Golden Star Resources, Ltd.
(
GSS
), engaged in acquiring, exploring, developing and operating gold
properties, saw an improvement in its bottom line in second-quarter
2012. The company earned 1 cent per share in the quarter, improving
from a loss of 2 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. However,
the results missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny.
Golden Star reported net income of $2.5 million in the quarter
compared with a loss of $5 million recorded in the prior-year
quarter.
Revenues jumped 24% year over year to $136.3 million on the back
of an increase in gold sales and improvement in average realized
price of gold. Gold sales came in at 85,183 ounces in the quarter,
a 17.4% higher than last year. Average realized gold price
increased 5.75% year over year to $1,600 per ounce in the
quarter.
Remarkably, Golden Star's cash operating costs declined 14.6%
year over year to $921 per ounce. Also, the actual costs were well
behind the company's guidance of $1,040 per ounce.
The company has two gold mines under its jurisdiction, namely
Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa/HBB and intends to ramp up production at
both the mines and reduce costs simultaneously. Encouraged by the
results from the drilling program at Wassa, Golden Star has decided
to install three additional rigs at the mine, thus taking the rig
count in the mine to five.
Golden Star's cash flow from operations was $17.6 million in the
quarter, a significant improvement from $1.5 million of cash used
in operations last year. More importantly, the company has managed
to maintain positive cash flow from operations for four consecutive
quarters.
Cash and cash equivalents were $105.7 million as of June 30,
2012, down from $127.9 million as of June 30, 2011. Golden Star
also has a borrowing capacity of $19 million through its equipment
financing credit facility.
Golden Star expects to produce 338,000 ounces of gold in 2012,
up from 301,000 ounces produced last year. Cash operating costs is
expected in the range of 1,040-1,100 per ounce.
Golden Star currently carries a Zacks #5 Rank, reflecting a
short-term (1 to 3 months) Strong Sell rating.
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