Metals and Mining Stocks Underperform on Thursday
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 29 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AU?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Market Decline: On Thursday, metals and mining stocks collectively fell by approximately 4.3%, indicating a weakening market confidence that could adversely affect long-term investor expectations.
- NioCorp Downturn: NioCorp Developments saw its stock price drop by about 15.3%, highlighting increasing challenges for the company that may lead to capital outflows and a decline in market share.
- Critical Metals Struggles: Critical Metals experienced a stock price decrease of around 14.5%, suggesting that the company may face greater operational pressures in the current market environment, impacting its future profitability.
- Uncertain Industry Outlook: The overall weakness in the metals and mining sector may prompt investors to reassess their portfolios, potentially affecting financing and development plans for related companies.
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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: 107.630
Low
92.00
Averages
116.20
High
131.00
Current: 107.630
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.
- Earnings Release Date: AngloGold Ashanti is set to announce its Q3 earnings on February 20 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.94, reflecting a 47% year-over-year increase, which could positively impact the stock price due to improved profitability.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q3 is $2.99 billion, representing a 26.2% year-over-year growth, indicating strong performance in the gold market and further solidifying the company's position in the industry.
- Performance Beat Record: Over the past year, AngloGold Ashanti has beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time and revenue estimates 50% of the time, demonstrating stable performance against market analysts' expectations, which enhances investor confidence.
- Forecast Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions with no downward adjustments, while revenue estimates have had one upward revision, indicating analysts' optimistic outlook on the company's future performance, potentially attracting more investor interest.
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- Interim Dividend Announcement: AngloGold Ashanti has declared an interim dividend of $1.73 per share, reflecting the company's stable cash flow and profitability in the current economic environment, which is likely to attract more investor interest.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 6.43% not only provides shareholders with a substantial return but may also enhance market demand for the company's stock, potentially boosting its price performance.
- Shareholder Record Date: The dividend will be payable on March 27, with a record date of March 13 and an ex-dividend date also on March 13, ensuring that shareholders can receive their earnings promptly, thereby strengthening the trust relationship between the company and its investors.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Following the dividend announcement, market attention on AngloGold Ashanti is expected to increase, especially in light of the company's updated FY26 outlook, prompting investors to closely monitor its future financial performance and strategic direction.
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- Earnings Performance: AngloGold Ashanti reported a Q4 2023 Non-GAAP EPS of $1.90, missing expectations by $0.04, indicating pressure on profitability that may affect investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $3.02 billion, a 76.2% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $30 million, demonstrating strong performance and sales growth in the gold market.
- Future Outlook: Gold production is forecasted to range between 2.80Moz and 3.17Moz in 2026, reflecting the company's confidence in future production capabilities and providing long-term growth potential for investors.
- Cost Projections: Total cash costs per ounce are expected to range from $1,315 to $1,430 in 2026, representing an approximate 11% increase compared to 2025, primarily due to higher royalty costs and inflation, which may pressure profit margins.
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- Significant Earnings Increase: AngloGold Ashanti reported a fourth-quarter net income of $855 million, or $1.68 per share, which is a substantial rise from last year's $470 million and $1.03 per share, indicating strong market performance.
- Robust Adjusted Earnings: Excluding items, the company posted adjusted earnings of $967 million, or $1.90 per share, showcasing the resilience of its core operations and enhanced profitability, which further boosts investor confidence.
- Revenue Surge: The company's revenue for the fourth quarter rose by 75.3% to $3.068 billion from $1.750 billion last year, reflecting a strong recovery in sales and market demand, driving overall performance improvements.
- Positive Market Outlook: The strong financial results from AngloGold Ashanti in the fourth quarter not only enhance its market position but may also attract more investor interest, potentially driving stock price increases and future growth prospects.
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- Record Free Cash Flow: AngloGold Ashanti achieved a record free cash flow of $2.9 billion in 2025, driven by strong production growth and higher gold prices, showcasing the company's excellence in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Historic Dividend Payments: The company declared an interim dividend of $875 million for Q4 2025, bringing the total payout for the year to $1.8 billion, the highest ever, reflecting confidence in future performance and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Significant Gold Production Growth: Gold production increased by 16% year-on-year to 3.1 million ounces in 2025, primarily due to the full-year contribution from the Sukari mine, further solidifying the company's competitive position in the global gold market.
- Improved Safety Performance: The Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) improved to 0.97 in 2025, the lowest in the company's history and well below the industry average of the International Council on Metals and Minerals, demonstrating ongoing efforts in safety management.
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- Significant Free Cash Flow Growth: AngloGold Ashanti achieved a record free cash flow of $2.9 billion in 2025, a 204% increase from the previous year, driven by a 16% rise in gold production and effective cost control, showcasing the company's profitability and cash generation capabilities in a high gold price environment.
- Record Adjusted EBITDA: The adjusted EBITDA for 2025 exceeded $6.3 billion, more than doubling from 2024, reflecting the company's exceptional performance in operational efficiency and cost management, further solidifying its leadership position in the industry.
- Historic Dividend Payments: The company declared a total dividend of $1.8 billion for 2025, the highest ever, demonstrating confidence in future cash flow and operational performance while providing substantial returns to shareholders.
- Improved Safety Performance: The Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) dropped to 0.97 in 2025, the lowest in the company's history, indicating ongoing efforts in safety management and operational execution, enhancing its reputation within the industry.
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