JOHANNESBURG - Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (NYSE: HMY) shares climbed 9% to $4.87 in premarket trading Today, following the announcement of a robust fiscal first quarter performance. The South African gold miner reported a significant increase in gold production and a reduction in costs, leading to a notable 31% rise in the company's stock since the start of the year.
In the July-September quarter, Harmony Gold saw its gold production escalate by 17%, with nearly all operations contributing to this growth. Notably, South African underground mines exhibited an 18% improvement in grade, alongside a strong output from the Hidden Valley mine. These advancements have propelled the company's revenue up by a third, reaching ZAR14.8 million ($793 million).
Efficiency measures have also played a key role in Harmony's financial uplift. The miner successfully brought down its costs through the utilization of lower-cost surface treatment production methods and by leveraging higher silver and uranium by-product credits.
Looking ahead, Harmony Gold remains confident in its operational targets, reiterating its full-year gold production forecast of between 1.38 and 1.48 million ounces. Furthermore, the company aims to maintain its All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) below ZAR975,000 per kilogram.
Investors have responded positively to these developments, signaling confidence in Harmony's strategic direction and its ability to maintain momentum in a challenging market environment. The company's focus on increasing efficiency while boosting production levels appears to be paying dividends as it navigates the volatile gold market.
Technical Analysis
Price Momentum
HMY is trading in the middle of its 52-week range and above its 200-day simple moving average.
What does this mean?
Investors are still evaluating the share price, but the stock still appears to have some upward momentum. This is a positive sign for the stock's future value.