Royal Gold Reports Record Earnings for the First Quarter and a Strong Start to 2025

2025-05-07

TSX - Toronto Stock Exchange · Gold · Silver · Canada

Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) (together with its subsidiaries, “Royal Gold,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) reports net income of $113.5 million, or $1.72 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, ("first quarter") on revenue of $193.4 million and operating cash flow of $136.4 million. Adjusted net income 1 was $99.8 million, or $1.51 per share.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights:

Record earnings of $113.5 million on revenue of $193.4 million , and operating cash flow of $136.4 million Revenue split: 75% gold , 12% silver , 9% copper Sales volume of 67,600 GEOs 2 Sustained high adjusted EBITDA margin 1 of 82% Total available liquidity increased to $1.25 billion Paid quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share , a 12.5% increase over the prior year period Entered into additional Xavantina gold stream agreement Achieved full repayment of Rainy River advance stream deposit

_“Our first quarter results were strong and provided an excellent start to 2025,” commented Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold . “Underlying performance from our portfolio interests was in line with our expectations for relatively soft production, but this was more than offset by a very strong and steadily-rising gold price through the first quarter. Although the outlook for economic conditions remains uncertain with generally elevated volatility in the markets, our diversified portfolio, strong balance sheet and ample liquidity provide a stable foundation for us to continue delivering solid results for shareholders." _

| 1 | Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share and adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See Schedule A of this press release for additional information, including a detailed description of adjustments to net income. | | 2 | See Schedule A of this press release for additional information about gold equivalent ounces, or GEOs. |

Recent Portfolio Developments

Principal Property Updates

Notable recent updates as reported by the operators of our Principal Properties include:

2025 Production Guidance Confirmed and Mine Extension Project Continues at Mount Milligan

On May 6, 2025, Centerra Gold Inc. ("Centerra") reported that the site-wide optimization program continues to progress and it is maintaining 2025 production guidance at the Mount Milligan mine in British Columbia. Centerra expects 2025 gold production to range between 165,000 and 185,000 ounces, and copper production to range between 50 and 60 million pounds, with production of both metals to be weighted toward the second half of the year. 2024 gold and copper production was 167,600 ounces and 54.3 million pounds, respectively.

Centerra also reported that a Pre-feasibility Study (“PFS”) to evaluate the substantial mineral resources to unlock additional value beyond the current mine life is on track to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. According to Centerra, it is optimistic that the mine life can be extended beyond the current mine life of approximately 2036, which is based on the available space in the existing tailings storage facility. Centerra also reported that it is evaluating options for additional tailings capacity and expects that the PFS will incorporate an increase in annual mill throughput in the range of 10% through ball mill motor upgrades and additional downstream flowsheet improvements, which may also improve overall metal recovery.

2025 Guidance Unchanged and Progress Continues on Long Term Projects at Cortez

On May 7, 2025, Barrick Mining Corporation ("Barrick") reported that 2025 gold production guidance of approximately 680,000 to 765,000 ounces (100% basis) is unchanged at the Cortez Complex in Nevada. This guidance compares to 2024 gold production of 722,000 ounces. We estimate our overall average royalty rate on this production to be approximately 3.1% for 2025.

Additionally, Barrick reported continued progress at the various projects underway at Cortez. At Goldrush, the sinking of the first of eight ventilation shafts and the installation of underground primary fans were completed, which enable increased mining rates. At the Fourmile project, the exploration drilling campaign to define the orebody and delineate the overall footprint commenced, and the pre-feasibility study is expected to start in 2025. At the Hanson project, exploration drilling is focused on the Birch target for 2025, and at the Swift project, exploration results have extended the footprint of anomalous gold mineralization 900 meters to the south.

Higher Gold Production in 2025 Expected at Andacollo

For the first quarter, Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") reported gold production of 7,400 ounces, compared to 3,400 ounces in the prior year period, at the Andacollo mine in Chile. Teck expects gold production for 2025 to range between 35,000 and 39,000 ounces compared to actual gold production of 20,800 ounces in 2024. The expected increase is primarily driven by higher mill throughput due to increased water availability, which was impacted by drought conditions throughout much of 2024. Royal Gold typically receives stream deliveries approximately 5 months after mine production.

