This Dividend Stock Has Tripled in 2025: Is It Too Late to Buy Now?

Core Viewpoint - Gold prices have surged this year, significantly benefiting gold mining companies, particularly AngloGold Ashanti (AU), which has seen its stock price more than triple [1] Group 1: Gold Price Drivers - Structural drivers such as central bank buying are supporting the ongoing rally in gold prices [2] - The dovish stance of the Federal Reserve, including a 25 basis point rate cut in September, has increased investor appetite for gold [3] - Fears of a government shutdown have further fueled the demand for gold as a safe-haven asset [3] Group 2: AngloGold Ashanti Performance - AU stock has outperformed most peers, with a year-to-date gain of approximately 140% as of August [5] - The company has a generous dividend policy, currently paying a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, with a commitment to distribute 50% of its free cash flow annually [6] - An interim dividend of $0.80 was announced during the Q2 earnings call, which included the base dividend and a true-up payment to meet the 50% free cash flow commitment [7]