LUCA MINING CORP. REPORTS STRONG FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
Rhea-AI Summary
Luca Mining (OTCQX: LUCMF) reported strong Q1 2026 results, with revenue of $57.6 million (+40% YoY), net earnings of $12.6 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $25.4 million. EBITDA was $19.7 million, and operating cash flow reached $21.6 million.
Cash increased 43% to $36.4 million despite $10.9 million of sustaining and exploration capex, yielding $12.9 million of free cash flow before working capital. Campo Morado zinc-equivalent output rose 17%, while Tahuehueto advanced toward design capacity and began copper concentrate production.
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Positive
- Revenue up 40% to $57.6 million in Q1 2026
- Net earnings increased to $12.6 million from $4.5 million
- Adjusted EBITDA rose to $25.4 million; EBITDA $19.7 million
- Operating cash flow of $21.6 million; free cash flow $12.9 million
- Cash balance up 43% to $36.4 million despite $10.9 million capex
- Campo Morado ZnEq production up 17% to 37.3 million pounds
- Tahuehueto tonnes milled up 12% to 79,203 tonnes
- Tahuehueto silver output up 49% to 96,651 ounces
- Start of copper concentrate production at Tahuehueto
Negative
- Campo Morado AISC rose to $1.19/lb from $0.96/lb
- Tahuehueto AISC increased to $3,321/oz from $2,054/oz
- Tahuehueto cash cost at $2,573/AuEq oz, described as elevated
- Lower gold grades and recoveries at Tahuehueto reduced gold output
- Metallurgical recoveries impacted at Campo Morado by variable ore blends
- Near-term production temporarily impacted by mine sequencing and development
News Market Reaction – LUCMF
On the day this news was published, LUCMF gained 8.23%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Robust Quarterly Revenue and Strong Cash Generation Fund Accelerated Mine Investment While Increasing Cash Balance
The Company generated
Q1 2026 Highlights
- Strengthened balance sheet and liquidity position: Cash increased to
$36.4 million $25.5 million 43% ), reflecting strong operating cash generation and improved profitability during the quarter. Despite increased investment in sustaining capital, the Company generated free cash flow before working capital changes of$12.9 million $10.8 million - Revenue and Earnings: Revenue increased
40% to$57.6 million 160% to$19.7 million 99% to$25.4 million $12.6 million $4.5 million - Significant margin expansion: Mine operating earnings increased
67% to$22.3 million - Strong operating cash flow generation: Operating cash flow of
$21.6 million $10.9 million - Strengthening of technical and operational leadership: During the quarter, the Company strengthened its executive and technical leadership team to support ongoing mine optimization and growth initiatives across both operations. Luca appointed Nick Shakesby as Chief Operating Officer and added Dr. Jose Hernandez as Vice President, Metallurgy and Process Engineering, while Ramón Mendoza transitioned to Chief Technical Officer to focus on growth initiatives and the Campo Morado Expansion project. The expanded technical leadership team is expected to support operational optimization, metallurgical improvements, production reliability, cost management, and long-term operational growth initiatives at both
Campo Morado and Tahuehueto. - Investment supporting future production stability: Underground development, mine preparation and infrastructure initiatives advanced at both operations to improve production flexibility, mine sequencing and operational reliability.
Production volumes in Q1 2026 reflect the Company's continued emphasis on underground development and mine sequencing activities at both operations, with near-term production temporarily impacted in exchange for improved operational flexibility, higher-grade access, and long-term production reliability.
Dan Barnholden, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Q1 2026 reflects continued progress in building a stronger, more resilient operating platform at Luca. We delivered robust quarterly revenue, expanded margins, increased cash by over
Operational Performance
The Company continued emphasizing safe and disciplined operations across both sites while underground development and infrastructure initiatives remain elevated with a persistent focus on improving mine sequencing, expanding access to future mining areas, and enhancing long-term operational flexibility.
Exploration programs also remained active at both operations during the quarter, supporting resource growth, improved geological understanding and enhanced mine planning. Q1 2026 drilling of 10,052 metres represents continued advancement of the Company's three-year, 80,000-metre exploration program, with total metres drilled to date across both properties exceeding 40,260 metres since program inception.
Sustaining capital investment accelerated meaningfully during the quarter, with
Metallurgical recoveries were impacted during the quarter by elevated iron-content ore from certain mining areas and variable ore blends as underground development activities progressed across multiple new fronts. The Company actively implemented reagent optimization, flotation circuit adjustments, regrinding initiatives, and feed blending controls to manage these transient challenges, and management expects recoveries to normalize as underground development and ore blending practices continue to improve.
AISC per ZnEq payable pound at
Tahuehueto (
Tahuehueto achieved an important operational milestone during the quarter with the commencement of copper concentrate production, improving metal payability and supporting overall value realized from the operation. This development enables Tahuehueto to receive direct payment for copper production while improving lead concentrate quality and marketability, representing an important step in optimizing the value of the mine's polymetallic production stream.
Further, Tahuehueto continued its progression toward stable, full-rate operations in Q1 2026. Tonnes milled increased
Gold production of 3,503 ounces reflected the impact of lower gold grades (1.73 g/t vs. 2.40 g/t in Q1 2025) and lower metallurgical recoveries as mine sequencing progressed through development areas. The ongoing transition of underground mining activities to contractor Cantera was substantially completed by the end of the quarter, positioning the operation for improved equipment reliability, productivity, and operational continuity through the remainder of 2026. Management expects feed grades and recoveries to improve as additional higher-grade underground mining areas, including the
AISC per AuEq ounce at Tahuehueto increased to
The Company remains focused on converting operational improvements and elevated sustaining investment into improved production consistency and long-term free cash flow generation.
This news release should be read in conjunction with the company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") which are available on the Company's website, www.lucamining.com and on Sedar+ at www.sedarplus.com.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to the Company's mines and mineral projects has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Ramon Mendoza Reyes, P.Eng., Chief Technical Officer at Luca Mining. Mr. Mendoza is a Qualified Person for the Company as defined by NI 43-101. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to the Company's geology and exploration projects has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration at Luca Mining. Mr. Gray is a Qualified Person for the Company as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About Luca Mining Corp.
Luca Mining Corp. (TSX-V: LUCA, OTCQX: LUCMF, Frankfurt: Z68) is a Canadian mining company with two wholly owned mines located in the prolific Sierra Madre mineralized belt in
The Company's Campo Morado Mine hosts VMS-style, polymetallic mineralization within a large land package comprising 121 square kilometres. It is an underground operation, producing zinc, copper, gold, silver and lead. The mine is located in Guerrero State.
The Tahuehueto Mine is a large property of over 100 square kilometres in Durango State. The project hosts epithermal gold and silver vein-style mineralization. Tahuehueto is a newly constructed underground mining operation producing primarily gold and silver. The Company has successfully commissioned its mill and is now in commercial production.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
(signed) "Dan Barnholden"
Dan Barnholden, Chief Executive Officer
For more information, please visit: www.lucamining.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, estimated production guidelines for 2026 and other possible events, conditions or performance that are based on assumptions about the proposed exploration program and its anticipated results; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, such as production rates and increases and sustaining capital expenditures; success of exploration, development, and metres to be drilled in exploration on the Tahuehueto Mine site and the Campo Morado Mine site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans","expects","scheduled","estimates", "forecasts", "intends"," anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the Company will be able to raise additional capital as necessary; the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Tahuehueto Mine can be achieved; that consistent and sustainable mill feed at Campo Morado Mine will be achieved; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals and economic and political conditions. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Luca Mining Corp.