Good morning. Welcome to Andean Precious Metals' first quarter 2025 results conference call. As a reminder, all participants are in a listen-only mode, and the conference is being recorded. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To join the question queue, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. Should you need assistance during the conference call, you may signal an operator by pressing star then zero. I would now like to turn the conference over to Dom Kizek, VP Finance. Please go ahead.
Thank you, Operator, and good morning, everyone. Fortunately, Amanda Mallough is off this morning due to an illness, and I'm filling in as host for this call. Before we get started, I would like to point out that during today's call, we may make forward-looking statements as defined under Canadian securities law. I ask that you view our slide presentation for cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements and risk factors pertaining to these statements. Our press release, MD&A, and financial statements are available both on SEDAR Plus and on our corporate website, AndeanPM.com. With us on today's webcast is Alberto Morales, Andean's Executive Chairman and CEO, Yohann Bouchard, Andean's President, and Juan Carlos Sandoval, our Chief Financial Officer. Following Amanda Mallough's formal remarks, we will then open the call to questions. Now, over to Alberto.
Thank you, Dom, and welcome, everyone. I am pleased to report that Andean delivered a strong start to 2025. In the first quarter, we generated consolidated revenue of $62 million, a 44% increase over Q1 of last year, driven by higher realized gold and silver prices and a solid production performance across both of our operations. We produced 21,361 gold-equivalent ounces in the quarter, slightly ahead of Q1 2024. More importantly, our gross operating income grew significantly to $23.1 million compared to just $0.3 million in the same period of last year. This strong operating performance flowed through the bottom of the line, resulting in a net income of $14.6 million, or $0.10 per share on a diluted basis. Our balance sheet remains a real strength.
We ended the quarter with $75.7 million in liquid assets, up from $61.4 million a year ago, while also reducing total liabilities compared to the end of the year 2024 by $8.9 million. In addition to these financial achievements, we continue to deliver on several strategic initiatives. We completed our graduation to the TSX main board in January, reflecting the growing scale and maturity of our business. We also announced positive exploration results at Golden Queen, which we are already shaping our 2025 exploration plans as we work to extend the mine life, which we will touch on later on this call. Finally, we strengthened our leadership team with the incorporation and appointment of Yohann Bouchard as President of the company. Overall, it was a very strong start to the year, and we are well-positioned to continue building on this momentum.
With that, I will now turn this over to Yohann to walk you through the operational results in more detail.
Thank you, Alberto, and good morning, all. Gold-equivalent production in Q1 was 21,361 ounces, a slight increase from the same period of last year. The production increase is driven by higher production at San Bartolomé, which is partially offset by slightly lower gold-equivalent production at Golden Queen. Revenue for Q1 2025 is $62 million, a significant increase in comparison to $43.1 million in Q1 2024, largely driven by higher average realized gold and silver prices and increased sales volume. Better cash gross operating margin at San Bartolomé is driven by favorable foreign exchange currency, better processing recovery, and higher throughput. Lower operating cash costs at Golden Queen in comparison to the same period of last year is due to the deferred stripping, which is allocated to the sustaining capex and cost allocation to growth capital for the construction of an optimized main all-road.
Higher all-in sustaining costs in comparison to the first quarter of last year is due to the staggered replacement cost, improvement to the crusher circuits, and overall on production equipment. Looking at operations, I will begin by sharing an update on San Bartolomé, where we see a notable increase of production and better costs. Historically, Q1 is the slowest quarter for San Bartolomé due to the seasonal weather condition impacting the operations. Gold-equivalent production for Q1 2025 was 10,172 ounces, driven by higher mill throughput. Higher silver recovery and higher gold grade partially offset by lower silver grade in comparison to the same period of last year. Operating expenses were positively impacted by favorable foreign exchange reflecting lower cost of sales. Revenue increased significantly compared to Q1 2024, largely due to higher average realized silver price and the gold and silver production increase.
Net inventory movements in Q1 2025 can be explained by the timing of gold and silver sales at the beginning and the end of the period. Capital expenditures are lower due to the completion of the fines deposit facility construction in the first half of 2024. Overall, we continue to demonstrate a strong cash operating performance with an increase in cash gross operating margin and gross margin ratio, reflecting higher silver price and better operating costs. Now turning to Golden Queen. Gold-equivalent production for Q1 2025 was 11,189 ounces, which is aligned with the first quarter of 2024. On an operational perspective, total tons mined is lower than the same period of last year, while the stacking rate is higher, which is due to the mining sequence and the stacking capacity.
