Barrick Mining vs. Newmont: Which Gold Giant Is the Better Bet Now?

Core Insights - Barrick Mining Corporation and Newmont Corporation are two leading gold mining companies with extensive global operations and diversified portfolios, making them relevant for investors in the precious metals sector [1] - Gold prices have reached record highs, driven by global economic uncertainties and increased central bank reserves, with prices currently above $3,400 per ounce and up over 30% year-to-date [2] Barrick Mining Corporation - Barrick has made a strong recovery in 2025 after a challenging 2024, benefiting from rising gold prices and advancing key growth projects [4][5] - Major projects include Goldrush, Fourmile, and Reko Diq, which are expected to significantly enhance production capacity [6][8] - Barrick's liquidity position is robust, with cash and cash equivalents around $4.1 billion and operating cash flows of approximately $1.2 billion in Q1 2025, reflecting a 59% year-over-year increase [8][9] - The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in 2024 and has a new share repurchase program authorized for up to $1 billion [9][10] - Barrick's stock has increased by 40.3% year-to-date, with a projected EPS growth of 54.8% [10][16] Newmont Corporation - Newmont is strategically investing in growth projects such as Tanami Expansion 2 and Ahafo North, which are expected to enhance production and profitability [12] - The acquisition of Newcrest Mining has strengthened Newmont's portfolio, generating $500 million in annual run-rate synergies [13] - Newmont has divested non-core assets, raising approximately $470 million and anticipating $3 billion in after-tax cash proceeds from its 2025 divestiture program [14][15] - The company reported liquidity of $8.8 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $4.7 billion, and generated a record free cash flow of $1.2 billion in Q1 2025 [15] - Newmont's stock has risen 65.8% year-to-date, with a projected EPS growth of 33.9% [10][25] Valuation and Performance Comparison - Barrick is trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 9.88X, which is a 20.7% discount compared to the industry average of 12.46X [19] - Newmont's forward earnings multiple is 12.70X, indicating a premium over Barrick [21] - Both companies have a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), but Barrick is viewed as having a more attractive valuation and higher growth projections, making it a potentially better investment option [26][27]