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Royal Gold Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose to a record: Revenue rose 142.5% to $469.1 million from $193.4 million a year earlier. Sales volume rose 42.5% to 96,300 GEOs. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached record: Net cash provided by operating activities was $293.6 million, against $136.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and adjusted earnings rose: Net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders was $281.1 million, or $3.30 per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $232.9 million, or $2.72 per share. Source
  • Realized metal prices rose sharply: Realized gold averaged $4,873 per ounce, up 70%. Silver averaged $84.33 per ounce, up 164%, and copper $5.83 per pound, up 38%. Source
  • Repaid $300 million, liquidity near $1.1 billion: The company repaid $300 million on the revolver in the quarter. After a further $75 million repayment in April, $525 million was drawn. Source
  • Board authorized $500 million buyback: The Board approved the program on May 4, 2026, with no obligation to buy a set amount. Management said it is meant for periods when shares differ from intrinsic value. Source
  • Revolver accordion lifts potential capacity to $2.0 billion: The uncommitted accordion could raise total revolver commitments to up to $2.0 billion, subject to customary conditions and each lender's consent. Source

“The record first quarter results reflect the transformative activities we undertook in 2025”

Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Gold sales volume Source2026290,000 - 320,000 ozNew
Silver sales volume Source20263.0 - 3.5 million ozNew
Copper sales volume Source202621.0 - 25.0 million lbNew
Other metals sales Source2026$34 - $38 millionNew
Depreciation, depletion and amortization Source2026$339 - 379 millionNew
Effective tax rate Source202617 - 22%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Royal Gold gave 2026 guidance for metal sales volumes, DD&A and effective tax rate in March 2026. Source
  • New: A $600 million uncommitted accordion feature was added to the $1.4 billion revolving credit facility on May 5, 2026. Source
  • New: The Board approved a $500 million share repurchase program on May 4, 2026. Source
  • New: The Bear Creek restructuring closed on February 26, 2026, with Bear Creek shares exchanged for Highlander shares. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose to a record: Revenue rose 142.5% to $469.1 million from $193.4 million a year earlier. Sales volume rose 42.5% to 96,300 GEOs. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached record: Net cash provided by operating activities was $293.6 million, against $136.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and adjusted earnings rose: Net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders was $281.1 million, or $3.30 per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $232.9 million, or $2.72 per share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 83%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 83%, against 82% in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $391.0 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America stayed the largest region: North America revenue rose to $258.0 million from $140.8 million and was 55% of total revenue, against 73% a year earlier. Source
  • South and Central America and EMEA grew: South and Central America revenue rose to $110.2 million from $22.3 million. EMEA rose to $84.8 million from $22.4 million. Source
  • Kansanshi stream contributed $25.5 million: Kansanshi gold stream revenue was $25.5 million in the quarter, with no comparable revenue in the prior year period. Source
  • Xavantina stream revenue more than quintupled: Xavantina gold stream revenue rose to $28.3 million from $5.4 million a year earlier. Source

“We have a long record of successful capital allocation and growing per share value”

Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold

Metals, prices and revenue mix

  • Realized metal prices rose sharply: Realized gold averaged $4,873 per ounce, up 70%. Silver averaged $84.33 per ounce, up 164%, and copper $5.83 per pound, up 38%. Source
  • Gold share of revenue was 71%: Revenue split by commodity was 71% gold, 16% silver and 10% copper. Silver revenue rose to $73.0 million and copper revenue to $46.7 million. Source
  • Stream share of revenue rose to 67%: Stream revenue was $312.8 million and royalty revenue $156.3 million, a split of 67% and 33%, against 63% and 37% a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Cost of sales rose with stream payments: Cost of sales excluding DD&A rose to $60.3 million, mainly from higher stream payments on higher metal prices and new Kansanshi and Sandstorm sales. Source
  • DD&A rose on acquired streams: DD&A expense rose mainly from depletion on the Kansanshi stream and the Sandstorm and Horizon assets, partly offset by lower Mount Milligan depletion. Source
  • G&A rose on corporate costs: General and administrative costs rose to $17.5 million from $11.1 million, on higher employee costs and corporate costs from the Sandstorm and Horizon acquisition. Source
  • Effective tax rate 8.3% with discrete benefit: The effective tax rate was 8.3%, against 8.4% a year earlier. The quarter included a $33.7 million discrete benefit from a change in foreign tax rate. Source

