5 Top TSXV Resource Stocks of 2015

2015, as most companies in the resource space will attest, has been terrible. Gold prices have been on a steady downward trend, and base metals prices have been battered by China’s economic troubles. Luckily, it’s time now to say goodbye to 2015 and welcome what will hopefully be a more prosperous 2016.
To start 2016 off on the right foot, here is a look at five companies that beat the odds and performed well in 2015. On this list, investors will find Northquest (TSXV:NQ), Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE), Arena Minerals (TSXV:AN), Nemaska Lithium (TSXV:NMX) and Goldstrike Resources (TSXV:GSR)

1. Northquest

Canadian mineral exploration and development company Northquest is focused on advancing its Pistol Bay gold project in Nunavut. Though the company’s share price floated below the $0.10 mark for most of 2015, things picked up following a drilling update. In late October, Northquest released results from a drill program, pointing in particular to hole PB-15-04, which intersected 24 meters grading 2.95 g/t gold.
Since that news, the company has gained steadily, and was able to cap off 2015 at $0.23. Year-to-date (YTD), Northquest has posted a 213.33-percent gain.

2. Pure Energy Minerals

It’s been a good year for lithium companies and investors alike. With many companies riding Tesla Motors’ (NASDAQ:TSLA) coattails and benefiting from rising lithium prices, it’s been one of the more exciting markets to watch. Reaping some of those rewards in 2015 was Nevada-focused Pure Energy. Like Northquest, things picked up for Pure Energy in the latter half of 2015, particularly after the company announced a lithium supply agreement with Tesla.
Pure Energy is capping off 2015 on a positive note, trading at $0.56. The company has seen a YTD gain of 171.43 percent.

3. Arena Minerals

When it comes to resource companies, it seems like the prospector generator model has time and again proven successful. Arena Minerals is a Canadian prospect generator with a portfolio of properties in Chile’s premier copper and gold districts. Overall, Arena Minerals has had a steady year. Notably, in November the company confirmed the presence of a large epithermal system at the Atacama copper project, a joint venture with B2Gold (TSX:BTO,NYSE:BTG); investors can look forward to a follow-up program in 2016.
Arena Minerals is ending the year at $0.28, a new 20-day high. The company has posted a YTD gain of 170 percent.

4. Nemaska Lithium

With hopes of becoming a lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide supplier to the lithium battery market, Nemaska Lithium has made significant headway at its Whabouchi project in Quebec. Apart from receiving both the federal and provincial approvals for Whabouchi, investors were excited in 2015 by a memorandum of understanding between Nemaska and Johnson Matthey (LSE:JMAT).
Nemaska ended 2015 at $0.44, up from $0.16 on December 31, 2014. YTD, Nemaska Lithium has gained an impressive 154.55 percent.

5. Goldstrike Resources

Rounding off the list is Goldstrike Resources. Goldstrike’s performance was fairly steady throughout the year, with its share price moving in a range of $0.095 to $0.21. Considering the performance of the gold price, this gold exploration company has done well in a weak market. The company is focused on gold exploration in the Yukon.
Goldstrike is ending the year at $0.14. Despite being below its highest price in 2015, the company has posted a YTD gain of 141.67 percent.
 
The data for this article was retrieved after market close on December 31, 2015 using The Globe and Mail’s market data filter. Only companies with a market capitalization greater than $10 million and a share price above $0.10 were included. Companies within the mining and precious metals sectors were considered.
Securities Disclosure: I, Vivien Diniz, hold no direct investment interest in any of the companies mentioned in this article. 
Editorial Disclosure: Nemaska Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.