Buzz on the Bullboards: Who Has Emerged from COVID the Strongest?

(Image via Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.)

Are we about to see the global economy fully open up and recover, or are we headed for more trouble with new lockdowns and virus variants?

The COVID-19 pandemic has played havoc with global stocks for more than a year, but since its emergence, each sector has reacted differently. Where some struggled, others coasted, and some even climbed to new heights.

Now investors have two angles to consider when making their money moves – is this a hot stock for right now, or is this a long-term play?
Our first company to look at is Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX: IVN, Forum), whose team announced this week that it had mined more than 400,000 tonnes of ore at its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, grading 5.36% copper. Underground ore production at the also included 100,000 tonnes grading 8.70% copper from the centre of the mine.

Kamoa-Kakula also set a fresh monthly mine development record in March 2021, with an advancement of more han 3,100 metres, bringing total underground development to approximately 38.6 kilometres - around 13.5 kilometres ahead of schedule. Pre-production ore stockpiles at the mine hold 2.56 million tonnes grading 4.60% copper, containing more than 117,000 tonnes of copper.

Overall progress of Kamoa-Kakula's first phase mining and milling operation is 92% complete with commissioning of the concentrator plant underway and first copper production on track for July 2021.



Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (TSX-V: RECO, Forum) has also hit a significant milestone upon achieving a total depth on the 6-2 well, the first well of a three well drilling program in the deep Kavango basin.

This stratigraphic test well has accomplished ReconAfrica’s goals set, which includes the acquisition of an abundance of whole and sidewall core along with cuttings and significant well log data. The well has been drilled safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. All data is undergoing a comprehensive analysis by ReconAfrica’s Namibian and North American technical team and consultants.

Pure Gold Mining Inc. (TSX-V: PGM, Forum) unveiled returned high-grade mineralization numbers coming out of its underground drilling program, including 56.6 g/t gold over one metre.

Another standout result is 8.7 g/t gold over 7.9 metres from drill hole PGU-0184, including 44.4 g/t gold over one metre.
The results stem from underground drilling completed during Q1 2021. The drilling targeted zones close to new ramp developments and adjacent to planned stoping areas to expand reserves and increase grades in the PureGold Mine's near-term plan.

Looking at the results from last week’s Investor Pulse Poll, it seems that metals and mining is alive and well among investor attention in 2021.



Looking at this week’s poll, as many companies and jurisdictions weigh the safety of relaxing COVID-related restrictions as vaccines continue to roll out (along with new variants of the virus), do you think businesses have taken reasonable precautions to stem the spread of COVID among their operations? Let us know your thoughts by clicking the image below to cast your vote.


(Click image to vote.)

One business in the technology space that has seen its operations impacted by COVID-19 in 2020 is Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR, Forum), by making it difficult to access customer sites for the first six months of the year and that company experienced a deferral of capital projects. In many cases customers have resumed or budgeted those projects for completion in 2021.

For the fiscal year 2021, the company is expecting revenue of approximately $33 million to $35 million (compared to unaudited revenue of approximately $13 million for fiscal year 2020) and fiscal year 2021 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in the range of $3.7 million (compared to unaudited Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $2.0 million for fiscal year 2020). The anticipated revenue mix is 70% from the Company's core business and 30% its BioCloud air quality technology platform.

The company has invested approximately $4 Million (CAD) in the development and commercialization of BioCloud with approximately 50% of that investment funding provided by Government sources.



BlackBerry Limited (TSX:BB, Forum) announced that the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks, buses and construction equipment, had selected BlackBerry’s QNX as the foundational software for its main domain controller engine control units (ECUs) in more than 300,000 heavy vehicles that Volvo manufactures every year.
This comes on the heels of BB’s report detailing total company non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) revenue of $215 million (USD) and total company GAAP revenue of $210 million (USD) for Q4 of its fiscal 2021.

Looking at the full fiscal year 2021, the total company non-GAAP revenue clocked in a $919 million (USD), total company GAAP revenue of $893 million (USD), along with non-GAAP earnings per basic and diluted share of $0.18, and GAAP loss per basic and diluted share of $1.97 (USD).

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NexOptic Technology Corp. (TSX-V:NXO, Forum) entered into an exclusive partnership to deploy its artificial intelligence (AI) powered imaging technology in Pristine’s single-use endoscopic visualization platform.

NexOptic Technologies’ Chief Executive Officer, Paul McKenzie explained that Pristine has built the endoscopy platform of the future.

“By combining our AI expertise with their unique single-use scope design, there’s an immediate opportunity to further advance the surgical visualization platform of tomorrow. Today’s announcement is a milestone for NexOptic’s artificial intelligence imaging solutions. I look forward to the future and fully anticipate signing additional clients this year.”



Leamington ON-based cannabis licensed producer Aphria Inc. (TSX: APHA, Forum) has topped the Cannabis Bullboards for aged and continued to do so this week after the blockbuster announcement that both Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. and Glass Lewis and Co., LLC have recommended that Aphria shareholders vote for the special resolution approving acquisition all of the outstanding shares of Aphria by BC-based cannabis licensed producer Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY, Forum), leading the shareholders will become holders of shares of Tilray.

Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED, Forum) completed the acquisition of AV Cannabis Inc., a cannabis brand based out of Ontario. With a strong focus on “ready-to-enjoy products” (pictured above) intended to strengthen Canopy’s house of brands and leverage WEED’s top national sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities to expand the product portfolio and scale the brand across Canada.

Based on Ontario Cannabis Store sales data, Ace Valley holds top five and top 10 market positions in Ontario across its range of SKUs and complements Canopy Growth’s existing portfolio of premium vapes, pre-roll joints, and gummies.


(Image via Canopy Growth Corp.)

Finally, Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX-V: ALEF, Forum) has launched its everyday cannabis brand Divvy, tailored to frequent cannabis consumers who are both price and quality conscious.

Divvy launches in adult-use markets with five new dried flower and pre-roll SKUs, including three different 12 x 0.35g pre-roll multipacks which feature premium, reusable tin packaging. Throughout 2021, the Company expects to add to the Divvy portfolio with larger quantity line extensions, new cultivars, and new, non-flower formats. The new brand portfolio benefits from Aleafia Health’s low-cost cannabis cultivation advantage. Shipments of Divvy products have been completed to provincial adult-use wholesalers.

Together, pre-rolls and dried flower represented 70% of total legal cannabis sales during the three months ended December 31, 2020, according to data from the Ontario Cannabis Store.

Next week, we will be able to dive into the data from the last quarter and figure out a clearer answer for where the markets are at (and where they are headed). Make sure to stay up to date, stay focused, and see where the tides are taking small-cap stocks and the whole of the markets. For previous editions of Buzz on the Bullboards: click here.

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