Cameco Reports Record Revenue, Earnings and Cash Flows for 2006
Cameco Reports Record Revenue, Earnings and Cash Flows for 2006
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, February 07, 2007
Fourth Quarter Results / PDF Version (223 KB)
Cameco Corporation today reported its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006. All numbers in this release are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. For a more detailed discussion of our financial results, management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) following this news release.
"The company recorded record revenue, earnings and cash flow for 2006, despite lower earnings in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year," said Jerry Grandey, president and chief executive officer of Cameco. "As we have indicated, quarterly results are not a good indicator of Cameco's annual results and the fourth quarter certainly demonstrates this."
Financial Highlights ($ millions except per share amounts) | Three months ended Dec 31 | % Change | Year ended Dec 31 | % Change |
| 2006 | 2005 | | 2006 | 2005 | |
Revenue(a) | 512 | 522 | (2) | 1,832 | 1,313 | 40 |
Earnings from operations | 36 | 59 | (39) | 335 | 121 | 177 |
Cash provided by operations (b) | 13 | 91 | (86) | 418 | 278 | 50 |
Net earnings | 40 | 83 | (52) | 376 | 215 | 75 |
Earnings per share (EPS) – basic ($) | 0.11 | 0.24 | (54) | 1.07 | 0.62 | 73 |
EPS – diluted ($) | 0.11 | 0.23 | (52) | 1.02 | 0.60 | 70 |
EPS – adjusted and diluted ($) | 0.11 | 0.21 | (48) | 0.75 | 0.58 | 29 |
Adjusted net earnings (c) | 40 | 76 | (47) | 274 | 208 | 32 |
(a) In 2006, revenue from Bruce Power Limited Partnership (BPLP) was proportionately consolidated. In 2005, consolidated revenue included Cameco's proportionate share of BPLP revenue following the restructuring of the partnership as of October 31, 2005. Prior to that date, we accounted for BPLP using the equity accounting method.
(b) After working capital changes.
(c) Net earnings for 2006 have been adjusted to exclude a $73 million ($0.19 per share diluted) recovery of future income taxes related to reductions in federal and provincial income tax rates and adjusted to exclude a $29 million gain ($0.08 per share diluted) on sale of our interest in the Fort à la Corne joint venture. Net earnings for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005 have been adjusted to exclude $69 million ($0.19 per share diluted) in net earnings related to the gain on sale of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd shares as well as $62 million ($0.17 per share diluted) in net loss related to the restructuring of the Bruce Power Limited Partnership. Adjusted net earnings is a non-GAAP measure used to provide a representative comparison of the financial results.
Fourth Quarter
For the three months ended December 31, 2006, our net earnings were $40 million ($0.11 per share diluted), $43 million lower than the net earnings of $83 million ($0.23 per share diluted) recorded in 2005. The decrease is due to lower earnings in the electricity and gold businesses, and a $20 million (pre-tax) charge at Cigar Lake. The write down results in a $15 million (pre-tax) charge in the fourth quarter of 2006. In addition, we expensed $5 million (pre-tax) in costs related to remediation activities at the project.
Cash from operations in the fourth quarter of 2006 was $13 million compared to $91 million in 2005. The decrease of $78 million was related to lower cash flows from the gold and electricity businesses.
In our uranium business, earnings before taxes declined to $49 million from $71 million in the fourth quarter of last year, primarily as a result of a lower reported sales volume in the quarter. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2005, revenue from our uranium business declined by $76 million to $242 million as a 36% increase in the realized selling price (in US dollars) was more than offset by a 42% decline in reported sales volumes.
The sales volumes were down due to timing of sales deliveries, which are at the discretion of our customers. For the past several years, the deliveries have been heavily weighted in the fourth quarter. In 2006, the timing of deliveries through the year was unusual, with a heavier weighting in the first quarter and lighter weighting in the fourth quarter.
