Cameco Highlights:

  • Vertically integrated
  • Engaged in fuel conversion services and nuclear power generation
  • Top-producer status
  • High-grade deposits
  • Low cash costs
  • Organic growth in stable jurisdictions
  • Healthy balance sheet

Cameco Corp. is the bellwether uranium mining company. The company is planning to increase its U.S. production in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming.

Uranium Participation Corp. TSX – U, UPCis a Canadian investment fund that purchases and holds both uranium oxide concentrate (U3O8) and uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The fund’s primary objective is to achieve capital appreciation through the value of its uranium holdings.

UPC would seem to offer investors all the upside of a potential uranium market rebound yet isn’t saddled with the exploration and operational risks other equities in the sector have.

Uranerz Energy Corporation, (URZ), is a U.S. mining company operating in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin where it controls a large strategic land position. URZ is expected to be in production (annual recovery targeted for 600,000 to 800,000 pounds after ramp-up) in early 2014.

Uranerz has a processing deal with Cameco and long term sales contracts for a portion of their production with Exelon (operator of the largest nuclear fleet in the U.S.) and an undisclosed U.S. utility. The Company’s Nichols Ranch ISR uranium project, in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, is licensed for a capacity of two million pounds per year of uranium yellowcake.

Rick Mills