2025 Guidance Unchanged and Mine Life Extension Project Advancing at Pueblo Viejo

On May 7, 2025, Barrick reported that 2025 gold production guidance of 370,000 to 410,000 ounces for its 60% share of Pueblo Viejo in the Dominican Republic is unchanged after completing a 35-day shutdown for debottlenecking work on the expanded plant in the first quarter of the year. This guidance compares to 2024 gold production of 352,000 ounces.

Barrick also provided a progress update on the mine life extension project, where activity is focused on housing, resettlement and the El Naranjo tailings storage facility. The housing project continues with 220 homes constructed and 18 families resettled. Engineering work is ongoing for the tailings storage facility and the overall schedule remains on track to have the starter dam completed ahead of the existing El Llagal dam reaching capacity.

Other Property Updates

Notable recent updates as reported by the operators of other select portfolio assets include:

Producing Properties

Granite Creek (3% NSR and 2.94% NSR royalties): In March, 2025, i-80 Gold Corp. ("i-80") announced the results of separate preliminary economic assessments ("PEAs") on the Granite Creek open pit and underground projects in Nevada. According to i-80, the underground operation is currently producing and is ramping up to full production of 60,000 ounces per year over an eight-year mine life, and a feasibility study is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2025 that includes an updated operational plan and results from new drilling in the South Pacific Zone. Also according to i-80, the open pit is targeted to produce approximately 130,000 ounces per year over a ten-year mine life with an updated feasibility study targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Khoemac a u (100% silver stream): MMG Limited ("MMG") provided guidance to Royal Gold that 2025 silver production is expected to range from 1.3 to 1.5 million ounces at the Khoemacau mine in Botswana, which compares to 2024 actual production of approximately 1.3 million ounces. Further, on April 24, 2025, MMG provided an update on the expansion project, and disclosed that early works (including camp and road construction, land acquisition and personnel recruitment) have commenced, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026 subject to the outcomes of a feasibility study currently underway.

Peñasquito (2% NSR royalty): On April 24, 2025, Newmont Corporation ("Newmont") reported a new daily production record at the Peñasquito mine in Mexico, with 10,000 gold equivalent ounces produced in a single day. Newmont further reported that high grades in the Peñasco pit resulted in strong gold production and steady co-product production in the first quarter. Newmont expects gold production levels to remain relatively steady through the second quarter before beginning to shift to a higher proportion of silver, lead and zinc content, and a lower proportion of gold, through the third and fourth quarters.

Rainy River (6.5% gold stream, 60% silver stream): On February 13, 2025, New Gold Inc. (“New Gold”) provided 2025 gold production guidance for the Rainy River mine in Ontario of 265,000 to 295,000 ounces, with the first half of 2025 expected to represent approximately 37% of the annual production due to waste stripping in the first quarter. This compares to 2024 gold production of approximately 225,700 ounces. New Gold also filed an updated National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report for Rainy River, which indicates a gold production profile averaging approximately 300,000 ounces per year over the next three years, an extension of the open pit to 2028, steady state production from the underground by 2027, and a nine-year mine life.

Red Chris (1% NSR royalty): On April 24, 2025, Newmont, 70% owner and operator of the Red Chris mine in British Columbia, confirmed that the block cave development project is a priority within the Newmont portfolio. According to Newmont, feasibility study work is underway this year, and underground development to support the block cave is ongoing in addition to engagement with First Nations communities.

