Summary

TECK prides itself as a diversified commodities company.  Shortcoming in one revenue segment is usually offset by demand in others.

Flawless management operation during weak economic times and challenging commodities environment.

A speculative bullish option play that may double your money by Christmas.

Growing up in the former Soviet Union it was astounding to me how Alaska was sold to United States for $7.2 million (Approximately $125 million today), as the Russians feared losing the territory to United Kingdom if a war broke out.

Today TECK's (NYSE: TECK) Red Dog Mine in Alaska alone, which is one of the world's largest producer of zinc, produces $1.7 billion in annual revenues. From 550,000 tonnes of zinc at currently $3100 a tonne, that equates to almost 14 Alaska purchases every year!

Despite profits being susceptible to volatile zinc prices, which fell to $0.70/lb mid-2015 versus $1.50/lb today, the company still boasts a great portfolio of diversified revenue streams in the commodities arena.

Steelmaking Coal

With Walter Energy out of the picture, TECK is one of few key public players left in metallurgical coal space in North America. In 2016 steel making coal operations produced approximately 27 million tones with total proven and probable reserves of 962 million tonnes.

In British Columbia, Elkview operations was granted an environmental assessment certificate for the Baldy Ridge Extension project, which should extend the life of the mine by 23 years, with capital expenditures for the project estimated to be almost $60 million over the next five years. Coal production at these areas are planned to commence in early 2018. In addition, Fording River operations was also granted all the permits to begin mining the Swift area of Greenhills Ridge, which will extend the mine life to almost 25 years.

• [Editor:Wang Linyan]