Juniors shine on TSXV 50 ranking

A handful of Canadian juniors have rocketed to the top of the TSX Venture Exchange’s 50 highest-performing emerging companies last year, according to data from parent company TMX.Power Nickel (TSXV: PNPN) clocked the highest growth, with its share price rising 630% over the last year to C$1.70 apiece on Wednesday, for a market cap of C$330.8 million. It’s at fourth place.“The performance of the TSX Venture 50 underscores the strategic importance of Canadian natural resources and high-growth innovation,” TSX Venture Exchange president Tim Babcock said in a release.“With heightened demand for critical minerals, energy security and transition, and advanced manufacturing, this year’s TSX Venture 50 showcases how TSXV is empowering Canadian businesses to raise capital, scale operations, and contribute to a secure and prosperous future for Canada.”The top 50 list ranks each company’s performance by market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and Canadian consolidated trading value. The 50 companies comprise a total market value of C$21.7 billion as of Dec. 31, a C$16 billion rise in one year. In that period, the companies’ share price rose 207%, compared to the 121% growth in 2023 and 73% in 2022.Power Nickel’s share increase contrasts with CEO Terry Lynch’s alarm one year ago over naked short sellers illegally targeting the company’s stock. Lynch didn’t immediately reply to a phone call and email on Wednesday seeking comment on the stock performance.The company is changing its name to Power Metallic Mines from Friday. The new name better reflects the high-grade discoveries of copper, platinum and palladium at the company’s Nisk project in Quebec, it said on Wednesday.Credit: TNM GroupFounders’ a keeperFounders Metals (TSXV: FDR), in sixth place, gained 324% over the last year to C$5.30 apiece, for a market cap of C$469.1 million.The gold explorer has benefited from key developments in the last 12 months, including a C$30 million investment this month, C$14 million in backing from B2Gold (TSX: BTO) and strong drill results at its Antino project in Suriname.‘Highest value issuer’Artemis Gold (TSXV: ARTG), in 10th spot, rose 127% over the last year to C$16.15 apiece, valuing it at C$3.6 billion. The developer poured first gold and silver at its Blackwater project in central British Columbia last month, making it the province’s first new gold mine since 2017.At C$1.3 billion worth of shares traded, Artemis booked the highest consolidated value traded of any TSXV 50 issuer last year, noted TMX.In a note on Wednesday, Haywood Capital Markets analyst Pierre Vaillancourt wrote that he expects Blackwater to reach commercial production in the second quarter and an expansion decision in the second half of the year.“With upcoming catalysts for commercial production, capacity production, and expansion, we believe there is more room to run,” he said. “As the mine approaches capacity production, we believe the potential to be an acquisition target will grow.”In this year’s ranking, two-thirds or 31 listings are mining companies, with many focused on critical minerals and precious metals. As a whole, these companies have boosted their market capitalization to C$8.1 billion, a 174% increase over last year, TMX said.Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com