Expand Energy Shares Rise 4% as Natural Gas Prices Surge 25%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AU?
Source: CNBC
- Natural Gas Surge: Natural gas prices soared 25% to $3.89 per million British thermal units on Tuesday, marking the best single-day performance in four years, which is expected to drive heating demand up across the U.S. and boost Expand Energy's shares by over 4%.
- Gold Mining Rally: With gold prices hitting a fresh record high above $4,700 per troy ounce, gold mining stocks surged, with IAMGOLD rising over 15%, Anglogold Ashanti gaining nearly 7%, and Gold Fields increasing by 6%, indicating strong market demand and renewed investor confidence in the sector.
- Intel Stock Upgrade: Intel shares rose more than 5% after Seaport Research upgraded the stock from neutral to buy, setting a price target of $65, implying nearly a 40% upside from Friday's close, reflecting optimistic market sentiment regarding its future growth potential.
- 3M Earnings Miss: 3M's stock fell 7% following its latest earnings report, projecting adjusted earnings between $8.50 and $8.70 per share, below the FactSet consensus estimate of $8.64, despite beating earnings expectations in Q4, highlighting ongoing challenges for the company.
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Analyst Views on AU
Wall Street analysts forecast AU stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 106.170
Low
92.00
Averages
116.20
High
131.00
Current: 106.170
Low
92.00
Averages
116.20
High
131.00
About AU
AngloGold Ashanti plc is a global gold mining company with a diverse portfolio of operations, projects and exploration activities in 10 countries, across four continents. The Company’s diverse portfolio includes approximately 11 operations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ghana, Guinea and Tanzania. The Company’s portfolio includes Africa, the Americas, and Australia. Its Africa portfolio includes Kibali- managed by Barrick Gold Corporation, Egypt (Sukari), Ghana (Iduapriem and Obuasi), Guinea (Siguiri) and Tanzania (Geita). The Americas hosts three of its operations, one in Argentina and two in Brazil, as well as two greenfield projects in Colombia and a significant new greenfield development in Nevada in the United States. Australia hosts two of its operations, which include Sunrise Dam and Tropicana, both in the north-eastern goldfields in the state of Western Australia.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Strong Economic Data: US December capital goods new orders rose 0.6% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.3%, indicating a rebound in capital spending and boosting market confidence in economic recovery.
- Housing Market Recovery: December housing starts increased by 6.2% month-over-month to 1.404 million, significantly exceeding expectations of 1.304 million, suggesting a revival in the real estate market that could drive growth in related sectors.
- Manufacturing Production Growth: January manufacturing production rose 0.6% month-over-month, beating expectations of 0.4%, marking the largest increase in 11 months, which indicates a recovery momentum in manufacturing that may further propel economic growth.
- Optimistic Corporate Earnings: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies reported earnings that exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, which will further boost market sentiment and attract investor interest.
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- Strong Economic Data: US December capital goods new orders rose 0.6% month-over-month, exceeding expectations of 0.3%, indicating a rebound in capital spending that could further boost stock markets.
- Housing Market Recovery: December housing starts increased by 6.2% month-over-month to 1.404 million, significantly surpassing the expected 1.304 million, suggesting a recovery in the real estate market that may enhance investment confidence in related sectors.
- Manufacturing Production Growth: January manufacturing production rose 0.6% month-over-month, beating expectations of 0.4%, marking the largest increase in 11 months, which could strengthen market confidence in economic recovery.
- Optimistic Corporate Earnings: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies reported earnings that exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, reflecting ongoing improvements in corporate profitability that may further drive stock market gains.
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- Market Performance Fluctuates: On Tuesday, the S&P 500 rose by 0.10%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.07%, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.13%, indicating a mixed market recovery from early losses, with the Nasdaq 100 hitting a 2.75-month low, reflecting investor caution towards tech stocks.
- Apple Product Launch Boost: Apple shares surged over 3% after announcing a product launch on March 4, with several new devices expected in the coming weeks, which not only boosted Apple's market performance but also generated positive sentiment across the tech sector.
- Airline Stocks Rally: Airline stocks showed strong performance on Tuesday, led by a 6% increase in Southwest Airlines after UBS upgraded its rating from neutral to buy with a price target of $73, which not only enhanced the overall performance of airline stocks but also contributed to a more optimistic market outlook.
- Mixed Economic Data: The U.S. February NAHB housing market index unexpectedly fell to a 5-month low of 36, below the expected 38, while the February Empire manufacturing survey slightly declined to 7.1, indicating uncertainty in economic recovery, as the market remains focused on upcoming corporate earnings and economic news.
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Economic Growth: The economy has seen a growth of 2.3% recently, indicating a positive trend in economic performance.
Water Rates: Water rates have increased by 2%, reflecting rising costs in essential services.
Mining Sector: The barrick mining sector has added 1.9% to the economy, showcasing its contribution to overall growth.
Gold Prices: Harmony Gold has experienced a rise of 2.3%, highlighting the ongoing demand and value in the gold market.
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