BMO Capital Markets analyst Greg Jones, in a research report published on August 12, 2024, resumed coverage of Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSX-V: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N). The analyst maintained an Outperform rating and gave the company a target price of CA$2.00.
Lithium Ionic recently announced several transactions:
1. Sale of a 2.25% life-of-mine gross revenue royalty on Bandeira to Appian Capital Advisory for US$20 million in cash.
2. Acquisition of the remaining 15% stake in Salinas.
3. A CA$15 million private placement.
Jones views these transactions positively, stating, "The royalty sale proceeds provide funds to further advance Bandeira development."
He added, "Consolidating Salinas ownership was a logical move, and doing so prior to the forthcoming PEA (expected H2/24) likely means LTH was able to consolidate the project at an attractive valuation."
The analyst noted that the private placement was completed at a premium to the prior closing price, with shares issued at CA$0.90, approximately 100% higher than the share price at the time of the report of CA$0.45
The report noted that Lithium Ionic's strategic focus includes advancing its Bandeira project towards production in 2026 and developing the Salinas project, with a PEA expected in H2 2024. The company's position as the second-largest landholder in Brazil's Lithium Valley provides the potential for further resource growth.
BMO Capital Markets' valuation methodology for Lithium Ionic is based on a combination of NAV multiple and an in-situ value for resources. "Our target price is set based on a 0.45x multiple of our fully financed 8% NAVPS. We apply an in-situ value for the current Salinas resource and exploration credit for the Noe target at US$25/t LCE, in line with the hard rock developer peer median," Jones stated.
Jones concluded, "With LTH trading at US$10/t LCE vs. developer peers at ~US$24/t, we believe there is near-term opportunity for LTH to re-rate towards the peer multiple, which would imply a ~50% share price uplift."
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Important Disclosures:
- Lithium Ionic Corp. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.
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Disclosures for BMO Capital Markets, Lithium Ionic Corp., August 12, 2024
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