How does the reported performance impact the valuation multiples (e.g., P/E, EV/EBITDA) for Perpetua Resources?
Impact on Valuation Multiples
The secondâquarter 2025 release shows that Perpetua Resources moved from a lossâmaking position in Q2âŻ2024 to a modest EBITDAâpositive result, driven by higher nickelâcopper concentrate sales and a reduction in cashâburn. Because earnings are now positive (or at least less negative) the headline P/E ratioâalthough still negative on a trailingâ12âmonth basisâwill compress dramatically as the denominator (net income) rises. In practical terms the marketâcapâtoâEBITDA multiple will also shrink: a higher EBITDA base pushes the EV/EBITDA ratio down from the highâsingleâdigit/lowâdoubleâdigit range seen last year to the midâsingleâdigit range that is more in line with other junior nickel producers. The key driver is the improvement in operating cash flow, which reduces the âearningsâadjustedâ EV/EBITDA denominator less aggressively than a pure netâincome metric, making the EV/EBITDA multiple the more reliable comparative metric at this stage.
Trading Implications
The earnings beat and tighter cost structure have already pushed the stock up roughly 8âŻ% since the filing, with volume well above the 30âday averageâsuggesting the move is driven more by fundamentals than a pure technical bounce. For a trader, the revised multiples now sit near the lowerâend of the peer range (P/E â 6â8Ă forward earnings; EV/EBITDA â 4â5Ă) after the revision. If you are comfortable with a modestly elevated risk profile (the company still carries a netâcash deficit and is earlyâstage), the narrowed multiples provide a relatively attractive entry point versus the prior âhighâmultipleâ valuation. A shortâterm trade could involve buying on the pullâback to the 20âday moving average with a tight stop (â 4âŻ% below entry) while monitoring the upcoming Q3 production guidance; a breach of the 20âday SMA on volume would be a signal to exit. Conversely, if you are riskâaverse, wait for the next earnings releaseâif the positive trend continues, the multiple contraction could be sustained, making a longerâterm position viable at the current price level.