In addition, during the fourth quarter, we deferred revenue on a portion of our sales volume as the result of our standby product loans. As previously reported, Cameco has entered into standby product loan agreements with two of our customers. As of December 31, 2006, Cameco had not borrowed any material under the standby loan agreements. However, regardless of whether any material is borrowed, we defer revenue recognition from sales to the counterparties of the standby product loan agreements, up to the limit of the loans (5.6 million pounds). This is in accordance with accounting standards. Accordingly, in the fourth quarter of 2006, Cameco has deferred revenue of $22 million and the associated costs on sales of 1.2 million pounds of U3O8. The gross profit on the deferred sales was $3 million.
The average realized price in Canadian dollars increased by 30%, with the stronger Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar having a dampening effect given that most of our sales are denominated in US dollars. The increase in the average realized price was the result of higher prices under fixed-price contracts and a higher uranium spot price, which averaged $65.21 (US) per pound in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $34.79 (US) in the same quarter of 2005.
On October 23, 2006 Cameco reported that a water inflow at Cigar Lake had flooded the underground development.
Cameco engineers and consultants have developed a phased plan to restore the underground workings at Cigar Lake. The first phase of the remediation plan involves drilling holes down to the source of the inflow and to a nearby tunnel where reinforcement may be needed, pumping concrete through the drill holes, sealing off the inflow with grout and drilling dewatering holes. Subsequent phases include dewatering the mine, ground freezing in the area of the inflow, restoring underground areas and resuming mine development. Regulatory approval is required for each phase of the remediation plan.
We have completed eight of the 14 drill holes planned for reinforcing and sealing off the water inflow area. There are two drill rigs on site working around the clock. Concrete will be poured in two locations - one near the rock fall to seal off the inflow area and another in a nearby tunnel to provide reinforcement. About 300 cubic metres of concrete have been poured in the reinforcement area.
Cameco had previously planned to provide preliminary capital cost estimates and timelines for the remediation in February 2007. Cameco is preparing a technical report for Cigar Lake to meet requirements under National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, which regulates public company exploration and mining disclosure. We expect to complete and publicly release the technical report in late March 2007. A technical report is required to support the disclosure of Cigar Lake remediation.
We plan to issue our next update on the status of Cigar Lake on March 1, 2007.
For fuel services, earnings before taxes increased to $11 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 from $5 million for the same period of 2005.
Cameco's pre-tax earnings from BPLP amounted to $13 million during the fourth quarter compared to $30 million during the same period in 2005. This decrease in 2006 is due to a lower realized price, partially offset by lower operating costs. During the quarter, the average realized electricity price was $46 per MWh, compared to $57 per MWh in the fourth quarter of 2005. On a per MWh basis, the operating cost in the fourth quarter of 2006 was $38, compared to $42 in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Full Year 2006
For 2006, our net earnings were $376 million ($1.02 per share diluted). Our adjusted net earnings were $274 million ($0.75 per share adjusted and diluted), $66 million higher than the adjusted net earnings of $208 million ($0.58 per share adjusted and diluted) recorded in 2005 due to improved results in the uranium and gold businesses. Our earnings were negatively impacted by lower earnings from BPLP, charges related to the Cigar Lake water inflow and higher administration expenses.
In 2006, Cameco generated cash from operations of $418 million compared to $278 million in 2005. The increase of $140 million reflects higher revenue compared to 2005 and the proportionate consolidation of BPLP results in 2006.
At December 31, 2006, our consolidated net debt to capitalization ratio was 12%, up from 9% at the end of 2005. In 2006, we used cash on hand to redeem a total of $150 million in debentures.
"Our company is financially strong," Grandey said. "We have the resources, expertise, and vision to reinvest in our core assets, expand our global exploration program and seek growth opportunities."
Outlook for First Quarter 2007
We expect consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2007 to be about 20% lower than that of the fourth quarter of 2006. This is due to anticipated lower sales volumes for uranium and conversion as well as lower projected gold production. The decrease is partially offset by an expected 5% increase in revenue in the electricity business as a result of higher anticipated realized prices.
Projections for the first quarter assume no major changes in Cameco's business units' ability to supply product and services and no significant changes in our current estimates for price and volume.
Outlook for the Year 2007
In 2007, Cameco expects consolidated revenue to grow by about 25% over 2006 due to higher revenue from uranium and fuel services. In the uranium business, we expect revenue to increase by approximately 45% due to stronger average realized prices under our contracts relative to 2006. This projection for the uranium business does not include all the expected adjustments for the Cigar Lake water inflow incident as they are being finalized and assumes that the product loan arrangements in place remain unchanged. We may consider terminating a portion or all of the product loans. Excluding the impact of any deferrals related to the product loans, we anticipate uranium revenue to increase by about 50% in 2007 primarily due to higher realized prices.
We also anticipate that revenue from the fuel services business will be about 20% higher than in 2006 due to an anticipated 10% increase in deliveries and an increase in the average realized selling price.
For 2007, we anticipate BPLP revenue to be 18% higher than in 2006, almost entirely due to higher expected realized prices. This outlook for BPLP assumes the B units will achieve a targeted capacity factor in the low 90% range.
In 2007, we expect gold production (100% basis) to be in the range of 700,000 to 720,000 ounces, up from 587,000 ounces in 2006. Gold revenue is expected to increase by about 20% in 2007 over 2006.
The financial outlook noted above for the company is based on the following key assumptions:
- no significant changes in our estimates for sales volumes, purchases and prices,
- no disruption of supply from our facilities or third-party sources, and
- a US/Canadian spot exchange rate of $1.16.
For 2007, the effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 15% to 20%. Our expected tax rate varies from the Canadian statutory tax rate primarily due to differences between Canadian tax rates and rates applicable to subsidiaries in other countries. This range is based on the projected distribution of income among the various tax jurisdictions being weighted less heavily toward foreign subsidiaries compared to 2006.
In 2007, we expect total capital expenditures, including the gold business, to increase by 12% to $517 million. This amount does not include any expenditures for Cigar Lake. Updated capital expenditures for Cigar Lake are anticipated to be available in late March 2007.
Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more detail on these factors, see the section titled "Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information" in the MD&A that follows this news release.
Quarterly Dividend Notice
Cameco announced today that the company's board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on the outstanding common shares of the corporation that is payable on April 13, 2007, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2007.
Conference Call
Cameco invites you to join its fourth quarter conference call on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Saskatoon time).
The call will be open to all investors and the media. Members of the media will be invited to ask questions at the end of the call. To join the conference on Wednesday, February 7, please dial (416) 695-6120or (888) 789-0150 (Canada and US). An audio feed of the call will be available on this website. See the link on the home page on the day of the call.
A recorded version of the proceedings will be available:
- on our website, shortly after the call, and
- on post view until midnight, Eastern time, Wednesday, February 21, 2007 by calling (416) 695-5275 or (888) 509-0081 (passcode - 638429).
Additional Information
Additional information on Cameco, including its annual information form, is available on SEDAR at sedar.com and the company's website at cameco.com.
Profile
Cameco, with its head office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the world's largest uranium producer, a significant supplier of conversion services and one of two Candu fuel manufacturers in Canada. The company's competitive position is based on its controlling ownership of the world's largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Cameco's uranium products are used to generate clean electricity in nuclear power plants around the world, including Ontario where the company is a limited partner in North America's largest nuclear electricity generating facility. The company also explores for uranium in North America and Australia, and holds a majority interest in a mid-tier gold company. Cameco's shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.
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For further information:
Investor & media inquiries: Alice Wong (306) 956-6337
Investor inquiries: Bob Lillie (306) 956-6639
Media inquiries: Lyle Krahn (306) 956-6316
Quelle: www.cameco.com