High Voltage: Lithium demand ‘extremely healthy’ as Tesla rolls out $US35K Model 3
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Each week our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX battery metals stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium.
Scroll down for a table showing the recent performance of 200 ASX battery metal stocks >>
Last week, it was US-based lithium major Albemarle upgrading its lithium demand projections to 1.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2025.
Now Chilean lithium company SQM has joined the party.
“Demand growth in 2018 surprised us again surpassing 27 per cent, and is expect to grow at rates above 20 per cent in 2019,” SQM says.
“Beyond 2019, demand growth continues to look extremely healthy, making us believe that the one million ton per year lithium market may happen sooner than originally anticipated.”
The company also confirmed a few things along the way.
The main one – that there’s no way it’s not going to ramp to 180,000 tonnes of LCE by 2021.
This ambitious expansion was supposed to be done in three phases; 48,000 – 70,000 million tonnes in 2018, 70,000 – 120,000 million tonnes in 2019, and 120,000 – 180,000 million tonnes by 2021.
To put that number in perspective, an estimated 180,000 tonnes of LCE was produced globally in 2018.
After some initial delays, SQM’s language has changed.
Gone are the deadlines; SQM now says it will “continue to work to bring our capacity to 180,000 tonnes per year in the coming years”.
Sales volumes are now expected to be “slightly higher” in 2019.
So much for 120,000 tonnes; SQM say it expects to sell just under 50,000 tonnes in 2019.
The EV landscape just changed (again)
If we’re talking about news that impacts the battery metals supply chain – this one is extremely significant.
EV trailblazer Tesla is still setting the bar by dropping the price of its Model 3 to $US35,000 ($49,300).
It’s significant because the prevailing price differential between combustion engines and EVs is one of the only things holding back demand.
A $US35,000 price-tag makes the vehicle available to the next bracket of consumers.
Whether Tesla is making money at these prices remains to be seen but either way, the announcement could force other carmakers to follow its lead.
Also it has Dog Mode, which is very important.
Of the companies on our list, about 85 lost ground, 57 were ahead and 50 were steady this week.
DRC-based copper-cobalt play Nzuri Copper (SX:NZC) leapt 26 per cent for the week after receiving a $109m takeover offer.
The all-cash offer from $2.5 billion Chinese company Chengtun Mining values Nzuri at 37c per share, and management wants shareholders to accept it.
Nzuri told investors that the deal would “crystallise certain value” at a time when resources development projects – especially cobalt — faced “considerable funding hurdles and a range of market related and strategic risks”.
The offer was 42 per cent higher than the last closing price of 26c, and a 64 per cent premium to the 3-month volume weighted average price.
That’s still well down on the 48c high reached in mid-January last year.
Nzuri is developing the Kalongwe project in the Congo, which it calls “the most advanced copper-cobalt development asset on the ASX”.
“If Kalongwe was located anywhere other than the Democratic Republic of Congo it would be a genuine rock star, spinning off fat profits from its shallow orebody which has an average grade of close to 3 per cent copper and 0.3 per cent cobalt, material which is expected to cost less than $US1 per pound to produce,” Tim Treadgold wrote in December.
Lithium producer Altura Mining (ASX:AJM) jumped 28 per cent to 16c for the week, paring some of its massive share price losses over the past year.
Altura is now talking nameplate capacity at the recently-commissioned Pilgangoora project in WA multiple times.
“We now have a high-level of confidence that we can achieve nameplate capacity in the near future,” Managing Director James Brown says.
Here’s how that looks, chart-style:
Also up 25 per cent for the week – and a whopping 257 per cent for the year — on no news was Galan Lithium (ASX:GLN).
