Top Nickel Stocks of 2017 on the TSXV, TSX and ASX

As the year comes to a close, we look back at nickel’s journey through the charts. Overall the metal has had its share of peaks and troughs, ranging between US$9,000 and US$13,000 per tonne.

This year, nickel prices and nickel stocks have been greatly affected by countries in Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia and China.

Talk of increased demand for nickel from the electric vehicle sector also bumped the base metal around — by November, nickel had hit a two-year high of $13,030, but as of mid-December it had returned down to US$11,085. Overall experts have a positive outlook for 2018. 

Amid that yo-yoing, a number of nickel stocks saw their share prices rise this year. The list below shows the five nickel-focused companies that have seen the biggest share price gains year-to-date; all are listed on either the TSXV, TSX or ASX and had market caps above $10 million as of December 13, 2017. If we missed a company you think should be included, please let us know in the comments.

1. Garibaldi Resources (TSXV:GGI)

Current price: $3.07; year-to-date gain: 2,174.07percent

At the top of this nickel stocks list is Garibaldi Resources. The company is “aggressively advancing” its E&L project at Nickel Mountain in BC. In the summer of 2016, it confirmed E&L as the first magmatic nickel- and copper-rich massive sulfide system in the Eskay Mining Camp.

Garibaldi Resources has released a slew of news in 2017. It announced a new large surface discovery at E&L in July prior to the start of drilling, and then began drilling at the project in August. On September 1, the company said that in the first hole completed it intersected two long intervals of nickel-copper sulfide mineralization totaling 176 meters and consisting of pyrrhotite-pentlandite-chalcopyrite; it began drilling a second hole immediately. Since then, Garibaldi has continued to release further drill results from E&L. 

2. GME Resources (ASX:GME)

Current price: $0.135 ; year-to-date gain: 400 percent

GME Resources is based in Western Australia, where it is developing the NiWest nickel-cobalt project. The company announced in September of this year that it plans to have a prefeasibility study for the project finished by March 2018.

The firm is in the final stages of a metallurgical test program aimed at producing nickel and cobalt sulfate products from NiWest to supply the lithium-ion battery market. In October, it successfully completed the final step of pilot plant metallurgical testwork, and was able to produce high-purity nickel sulfate, nickel carbonate and nickel cathode. In November of this year, GME said that Zeta Resources (ASX:ZER) would be increasing it stake in GME from 10 percent to 44 percent due to its acquisition of investment holding company Axelrock.

3. Sama Resources (TSXV:SME)

Current price:$0.30; year-to-date gain: 275 percent

The third top nickel stock of 2017 is Sama Resources. Sama is focused on its Samapleu nickel-copper project in West Africa. The company also holds a 40.3-percent stake in SRG Graphite (TSXV:SRG), which holds the Lola graphite project in West Africa. 

Like the other companies on this list, Sama has been active this year. In June, it formed a strategic partnership with CVMR to produce nickel and iron powders from Samapleu. In August, the company said that tests by CVMR on Samapleu mineralized materials had generated recovery rates of 92 percent nickel and 85 percent iron. CVMR will conduct additional metallurgical testing with the aim of improving recoveries. According to Sama, the metal powders produced “currently hold a substantial premium above the current LME prices,” and provide the company with a market advantage.

During Q3, Sama announced entered into a strategic partnership with HPX TechCo, a private mineral exploration company that boasts mining magnate Robert Friedland as a shareholder. The deal is aimed at developing the Cote D’Ivoire nickel-copper and cobalt property in West Africa, which includes Samapleu. In November, Sama began a 3,000-line/kilometer survey at the asset.

4. Clean TeQ Holdings (ASX:CLQ,TSX:CLQ)

Current price: $1.29; year-to-date gain: 153.92 percent

Clean TeQ Holdings’ Sunrise nickel-cobalt–scandium project is located in New South Wales, Australia. CleanTeQ, another company backed by Friedland, says the project is one of the largest and highest-grade nickel-cobalt deposits outside Africa, and plans to release a definitive feasibility study for the asset in Q1 2018. The study will look at the economics of a large-scale project producing battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulfates.

In October, Clean TeQ released an updated resource estimate for Sunrise, saying that contained cobalt metal now stands at 132,000 tonnes while contained scandium metal comes in at 19,222 tonnes; those are increases of 16 and 63 percent, respectively. The company applied for a listing on the TSX at the beginning of November, and on December 14 Clean TeQ officially began trading on the TSX.

5. Wallbridge Mining Company (TSX:WM)

Current price:$0.095; year-to-date gain: 72.73 percent

The last company on our top nickel stocks list is Wallbridge Mining Company, which is focused on nickel, copper, gold and platinum assets. Wallbridge has projects in both Ontario and Quebec, as well as a 15.5-percent stake in Carube Copper (TSXV:CUC), whose focus is on Jamaica.

