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ASA Gold and Precious Metals Ltd C.ASA


Primary Symbol: ASA

ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company. The Company's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation primarily through investing in companies engaged in the exploration for, development of projects or mining of precious metals and minerals. The Company invests approximately 80% of its total assets in common shares or securities convertible into common shares of companies engaged, directly or indirectly, in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds or other precious minerals; held as bullion or other direct forms of gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals; in instruments representing interests in gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals, and/or in securities of investment companies, including exchange traded funds, or other securities. The Company’s investment adviser is Merk Investments LLC.


NYSE:ASA - Post by User

Comment by lscfaon Apr 14, 2021 10:32pm
195 Views
Post# 32998432

RE:Glanced at the finacial results

RE:Glanced at the finacial results

I wonder how much fixed costs make up in the costs of revenue. They are utilizing very little of their capacity. More utilization will improve gross margin. Recall years ago when every extractor was bragging about how much capacity it was adding to its plant. 


PUNJABI wrote: Revenues increased from $16 to 20 million. In early quarters it was stagnant. It increased by  $4 million from last quarter or 27 %  increase but it is very deceptive because it is $12 million lower than Feb 2020 quarter.

The gross margin has collapsed to $21.9 % from 59.08 % in Feb 2020. The drop in revenues and margins from 2020 confirm that the 2019 business model has drastically deteriorated. It is not the same company anymore.

They are in the process of transforming and there is some hope because of marginal improvement. This transformation is going to take a long time. It could take years. They will continue to incur losses and burn cash for the remaining year. Unless a miracle happens.
 
They lost money and are burning cash. The burn rate is not that alarming as LPS. The matter of concern is that the gross margin of 21.9 % is low and not good. They need to double the margin to break even at the current $20 m revenue or multiply their revenues.  Even after the big write-off of last quarter, the margins are still very low. It appears that because of the higher manufacturing cost and or big markup by the outlets and other costs this is becoming a low margin business.
 
I  think that  FAF has a gross margin of about 30 % and they are burning cash with that. Though totally different business. Not sure about the markup of other government distributors. I think manufacturers even pay the shipping cost, marketing and accept returns for up to 6 months. All sales are not final and there could be returns and dead inventory

They are getting government assistance of $1.8 m which means if this money was not a grant then the loss would have been even higher by that amount. Share-based compensation of $1.2m per Q was paid in addition to salaries.
 
When they have cash on hand of $49m why are they borrowing money a $9m term loan that is in violation of covenants and is being classified as a current asset? Should pay it off and save on interest. (Lenders committed to secured debt financing at interest rates based on prime plus a margin that ranges between 2.0% and 2.5% per annum depending on certain financial covenants)



 

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