Ruby Hill (3% NSR royalty): In February, 2025, i-80 announced the results of separate PEAs on the Archimedes and Mineral Point projects on the Ruby Hill property in Nevada. The Archimedes PEA outlines a high-grade underground gold mine producing approximately 100,000 ounces per year over a ten-year mine life. i-80 disclosed that it is preparing to begin underground development work at Archimedes in the second quarter of 2025 while continuing exploration, and is expecting to complete a feasibility study in 2028. With respect to Mineral Point, the PEA envisions a large open pit heap leach gold mine producing approximately 280,000 gold equivalent ounces per year with a 16.5-year mine life. i-80 reported that it is advancing baseline studies and drilling at Mineral Point to complete a feasibility study in 2029 with first production targeted in 2031.

Wharf (2% GSR royalty): On February 19, 2025, Coeur Mining, Inc. ("Coeur") provided 2025 gold production guidance for the Wharf mine in South Dakota of 90,000 to 100,000 ounces, which compares to 2024 production of 98,000 ounces. Additionally, on February 18, 2025, Coeur announced that year-end 2024 measured and indicated gold resources more than doubled and inferred gold resources more than tripled over the prior year, which Coeur believes will position Wharf for significant mine life extensions as infill drilling accelerates in 2025.

Development and Evaluation Properties

Back River (equivalent ~3.3% GSR royalty on the Goose Project): On March 27, 2025, B2Gold Corp. ("B2Gold") announced the results of an updated NI 43-101 report for the Back River project in Nunavut. According to B2Gold, the mineral reserve mine life is expected to be 9 years, and gold production is targeted at approximately 300,000 ounces per year for the first six years of production from 2026 through 2031. Additionally, B2Gold is expecting to finalize a study in late 2025 or early 2026 to evaluate an increase in mill throughput from 4,000 tonnes per day to potentially 6,000 tonnes per day. According to B2Gold, the existing mineral resource inventory combined with gold mineralization prospectivity across the project land package could sustain a mill throughput of over 6,000 tonnes per day over a mine life in excess of the existing reserve mine life.

Great Bear (2% NSR royalty): On February 13, 2025, Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") provided an update on the Great Bear project in Ontario. Kinross reported that the early works for the Advanced Exploration Program had commenced and construction of the exploration decline is expected to start in late 2025. Additionally, permitting, engineering and engagement with First Nations communities is underway. Kinross also disclosed that the exploration focus in 2025 has shifted from deep underground resource drilling to regional exploration work with the goal of identifying new open pit and underground deposits.

Portfolio Additions

Additional Stream Interest Acquired on the Xavantina Mine in Mato Grosso, Brazil

On March 28, 2025, our wholly-owned subsidiary, RGLD Gold AG, entered into an additional precious metals purchase agreement (“Additional Stream”) with Ero Gold Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ero Copper Corp., and certain of its affiliates, for gold produced from the Xavantina mine for an advance payment of $50 million. The Additional Stream is incremental to the existing precious metals purchase agreement between the parties dated June 29, 2021 (“Base Stream”), and significantly extends the area of interest.

As of March 31, 2025, 46,544 ounces of gold have been delivered under the Base Stream at a cash purchase price of 20% of the spot gold price for each ounce delivered, which will increase to 40% of the spot gold price for each ounce delivered upon the delivery of 49,000 ounces.

When considered with the Base Stream, the Additional Stream effectively increases the threshold for stream deliveries at the current 25% stream rate from 93,000 ounces to 160,000 ounces, with the additional deliveries to be payable at a cash price of 40% of the spot gold price.

The purchase price was funded with available cash on hand.

First Quarter 2025 Overview

For the first quarter, we recorded record net income and comprehensive income of $113.5 million, or $1.72 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net income of $47.2 million, or $0.72 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in net income was primarily attributable to higher revenue and lower tax expense, as discussed below.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we recognized total revenue of $193.4 million, comprised of stream revenue of $122.5 million and royalty revenue of $71.0 million at an average gold price of $2,860 per ounce, an average silver price of $31.88 per ounce and an average copper price of $4.24 per pound. This is compared to total revenue of $148.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, comprised of stream revenue of $102.5 million and royalty revenue of $46.4 million, at an average gold price of $2,070 per ounce, an average silver price of $23.34 per ounce and an average copper price of $3.83 per pound.