In 2017, Wallbridge’s main focus has been its Fenelon gold project in Quebec, where it completed a prefeasibility study early this year. It has continued to drill at the project throughout the year. In addition to Fenelon, Wallbridge has done some work at its Parkin nickel-copper-PGMs properties in Ontario — it provided initial 2017 drill results from the properties in March and released a further update in June.

What were your top nickel stocks this year? And what did you think of nickel prices? We want to hear your thoughts — let us know in the comments section below.

The data for this article was retrieved on December 13, 2017 using The Globe and Mail’s market data filter. Only TSXV-, TSX- and ASX-listed nickel companies with market capitalizations greater than $10 million are included.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!

Securities Disclosure: I, Amanda Kay, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Editorial Disclosure: Wallbridge Mining is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.

This article is updated periodically. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information.

3 Top Nickel Stocks Up in 2017

By Melissa Shaw, October 12, 2017

Nickel was trading above $11,000 per tonne at the beginning of March, beating all other major base metals on the LME. Prices have risen a little since then, closing at $11,061 on Wednesday (October 11). 

Over the course of the year, the nickel space has been rocked by the ever-changing political climate in the Philippines and Indonesia, two major nickel-producing countries. Analysts have different opinions on what could come next — Wood Mackenzie estimates that prices will remain low in 2017 and 2018, averaging $9,890, while Bahana Securities believes nickel will rise to $12,500 in 2017.

Despite those challenges, a number of nickel stocks have seen share price rises this year. The list below shows the five nickel-focused companies that have seen the biggest share price gains year-to-date; all are listed on either the TSXV, TSX or ASX and had market caps above $15 million as of October 12, 2017. If we missed a company you think should be included, please let us know in the comments.

1. Garibaldi Resources (TSXV:GGI)

Market cap: C$199.31 million; year-to-date gain: 1,537.04 percent

Garibaldi Resources is “aggressively advancing” its E&L project at Nickel Mountain in BC. The company conducted an exploration program in the summer of 2016 that confirmed E&L as the first magmatic nickel- and copper-rich massive sulfide system in the Eskay Mining Camp.

The firm began a field program at the project in June and followed up with a drilling program. On September 1, the company said that in the first hole it intersected two long intervals of nickel-copper sulfide mineralization totaling 176 meters and consisting of pyrrhotite-pentlandite-chalcopyrite; it began drilling a second hole immediately. Garibaldi also recently closed a $6-million private placement.

2. GME Resources (ASX:GME)

Market cap: AU$46.36 million; year-to-date gain: 270.37 percent

GME Resources is based in Western Australia, where it is developing the NiWest nickel laterite project. The company announced on September 5 that it plans to have a prefeasibility study for the project finished by March 2018.

The firm also said at the time that it has completed the first phase of a pilot program geared at producing nickel and cobalt sulfate products from NiWest to supply the lithium-ion battery market. The company said it is on track to produce battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulfates in the current quarter from pilot-scale testwork using its NiWest DSX flowsheet. It expects successful production of those products to facilitate discussions with potential consumers and offtake partners.

3. Sama Resources (TSXV:SME)

Market cap: C$31.5 million; year-to-date gain: 187.5 percent
Sama Resources is focused on its Samapleu nickel-copper-palladium project in West Africa. The firm has proposed an open-pit operation at the site and has scheduled a drill program for Q4 2017 to test targets.
In June, the company formed a strategic partnership with CVMR to produce nickel and iron powders from Samapleu. In August, the company said recent tests by CVMR on Samapleu mineralized materials generated recovery rates of 92 percent nickel and 85 percent iron. CVMR will conduct additional metallurgical testing with the aim of improving recoveries. Sama said the metal powders produced “currently hold a substantial premium above the current LME prices” and provide the company with a market advantage.

4. Clean TeQ Holdings (ASX:CLQ)

Market cap: AU$740.07 million; year-to-date gain: 150.98 percent

Clean TeQ Holdings’ Syerston cobalt-nickel-scandium project is located in New South Wales, Australia. The company released an updated mineral resource estimate on October 9, highlighting a 30-percent increase in cobalt grades compared to a 2016 prefeasibility study.

In its 2017 annual report, the company notes that Syerston is “development ready,” with all key approvals secured, including an environmental impact statement, water allocation and development consent. Clean TeQ also said Syerston will be the first mine developed to exclusively produce high-purity cobalt and nickel sulfate to supply the lithium-ion battery market.
The next step is the completion of a definitive feasibility study for Syerston, but Clean TeQ said it has been delayed in order to take the new resource estimate into account. The study is expected to be ready in 2018 instead of Q4 2017 as originally scheduled.

