Australia | 10:42 AM
New broker research on Northern Star Resources highlights production growth from current investment along with a rising dividend profile.
-Northern Star is now the largest solely ASX-listed gold miner
-Analysts positive on growth from the KCGM expansion, plus rising dividends
-Strong balance sheet lends sector-leading M&A capability
-Potential for special dividends, suggests Canaccord Genuity
By Mark Woodruff
Both Bell Potter and Morgans have over the last week initiated research coverage on gold miner Northern Star Resources ((NST)) with Buy (or equivalent) ratings at an average 12-month target price of $17.20.
A higher-than-expected FY24 dividend has generally boosted confidence the company can both fund an exciting growth profile and keep growing dividend payments for loyal shareholders.
Following the removal of Newcrest Mining from the ASX, Northern Star is the largest solely ASX-listed gold mining company and compares well to similar international peers, highlights Bell Potter.
Providing upside potential, the current $1.5bn KCGM mill expansion is targeting over 900koz of production per year.
Apart from the benefit of an ongoing strong gold price, Morgans anticipates KCGM will become a globally significant asset once its expansion has been completed.
Mining exclusively in advanced first world economies, the company operates and wholly owns the KCGM, Kalgoorlie and Yandal operations, as well as Pogo in Alaska.
This broker forecasts production in Western Australia and North America will grow to 2m ounces from around 1.6moz by FY26 before increasing to between 2-2.2moz per year following the KCGM expansion.
Gold is produced from three productions centres, with six different operations, thereby lowering the negative impact of any production asset disruptions and diversifying asset risk, highlights Bell Potter.
The main KCGM operations (Kalgoorlie Production Centre) located adjacent to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia accounts for 65% of the broker's $17.50 valuation/target price.
Transitioning from a leading mid-tier producer, Northern Star has registered cumulative two-year growth in earnings, profit and dividend payout of 40%, 225% and 53%, respectively, highlights Morgans.
Certainly, the share price has been strong over that period, doubling from lows of around $7.00, but is still around -7.50% shy of the average target price of seven covering brokers in the FNArena database.
Due to an attractive cost base, operating margins are well leveraged to the rising price of gold, suggests Morgans. Inflationary pressures may have peaked but remain sticky, spurring demand for the inflation hedge, while Central bank purchasing has added to demand.
On top of these factors, the analysts note potential for escalating geopolitical tensions is playing to gold's safe haven status, while upcoming US rate cuts may be a tailwind for the gold price as the US dollar could weaken and funds flow out of bonds into alternative asset classes.
Production remains modestly hedged, suggests Morgans, with 1.8moz at an average price of $3,122/oz.
Growing production and forecast earnings, as well as a low debt position combine to create a sector-leading M&A capability for assets that fit management's target criteria, explains Bell Potter.
Importantly, the company's producing assets are supported by a large ore reserve of 431mt at 1.5g/t of gold containing 20.9m oz of gold. It's noted the mineral resource base of 1bnt at 1.8g/t of gold containing 61.3moz of gold is also very large.
Capital management
Supporting shareholder returns, management targets dividends of between 20-30% of cash-earnings along with the current $300m share buyback program. Given a strong balance sheet, Canaccord Genuity sees scope for not only M&A activity but also special dividends.
Due to the Saracen Minerals takeover, the company doesn't expect to pay tax until sometime in FY26, so dividends will likely be unfranked for at least the next 18 months, Bell Potter suggests.
Northern Star closed FY24 with $358m net cash.
A final dividend of 25 cents was declared following in-line results and unchanged FY25 production guidance, and the total FY24 dividend of 40 cents beat the consensus expectation by 14%.
FY24 cash tax was materially lower-than-expected by Macquarie, providing a boost to 'cash earnings' (driver of the dividend policy) and is the primary reason behind this broker's 10% lift to its FY25 dividend expectations.
The image below relates to Northern Star's Pogo operations in Alaska.
KCGM explained
The full story is for FNArena subscribers only. To read the full story plus enjoy a free two-week trial to our service SIGN UP HERE
If you already had your free trial, why not join as a paying subscriber? CLICK HERE