The increase in our total revenue resulted primarily from higher average gold, silver and copper prices compared to the prior period. Higher gold sales from Pueblo Viejo and higher gold and zinc production from Peñasquito also contributed to the increase. These increases were partially offset by lower production from Cortez and lower gold sales from Xavantina when compared to the prior year period.

Cost of sales, which excludes depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A"), increased to $24.5 million for the first quarter, from $21.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase, when compared to the prior year period, was primarily due to higher gold, silver and copper prices and higher gold sales from Pueblo Viejo. Cost of sales is specific to our stream agreements and, except for Mount Milligan, is the result of our purchase of metal for a cash payment that is a set contractual percentage of the spot price for that metal near the date of metal delivery. For Mount Milligan, the cash payments under the stream agreement are the lesser of $435 per ounce or the prevailing market price of gold when purchased and 15% of the spot price for copper near the date of metal delivery. Separately, and in addition to the cash payments under the stream agreement, the Mount Milligan Cost Support Agreement provides for cash payments on gold and copper deliveries that are expected to begin after certain thresholds are met or earlier, if metal prices are below certain thresholds and if requested by Centerra. For further detail on the Mount Milligan Cost Support Agreement refer to our 2024 10-K.

General and administrative costs decreased to $11.1 million for the first quarter, from $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower consulting costs offset by higher non-cash stock compensation expense compared to the prior year period.

DD&A decreased to $33.0 million for the first quarter, from $38.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower stream depletion rates as a result of proven and probable mineral reserve increases by our operators, lower gold sales from Xavantina and lower gold production at Cortez compared to the prior year period.

Interest and other expense decreased to $1.2 million for the first quarter, from $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower interest expense as a result of lower average amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility compared to the prior year period. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, there was no outstanding debt compared to average amounts outstanding of $221 million at an average all-in borrowing rate of 6.6% for the prior year period.

For the first quarter, we recorded income tax expense of $10.4 million, compared to $27.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The income tax expense resulted in an effective tax rate of 8.4% in the current period, compared with 36.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The lower income tax expense for the first quarter included a $12.0 million discrete benefit, net of valuation allowance, for additional recoverable basis in foreign jurisdictions and a $1.7 million discrete benefit related to a withholding tax refund on a foreign royalty. The higher income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was primarily attributable to a $13.0 million discrete income tax expense related to the consideration from the Mount Milligan Cost Support Agreement.

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $136.4 million for the first quarter compared to $138.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to cash proceeds of $24.5 million received for the Mount Milligan Cost Support Agreement and $12.0 million of interest from the repayment of the Khoemac a u debt facility in the prior year period and higher income taxes paid in the current period of $8.4 million. This decrease was partially offset by higher net cash proceeds received from our stream and royalty interests of $37.2 million and lower debt cash interest payments of $4.1 million when compared to the prior year period.

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $58.3 million for the first quarter compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $23.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The period over period change was primarily due to the $50 million payment for the acquisition of the additional Xavantina stream in the current period, whereas the prior year included the receipt of $25 million from the repayment of principal on the Khoemac a u subordinated debt facility.

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $32.8 million for the first quarter compared to $128.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to lower debt repayments when compared to the prior year period. This decrease was partially offset by higher dividend payments compared to the prior year period.

Other Corporate Updates

Total Available Liquidity Increased to Approximately $1.25 Billion at the end of the First Quarter

Total liquidity at the end of the first quarter was approximately $1.25 billion, which consisted of $250 million of working capital and $1 billion undrawn and available under the revolving credit facility.

Property Highlights

A breakdown of revenue for the Company’s stream and royalty portfolio can be found on Table 1 for the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024. Table 2 shows stream metal sales and metal sales attributable to the Company’s royalty interests for the Company’s principal stream and royalty properties. Table 3 shows Royal Gold's 2025 sales volume guidance and year to date sales volume achieved. Table 4 shows stream segment purchases and sales for the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024 and inventories at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Highlights at certain of the Company’s principal producing and development properties during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2024, are detailed in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.