Interesting Tool for Visualizing a Company's Business

During a review of Silver Wheaton (SLW), I came across this site:  Trefis

http://www.trefis.com

The site features some powerful graphics which do an admirable job of describing a company's business - perhaps its best attribute. The "graphic snapshots" provide an excellent frame of reference for delving more deeply into companies which may interest you.  

The site also features a modelling capability which predicts the impact of changing product prices (or product mixes) on the stock price.  As readers may appreciate, I am always somewhat leery about long-range predictions on stock prices as there are so many variables which can confound computer models.  

I will visit this site as part of my future investigations into potential companies.  

Here is what the site has to say about Silver Wheaton:

http://www.trefis.com/company?hm=SLW.trefis#


Too bad that SLW did not hedge its forward sales.  With the expectation that the good times would roll on forever, precious metals companies unwound their hedges ... with disastrous consequences.  As the saying goes,  "Pigs get slaughtered." 

Yes, there will be some forced retirements from some of the majors ... and some of the juniors will be consigned to the "delisting track" as the value of their enterprises falls below the hurdles for listings on major exchanges.  Further, the survivors will find it difficult to obtain financing.  

There is a bright side to this.  In a few years, it may be worth looking at companies with excellent reserves.  As always, there will be a few far-sighted managers who will quietly acquire high quality properties at fire sale prices ... and so, the cycle will begin again.