How Can Gold Companies Create Value for Shareholders?

We are now seeing a number of emerging developers become successful producers. Gold companies can create value for shareholders in some different ways. One of the most direct is to grow organically by discovering a piece of real estate in some remote part of the world that can be turned into a gold mine. And then build the mine.

Alternatively, they can grow by acquisition. Historically most large producers have grown through acquisitions. However acquisitions can be costly, because they usually come at a premium. Thus far in the current cycle, producers are using a different approach by taking equity stakes in early stage, pre-resource companies that they believe will develop winning properties.

As we expect production among the majors to stagnate or decline in coming years, these emerging companies are helping to revitalize the sector. If the major's current growth strategy does not pay off, these young companies could become the acquisition targets of the future.

About the Author:

Joe Foster has been Portfolio Manager for the VanEck International Investors Gold Fund since 1998 and the VanEck – Global Gold UCITS Fund since 2012. Mr. Foster, an acknowledged authority on gold, has over 10 years of dedicated experience in geology and mining including as a gold geologist in Nevada. He has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and on Reuters, CNBC and Bloomberg TV. Mr. Foster has also published articles in a number of mining journals, including Mining Engineering and Geological Society of Nevada.

The article above is an opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of MV Index Solutions or its affiliates.