AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from eight brokerages, following recent analyses of the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, this rating indicates a generally positive outlook, as one analyst has rated the stock as a sell, one as a hold, and six have assigned buy ratings.
Analyst Ratings and Price Targets
The average twelve-month price target for AngloGold Ashanti among these brokerages stands at $86.00. Recent reports from various financial institutions highlight differing perspectives on the stock’s potential. For instance, Citigroup raised its target price from $90.00 to $105.00 while maintaining a “buy” rating in a research note dated December 10, 2023.
Meanwhile, HSBC reaffirmed a “reduce” rating with a price objective of $55.00 on October 9, 2023. In contrast, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its target from $128.00 to $131.00, reflecting an “overweight” rating in a report issued on December 3, 2023. Scotiabank also boosted its target price from $90.00 to $92.00 with a “sector outperform” rating on November 12, 2023. Roth Capital similarly raised its price target from $84.00 to $92.00 with a “buy” rating, as noted in their report dated December 15, 2023.
Stock Performance and Financial Overview
On December 12, 2023, AngloGold Ashanti’s stock opened at $91.25. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $22.45 and a high of $91.65. The company currently boasts a market capitalization of $38.30 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.10. Financial metrics indicate a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 2.58, alongside a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.
AngloGold Ashanti recently released its quarterly earnings report on November 12, 2023, revealing earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32. This figure fell short of the consensus estimate of $1.34, with the company reporting revenue of $2.42 billion, compared to an anticipated $2.53 billion. The firm reported a return on equity of 24.01% and a net margin of 26.25%. Analysts project that AngloGold Ashanti will achieve an EPS of 3.83 for the current fiscal year.
Dividend Announcement
In addition to its financial performance, AngloGold Ashanti has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share, which was paid on December 12, 2023. Shareholders of record on November 28, 2023, benefited from this distribution, with the ex-dividend date also set for November 28. This dividend reflects an annualized figure of $3.64, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.0%. The company’s current dividend payout ratio stands at 80.18%.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti is a global leader in gold mining, engaged in exploration, development, production, processing, and the sale of gold. The company emerged in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, establishing itself as a diversified international gold producer. Its operations encompass the entire mining value chain, from initial exploration to ore processing and rehabilitation.
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