Barnes (US:B) ZACKS·2025-09-10 15:15Core Viewpoint - Barrick Mining Corporation's shares have increased by 27.6% in the past month, primarily due to rising gold prices amid geopolitical and trade uncertainties [1][6] Performance Comparison - Barrick has outperformed the Zacks Mining – Gold industry's increase of 14.3% and the S&P 500's rise of 2.5% in the same period [2] - Competitors such as Newmont Corporation, Kinross Gold Corporation, and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited have seen gains of 10.2%, 17%, and 12.7%, respectively [2] Technical Analysis - Barrick's stock has surpassed its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) and is trading above its 200-day SMA, indicating a long-term uptrend [3][4] Growth Projects - Key growth projects, including Goldrush, Pueblo Viejo plant expansion, Fourmile, Lumwana Super Pit, and Reko Diq, are on track to enhance production [9] - The Goldrush mine aims for 400,000 ounces of annual production by 2028, while the Fourmile project is expected to yield double the grades of Goldrush [10] - The Reko Diq project in Pakistan is projected to produce 460,000 tons of copper and 520,000 ounces of gold annually by the end of 2028 [10] Financial Position - Barrick maintains a strong liquidity position with cash and cash equivalents around $4.8 billion and operating cash flows of approximately $1.3 billion, up 15% year over year [12] - The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in 2024 through dividends and repurchases, with a new share repurchase program authorized for up to $1 billion [12] Gold Price Dynamics - Gold prices have surged 39% this year, driven by trade tensions, expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, and increased central bank purchases [14] - Current gold prices have exceeded $3,600 per ton for the first time, contributing to strong profit margins for Barrick [14] Dividend and Valuation - Barrick offers a dividend yield of 2.1% with a payout ratio of 25%, indicating sustainability [15] - The stock is trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 12.84X, which is a 15.6% discount to the industry average [20] Production Outlook - Barrick expects attributable gold production of 3.15-3.5 million ounces for 2025, a decline from 3.91 million ounces in 2024, primarily due to the suspension of operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto mine [18] - Higher production costs, with cash costs per ounce increasing by 17% and all-in-sustaining costs (AISC) rising by 12% year over year, may impact margins [16][17] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for Barrick have been revised upward, with a projected year-over-year rise of 56.4% for 2025 and 21.8% for 2026 [19] Investment Case - Barrick presents a strong investment case with a solid pipeline of growth projects, healthy financials, and rising gold prices, although high costs and a downbeat production outlook warrant caution [23]