Buy this storm-hit miner as a long-term investment

This profitable mining giant is likely to benefit from billions of dollars in construction projects in China. But currently high commodity prices have scared investors - which means this stock is trading at a bargain price, says Paul Hill.

By Paul Hill

published 30 September 2011

in Features

Commodities appear poised for another sharp retreat. Last week, Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto's chief executive, said markets were weaker and that customers were asking to delay metals shipments. The International Monetary Fund echoed his view, downgrading its outlook on a basket of basic materials. But there's no need to man the life boats just yet. There's some decent money still to be made in mining.

Take the world's fourth-largest miner, Xstrata. Its share price has fallen 40% since April, even though prices for its coal (representing 27% of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation EBITDA) have held up quite well. And despite the recent declines, Xstrata's other main outputs copper (44%), zinc (13%), nickel (13%) and alloys (3%) still sell for well above marginal production cost. The balance sheet has greatly improved too, with the dividend forecast to leap 36% this year on the back of solid cash generation.

Chief executive Mick Davis is upbeat about demand from China, saying in August that "there is little sign so far of a hard landing. In the underdeveloped central and western provinces, more than $100bn of new infrastructure projects were approved in 2010, and will require substantial volumes of imported commodities as construction begins." Of course, if there is a total collapse in orders from emerging nations which I feel is unlikely there will be further downside. But if this happens, it wouldn't take long before supply wilted too, which could see commodity prices snap back.

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Assuming the global economy does not drop off a cliff, Xstrata has some outstanding assets to exploit. Davis believes these should enable the group to expand volumes by 50% over the next three years. That's not to say there aren't hurdles looming in the second half of the year, when Xstrata typically makes about 60% of its profit. Cost pressures and resource nationalism are rising across the world. Strikes in Chile and South Africa have pushed up labour rates, while there have been corporation tax-rate hikes in places such as Peru and Australia. Meanwhile, electricity costs in its South African smelters have risen by a fifth.

Paul gained a degree in electrical engineering and went on to qualify as a chartered management accountant. He has extensive corporate finance and investment experience and is a member of the Securities Institute.

Over the past 16 years Paul has held top-level financial management and M&A roles for blue-chip companies such as O2, GKN and Unilever. He is now director of his own capital investment and consultancy firm, PMH Capital Limited.

Paul is an expert at analysing companies in new, fast-growing markets, and is an extremely shrewd stock-picker.