“Our capital allocation strategy remains unchanged, and we remain committed to paying a growing and sustainable dividend”

Royal Gold Inc., press release

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Repaid $300 million, liquidity near $1.1 billion: The company repaid $300 million on the revolver in the quarter. After a further $75 million repayment in April, $525 million was drawn. Source
  • Revolver borrowings averaged $756.4 million: Average revolver borrowings were $756.4 million at an all-in rate of 5.0%, against no debt a year earlier. Interest and other expense rose to $13.2 million. Source
  • Free cash flow reported at $278.9 million: Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, was $278.9 million, against $78.1 million. It is operating cash flow less acquisitions and Hod Maden cash calls. Source
  • Quarterly dividend up 6% to $0.475: The company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.475 per share, a 6% increase over the prior year period. Source
  • Board authorized $500 million buyback: The Board approved the program on May 4, 2026, with no obligation to buy a set amount. Management said it is meant for periods when shares differ from intrinsic value. Source

Corporate transactions and investment

  • Bear Creek restructuring completed in February: Bear Creek equity and debt were exchanged for Highlander shares at 0.1175 Highlander shares per Bear Creek share. Source
  • Highlander shares sold for $9.9 million gain: The Highlander shares were sold on March 27, 2026. The company now holds a 2.75% NSR on Corani and a 2.0% NSR on Mercedes. Source
  • Revolver accordion lifts potential capacity to $2.0 billion: The uncommitted accordion could raise total revolver commitments to up to $2.0 billion, subject to customary conditions and each lender's consent. Source
  • Paid $50 million Solaris advance: After technical approval of the EIA and publication of a PFS for Warintza, the company paid Solaris the next $50 million advance under the stream agreement. Source

Operator developments and project timelines

  • Platreef shaft three completed on schedule: Ivanhoe reported Shaft #3 was completed on schedule, expected to lift hoisting capacity to about 5 million tonnes a year. Phase 2 is on track for end-2027. Source
  • Warintza gained EIA technical approval: Solaris reported technical approval of the Warintza EIA on April 9, 2026. It is targeting a fully permitted project by the end of 2026, with remaining licensing stages to follow. Source
  • Pueblo Viejo reserves support mining to 2048: Barrick's updated technical report says existing reserves and new Naranjo tailings capacity support open pit mining to 2048. Source
  • Greenstone ramp-up toward 27,000 tonnes daily: Equinox's immediate focus is reaching sustained milling of 27,000 tonnes per day, expected to allow about 320,000 oz of average annual gold output until 2036. Source
  • Khoemacau paste fill commissioning moves to Q2: MMG reported paste fill plant construction is advancing, with commissioning now expected in the second quarter of 2026 to improve ore recovery. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Final Solaris payment due May 2026: The remaining $50 million Solaris funding is due on or after May 21, 2026, subject to remaining conditions. Source
  • Hod Maden review update timing: SSR intends to provide an update on its strategic review of Hod Maden and its Türkiye interests before the end of the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • Deacon North development starts June quarter: Bellevue reports first development in higher-grade Deacon North ore is scheduled for the June 2026 quarter. Source
  • Xavantina sales expected to improve: Ero expects Xavantina production weighted to the second half of 2026, with gold concentrate sales benefiting from drier conditions in Q2 and Q3. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Sales volume (GEOs) Source96,300
Gold sales year to date (oz) Source68,401
Silver sales year to date (M oz) Source0.9
Copper sales year to date (M lb) Source8.0

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Kansanshi copper fell below the prior quarter. S3 is expected to draw mostly lower-grade stockpile feed until pre-strip work is complete. Source
  • Operational: MMG reported temporary impacts at Khoemacau in the first quarter, with mining expected to improve in later quarters. Source
  • Operational: Lower Mount Milligan sales partly offset the revenue growth from other assets. Source
  • Regulatory: The final Warintza payment is subject to conditions, including registration of security in Ecuador. Source
  • External: SSR is reviewing its Türkiye interests, including the Hod Maden joint venture in which Royal Gold holds a 30% interest. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Centerra reported Q1 production in line with its PFS mine plan and on track with full year 2026 guidance. Source
  • On track: Bellevue reports production remains on track to meet fiscal 2026 gold guidance of 130,000 to 150,000 oz. Source
  • On track: MMG reports the expansion to 130,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per year remains on track for first concentrate in the first half of 2028. Source
  • Not stated: First Quantum confirmed its 2026 copper production guidance remains unchanged. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.