The stacker was replaced at the end of the quarter, and increasing stacking performance is anticipated over the next couple of quarters. In the first quarter, gold inventory increased at the leach pad, which is expected to be recovered in the upcoming quarters. Revenue increased over Q1 2024, driven by higher average realized gold and silver prices, more than offsetting higher capital expenses in comparison to the first quarter of last year. As mentioned previously, lower operating cash costs can be explained by deferred stripping costs and costs allocated to growth capital regarding the construction of the optimized all-use road, which should be complete in the second quarter. The new all-use roads will significantly decrease the cycle time and subsequently the all-in cost.
The higher all-in sustaining cost is used as a staggered replacement cost and timing related to the maintenance on fixed and mobile equipment, with the objective of decreasing operating costs. On the following slide, I would like to touch on our 2024 exploration activities at Golden Queen and our plans for 2025. As we share on May 1, 2025, we're pleased with the progress on our exploration program as we look to extend the life of mine at our Golden Queen operation. Our exploration focus remains on expanding the current mining zone on the south side of the open pit with the ultimate objective of increasing the life of mine. The key highlights from our 2024 exploration program were the following. We complete 29 shallow infill reverse circulation drill holes, 4,617 meters.
This included work in the Silver Queen Southeast Trend and Alpha Sun, confirming the geological model and validating our approach for the next phase of core drilling. We drilled 23 core holes, totaling 4,123 meters, and successfully intersect gold and silver in all 23 holes. The objectives were to increase mineral resource and reserves in the Silver Queen Southeast and Alpha Sun area, as well as to test the Hilltop geological continuity. Here are some notable results. At Silver Queen Southeast, 12 core holes extended the mineralization by 100 meters on strike, including hole SQ24-06, with 1.67 grams per ton of gold over 5.5 meters. At Alpha Sun, seven core holes, including AL24-02, intersecting 0.88 grams per ton of gold over 93 meters. Finally, at Hilltop, four core holes, including SQ24-12, which returned 1.67 grams per ton of gold over 6 meters, starting at only 18 meters from surface.
These results confirm our positive view on Golden Queen's exploration potential. We are very pleased with the Hilltop area, which provides short-term mining flexibilities. In fact, we anticipate first ore from Hilltop in Q3 2025. Now, for 2025, we have allocated an initial budget of $2.8 million to continue with the exploration strategy, focusing on reserve and resources development. The program includes 4,267 meters of drilling in the Silver Queen Southeast extension, Hilltop, and Alpha Sun area. We plan to release more exploration results in the second half of 2025, and we will update our Golden Queen technical report in the second quarter of 2026. With that, I will now turn the call over to JC to take you through the financial highlights. JC.
Thank you, Yohann. Good morning, everyone. Let's go over the key financial highlights for the first quarter of 2025. Revenue for Q1 2025 totaled $62 million, a 44% increase from $43.1 million in Q1 2024, driven by higher average realized gold and silver prices and increased production. Cost of sales decreased by 10% to $36 million from $40.1 million in Q1 2024, mainly due to the disciplined cost management, improved productivity, and favorable exchange rates at San Bartolomé. Gross operating income increased significantly to $23 million from $312,000 in Q1 2024, reflecting the higher revenue and improved cost structure. Net income for the quarter was $14.6 million, or $0.10 per share, compared to a net loss of $76,000, or $0 per share in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.9 million, up from just $1 million in the prior year, reflecting strong operating performance.
Free cash flow improved to negative $1.5 million, an improvement from negative $8.1 million in Q1 2024, thanks to better operating cash flows partly offset by higher capital expenditures. Capital expenditures were $9.4 million, up from $3.4 million in Q1 2024, as we continue to reinvest in our operations, particularly at Golden Queen. Cash and cash equivalents were $53.1 million at the end of the quarter, up from $41.5 million year over year, reflecting strong cash flows from our operations. We continue to demonstrate a very strong balance sheet. During Q1 2025, we made improvements in our net asset and net liability positions, with significant accounts payable and tax payments, all while maintaining a strong cash and liquidity position.
Liquid assets, our metric when looking at our total cash and investments less our line of credit, was $75.6 million as of Q1 2025 versus $61.4 million at the end of Q1 2024. Now I'll hand it over to Alberto for closing remarks.
Thank you, JC. As we discussed earlier, exploration remains a critical pillar of our strategy. We are encouraged by the progress of our 2024 drilling campaign at Golden Queen, where we've seen promising results that could significantly expand our resource base and enhance the mine life. Our exploration team continues to target high potential areas, and we are committed to advancing these efforts through 2025. Our approach to capital allocation remains disciplined, with a clear focus on investments that drive long-term growth and improve operational efficiency. We are prioritizing the continued development of Golden Queen and San Bartolomé, as well as key exploration projects that present the highest return potential. Looking ahead, we expect production to ramp up in Q2, with steady and sustainable production levels in the second half of the year.
