CORRECTING and REPLACING Lithium Royalty Corp. Announces First Quarter 2025 Results
- LRC royalty revenue continues to outperform the broader lithium pricing cycle, with approximately flat revenue year-over-year despite a 17% decline in spodumene prices
-
Ganfeng Lithium inaugurates Mariana lithium project in
Salta, Argentina during the quarter; first cash flow from the project anticipated in late 2025 - Multiple near-term catalysts across the portfolio: Zijin expects to start production of Tres Quebradas in 3Q25 and Sigma estimates first production from Phase 2 expansion before year end 2025
-
Strong balance sheet with
$31.9 million of cash and no debt, enhancing LRC’s ability to pursue high-quality royalty opportunities at attractive valuations
(in thousands of
The updated release reads:
- LRC royalty revenue continues to outperform the broader lithium pricing cycle, with approximately flat revenue year-over-year despite a 17% decline in spodumene prices
-
Ganfeng Lithium inaugurates Mariana lithium project in
Salta, Argentina during the quarter; first cash flow from the project anticipated in late 2025 - Multiple near-term catalysts across the portfolio: Zijin expects to start production of Tres Quebradas in 3Q25 and Sigma estimates first production from Phase 2 expansion before year end 2025
-
Strong balance sheet with
$31.9 million of cash and no debt, enhancing LRC’s ability to pursue high-quality royalty opportunities at attractive valuations
(in thousands of
“LRC’s diversified business model, with assets continuing to enter production and ramp up to nameplate, is insulating us from low lithium prices. As the sector recalibrates, our royalty portfolio is continuing to mature, setting up the Company for the eventual lithium cycle recovery or benefitting from robust cash flows at current commodity prices as our existing projects ramp up and new projects come online in a regular cadence through the balance of the decade. The low-price environment for the sector has improved access to attractive acquisition opportunities and we are actively exploring opportunities for growth,” stated
LRC is reporting 63 Lithium Carbonate Equivalent Tonnes (LCEts) or 740 Spodumene Concentrate Equivalent Tonnes (SCEts) in the quarter1, compared to 61 LCEts or 787 SCEts in the prior quarter.
Financial Highlights
For the three months ended |
|||||||||||
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Variance |
% |
||||
Royalty revenue |
$ |
629 |
|
$ |
631 |
|
$ |
(2 |
) |
0 |
% |
Depletion |
|
(115 |
) |
|
(142 |
) |
|
27 |
|
19 |
% |
Gross profit |
$ |
514 |
|
$ |
489 |
|
$ |
25 |
|
5 |
% |
General and administrative expenses |
|
(1,921 |
) |
|
(1,636 |
) |
|
(285 |
) |
(17 |
%) |
Net loss for the period |
$ |
(870 |
) |
$ |
(1,045 |
) |
$ |
175 |
|
17 |
% |
Income tax recovery |
|
(253 |
) |
|
(163 |
) |
|
(90 |
) |
(55 |
%) |
Finance loss income |
|
- |
|
|
(62 |
) |
|
62 |
|
100 |
% |
Depletion |
|
115 |
|
|
142 |
|
|
(27 |
) |
(19 |
%) |
EBITDA |
$ |
(1,008 |
) |
$ |
(1,128 |
) |
$ |
120 |
|
(11 |
%) |
Foreign exchange (gain) / loss |
|
(15 |
) |
|
30 |
|
|
45 |
|
||
One-time share-based compensation |
|
83 |
|
|
436 |
|
|
(353 |
) |
||
Other non-recurring gains2 |
|
(159 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(317 |
) |
||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
(1,099 |
) |
$ |
(662 |
) |
$ |
(437 |
) |
|
Royalty revenue was
At
Portfolio Updates
Zijin Mining Tres Quebradas Royalty: On
Sigma Lithium Grota do
Delta Lithium Yinnetharra Royalty: On
Power Metals Case
Green Technology Metals Root
Winsome Resources
Core Lithium Finniss Royalty: During the quarter, Core Lithium reaffirmed that their restart study is progressing well and is on track for completion in the 2Q25. Metallurgical test work and studies are being completed with the aim of increasing future recoveries, yield and capacity of the dense media separation (DMS) plant. Work completed to date has explored opportunities to optimize the process flowsheet without the need to install a floatation circuit. Any future restart decision remains subject to the outcomes of the restart study, market conditions, and the approval by Core Lithium’s board for a final investment decision (“FID”). LRC holds a 2.5% GOR royalty on the Finniss project.
