contango ORE, Inc. announced a $9 million cash distribution from the Peak Gold JV, marking a total of $33 million in distributions from gold sales in 2025. The company completed its first production campaign, yielding approximately 20,000 ounces of gold, and plans to start the second campaign in mid-May. Contango’s operations at Manh Choh are on track, with an expected production of 60,000 ounces of gold for 2025 at an all-in-sustaining cost of $1,625 per ounce. The company has also reduced its credit facility balance and hedge contract obligations, and anticipates releasing its Q1-2025 financial results on May 14, 2025.

Spark’s Take on CTGO Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, CTGO is a Neutral.

Contango ORE’s stock score reflects a challenging financial performance characteristic of its development stage, with high leverage and operational losses. However, strong technical momentum, positive earnings call outcomes, and favorable corporate events suggest potential for future growth and stabilization. Valuation remains a concern due to the lack of profitability.

To see Spark’s full report on CTGO stock, click here.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Contango ORE Reports $24 Million Cash Distribution
Positive
Mar 31, 2025

On March 31, 2025, Contango ORE, Inc. announced that it received $24 million in cash distributions from the Peak Gold JV in the first quarter of 2025. This includes $9 million from 2024 production profits and $15 million from the first half of Campaign #1 for 2025. The company reported that the Peak Gold JV processed 323,000 tons of ore, recovering approximately 65,000 ounces of gold, with Contango’s share being 19,500 ounces, surpassing initial guidance. The company expects further cash distributions and continues to advance its projects and improve operations.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Contango ORE Reports 2024 Financial Results and Progress
Neutral
Mar 17, 2025

On March 17, 2025, Contango ORE, Inc. announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, reporting a net loss of $38.0 million despite achieving gold production that exceeded guidance at the Manh Choh mine. The company’s financial position improved with a cash position of $20.1 million, and significant progress was made in debt reduction and hedge contract settlements. The company is focused on furthering its Johnson Tract project with ongoing drilling and permitting efforts, while maintaining strong cash flow through linked gold production to spot prices.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Contango ORE Highlights Strong Manh Choh Project Performance
Positive
Mar 3, 2025

On February 28, 2025, Contango ORE released a corporate presentation detailing its financial measures and operations, including its joint venture with Kinross Gold Corporation. The presentation highlighted the company’s progress in its Manh Choh project, which began commercial production in July 2024, exceeding production guidance by 30% and generating strong cash flows. The company also outlined its future production targets and financial expectations, positioning itself well within the industry.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Contango ORE Amends Credit Facility for Flexibility
Positive
Feb 18, 2025

On February 18, 2025, Contango ORE, Inc. announced amendments to its credit facility to defer $10.6 million in principal repayments and extend the maturity date to mid-2027. This adjustment is expected to align better with their extended ore haul plan, allowing for more flexibility in debt repayment and exposure to potential gold price increases. Contango also commenced its first gold production campaign of the year on February 7, 2025, with anticipated production of 15,000 to 18,000 ounces of gold. These developments are poised to strengthen the company’s financial standing and operational efficiency, potentially increasing cash flows significantly if gold prices remain high.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.