Fortuna Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

(All amounts are expressed in US dollars, tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise stated)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI) ("Fortuna” or the "Company”) today reported its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 highlights

Cash and Cashflow

• Record free cash flow¹ of $95.6 million in Q4, a quarter over quarter ("QoQ”) improvement of 69%; $202.9 million in 2024
• Net cash from operations of $141.6 million before working capital or $0.46 per share in Q4, a QoQ increase of 21%; $438.2 million or $1.42 per share in 2024
• Quarter-end cash of $231.3 million, a QoQ increase of $50.7 million from strong growth in free cash flow. Liquidity was $381.3 million and the Company achieved a positive net cash¹ position of $58.8 million

Profitability

• Attributable net income of $11.3 million or $0.04 per share in Q4 after non-cash charges of $26.3 million; attributable net income of $128.7 million or $0.42 per share in 2024
• Attributable adjusted net income¹ of $37.0 million or $0.12 per share in Q4 including unrealized foreign exchange loss and higher effective tax rate from Euro devaluation of $0.05 per share; $144.0 million, or $0.47 per share in 2024

Return to Shareholders

• Returned $30.6 million to shareholders in Q4 through the repurchase of 6.4 million shares and an additional $1.8 million for 0.4 million shares in January 2025

Operational

• Gold equivalent production of 116,358 ounces³ in Q4; record gold equivalent production of 455,958 ounces ³ in 2024, meeting the low end of annual guidance
• Consolidated cash cost per gold equivalent ounce ("GEO¹")of $1,015 in Q4; $987 in 2024, within annual guidance
• Consolidated AISC per GEO¹ of $1,772 for Q4; $1,640 in 2024, within annual guidance
• Strong safety performance in 2024 with a TRIFR of 1.36, and a LTIFR of 0.48 achieving the same level of top industry standard as in 2023

Growth and Development

• $49.0 million invested in mineral exploration and project development in 2024 and a budget of $51.0 million for 2025.  Some of the high-value targets include Kingfisher and Sunbird deep deposits at the Séguéla mine, the Tongon North prospect in northern Cote d´Ivoire, and the Diamba Sud project in Senegal.
• The flagship Séguéla mine delivered 137,781 ounces at an AISC of $1,153 per ounce in 2024, in its first full year of gold production. Two-year gold production guidance for 2025 and 2026 has been provided for Séguéla, with incremental production planned to reach 160,000 to 180,000 ounces in 2026 at an AISC in the range of $1,260 to $1,390 per ounce.

Jorge A. Ganoza, President and CEO, commented, "Q4 was a record quarter of free cash-flow at $95.6 million. Quarter over quarter, we realized 7% higher gold prices and 10% higher revenue, while keeping cash cost per ounce flat, leading to expanded operating cash flow margin from 33% to 50%. With the growth in cash flow over the year and a sound balance sheet we returned $30.6 million to shareholders via share buybacks in Q4.” Mr. Ganoza continued "Cost and capital optimization initiatives across the portfolio remains top of mind for management with various opportunities successfully implemented in 2024 and continuing into 2025. The sale of the non-core asset San Jose mine will remove our highest cost ounces and refocuses capital and management´s attention to high-value opportunities in the portfolio. Additionally, the successful optimization of the Séguéla mine is enabling us to plan for increased rates of annual gold production of 160,000 to 180,000 ounces at industry leading costs by 2026, unlocking significant value.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Consolidated Results

Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

Q4 2024 vs Q3 2024

Cash cost per ounce and AISC

Cash cost per ounce of gold equivalent ("GEO”) sold was $1,015 in Q4 2024, an improvement of 4% compared to $1,059 over the prior quarter.  All-in sustaining costs per GEO was $1,772 in Q4 compared to $1,668 in Q3 2024 due mainly to higher capex in mine development and infrastructure in the quarter related to the expansion of life of mine at Yaramoko and the planned expansion of annual gold production at Séguéla to 160,000 - 180,000 oz by 2026, and timing of capital expenditures.

Attributable Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Attributable net income for the period was $11.3 million compared to an attributable net income of $50.5 million in Q3 2024. The fourth quarter of 2024 was impacted by non-cash charges of $26.3 million as follows.

