VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) released today its financial results for the Second Quarter ended June 30, 2019 from the Company’s four silver-gold mines in Mexico: the Guanaceví mine in Durango state, the Bolañitos and El Cubo mines in Guanajuato state and the El Compas mine in Zacatecas state.

The Company reports a net loss of $10.1 million in the Second Quarter, 2019 compared to $5.7 million loss in the Second Quarter, 2018, primarily due to lower revenue and higher unit costs of production. Revenue decreased 24% due to lower production and lower realized silver prices, partially offset by higher realized gold prices. Mine operating cash flow before taxes(1) decreased 82% to $2.6 million due to lower production, while cash flow from operations before working capital changes decreased to a $1.0 million loss. Cash costs rose 80% to $13.67 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits) and all-in sustaining costs increased 21% to $20.90 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits).

Bradford Cooke, Endeavour CEO, commented, “Our Second Quarter, 2019 financial performance reflects the continued operational challenges we experienced in the First Quarter, 2019. However, we initiated several changes in Q2 to turn around our operating performance and we are seeing progress at two mines. At Guanacevi, both grades and recoveries improved as production increased from the new Milache orebody. At El Compas, throughput, grades and recoveries improved as we delivered our first full quarter of commercial production. At Bolanitos, the operational changes continued into July so we are looking for progress in H2, 2019. At El Cubo, Q2 production was as planned.”

“Our net loss was lower in Q2, 2019 compared to Q1, 2019 but unit costs were higher due in part to the costs of implementing the operational changes, and various one-time expenses such as hiring costs, severance payments and new equipment purchase and lease payments. Management expects to see significant improvement in our operating and financial performance in H2 as the changes at each mine gain traction. Our goal is to generate free cash flow at current metal prices during the Second Half of 2019.”

Highlights of Second Quarter 2019 (Compared to Second Quarter 2018)

Financial
•Net loss increased to $10.1 million ($0.08 per share) compared to $5.7 million loss ($0.4 per share)
•Cash flow from operations before working capital changes decreased to a $1.0 million loss
•Mine operating cash flow before taxes(1) decreased 82% to $2.6 million
•Revenue decreased 24% to $29.4 million
•Realized silver price decreased 10% to $15.02 per ounce (oz) sold
•Realized gold price increased 7% to $1,366 per oz sold
•Cash costs(1) increased 80% to $13.67 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits)
•All-in sustaining costs(1) increased 21% to $20.90 per oz silver payable (net of gold credits)
•Working capital decreased 21% to $46.6 million compared to $54.5 million at year end
•Raised $7.6 million through the at-the-market offering

Operations
•Silver production decreased 22% to 1,059,322 oz
•Gold production decreased 30% to 9,558 oz
•Silver equivalent production was 1.8 million oz (80:1 silver: gold ratio)
•Silver oz sold decreased 13% to 1,100,065 oz
•Gold oz sold decreased 32% to 9,416 oz
•Bullion inventory at quarter-end included 68,559 oz silver and 247 oz gold
•Concentrate inventory at quarter-end included 49,562 oz silver and 1,656 oz gold
•Achieved commercial production at El Compas
•Reported positive drill results from Bolanitos and Guanacevi drill programs
•Received the final tailings permit for the Terronera project

(1) Mine operating cash flow, cash costs and all-in sustaining costs are non-IFRS measures. Please refer to the definitions in the Company’s Management Discussion & Analysis.

Financial Results

Revenue in the Second Quarter, 2019 totaled $29.4 million (2018 - $38.8 million) on sales of 1,100,065 silver ounces and 9,416 gold ounces at realized prices of $15.02 and $1,366 per ounce respectively, compared to sales of 1,258,617 silver ounces and 13,800 gold ounces at realized prices of $16.76 and $1,281 per ounce respectively in Q2, 2018.

After cost of sales of $35.5 million (2018 - $34.1 million), mine operating losses amounted to $6.1 million (2018 - $4.6 million) from mining and milling operations in Mexico. The 4% increase in cost of sales was primarily due included higher power costs as a result of increased power usage and higher electrical rates, mobilization costs for new contractors, the expensing of development expenditures due to the low reserve life at El Cubo and the first quarter of commercial production costs at the El Compas operation. Excluding depreciation and depletion of $7.1 million (2018 - $7.9 million), share-based payments expense of $0.1 million (2018 – recovery of $0.1 million) and an inventory write down of $1.5 million (2018 -$2.5 million) mine operating cash flow before taxes was $2.6 million (2018 – $14.9 million) in Q2, 2019. Net losses amounted to $10.1 million (2018 –$5.7 million) after exploration, general and administrative expenses and foreign exchange.

Direct production costs per tonne in Q2, 2019 increased 32% compared with Q2, 2018 due to reduced throughput. The higher production costs per tonne were driven mainly by lower mine output at the Bolañitos and El Cubo operations. Production costs also included higher power costs due to increased electrical rates, mobilization costs for new contractors and the expensing of development expenditures due to the low reserve life at El Cubo.

Consolidated cash costs per oz, net of by-product credits (a non-IFRS measure and a standard of the Silver Institute) increased primarily due to higher costs per tonne. All-in sustaining costs (also a non-IFRS measure), compared to Q2, 2018, increased 21% to $20.90 per oz in Q2, 2019. This increase in all?in sustaining costs was a result of higher operating costs, offset by lower exploration costs, reduced corporate general and administrative costs and lower capital expenditures at the operation in Q2, 2019 compared to Q2, 2018. Capital expenditures decreased due to reduced mine development at El Cubo.

The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.edrsilver.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. All amounts are reported in US$.

Revised 2019 Production and Cost Guidance

The Company anticipates the second half production to be higher than first half production and second half costs forecasted to be lower than first half costs. However, 2019 full year production is expected to be lower than the original 2019 guidance and 2019 costs are anticipated to be higher than originally estimated. The revised 2019 production guidance is as follows:

Mine Ag (M oz) Au (K oz) Ag Eq (M oz) Tonnes/Day (tpd)
Guanacevi 2.2-2.4 5.5-6.0 2.6-2.9 900-1,200
Bolanitos 0.7-0.9 15.0-17.0 1.9-2.3 1,000-1,200
El Cubo 1.2-1.3 12.0-13.0 2.2-2.3 700-750
El Compas 0.1-0.1 7.0-8.0 0.7-0.7 200-275
Total 4.2-4.7 39.5-44.0 7.4-8.2 2,800-3,425

With the revised production guidance, the Company estimates its consolidated cash cost will be $10-11 per oz silver for 2019 (implying $8-$9 per ounce in the second half of 2019) and the all-in sustaining cost is estimated to be $17-18 per oz silver (implying $15-16 per ounce in the second half of 2019), both net of the gold by-product credit using an estimated $1,275 gold price. Direct operating costs are estimated to be in the range of $90-$100 per tonne.

Conference Call

A conference call to discuss the results will be held today, Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 10:00am PT (1:00pm ET). To participate in the conference call, please dial the numbers below. No pass-code is necessary.

Toll-free in Canada and the US: 1-800-319-4610
Local Vancouver: 604-638-5340