As previously communicated, we are maintaining our full-year guidance, and we anticipate stronger results in the later half of 2025. A key part of our growth strategy includes seeking strategic M&A opportunities to further enhance our portfolio. We are evaluating potential acquisitions that align with our long-term goals and can add significant value to the company. These opportunities could enable us to expand our resource base and improve our operational footprint, all while continuing to maintain our disciplined approach to capital allocation. With that, I now would like to turn the call over to the operator and open the floor for questions. Operator.
Thank you. To join the question queue, you may press star, then one on your telephone keypad. You will hear a tone acknowledging your request. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing any keys. To withdraw your question, please press star, then two. The first question comes from Justin Chan with SCP Resource Finance. Please go ahead.
Hi, guys. Thanks very much for the update. My first question is just regarding—so I think this Q1 was pretty in line on operating metrics. There is just some difference between, let's say, EBITDA and operating cash flow, just on working cap. Could you talk us through, I guess, the changes there on inventory and payabilities? Do you expect that to unwind through the year, or is your current working capital levels where you expect them to stay?
Thank you, Justin. I think from a working capital perspective, I think we're pretty much in line. I think that's what we expect to see throughout the year. I guess with respect to the inventory levels, I guess the same, pretty much stable. We can get back to you on that, but I would assume they would remain pretty much stable as they are right now.
Okay. Got you. Thanks. And then just in terms of the improvement through the year, I guess, could you just maybe talk through, I guess, at San Bartolomé, are there any key factors driving that there, or is San Bartolomé more steady through the year? And then at Golden Queen, is that mainly driven by the grade profile?
Yeah, I can answer that, Justin. At San Bart, the increase in production is mostly driven by grade over the quarter over quarter. At San Bart, it's by, I would say, stacking performance.
Got you. San Bart is really
Yeah, sorry about that. San Bartolomé is going to be more about grade, and Golden Queen is more about the stacking performance. Sorry about that.
Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. I was trying to mentally wrap it. It's like stacking at San Bart, maybe I need to rethink the operation. Okay. So it's going to be volume-driven, essentially more volume through the year at Golden Queen, and at San Bart, more grade-driven.
That's correct.
Got you. Thanks. In terms of updating your resource and your mine plan, what's current, I guess, based on your current exploration budget, what's your thinking on timing there?
Yeah. So what we did basically is we compiled the drilling campaign of 2024 in our new model. It's almost done. We're validating it now. Hopefully, we're going to do—we're trying to fast-track our exploration campaign this year to, I would say, add as much more as we can information for the new reserve and resources update that we're planning to start at the beginning of September to have it ready by year-end. Yeah, overall, everything is balancing well. Based on that, we're looking at producing a technical report. Yeah, I'm really pleased with the results that we have. I mean, on the technical aspect, it's balancing really well. Actually, on the operational aspect as well, I mean, we're making good progress at Golden Queen.
Got you. So effectively, the cutoff date for drilling will be maybe something like September, and then the results will be—
Yeah, we're planning to close—we're planning to close the database on September 1, and after that, do the work and have everything ready to have everything, I would say, the technical report aligned with our year-end reserve and resources.
Got you. And from what you see, how sensitive is it to pricing, and how much of a consideration is that as you kind of look at what the update consists of?
We're not there yet. No, we're not there yet. I mean, we're still working. Basically, what we're doing now, we're using pretty much the same gold and silver price that we had before, and we're going to adjust all that in time.
Okay. Great. Thanks very much. I realize I've asked quite a few, so I'll free up the line and then rejoin if, yeah, there's time later.
The next question comes from Alison Carson with Desjardins. Please go ahead.
Thanks. Good morning, everyone, and thanks so much for taking my questions today. My first question is on CapEx at Golden Queen. In terms of spending for the remainder of the year, is CapEx expected to be lighter in H2, or should it be pretty even over the remaining three quarters?
Hi, Alison. Yeah, we're sticking, as Alberto mentioned, we're sticking to our guidance, which is between $28 million and $32 million. Most of it will be headed to Golden Queen, of which around $12 million-$14 million on sustaining and $9 million-$11 million on growth. Yes, it's mostly front-ended, as you've probably seen. We already invested $9 million this quarter. I think specifically on Golden Queen, it'll be roughly around $4 million in sustaining CapEx per quarter for the rest of the year.
