Cameco Reports Q3 Results; Improving Operational Performance Supports Dividend Growth; Strengthening Prospects Amid Growing Demand for Nuclear Power; Long-Term Contracting Activity Gaining Momentum; Strong Annual Outlook; Cameco Well-Positioned

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SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, November 07, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) today reported its consolidated financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

"Our third quarter operational performance was strong across all segments, supporting our return to a tier-one cost structure," said Tim Gitzel, Cameco’s president and CEO. "Looking past quarterly earnings, which can vary significantly, there is a clear underlying trend of improving operational performance and cash flow generation, backed by stable and rising market prices. Apart from the impact of a stronger US dollar, our financial outlook for both Cameco and Westinghouse remained strong and unchanged. To recognize the return to our tier-one production rate and the continued strengthening of the industry’s long-term prospects, our board of directors declared an increased 2024 annual dividend of $0.16 per common share. We are also recommending a dividend growth plan to our board of directors, under which we expect to at least double last year’s dividend of $0.12 per common share, to $0.24 per common share, over the fiscal periods 2024 through 2026, subject to annual consideration by our board.

"Our disciplined strategy aligns our marketing, operational, and financially focused decisions. From a marketing perspective, we have contracts in both our uranium and fuel services segments that have deliveries spanning more than a decade. However, in a market where we are seeing sustained, positive momentum for nuclear energy, we are continuing to be selective in committing our unencumbered, tier-one, in-ground uranium inventory and UF6 conversion capacity under long-term contracts, to capture greater upside for many years to come.

"The marketing element of our strategy guides our operational decisions to ensure our supply aligns with our commitments, so we balance our production rates, inventory position, long-term purchases, product loans, and near-term market purchases in order to deliver full-cycle value. This past quarter was a good example of that prudent management of our supply sources, with our 2024 uranium production outlook increasing from 22.4 million pounds (our share) of uranium, to up to 23.1 million pounds (our share) of uranium, thanks to strong production from McArthur River/Key Lake. The higher production level for 2024 is fully committed within our contract portfolio and allows us to rebalance our other supply sources, including a partial offset of the increase in Saskatchewan by lower production and purchases from JV Inkai, where we now expect production of 7.7 million pounds (100% basis) of uranium, down about 600,000 pounds of uranium from last year due to the ongoing acid supply challenges in Kazakhstan.