The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) index fell by 58.6 points at the close of the week on Friday afternoon, or 0.7% to 8769.7 points. For the year the index is 5.72% higher.
Although, thanks to this year's gold price rally, the annual gains from some gold mining stocks have significantly outperformed the index over the past 12 months.
Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) shares ended the week 1.83% lower at $6.44 a piece. Over the past month the shares have climbed 3.04% and they're now a massive 149.61% for the year to date.
That means that $10,000 invested in Regis Resources at the start of 2025 is now worth a huge $20,961.
The gold production and exploration company, which is based in Western Australia (WA), owns the Duketon Gold Project in the North Eastern Goldfields of WA and owns 30% of the Tropicana Gold Mine, on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert in WA.
The ASX 200 gold miner also fully owns the proposed McPhillamys Gold Project in Central Western New South Wales, which has been touted as one of Australia's largest undeveloped open-pit gold mines. The project is currently going through the development application process. If approved, the mine should produce around 2 million ounces of gold.
What pushed Regis Resources' share price higher this year?
The miner is benefitting from a rocketing gold price, combined with its own impressive financial results.
Regis recently published its quarterly report to the ASX, which showed the company generated $447 million in revenue from gold sales at an average realised price of $5,405 per ounce.
That was significantly higher than the $296 million generated in the same quarter last year, when the company received $3,717 per ounce of gold it sold.
The company also said it had cash and bullion worth $675 million at the end of the September quarter, up $158 million over the three-month period.
Is there more to come from the ASX 200 gold miner?
Analysts seem to think so.
Bell Potter assigned a buy rating and $7.05 price target on Regis Resources shares, commenting that the company is "rolling in dough". At the time of writing, this suggests a potential upside of 9.5% for investors over the next 12 months.
The broker added that Regis Resources' fully unhedged exposure to the gold price means that it is generating significant cash flow right now. This is expected to strengthen the company's balance sheet, providing flexibility growth and shareholder returns.
UBS also has a buy rating on the stock, with a $7.25 price target, which suggests a slightly higher potential 12.6% upside for investors over the next 12 months.
Macquarie analysts are a little more conservative. They have a neutral rating and 12-month price target of $6.80 on the stock, which implies a potential upside of 5.6% at the time of writing.
