If a more profitable business exists in the realm of publicly traded companies, I would like to see it. That's right: I'm issuing a challenge, and I'm inviting you to prove me wrong.
I believe that Silver Wheaton
Of course, Silver Wheaton's nominal net profit of $123 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 looks like small potatoes next to a gargantuan haul like ExxonMobil's
Silver Wheaton's lean, essentially fixed-cost business model converted an astounding 82% of sales into net profit. As silver surged to an average realized price of $26.44 per ounce, the silver-stream specialist watched its cash operating margin expand 64% to $22.42 per ounce (or 85% of sales). Thanks to the low overhead of its beautifully simple corporate structure, that minuscule 300 basis-point differential between cash operating margin and net profit margin likewise speaks to the efficiency of this high-octane profit machine.
The spoils of world-class profitability
After expanding the company's cash balance by 87% to $428 million, which together with forward cash flow and an undrawn $400 million credit facility will suffice to fund aggressive acquisition of new silver-stream agreements going forward, Silver Wheaton determined that this is "the ideal time for Silver Wheaton to implement a sustainable long-term dividend policy." As silver continues to track higher for all the reasons cited by fund manager Eric Sprott here, and Silver Wheaton's production volume launches 80% higher over the next five years on the basis of existing silver streams, I view this inaugural $0.03 quarterly dividend as merely a teaser for far more meaningful payouts to come.
For 2010, Silver Wheaton's 37% production growth (reaching 23.9 million silver-equivalent ounces) came principally on the back of Goldcorp's
Once Pascua Lama's anticipated 9 million ounces of annual (attributable) production kick in, Silver Wheaton expects to yield an eye-opening 43 million ounces of silver by 2015. Investors can have fun plugging their own individual targets for where silver prices might trend over the course of this monumental production growth spurt, and forecast just how profitable this company can be as surging volumes collide with further expansion of net profit margin beyond this already stunning 82% figure.
Back to the profitability challenge
Before I ask each of you to sift through your own personal watchlist of stocks to identify a company with superior profitability to that of Silver Wheaton, let's lay out a couple of ground rules. To keep the comparison current, let's look only to fourth-quarter results or roughly equivalent fiscal periods. We're looking for a net profit margin, calculated as net earnings divided by sales, with a value greater than 82%. To make it sporty, you can even have your pick between using headline earnings or an adjusted figure, provided the adjusted figure is not unduly boosted by some enormous asset sale or similar gain having nothing to do with ongoing operations. And finally, while all documented examples of reported net profit margin by publicly traded corporations are welcome for consideration, I may still reserve the championship title for Silver Wheaton if no U.S.-listed stock with a market capitalization of $500 million or greater is capable of claiming this profitability prize.
I will get you started by providing some examples of companies that can't hold a candle to Silver Wheaton's profitability. ExxonMobil, for all its noteworthy profit-heft, yielded a net profit margin of only 8.8% for the fourth quarter. Apple is renowned for its impressive cost controls throughout its supply chain, but even this tech giant's 22.5% net margin looks paltry next to Silver Wheaton's 82% bonanza. And what of the now-famously profitable miners of gold and silver? Goldcorp and Yamana Gold
Although I have a feeling you may find yourself out on a wild goose chase searching for a net profit margin to match the incredible efficiency of Silver Wheaton's unique business model, I look forward to reviewing any result that even comes close as you post them in the comments section below (please include a direct link to the relevant earnings press release). I wish you great success in your quest, since I would argue that any company with equal or greater net profit margins is likely worth watching closely.
- Add Silver Wheaton to my watchlist
- Add Pan American Silver to my watchlist
- Add Goldcorp to my watchlist
- Add Yamana Gold to my watchlist
- Add ExxonMobil to my watchlist