Here’s a table of ASX battery metal stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium>>>
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop
Ticker | Name | 1 Week Price Change % | 1 Year Price Change % | Share Price [Mar 01] | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MTB | MOUNT BURGESS MINING | 33.3333 | -42.8571 | 0.004 | $1,807,517.63 |
AJM | ALTURA MINING | 28 | -56.7568 | 0.16 | $303,583,104.00 |
NZC | NZURI COPPER | 26 | -1.5625 | 0.32 | $93,210,232.00 |
GLN | GALAN LITHIUM | 25 | 257.1429 | 0.545 | $56,070,736.00 |
PMY | PACIFICO MINERALS | 25 | -28.5714 | 0.005 | $8,232,189.50 |
PNN | PEPINNINI LITHIUM | 25 | -84.375 | 0.004 | $3,603,372.25 |
ARL | ARDEA RESOURCES | 23.2558 | -61.4545 | 0.53 | $55,856,920.00 |
TKL | TRAKA RESOURCES | 23.0769 | -72.8814 | 0.016 | $5,301,136.50 |
HNR | HANNANS | 22.2222 | -50 | 0.01 | $21,867,500.00 |
LKE | LAKE RESOURCES | 18.5185 | -60 | 0.066 | $23,433,074.00 |
TLG | TALGA RESOURCES | 18.0723 | -40.6061 | 0.51 | $106,914,400.00 |
COB | COBALT BLUE HOLDINGS | 17.8571 | -75.7353 | 0.16 | $20,557,934.00 |
ADV | ARDIDEN | 16.6667 | -79.4118 | 0.0035 | $5,869,081.00 |
FCC | FIRST COBALT | 16.2162 | -81.6239 | 0.215 | $72,954,192.00 |
BGS | BIRIMIAN | 15.625 | -72.9927 | 0.185 | $48,934,372.00 |
IEC | INTRA ENERGY | 15.3846 | -16.6667 | 0.015 | $5,815,860.50 |
HXG | HEXAGON RESOURCES | 15.3846 | -23.0769 | 0.15 | $43,767,508.00 |
SYA | SAYONA MINING | 14.2857 | -61.9048 | 0.024 | $41,310,240.00 |
CDT | CASTLE MINERALS | 14.2857 | -70.3704 | 0.008 | $1,790,367.75 |
PAN | PANORAMIC RESOURCES | 13.9535 | 6.5217 | 0.47 | $242,318,704.00 |
ORE | OROCOBRE | 12.9412 | -41.2844 | 3.78 | $1,004,286,720.00 |
NMT | NEOMETALS | 11.9048 | -32.7441 | 0.24 | $127,833,952.00 |
PLL | PIEDMONT LITHIUM | 11.1111 | -33.3333 | 0.11 | $73,741,840.00 |
PGM | PLATINA RESOURCES | 10.4478 | -40.8 | 0.076 | $19,545,342.00 |
PSC | PROSPECT RESOURCES | 10 | -54.1667 | 0.022 | $45,014,528.00 |
THR | THOR MINING | 10 | -56.8627 | 0.022 | $15,771,812.00 |
CLQ | CLEAN TEQ HOLDINGS | 9.8361 | -71.2446 | 0.34 | $250,019,216.00 |
CUL | CULLEN RESOURCES | 8.3333 | -58.2887 | 0.013 | $2,203,042.75 |
MCT | METALICITY | 8.3333 | -63.8889 | 0.013 | $7,832,028.50 |
AXE | ARCHER EXPLORATION | 8.2192 | -24.7619 | 0.079 | $15,135,807.00 |
ERX | EXORE RESOURCES | 8.1081 | 48.1481 | 0.08 | $37,243,392.00 |
PLS | PILBARA MINERALS | 7.971 | -19.0217 | 0.7275 | $1,299,662,464.00 |
PM1 | PURE MINERALS | 7.1429 | -11.7647 | 0.015 | $4,715,686.00 |
IRC | INTERMIN RESOURCES | 7.1429 | -37.5 | 0.15 | $35,308,268.00 |
SO4 | SALT LAKE POTASH | 6 | 17.7778 | 0.53 | $109,323,408.00 |