Okay. Great. In terms of exploration at Golden Queen, are there any areas you're particularly excited about for the 2025 program, and could your initial budget be increased based on drilling success? Just finally, how are you thinking about exploration beyond the revised technical report next year? Will drilling be focused more just on reserve replacement, or do you expect to do more exploration-based drilling as well on an annual basis?
I think that the idea is really to focus on the Alpha Sun and the, I would say, all the southern section to extend the deposits in that direction. We saw that the Hilltop zone is expanding the current pit by about 100 meters in strike. Overall, I mean, hit. We may continue to explore that zone with the objective of increasing reserves. That is the main idea: increasing life of mine. Starting really, I would say, nearby by the already, I would say, where the pit design is and extending on the south side. I would say Alpha Sun is quite interesting as well. This is kind of a new zone. We do have some reserve and resources there, but it seems like the model that we have is, I mean, the drilling, the campaign that we designed brings some really good results.
We're really happy about that. I would say to increase reserves, we're going to more focus on extending the south side of the open pits.
Okay. Great. Thanks so much for taking my questions and the additional color.
The next question comes from Ben Peary with Atrium Research. Please go ahead.
Hi, Alberto and JC. Congrats on a great quarter. Beating our estimates pretty broadly across the board, most of my questions have been answered, but just on Golden Queen with regards to the operating cash costs coming in lower than expectation, should we expect this to continue into Q2 and the rest of the year? You sort of mentioned it had to do primarily with the stacker being replaced. I would assume that that's going to continue over the next few quarters here.
Yeah, I think, Ben, that's correct. I think same things. I think we're well within the guidance of 1,500-1,800. Right now, it's been more on the low side of the guidance, so we're very comfortable with confirming that range.
Okay. Great. Thank you. Moving over to San Bartolomé, obviously, the gold price is still continuing higher. How do you expect your ore sourcing to change? Will you be receiving lower-grade material now that the prices are higher, and therefore, will margins compress? How do you expect margins to continue throughout the year as gold continues higher here?
Yes, let me respond to that. In San Bartolomé, we're actually pursuing different sites that our exploration team is looking at so that we are trying to look for higher-grade zones. It is one of our main purposes of San Bart, as it was explained before by Yohann, that results in San Bart are going to be mostly driven by higher-average silver grades. So we're focusing on that. Obviously, having said that, to the extent that we still find ore that is not as high as we were expecting, the higher current spot prices also certainly would motivate us to continue increasing the throughput in there as we can now be more flexible in getting maybe some lower grades that we would not have otherwise taken.
It is our intent to focus primarily on trying to secure higher-grade ore by sending our exploration and geologist team to search for new areas around the vicinity of the plant.
Okay. Thank you. To jump back to Golden Queen, I have to ask this quickly. Just on what Justin sort of touched on and how production ramps pretty significantly from Q1 through into the back half of the year, you mentioned it's mainly volume-driven in terms of that ramp. Do we expect that to continue into Q1 of next year, or will things sort of settle back down to what we sort of saw in Q1 of this year from a production standpoint?
What we see based on our mine plan is we see our ramping up in Q2 and Q3 to stabilize in Q4 and going forward. That's what we see in our mine plan.
Okay. Amazing. Thank you, guys. That's all I had today.
Okay.
We have a follow-up question from Justin Chan with SCP Resource. Please go ahead.
Hi, guys. Just one on San Bartolomé. As has been quite frequently the case, your margins are running well above your guidance. I'm just curious if everything stays the same on pricing and FX, what is your thinking there? Would your current margins in Q1 be what you would expect to stay?
Justin, it's always dependent on two things: prices, and then the Boliviano has an important impact on our margins. So it will depend mostly on that, I would say.
Got you. But I guess if you assume neither of those change from this point onward.
Is your margin in Q1 a fairly representative number?
Oh, yes. Yes, I agree. I think it's a good average if you want to take it like that. Yes.
Okay. All right. Great. Thanks very much. That's all I had. Thanks, guys.
This concludes the question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Alberto Morales for any closing remarks. Please go ahead.
Thank you, Operator. Thank you all for joining us today. We are very pleased with our Q1 2025 results, with a strong balance sheet, an experienced leadership team now in place, and a clear growth strategy to drive the business forward. We are well-positioned to pursue our vision of transformational growth into a mid-tier producer. Thank you again for joining, and have a great day.
This brings to a close today's conference call. We may disconnect your lines. Thank you for participating, and have a pleasant day.