Uranium Week: Nuclear Eyeing Fresh Records

This story features PALADIN ENERGY LIMITED, and other companies. For more info SHARE ANALYSIS: PDN

The U308 spot market takes a breather for summer, while US utilities and states look to restart nuclear facilities, and Paladin and Boss Energy report quarterly updates.

-Higher costs take the shine off Aussie producers
-U308 trading floats in a band
-IEA forecasts robust demand for energy

By Danielle Ecuyer

Even if summer holidays and the ongoing uncertainty around the Russian importation waivers have sapped activity levels from the U308 spot market, news on the uranium and nuclear front continues.

Quarter activity reports for Paladin and Boss Energy

Paladin Energy ((PDN)) was back in the spotlight last week post its 4Q FY24 report which revealed higher than expected operating costs, with Macquarie pointing towards to the one-off nature of the Langer Heinrich restart.

Citi noted U308 production of 517,597lbs up to June 30 which was above its own forecast and also better than Morgan Stanley’s estimate at 0.48mlbs.

FNArena’s daily monitored brokers all highlighted the July 12 first customer shipment of 0.32mlbs of uranium with some 0.7mlbs expected to be shipped in the September quarter.

Bell Potter pointed to management guiding to stronger production in the 2H25 of between 4.0-4.5mlbs.

Canaccord Genuity viewed the results as coming in below its forecasts, although production guidance exceeded the definitive feasibility study.

The average share price target for the FNArena daily monitored brokers is $16.288 with three Buy and one Overweight rating (effectively 4x Buys).

Boss Energy ((BOE)) also announced its 4Q FY24 activities report, with U308 production of 57,364lbs, including 28,844lbs from its Honeymoon project.

Macquarie observed lower-than-expected cash balances which the broker surmised was a result of higher than previously anticipated capex at Honeymoon.

Morgan Stanley also emphasised the lower-than-forecast cash balance of $67.12m which it also attributed to higher mine development costs.

Looking at the FNArena daily monitored brokers, the average target price for Boss Energy stands at $5.013 with one Buy rating, one Outperform rating and one Equal-weight rating.

Boss was also commented on in media reports it had been in discussions with Energy Resources Australia ((ERA)) regarding Jabiluka.

The company confirmed recent negotiations including a highly conditional offer to acquire the Jabiluka uranium site in the Northern Territory. Post the Federal Government’s announcement late last week to end the mineral lease on Jabiluka, Boss has since withdrawn its conditional offer and discussions have ended.

Shaw and Partners highlighted post Bannerman Energy’s ((BMN)) 4Q FY24 activities report this company’s expected final investment decision around the Etango-8 uranium project is due by the end of the current calendar year.

Northern Hemisphere updates

The U308 spot market concluded last week with one single transaction and was described by industry consultant TradeTech as “extremely quiet”.

With a lack of buying interest, sellers were persuaded to lower the price for U308 to US$82lb, representing a -US$2lb decline on the week.

The Mid-Term U308 price stands at US$93lb and the Long-Term price indicator at US$80lb with TradeTech stating the uranium spot price has reflected increased stability recently and is “floating in a band” between US$82 and US$86 from the start of June. Transactions volumes remain thin.

In an annual context the Weekly U308 spot price indicator is down -11% this year but remains around 46% above its level from 12-months ago.

In other news, TradeTech highlighted the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Electricity Mid-Year Update, which stated growth in demand for electricity is forecast to be one of the highest in the past two decades for FY24 and FY25.

Solar energy is expected to contribute one-half of the forecast increase. Nuclear generation is estimated to achieve a new high in 2025 the report stated, which would exceed the previous 2021 record, based on 1.6% global growth in 2024 and 3.5% growth in 2025.

The increase in supply is predicated on higher output from French nuclear plants as maintenance works are completed; Japan restarting reactors, and new reactors coming on stream in China, India, South Korea, and Europe.

The IEA report points to resilient to “robust” economic growth, increasing heat waves and higher demand for energy from EVs and heat pumps, as well as the growth of Gen.Ai and the corresponding electricity demand from data centres.

In US news, NextEra Energy is reported by TradeTech as considering the restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa which stopped operations in 2020, post a 45-year period of service.

At the 2Q24 earnings call, management highlighted an extensive review of the risks was required to see if restarting the reactor is possible.

Michigan state has contributed a further US$150m for the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant which would lift local investment to US$300m and have Palisades back online and generating power within 12-months.

Uranium companies listed on the ASX:

ASX CODE	DATE	LAST PRICE	WEEKLY % MOVE	52WK HIGH	52WK LOW	P/E	CONSENSUS TARGET	UPSIDE/DOWNSIDE
1AE	26/07/2024	0.0600	0.00%	$0.19	$0.06
AGE	26/07/2024	0.0500	0.00%	$0.08	$0.03
BKY	26/07/2024	0.3400	1.45%	$0.46	$0.26
BMN	26/07/2024	2.8500	– 4.20%	$4.87	$1.56		$7.400	159.6%
BOE	26/07/2024	3.5600	– 2.94%	$6.12	$2.86	37.6	$5.013	40.8%
DYL	26/07/2024	1.2400	– 3.21%	$1.83	$0.67	-90.0	$1.770	42.7%
EL8	26/07/2024	0.3200	– 4.41%	$0.68	$0.30
ERA	26/07/2024	0.0400	-11.11%	$0.08	$0.03
LOT	26/07/2024	0.2600	-11.86%	$0.49	$0.20		$0.660	153.8%
NXG	26/07/2024	9.9600	– 2.45%	$13.66	$7.13		$17.500	75.7%
PDN	26/07/2024	11.2200	– 8.05%	$17.98	$7.25	-89.4	$16.287	45.2%
PEN	26/07/2024	0.1000	4.76%	$0.15	$0.08	33.3	$0.260	160.0%
SLX	26/07/2024	4.5600	– 7.89%	$6.74	$2.92		$7.600	66.7%

Find out why FNArena subscribers like the service so much: “Your Feedback (Thank You)” – Warning this story contains unashamedly positive feedback on the service provided.

FNArena is proud about its track record and past achievements: Ten Years On

Click to view our Glossary of Financial Terms