KSN | KINGSTON RESOURCES | 5.5556 | -5 | 0.019 | $23,240,770.00 |
CNJ | CONICO | 5.5556 | -50 | 0.018 | $6,683,407.00 |
GXY | GALAXY RESOURCES | 5.2885 | -37.4286 | 2.14 | $892,477,632.00 |
BPL | BROKEN HILL PROSPECTING | 5.2632 | -71.0145 | 0.02 | $2,957,668.00 |
WKT | WALKABOUT RESOURCES | 4.7619 | 19.5652 | 0.11 | $33,467,472.00 |
KNL | KIBARAN RESOURCES | 4.7619 | -31.25 | 0.105 | $30,324,906.00 |
BUX | BUXTON RESOURCES | 4.5455 | 0 | 0.115 | $15,646,375.00 |
RTR | RUMBLE RESOURCES | 4.4444 | -20.339 | 0.047 | $16,780,330.00 |
TRT | TODD RIVER RESOURCES | 4.1667 | -41.1538 | 0.075 | $11,358,619.00 |
ARU | ARAFURA RESOURCES | 4.1667 | -52.8943 | 0.05 | $36,070,156.00 |
SVM | SOVEREIGN METALS | 3.8961 | -33.3333 | 0.08 | $28,181,894.00 |
BAT | BATTERY MINERALS | 3.8462 | -67.4699 | 0.027 | $30,069,132.00 |
CAZ | CAZALY RESOURCES | 3.5714 | -35.5556 | 0.029 | $6,751,752.50 |
CHN | CHALICE GOLD MINES | 3.4483 | 14.2857 | 0.155 | $39,985,220.00 |
SYR | SYRAH RESOURCES | 3.3962 | -59.9415 | 1.36 | $470,770,592.00 |
JMS | JUPITER MINES | 3.0303 | 383.352 | 0.34 | $666,056,960.00 |
RIO | RIO TINTO | 1.5524 | 27.4181 | 94.78 | $140,174,704,640.00 |
BEM | BLACKEARTH MINERALS | 1.4706 | -62.7027 | 0.066 | $4,670,122.00 |
KDR | KIDMAN RESOURCES | 1.4599 | -30.3258 | 1.36 | $562,668,416.00 |
INF | INFINITY LITHIUM | 1.25 | -44.1379 | 0.08 | $15,403,859.00 |
ASN | ANSON RESOURCES | 1.2195 | -55.1351 | 0.084 | $41,115,072.00 |
S32 | SOUTH32 | 1.0336 | 23.9987 | 3.935 | $19,751,245,824.00 |
DGR | DGR GLOBAL | 0 | 38.8889 | 0.125 | $76,647,736.00 |
TNO | TANDO RESOURCES | 0 | 32 | 0.11 | $21,322,080.00 |
VMC | VENUS METALS | 0 | 29.1667 | 0.155 | $14,029,777.00 |
HIG | HIGHLANDS PACIFIC | 0 | 25 | 0.1025 | $112,005,216.00 |
BOA | BOADICEA RESOURCES | 0 | 23.0769 | 0.16 | $8,455,228.00 |
SEI | SPECIALITY METALS INTERNATIONAL | 0 | -4.1667 | 0.024 | $12,762,158.00 |
POS | POSEIDON NICKEL | 0 | -4.878 | 0.038 | $103,065,368.00 |
GBE | GLOBE METALS AND MINING | 0 | -5.8824 | 0.016 | $7,454,758.00 |
VML | VITAL METALS | 0 | -12.5 | 0.007 | $12,198,279.00 |
ADN | ANDROMEDA METALS | 0 | -14.2857 | 0.006 | $8,132,995.50 |
EME | ENERGY METALS | 0 | -16 | 0.105 | $22,016,748.00 |
IDA | INDIANA RESOURCES | 0 | -16.4623 | 0.05 | $5,339,714.00 |
FGR | FIRST GRAPHENE | 0 | -20 | 0.14 | $57,915,060.00 |
CXO | CORE LITHIUM | 0 | -20.5882 | 0.055 | $37,501,200.00 |
CGN | CRATER GOLD MINING | 0 | -22.2222 | 0.014 | $25,431,294.00 |
MLS | METALS AUSTRALIA | 0 | -25 | 0.003 | $7,025,393.50 |
CMC | CHINA MAGNESIUM | 0 | -25.9259 | 0.02 | $8,248,771.00 |
ESR | ESTRELLA RESOURCES | 0 | -27.2727 | 0.016 | $7,870,132.50 |
