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What happened
Shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals (NAK -1.17%) are up 10% as of 11 a.m. EST Wednesday after the company released earnings. The thing is, the earnings report doesn't show anything that changes the investment thesis of the company.
So what
One thing to keep in mind is that Northern Dynasty doesn't generate any revenue right now. The company is looking to build a multibillion precious-metals mine in Alaska, but so far little progress has been made on that front. This most recent earnings report didn't really change that, either. I could get into the numbers, but they don't matter nearly as much as this statement from management, which gives a good description of what investors need to know about the company right now:
The Group is in the process of exploring and developing the Pebble Project and has not yet determined whether the Pebble Project contains mineral reserves that are economically recoverable. The Group's continuing operations and the underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown for the Group's mineral property interests, is entirely dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable mineral reserves; the ability of the Group to obtain financing to complete the exploration and development of the Pebble Project; the Group obtaining the necessary permits to mine; and future profitable production or proceeds from the disposition of the Pebble Project.
Why today's share price increased is anyone's guess. The numbers the company released didn't even meet analyst expectations, if those numbers mattered much at all anyway.
Now what
If you are looking to get in on a precious-metals exploration company in the very early stages, then maybe Northern Dynasty Minerals has come across your radar once or twice. For investors who have bought into this idea, just know that this is a story that hasn't changed in over 15 years.
Even if the company does ever get the proper permits for this mine, development is going to take billions of dollars, something that this company doesn't have nor is likely going to be able to access with no prior history of operations or development. There is no way to make this conclusion any clearer: Northern Dynasty Minerals' stock should be avoided at all costs.
