Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Increases Stake in Royal Gold, Inc.

On November 29, 2024, it was reported that Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. has increased its ownership in Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD) by 0.3% during the third quarter of the year. Following this transaction, the firm now holds a total of 479,140 shares of the basic materials company, having purchased an additional 1,641 shares during the reporting period. The value of Charles Schwab's stake in Royal Gold is approximately $67.22 million as of the latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In the competitive landscape of institutional investment, several other hedge funds have also recently adjusted their positions in Royal Gold. Advisors Asset Management Inc. established a new stake valued at around $38,000 in the third quarter. Similarly, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired shares worth approximately $49,000 in the same timeframe. Blue Trust Inc. significantly increased its position in Royal Gold by 108.7%, now holding 409 shares worth around $57,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares. Other institutional investors such as Mather Group LLC and Quest Partners LLC also made new acquisitions in Royal Gold during the second and third quarters, respectively. Overall, approximately 83.65% of Royal Gold's stock is currently held by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions

In recent insider activity, Director William M. Hayes sold 1,984 shares of Royal Gold on November 8, bringing in a total of $291,747. Following this sale, Hayes holds 9,268 shares valued at about $1.36 million, marking a 17.63% decrease in his ownership. This transaction was officially reported in a filing with the SEC. Additionally, Senior Vice President Daniel Breeze sold 840 shares on September 13, receiving $120,481 from the sale, which reflects a 4.75% decrease in his ownership. Breeze now retains 16,842 shares valued at $2.42 million. Insiders currently own about 0.52% of Royal Gold’s shares.

Analyst Ratings and Price Predictions

Market analysts have shared varying opinions on Royal Gold stock recently. Jefferies Financial Group has updated its target price on Royal Gold from $141.00 to $154.00, maintaining a “hold” rating. Raymond James also raised its price target from $184.00 to $186.00, recommending an “outperform” rating for the stock. TD Securities increased its prediction from $181.00 to $185.00, advising to “buy” the stock. Other firms like Scotiabank and StockNews.com have also provided favorable ratings and price forecasts. Currently, the consensus rating for Royal Gold is “Hold” with an average price target of $165.43.

Price Movement and Performance

As of last Friday, shares of NASDAQ:RGLD opened at $145.67. The stock's average prices over the past 50 and 200 days stand at $145.34 and $136.93, respectively. Over the past year, Royal Gold's stock has fluctuated between a low of $100.55 and a high of $155.10. The company's market capitalization is approximately $9.58 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.41.

In its latest earnings report released on November 6, Royal Gold reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.47, exceeding the expectations of $1.34. The company generated revenue of $193.84 million for the quarter, surpassing the estimated $184.12 million. On a year-over-year basis, Royal Gold's revenue rose by 39.8%, reflecting significant growth compared to the same quarter last year when it posted an EPS of $0.76. Analysts forecast that Royal Gold will announce an EPS of 5.13 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Increase Announcement

Royal Gold has recently declared an increase in its quarterly dividend. The next payment of $0.45 per share is scheduled for January 17, 2025, with the record date set for January 3. This marks an annual dividend of $1.80, yielding approximately 1.24%, up from the previous dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date is also on January 3, reflecting a payout ratio of 41.28%.

About Royal Gold, Inc.

Royal Gold, Inc. focuses on acquiring and managing interests in precious metals streams and royalties. The company primarily engages in purchasing stream and royalty interests to finance various projects that are either in production, development, or exploration stages, covering a wide range of metals including gold, silver, copper, nickel, zinc, and lead.

Investment, Stake, RoyalGold