SRK | STRIKE RESOURCES | 0 | -30 | 0.042 | $6,104,039.50 |
EMH | EUROPEAN METALS HLDS LT- | 0 | -35 | 0.32 | $47,658,724.00 |
DTM | DART MINING | 0 | -35.8974 | 0.005 | $4,640,214.00 |
AZI | ALTA ZINC | 0 | -37.5 | 0.005 | $6,844,828.50 |
KTA | KRAKATOA RESOURCES | 0 | -40 | 0.024 | $2,820,000.00 |
LI3 | LITHIUM CONSOLIDATED | 0 | -40 | 0.06 | $5,449,327.50 |
SXX | SOUTHERN CROSS EXPLORATION | 0 | -44.4444 | 0.005 | $5,384,216.00 |
DEV | DEVEX RESOURCES | 0 | -47.0444 | 0.043 | $3,953,426.50 |
AYR | ALLOY RESOURCES | 0 | -50 | 0.003 | $4,731,233.00 |
BDI | BLINA MINERALS | 0 | -50 | 0.001 | $4,363,882.50 |
RMX | RED MOUNTAIN MINING | 0 | -50 | 0.005 | $3,890,184.00 |
OKR | OKAPI RESOURCES | 0 | -50 | 0.195 | $6,868,573.50 |
GWR | GWR GROUP | 0 | -52.381 | 0.1 | $25,351,744.00 |
CZR | COZIRON RESOURCES | 0 | -52.381 | 0.01 | $17,855,512.00 |
BMT | BERKUT MINERALS | 0 | -53.3333 | 0.077 | $4,182,383.25 |
THX | THUNDELARRA | 0 | -54.1667 | 0.011 | $7,107,054.50 |
MZN | MARINDI METALS | 0 | -54.5455 | 0.005 | $9,923,794.00 |
ARM | AURORA MINERALS | 0 | -57.1429 | 0.015 | $1,756,999.25 |
AGY | ARGOSY MINERALS | 0 | -59.375 | 0.13 | $120,054,552.00 |
PSM | PENINSULA MINES | 0 | -60 | 0.005 | $4,314,360.50 |
SUH | SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MINING | 0 | -63.5294 | 0.031 | $2,742,553.50 |
ZNC | ZENITH MINERALS | 0 | -63.8889 | 0.07 | $13,829,538.00 |
CAD | CAENEUS MINERALS | 0 | -66.6667 | 0.001 | $18,619,644.00 |
CZN | CORAZON MINING | 0 | -66.6667 | 0.005 | $6,326,416.50 |
KLH | KALIA | 0 | -70 | 0.003 | $7,543,042.00 |
SI6 | SIX SIGMA METALS | 0 | -73.3333 | 0.004 | $1,830,012.63 |
MEI | METEORIC RESOURCES | 0 | -81.6327 | 0.009 | $5,170,102.00 |
LRS | LATIN RESOURCES | 0 | -81.8182 | 0.002 | $5,818,230.00 |
MTC | METALSTECH | 0 | -83.871 | 0.026 | $2,923,847.25 |
MQR | MARQUEE RESOURCES LIMITED | 0 | -84.2667 | 0.059 | $2,521,912.75 |
NWC | NEW WORLD COBALT | 0 | -86.3636 | 0.015 | $8,272,764.50 |
4CE | FORCE COMMODITIES | 0 | -89.899 | 0.01 | $4,239,158.50 |
CZI | CASSINI RESOURCES | -1.087 | 16.6667 | 0.093 | $31,441,146.00 |
MXR | MAXIMUS RESOURCES | -1.2821 | -33.0435 | 0.077 | $2,331,022.25 |
TAR | TARUGA MINERALS | -1.5385 | -48.8 | 0.064 | $9,034,703.00 |
AML | AEON METALS | -1.6949 | 18.3673 | 0.29 | $170,366,224.00 |
MNS | MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES L | -1.7241 | -27.8481 | 0.29 | $174,173,760.00 |
VXR | VENTUREX RESOURCES | -2 | 2.0833 | 0.245 | $63,363,440.00 |
AVZ | AVZ MINERALS | -2.2222 | -82.7451 | 0.042 | $83,092,304.00 |
BYH | BRYAH RESOURCES | -2.5 | -42.2222 | 0.078 | $4,746,309.50 |