Sinova Global Horse Creek Royalty: During the quarter, Sinova Global closed an interim financing with their largest shareholder, Vision Blue Resources. The funding will allow Sinova to move forward with final pre-production improvements to the
Atlas Lithium
Sayona Mining Moblan Royalty: In April, Sayona released further results from its 2024 drill program at Moblan. The results included 28,500 meters of drilling, which both demonstrated new thick and high-grade intercepts outside the 2024 mineral resource estimate and strong continuity within the current pit shells. Assay results are pending for an additional 39,000 meters of drilling. In total, the 2024 program consisted of 76,000 meters of drilling, which builds upon the previous 130,000 meters of drilling that was the basis for the 2024 resource. Sayona commented these latest results, along with pending assays, will be incorporated into a future mineral resource update and updated reserve estimate, expected by
Lithium Market
Lithium end markets continued to show momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales and robust demand for energy storage systems (ESS). EV sales growth in the quarter was led by
In
European EV sales surged at the start of the year, underpinned by the launch of lower-cost models.
In the
Energy storage remains the fastest-growing segment of the lithium market, now accounting for approximately one-fifth of global lithium demand. Industry forecasts project ESS demand to grow by more than 50% in 2025, even after accounting for tariff-related headwinds. Tesla announced 10.4GWh of energy storage deployments in 1Q25, which grew 157% y/y and 5% quarter-on-quarter (q/q), demonstrating strong growth in their ESS segment. Analysts expect the ESS battery market to exceed 2TWh by 2030 – a nearly tenfold increase from 2024 levels.
Spodumene prices have stabilized between
Qualified Persons
The technical and scientific information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved in accordance with NI 43-101 by
Important Dates and Events
Date |
Event |
|
Canaccord Genuity 4th Annual |
|
LRC Annual General Meeting of Shareholders |
|
THE Mining Investment Event of the North |
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Information
The Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis are available on our website and SEDAR+.
Q1 2025 Conference Call Details
Date:
Time:
Local -
Local -
Toll Free -
Conference ID: 93494
Webcast:https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/583022471
About
LRC is a lithium-focused royalty company organized in
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, management’s expectations regarding LRC’s growth, results of operations, estimated future revenues, performance guidance, carrying value of assets and requirements for additional capital, mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, production estimates, production costs and revenue, future demand for and prices of commodities, expected mining sequences, business prospects and opportunities, the performance and plans of third party operators and the expected exposure for current and future assessments and available remedies. In addition, statements relating to resources and reserves and mine life are forward-looking statements, as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the estimates and assumptions are accurate and that such resources and reserves or mine life will be realized. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budgets”, “potential for”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “predicts”, “projects”, “intends”, “targets”, “aims”, “anticipates” or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of LRC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and LRC does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation: fluctuations in the prices of the primary commodities that drive royalty revenue (including various lithium products); fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian dollar and any other currency in which revenue is generated, relative to the
For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to LRC’s most recent Annual Information Form dated
Non-IFRS Measures
This earnings release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Accordingly, the non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the financial information reported under IFRS.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA is a common metric used by investors and analysts to assist in their valuation of the Company. EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure, which excludes the following from net earnings:
- income tax expense and recovery;
- finance costs, netted against finance income; and
- depletion, depreciation and amortization.
In addition to EBITDA, we have determined that the following adjustments are necessary to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA, which we believe is a more accurate indicator of the Company’s ongoing operational performance:
- impairment charges and reversals;
- gain/loss on sale/disposition of assets/mineral interests;
- foreign currency translation gains/losses;
- increase/decrease in fair value of financial assets;
- expenses related to one-time share-based compensation granted at IPO
- other non-recurring income and charges.
Management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are valuable indicators of our ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs and fund acquisitions. These metrics are also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes, whereby the metrics are multiplied by a factor or “multiple” that is based on an observed or inferred relationship between Adjusted EBITDA and market values to determine the approximate total enterprise value of a company. LRC believes these measures assist investors, analysts and our shareholders to better understand our ability to generate liquidity from operating cash flow, as LRC believes that the excluded amounts are not indicative of the performance of our core business and do not necessarily reflect the underlying operating results for the periods presented.
Three months ended |
||||||
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Net loss |
$ |
(870 |
) |
$ |
(1,045 |
) |
Income tax recovery |
|
(253 |
) |
|
(163 |
) |
Finance income |
|
- |
|
|
(62 |
) |
Depletion |
|
115 |
|
|
142 |
|
EBITDA |
$ |
(1,008 |
) |
$ |
(1,128 |
) |
Foreign exchange (gain) / loss |
|
(15 |
) |
|
30 |
|
One-time share-based compensation |
|
83 |
|
|
436 |
|
Other non-recurring gains3 |
|
(159 |
) |
|
- |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
(1,099 |
) |
$ |
(662 |
) |
3 |
Non-recurring gains include the gain on disposition of royalty interest and expenses incurred related to the substantial issuer bid. |
_________________________________________________ | ||
1 |
LRC calculates LCEts and SCEts by dividing royalty revenue for each quarter by the average spot market price during the quarter for the relevant commodity, delivered in |
|
2 |
Non-recurring gains include the gain on disposition of royalty interest of |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250430568611/en/
Contact Information for Inquiries:
Investor Relations
(647) 792-1100
jonida@lithiumroyaltycorp.com
Source: