RWE, Myriad Uranium, Cameco - The best environment ever

Cameco - Best conditions

Canada's Cameco, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the world's largest uranium producer alongside Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom, operating several uranium mines in Saskatchewan and a uranium enrichment refinery and uranium conversion plant located in Ontario.

After a weak 2021 with a net loss of CAD 103 million, Cameco ended last year with a significant gain of CAD 89 million. CEO Tim Gitzel is extremely optimistic about the current year. He says the demand for nuclear energy provides "the best fundamentals the nuclear fuel market has ever seen." A year ago, the Russian invasion of Ukraine set in motion a geopolitical realignment of energy markets that highlighted the critical role of nuclear power in providing secure and affordable energy.

According to the Company's leader, Cameco is now back in "sustained growth mode" and has successfully capitalized on the improving environment with a record number of contract wins. Cameco is now beginning to return to its tier-one run rate to meet increasing commitments under its contract portfolio. After five years of care and maintenance, it has restarted its McArthur River/Key Lake operation in Canada. The McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill produced 1.1 million pounds on a 100% basis in 2022, while the Cigar Lake mine reached its licensed capacity of 18 million pounds per year. The plan calls for McArthur River/Key Lake to produce 18 million pounds per year (100% basis) beginning in 2024 and Cigar Lake to continue operating at its licensed capacity of 18 million pounds per year (100% basis) in 2024.

Myriad Uranium - Promising newcomer

If the trend of rising prices continues in the long term, and the demand from Western industrialized countries, especially the US, clearly suggests this will happen, second-tier uranium producers and exploration companies should benefit significantly. Myriad Uranium, which has a market capitalization of CAD 9.24 million, is a junior exploration company with an option to earn a 100% interest in over 1,800 sq km of uranium exploration licenses in the Tim Mersoi Basin in Niger, Africa, the sixth largest uranium producer in the world. Here, the Company holds four exploration licenses located near Africa's most significant uranium deposits containing 380 million pounds of equivalent uranium oxides (eU3O8).

Myriad Uranium's property is only about 30 km away from Dasa, Africa's highest-grade development stage deposit. In addition, both share the same rock structures.

Historically, 24,000 m of drilling has been completed on the deposit, as well as at least 161 relatively shallow drill holes, airborne and ground geophysical surveys, geological mapping and seismic surveys. As a result, approximately 20% of the historical drill holes within the license area have significant mineralization. In addition, it is known that high uranium grades may lie in secondary fault structures and at depths not previously explored.

Drilling programs for the current year are now being coordinated with local operating partner Loxcroft Resources, which is also the Company's largest shareholder, using a source of historical information. CEO Thomas Lamb recently spoke to our colleague Julien Desrosiers at the world's largest mining trade show, PDAC.

RWE - Significant dividend increase

RWE reports a significant increase in the dividend to EUR 1 as a minimum and a solid outlook for 2023. The majority of analysts remain positive about the energy group. The Swiss bank UBS left its rating for RWE at "buy" with a price target of EUR 46 after figures for 2022. The targets for the current year are significantly above market expectations. The expert spoke of a solid short-term outlook and an appealing medium-term strategy. The experts at Deutsche Bank Research also continue to see the share as a buy candidate with a price target of EUR 50.

Fiscal 2022 brought an outstanding result for RWE. Adjusted operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 72% to EUR 6.31 billion. The increase in the core business was even more significant, amounting to 101% to EUR 5.56 billion. Net income was also impressive, increasing by 107% to EUR 3.232 billion. These increases were due to the increased capacity expansion for electricity from wind and solar energy, which rose by 22% compared with the previous year.

For the current fiscal year, the Essen-based company was somewhat more cautious and expects EBITDA of EUR 5.8 billion to EUR 6.4 billion and EUR 4.8 billion to EUR 5.4 billion in its core business, respectively, and EUR 2.2 billion to EUR 2.7 billion in adjusted net income.

Uranium is on the verge of a long-term turnaround due to rising demand. Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel and many experts share this view. Second-tier uranium companies, such as the exploration company Myriad Uranium are benefiting from this. RWE convinced analysts with its figures for the past year and its outlook.