Barrick Mining

The business

Barrick (renamed Barrick Mining; NYSE ticker 'B', TSX still ABX) is one of the world's largest gold producers, with a growing copper arm. Core assets span Nevada (the Nevada Gold Mines JV with Newmont), the Dominican Republic (Pueblo Viejo), Africa and the Middle East, plus large copper-gold development projects (Reko Diq in Pakistan, Lumwana expansion in Zambia).

The strategy pairs tier-one gold operations with a deliberate build-out of copper exposure, positioning Barrick as a diversified precious-and-base-metals producer rather than pure gold.

The moat

Scale and a portfolio of genuine tier-one, long-life orebodies (Nevada, Pueblo Viejo) provide low-cost, multi-decade production that is nearly impossible to replicate.

The copper optionality (Reko Diq, Lumwana) adds a second growth vector. The offset is that Barrick's moat is partly diluted by exposure to higher-risk jurisdictions, which is precisely why it trades at a discount to peers like Agnico.

Financial snapshot

Most recent reported period : Q1 2026 (ended Mar 31, 2026), reported May 11, 2026. Figures reflect the review date — confirm current numbers before acting.

Free cash flow yield & sustainable growth

Free cash flow yield : ≈6.3% (est.)TTM free cash flow US$3.86B (operating cash flow US$7.72B − capex US$3.86B) ÷ market cap US$61.5B ≈ 6.3%.

Sustainable growth hinges on the copper pipeline — Reko Diq and the Lumwana super-pit expansion — plus steady tier-one gold cash flow. These projects consume heavy capex now (TTM capex US$3.86B) in exchange for growth later.

Current FCF is strong and buoyed by high gold prices; Barrick is using it to fund a US$3B buyback and dividends. The reinvestment-heavy phase means near-term FCF growth is partly a gold-price story while the copper capex weighs on the medium term.

See the full free-cash-flow yield ranking →

Valuation & what to watch

At ~10.6x earnings and a ~6.3% TTM free-cash-flow yield, Barrick is the cheapest of the senior gold majors — and the discount is rational, reflecting jurisdiction risk (Mali dispute history, Pakistan/Zambia development exposure) and a longer-dated copper capex program. For value-oriented investors this is the highest FCF yield among the large-cap precious names, but it comes with the most 'hair.'

Dividend

A base dividend (US$0.175/quarter declared in Q1 2026) plus a performance-linked component, yielding ~2.4% on trailing payouts — the highest yield of the senior gold group — supplemented by a US$3B share-buyback authorization.

Risks & the bear case

• Jurisdiction/geopolitical risk is the defining concern — assets and projects in Mali, Pakistan and Zambia carry elevated permitting, tax and security risk.
• Large copper-development capex (Reko Diq, Lumwana) pressures near-term free cash flow and carries execution risk.
• Gold- and copper-price sensitivity dominates earnings.
• Cost inflation across all-in sustaining costs.
• Reserve replacement and the JV structure at Nevada Gold Mines limit full operational control.

Recent developments

Q1 2026 (reported May 11, 2026) saw gold production and financial results exceed guidance, with EBITDA and free cash flow surging year-over-year. Barrick announced a US$3B buyback and a US$0.175/share dividend. Q2 2026 results are due Aug 10, 2026.

Verdict

The value option in senior gold: cheapest multiple, highest FCF yield and highest dividend among the majors — but you are paid to take on jurisdiction and copper-execution risk that Agnico and the streamers avoid. The thesis works if gold and copper stay firm, the buyback shrinks the share count, and Reko Diq/Lumwana deliver without political incident. It fails if a jurisdiction dispute flares or copper capex overruns while metal prices soften. A rational contrarian holding, not a low-risk one. Publisher, not an adviser.