• A write-down of $14.5 million related to the Boussoura mineral property in Burkina Faso. The majority of the write-down corresponds to the purchase price assigned to Boussoura as part of the Roxgold acquisition and reflects the Company's view as to Boussoura's exploration prospects.
• A $7.2 million mine closure provision associated with the scheduled closure of the San Jose Mine. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company entered into a binding letter of intent to divest of the San Jose mine. The associated closure provision is expected to unwind upon completion of the sale.
• A write-down of low-grade ore stockpiles of $4.6 million at the Lindero Mine.

After adjusting for impairment charges and other non-recurring items, adjusted attributable net income was $37.0 million or $0.12 per share compared to $49.9 million or $0.16 per share in Q3 2024. The decrease was explained by a foreign exchange ("FX”) loss of $10.4 million in Q4 2024 compared to a gain of $3.4 million in Q3 2024, and by a higher effective tax rate ("ETR”) representing approximately $16 million of additional income tax provision over the prior quarter. The main cause of the FX loss and the higher ETR in Q4 was the 8% devaluation of the Euro versus the USD which had an estimated combined impact on earnings per share of 5 cents. This was partially offset by higher sales of $27.3 million, related to a higher realized gold price quarter over quarter and 4% higher gold sold. Realized gold price in Q4 2024 was $2,662 per ounce compared to $2,490 in Q3 2024.

Other items impacting the quarter compared to Q3 2024 were higher Corporate G&A expenditures of $4.4 million related to timing of expenses.

Cash flow

Net cash generated by operations before working capital adjustments was $141.6 million or $0.46 per share. After adjusting for working capital changes, net cash generated by operations for the quarter was $150.3 million compared to $92.9 million in Q3 2024. The increase of $57.4 million reflects higher sales and positive change in working capital in Q4 2024 of $8.6 million compared to negative $26.4 million in Q3 2024, and lower-income tax paid of $7.1 million.

Free cash flow from ongoing operations in Q4 2024 increased $39 million over Q3 2024 to $95.6 million. The increase was due to higher cash generated by operations partially offset by higher capital expenditures of $15.9 million. Free cash flow in Q4 2024, after growth capex of $12.0 million, was $83.6 million.

Q4 2024 vs Q4 2023

Cash cost per ounce and AISC

Consolidated cash cost per equivalent gold ounce was $1,015, compared to the $840 reported in Q4 2023. The increase in cash cost was driven mainly by higher cash cost at Séguéla, and the San Jose Mine operating in its last year of Mineral Reserves. The increase in cash cost at Séguéla is explained mainly by lower head grades in 2024, as per the mine plan, and lower stripping and mining costs during Séguéla's first semester of operations in 2023. Cash cost also increased at Lindero due to lower production and the impact of the appreciation of the Argentine peso.

All-in sustaining costs per gold equivalent ounce was $1,772 in Q4 2024 compared to $1,416 in Q4 2023. AISC in the quarter includes the $1.4 million annual investment gain (Q4 2023: $12.4 million) from cross border, Argentine pesos denominated bond trades. This is a benefit granted to exporters by the Argentine Government whereby 20% of export proceeds is allowed to be converted into pesos at a preferential exchange rate. This benefit is intended to alleviate exporters for the impact of the overvaluation of the official exchange rate on input costs. The increase in AISC was primarily the result of higher cash cost per ounce as described above and higher sustaining capital at Lindero related to the expansion of the leach-pad. The composition of AISC was revised in Q4 2024 and the comparative periods were updated to reflect the change. Refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures - All-in Sustaining Cost Per Gold Equivalent Ounce Sold” on page 27 in the 2024 MD&A for a description of the calculation and the reason for the change.

Attributable Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Attributable net income for the period was $11.3 million compared to an attributable net loss of $92.3 million in Q4 2023. The fourth quarter of 2024 was impacted by non-cash charges of $26.3 million compared to $118.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

After adjusting for write-downs and other non-recurring items, adjusted attributable net income was $37.0 million or $0.12 per share compared to $20.6 million or $0.07 per share in Q4 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher gold prices. The realized gold price was $2,662 per ounce in Q4 2024 compared to $1,990 per ounce in Q4 2023. This was partially offset by lower gold sales volume and higher cost per ounce. Lower gold sales volume was mainly due to lower production at Séguéla, San Jose, and Lindero.  The decrease in production at Séguéla and Lindero was due to lower head grades, in accordance with the mine plan, partially offset by higher processed ore. The higher cost per ounce was explained mainly by the lower head grades at Séguéla and Lindero, lower stripping and mining costs during Séguéla´s second quarter of operations in Q4 2023, and the impact of the appreciation of the Argentine peso at Lindero.

