PRECIOUS METALS

Solid quarter for Northern Star

NORTHERN Star Resources has reported quarter-on-quarter improvement in gold production and costs.

Solid quarter for Northern Star

The company reported gold sold of 404,287 ounces at all-in sustaining costs of A$1746 per ounce and all-in costs of $2243/oz.

All three operations performed in line with expectations and achieved positive net mine cashflow after funding capital requirements.

The company is on track to deliver 1.56-1.68Moz of gold at AISC of $1630-1690/oz in FY23, weighted to the current half due to the ramp-up of the Thunderbox mill expansion and grade improvements at Pogo.

Full-year capital expenditure guidance was maintained at $650 million.

December half cash earnings are expected to be $460-475 million, up from $430 million in the previous corresponding period.

Half-year revenue was $1.94 billion while all-in costs for the half were $1.77 billion.

Mine operating cashflow was $591 million while net mine cashflow was $244 million.

Northern Star closed December with cash and bullion of $495 million and net cash of $145 million.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Alex Barkley said it was a solid quarter for Northern Star with gold sold 2% ahead of its estimates and AISC in line.

He said the performance of the Yandal hub was ahead of estimates and offered upside potential to full-year guidance.

"We maintain our view that Northern Star is well-positioned among gold producers to handle any industry cost and labour risks," Barkley said.

"Given the risks we see across the gold sector in Q2, we expect Northern Star's in-line Q2 result may prove to be among the stronger this result period."

Northern Star shares are up by nearly 11% so far this year and last traded slightly higher at $12.09, giving the company a market capitalisation of more than $13.8 billion.

RBC maintained an outperform rating and price target of $12.25.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

editions

MiningNews.net Research Report 2024

Access a multi-pronged tool to identify critical risks and opportunities in Australia’s mining industry.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.