ORN | ORION MINERALS | -3.125 | -31.1111 | 0.031 | $58,085,740.00 |
HAV | HAVILAH RESOURCES | -3.2258 | -44.4444 | 0.15 | $32,737,358.00 |
AUR | AURIS MINERALS | -3.2258 | -48.2759 | 0.03 | $12,260,440.00 |
KOR | KORAB RESOURCES | -3.3333 | 0 | 0.027 | $8,956,823.00 |
MLM | METALLICA MINERALS | -3.4483 | -47.1698 | 0.028 | $9,056,527.00 |
GPX | GRAPHEX MINING | -4 | -25 | 0.245 | $20,956,830.00 |
HMX | HAMMER METALS | -4 | -52 | 0.025 | $7,543,130.00 |
LPI | LITHIUM POWER INTERNATIONAL | -4.2553 | -46.4286 | 0.23 | $59,065,628.00 |
VRC | VOLT RESOURCES | -4.3478 | -37.1429 | 0.022 | $32,020,520.00 |
EUC | EUROPEAN COBALT | -4.3478 | -79.0476 | 0.022 | $16,757,341.00 |
OMH | OM HOLDINGS | -4.3796 | -8.6621 | 1.31 | $967,596,544.00 |
DEG | DE GREY MINING | -4.5455 | -19.2308 | 0.105 | $44,431,360.00 |
GME | GME RESOURCES | -4.5977 | -40.3614 | 0.083 | $40,017,640.00 |
MZZ | MATADOR MINING LIMITED | -4.7619 | -27.2727 | 0.2 | $10,776,667.00 |
LIT | LITHIUM AUSTRALIA | -4.878 | -51.25 | 0.078 | $36,371,864.00 |
EUR | EUROPEAN LITHIUM | -5.3191 | -64.4 | 0.09 | $48,943,016.00 |
JRV | JERVOIS MINING | -5.6604 | -56.5217 | 0.25 | $55,815,748.00 |
BAR | BARRA RESOURCES | -5.7143 | -28.2609 | 0.033 | $17,783,394.00 |
INR | IONEER | -5.7143 | -63.3333 | 0.175 | $243,372,272.00 |
TMT | TECHNOLOGY METALS AUSTRALIA | -5.7692 | -24.6154 | 0.255 | $21,450,770.00 |
LCD | LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED | -5.8824 | -48.3871 | 0.016 | $4,402,864.00 |
MRR | MINREX RESOURCES | -5.8824 | -79.2208 | 0.016 | $1,534,043.63 |
AOU | AUROCH MINERALS | -6.1538 | -44.5455 | 0.061 | $6,130,716.00 |
RDS | REDSTONE RESOURCES | -6.25 | 29.8701 | 0.015 | $7,064,464.50 |
AEE | AURA ENERGY | -6.25 | -31.8182 | 0.015 | $16,749,332.00 |
ANW | AUS TIN MINING | -6.25 | -42.3077 | 0.015 | $29,822,562.00 |
BDC | BARDOC GOLD | -6.25 | -57.1429 | 0.044 | $41,206,308.00 |
LPD | LEPIDICO | -7.1429 | -46.9388 | 0.025 | $87,260,552.00 |
SVD | SCANDIVANADIUM | -7.6923 | -52.6316 | 0.012 | $4,222,393.00 |
CLA | CELSIUS RESOURCES | -7.8431 | -55.2381 | 0.047 | $35,589,248.00 |
TNG | TNG | -8 | -40.6452 | 0.093 | $88,639,008.00 |
AVL | AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM | -8 | -41.0256 | 0.023 | $45,398,408.00 |
AUZ | AUSTRALIAN MINES | -8.1081 | -67.619 | 0.034 | $96,013,752.00 |
BSX | BLACKSTONE MINERALS | -8.1633 | -79.5455 | 0.097 | $9,738,429.00 |
A4N | ALPHA HPA | -8.3333 | -31.25 | 0.12 | $62,381,000.00 |
ENT | ENTERPRISE METALS | -8.3333 | -45 | 0.011 | $4,268,690.50 |
AMD | ARROW MINERALS | -8.3333 | -68.5714 | 0.011 | $3,459,946.75 |