Other items impacting the adjusted net income for the quarter compared to Q4 2023 were a higher unrealized foreign exchange loss of $8.5 million mostly explained by an 8% devaluation of the Euro versus the USD in the period, and lower investment income of $11.0 million related to cross-border, Argentine peso denominated bond trades.

Depreciation and Depletion

Depreciation and depletion decreased $9.0 million to $62.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $71.6 million in the comparable period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower accounting balances at San Jose after a $90.6 million impairment at year end 2023. Depreciation and depletion in the period include $18.2 million related to the purchase price allocation from the Roxgold acquisition at Séguéla. 

Cash Flow

Net cash generated by operations for the quarter was $150.3 million compared to $105.1 million in Q4 2023. The increase of $45.2 million reflects higher sales and positive change in working capital in Q4 2024 of $8.7 million compared to nil in Q4 2023, and lower interest paid of $3.2 million.

Free cash flow from ongoing operations for the quarter was $95.6 million compared to $66.2 million in Q4 2023. The increase reflects higher net cash generated by operations.

Full Year 2024 Results

Cash cost per ounce and AISC 

Cash cost per equivalent gold ounce was $987, compared to $874 reported in 2023. The increase in cash cost is explained mainly by lower head grades at Séguéla in 2024, and lower stripping and mining costs during Séguéla's first semester of operations in the second half of 2023, as well as higher cost at San Jose as explained earlier. Cash cost for the full year also increased at Lindero due to lower production and the impact of the appreciation of the Argentine peso.

All-in sustaining costs per gold equivalent ounce was $1,640 in 2024 compared to the $1,480⁴ recorded in the prior year due mainly to higher cash cost per ounce as described above and higher capex mostly at Lindero. AISC for 2024 includes the $9.7 million annual investment gain (FY 2023: $12.4 million) from cross border, Argentine peso denominated bond trades. (See discussion above).

Attributable Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Attributable net income for the year was $128.7 million, compared to an attributable net loss of $50.8 million in 2023.  The loss in 2023 was explained by impairment charges of $90.6 million at the San Jose Mine.

After adjusting for write-downs and other non-recurring items, attributable adjusted net income for 2024 was $144.0 million or $0.47 per share, compared to $64.9 million or $0.22 per share in 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher gold prices and higher gold sales volume. The realized gold price was $2,401 per ounce in 2024 compared to $1,948 per ounce in 2023. Higher gold sales volume was mainly due to the full year contribution of Séguéla upon successful commissioning and ramp-up in Q2 2023, partially offset by lower production at Lindero, aligned with the grade profile in the mine plan, and lower head grades and processed ore at San Jose, in its last year of mineral reserves. 

Depreciation and Depletion

Depreciation and depletion for 2024 increased $10.3 million to $230.0 million compared to $219.6 million in 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in ounces sold at Séguéla and partially offset by lower depletion expenses at San Jose. Depreciation and depletion in the period include $71.6 million related to the purchase price allocation from the Roxgold acquisition at Séguéla. 

Cash Flow

Net cash generated by operations before working capital changes was $438.2 million or $1.42 per share. After adjusting for working capital changes, net cash generated by operations for 2024 was $365.7 million compared to $296.9 million in 2023. The increase of $68.8 million is explained by higher sales partially offset by negative changes in working capital of $72.5 million in 2024 from an increase in receivables of $46.4 million due to timing and delays in repayments of VAT in Burkina Faso and an increase in inventories of $24.5 million related to an increase in ore stockpiles at Lindero and Séguéla. This compares to a negative working capital adjustment of $9.7 million in 2023. Higher taxes paid of $17.7 million was due to Séguéla paying income taxes for the first time in 2024 after initiating commercial production in the second half of 2023. 

Free cash flow from ongoing operations for 2024 was $202.9 million compared to $153.5 million in 2023. The increase of $49.4 million reflects higher net cash generated by operations, partially offset by higher sustaining capital expenditures of $14.6 million. Free cash flow in 2024, after growth capex of $44.3 million and the Séguéla NSR repurchase of $6.5 million, was $150.5 million.

Séguéla Mine, Côte d'Ivoire