RE:RE:RE:RE:Cash cost .67-.73 Thanks for the clarification Fire74 ... that explanation is much more credible.
The Q to management now becomes what to do with the $$$. The options are listed below in order of how well they are typically received by the market:
1. accreciative acquisitions: May happen but ... the problem here is that, in the current environment ... the asking price for everything decent you might want to buy will be inflated. Certainly anything that is already producing. Acquiring a couple properties in the final stages of the development cycle (e.g. final FS done and fully permitted) , might be the best option.
2. Invest in growing production and reducing costs within existing operations. Then talk to the press about it when you achieve any prod, recovery, etc. breakthroughs through your quarterly prod reports! This is the most difficult item on the list to execute on ... its also has the most long term value to shareholders as it lowers ( or raises if u want to take that perspective) TV's position on the cost curve which in turn; a. protects against down side risk during bad times b. increases profits in good times c. places the company in a position to recover both first and strongest from a downturn. d. positions the company to actually be able to do option 1 ( acquisitions) during downcycles when the asking prices become more reasonable. Control the controllable! This is option a company's managment has the most control over.
3. buy back shares ! This is the most obvious, quickest, and easiest way to increase remaining shareholder value. All other things being equal ... each 1% bought back should increase share price by 1%.
4. release a special dividend if there is no other obvious place to spend the $.
5. Reduce debt. No pressing need to do so. Balance sheet is solid already. There might be tax and early payment penalty reasons for NOT doing this but ... reducing the debt at least a bit would be a good move for psoitioning the company well for the next, inveitable, downturn. PLus place it in a better position for acquisitions. This option would probably be the least favorably looked upon my Mr. Market in the current environment IMO.
A combo of items 2+3 would be the min that I would hope for from management. Some Item 1 would be a bonus.