Stock Pickers Digest, in its May, 2015, issue, says hold AuRico Gold Inc., recently $4.15. Stock Pickers said buy once -- in February, 2014, at $5.05. A $1,000 investment would now be worth $821. AuRico has agreed to merge with Alamos Gold Inc. AuRico owns the Young-Davidson mine in Northern Ontario, which holds as much as 5.6 million ounces of gold. The mine started up in 2013 and will reach full production in 2016. The company will face increasing costs as it movies from open-pit mining to underground mining. Alamos owns the Mulatos mine in Mexico, but its main asset is its $358-million cash holding. The merged entity will use that cash to finance Young-Davidson and increase the combined gold production from 400,000 ounces this year to 700,000 in 2018. Shareholders of AuRico and Alamos will each own 50 per cent of the new firm. Competing bids from majors may emerge from interest in the attractive but underfinanced Young-Davidson mine. Whether or not new offers come up, AuRico is a hold for now.