BKT | BLACK ROCK MINING | -8.5366 | 41.5094 | 0.076 | $40,387,852.00 |
LTR | LIONTOWN RESOURCES | -9.0909 | -50.8292 | 0.02 | $22,679,750.00 |
SGQ | ST GEORGE MINING | -9.6774 | -36.3636 | 0.145 | $41,736,268.00 |
GED | GOLDEN DEEPS | -10 | -23.4043 | 0.036 | $6,169,708.50 |
FEL | FE | -10 | -65.3846 | 0.018 | $6,725,303.50 |
NXE | NEW ENERGY MINERALS | -10 | -88.75 | 0.026 | $4,074,177.00 |
MIN | MINERAL RESOURCES | -10.6295 | -18.745 | 15.05 | $2,828,923,136.00 |
TON | TRITON MINERALS | -10.8696 | -56.8421 | 0.042 | $38,012,656.00 |
NVA | NOVA MINERALS | -11.1111 | -40.7407 | 0.016 | $12,418,146.00 |
RNU | RENASCOR RESOURCES | -11.1111 | -52.9412 | 0.016 | $18,454,790.00 |
N27 | NORTHERN COBALT | -11.1111 | -91.2088 | 0.04 | $2,052,536.25 |
PIO | PIONEER RESOURCES | -11.7647 | -40 | 0.016 | $22,561,682.00 |
PUR | PURSUIT MINERALS | -11.7647 | -73.913 | 0.03 | $5,355,820.00 |
ARE | ARGONAUT RESOURCES | -12 | -8.3333 | 0.02 | $34,196,372.00 |
VMS | VENTURE MINERALS | -12 | -33.3333 | 0.022 | $11,453,464.00 |
WCN | WHITE CLIFF MINERALS | -12.5 | -94.3704 | 0.007 | $2,078,777.63 |
CRL | COMET RESOURCES | -12.8205 | -60 | 0.035 | $7,886,300.00 |
CHK | COHIBA MINERALS | -13.3333 | 30 | 0.013 | $8,639,985.00 |
E25 | ELEMENT 25 | -13.8889 | -48.3333 | 0.155 | $13,014,474.00 |
AUT | AUTECO MINERALS | -14.2857 | 20 | 0.006 | $5,414,788.00 |
BSM | BASS METALS | -14.2857 | -42.8571 | 0.012 | $33,137,350.00 |
POW | PROTEAN ENERGY | -14.2857 | -62.5 | 0.011 | $3,737,247.00 |
TKM | TREK METALS | -14.2857 | -76.9231 | 0.006 | $1,873,821.63 |
LML | LINCOLN MINERALS | -14.2857 | -82.3529 | 0.006 | $3,449,902.00 |
MTH | MITHRIL RESOURCES | -14.2857 | -85.5738 | 0.006 | $2,534,335.25 |
KAI | KAIROS MINERALS | -15 | -56.4103 | 0.017 | $14,488,638.00 |
SBR | SABRE RESOURCES | -16.6667 | -70.5882 | 0.005 | $2,034,868.00 |
SCI | SILVER CITY MINERALS | -16.6667 | -78.2609 | 0.01 | $2,937,102.50 |
GPP | GREENPOWER ENERGY | -16.6667 | -83.3333 | 0.0025 | $3,913,426.00 |
RIE | RIEDEL RESOURCES | -16.6667 | -87.5 | 0.01 | $4,180,697.00 |
RLC | REEDY LAGOON | -16.6667 | -89.3617 | 0.005 | $2,011,358.50 |
BAU | BAUXITE RESOURCES | -17.8082 | -1.6393 | 0.06 | $12,865,340.00 |
HWK | HAWKSTONE MINING | -18.1818 | -28 | 0.018 | $10,265,724.00 |
CGM | COUGAR METALS | -25 | -81.25 | 0.002 | $1,466,704.00 |
SRN | SUREFIRE RESOURCES | -25 | -82.5 | 0.003 | $1,321,960.88 |
DHR | DARK HORSE RESOURCES | -25 | -84.2105 | 0.003 | $5,928,260.00 |
OAR | OAKDALERESOURCES | -34.7826 | -57.1429 | 0.015 | $1,006,315.25 |
HGM | HIGH GRADE METALS | -41.6667 | -89.3939 | 0.007 | $3,170,565.00 |
WML | WOOMERA MINING | -45 | -96.7 | 0.038 | $3,719,246.25 |