5. Metals X (ASX:MLX)

Market cap: AU$501.38 million; year-to-date gain: 46.43 percent

Metals X is based in Perth and is focused on developing projects in Australia. The company owns the “world-class” Wingellina nickel-cobalt project in the Central Musgrave Ranges. According to the company, the deposit also contains “a significant inventory” of scandium and iron. The company’s Claude Hill nickel-cobalt-iron prospect lies 25 kilometers from Wingellina.

In its Q2 2017 report, Metals X states that it has been collaborating with POSCO (NYSE:PKX) regarding the possibility of applying the company’s proprietary nickel extraction process (PosNEP) to Wingellina. The firm said 2014 trials at POSCO’s PosNEP pilot plant in Korea were successful, and discussions are ongoing as to the possible commercialization of the PosNEP process and the Wingellina project.

The data for this article was retrieved on October 12, 2017. Only TSXV-, TSX- and ASX-listed nickel companies with market capitalizations greater than $15 million are included. 

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Shaw, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This article is updated periodically. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information.

3 Top Nickel Stocks Up in 2017

By Melissa Shaw, May 16, 2017

Nickel was trading above $11,000 per tonne at the beginning of March, beating all other major base metals on the LME.

Prices have fallen substantially since then — in fact, at the beginning of May, nickel was changing hands at $9,510, down 4 percent year-to-date. Along with tin, it was one of the year’s worst-performing commodities.

The metal’s shifting price is the result of a number of challenges in the nickel space. The main one, of course, is the ever-changing political climate in the Philippines and Indonesia, two major nickel-producing countries. Analysts have different opinions on what could come next. Wood Mackenzie estimates that prices will remain low in 2017 and 2018, averaging $9,890 a tonne; meanwhile, Bahana Securities believes nickel will rise to $12,500 in 2017.

Despite challenges, there are at least a few top nickel stocks worth highlighting. The three nickel-focused companies below have all seen share price gains since the beginning of the year. All are listed on either the TSX or TSXV and had market caps above $15 million as of May 16, 2017.

1.Talon Metals (TSX:TLO)

Market cap: $23.67 million; year-to-date gain: 53.85 percent

Talon Metals is first on this list of top nickel stocks. The company has an 18.45-percent interest in the Tamarack nickel-copper-PGMs project in Minnesota. Kennecott Exploration Company, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,LSE:RIO,NYSE:RIO), has a majority stake in the project. Tamarack is currently in the exploration phase, and Talon released the latest drill results from the project on May 2. 

2. Asian Mineral Resources (TSXV:ASN)

Market cap: $23.67 million; year-to-date gain: 50 percent

Asian Mineral Resources has 90-percent ownership of the Ban Phuc nickel sulfide mine and processing plant in Vietnam. The mine produces 6,400 tonnes of nickel, 3,200 tonnes of copper and 200 tonnes of cobalt annually. The company is the first mainstream nickel producer in Vietnam, and it plans to expand operations at Ban Phuc; it has identified 12 exploration targets there so far. The Vietnamese government has offered the company reduced export tariffs and other incentives to develop a matte smelter.

3.First Point Minerals (TSX:FPX)

Market cap: $16.29 million; year-to-date gain: 35.29 percent

In third place on this list of top nickel stocks is First Point Minerals. The company’s flagship Decar project is located in Central BC. It is targeting a particular type of naturally occurring metallic nickel-iron alloy called awaruite. Most recently, the company received financing for a drill program at Decar. The company has also made discoveries at two sites in Northern BC and one in the Yukon.

Other top nickel stocks

The three TSX- and TSXV-listed companies discussed above are focused primarily on nickel, but many other companies have projects where nickel is a smaller component. Here are two such companies that have seen impressive share price gains since the start of the year. Like the stocks above, both are listed on either the TSX or TSXV and had market caps over $15 million as of May 16, 2017.

• Sama Resources (TSXV:SME) — Sama Resources’ share price has gained 162.5 percent year-to-date and it has a market cap of $31.79 million. The company has two exploration-stage projects in Africa: the Lola graphite project located in Guinea, and the Ivory Coast-based Samapleu nickel-copper-palladium project.

• Wallbridge Mining (TSX:WM) — Wallbridge Mining’s market cap is $22.77 million, and its share price has risen 81.82 percent year-to-date. The company is exploring for copper, nickel and PGMs in Ontario, and plans to reach a production decision regarding its Fenelon gold project in Quebec this year. Wallbridge also has a 13-percent stake in Carube Copper (TSXV:CUC).

Did we miss a TSX- or TSXV-listed nickel company whose share price was up year-to-date as of May 16, 2017? Please let us know in the comments!

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Shaw, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article. 

Editorial Disclosure: Carube Copper and Wallbridge Mining are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.