Why Silver Standard Shares Surged

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of silver miner Silver Standard Resources popped 13% today after its quarterly results and outlook impressed Wall Street.

So what: The stock has been crushed over the past year on sliding silver prices, but today's Q2 results -- 2.2 million ounces of silver sold generated revenue of $32.7 million -- coupled with upbeat guidance for the full year suggests that things are starting to turn.In fact, Silver Standard produced 1.9 million ounces of silver at its important Pirquitas mine in Argentina while reducing headcount costs by 7%, giving analysts plenty of good vibes over management's ability to survive the lower price environment.

Now what: For the rest of 2013, management upped the lower end of its production range to 8.3 million ounces of silver (upper end of the range at 8.5 million ounces was maintained) and also lowered its cash cost guidance by 18%. "Although Silver Standard has a substantial cash balance, we have advanced a cost restructuring program throughout the organization aimed at real cost savings and improved operating performance," said President and CEO John Smith. "Looking ahead, Pitarrilla is a key driver of our long-term growth and continues to advance due to our solid technical capability and liquidity." So while Silver Standard might be a bit too volatile for average investors, that positive outlook, coupled with the fact that the shares remain well off their 52-week highs, make the stock an interesting pick for resource-savvy Fools.

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The article Why Silver Standard Shares Surged originally appeared on Fool.com.

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