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Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?

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Have you been paying attention to shares of Kinross Gold (KGC - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 9.7% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $10.82 in the previous session. Kinross Gold has gained 77.7% since the start of the year compared to the 0.6% move for the Zacks Basic Materials sector and the 32.3% return for the Zacks Mining - Gold industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on July 31, 2024, Kinross Gold reported EPS of $0.14 versus consensus estimate of $0.13.

For the current fiscal year, Kinross Gold is expected to post earnings of $0.64 per share on $4.84 billion in revenues. This represents a 45.45% change in EPS on a 14.18% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $0.87 per share on $4.82 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 36.63% and -0.42%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

Kinross Gold may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Kinross Gold has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and D, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 16.8X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 15.9X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 8.7X versus its peer group's average of 10.8X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 0.57. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Kinross Gold currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Kinross Gold passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Kinross Gold shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.

How Does KGC Stack Up to the Competition?

Shares of KGC have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Iamgold Corporation (IAG - Free Report) . IAG has a Zacks Rank of # 2 (Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of B, and a Momentum Score of A.

Earnings were strong last quarter. Iamgold Corporation beat our consensus estimate by 100%, and for the current fiscal year, IAG is expected to post earnings of $0.53 per share on revenue of $1.67 billion.

Shares of Iamgold Corporation have gained 8.5% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 11.23X and a P/CF of 10.82X.

The Mining - Gold industry is in the top 6% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for KGC and IAG, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.


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