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Royal Gold Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose to $450.5 million: Revenue was $450.5 million, against $209.6 million a year earlier. Stream revenue was $311.0 million and royalty revenue $139.6 million. Source
  • Net income rose to $236.4 million: Net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders was $236.4 million, or $2.78 per diluted share, against $132.3 million or $2.01. Higher revenue and gains on marketable securities drove the increase. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached a record: Net cash from operating activities was $335.2 million against $152.8 million, driven mainly by $222.7 million more in net stream and royalty proceeds. Source
  • Metal prices rose sharply: Average prices were $4,506 per ounce for gold against $3,280, $73.15 for silver against $33.68, and $6.05 per pound for copper against $4.32. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $215.1 million: Free cash flow was $215.1 million against $40.1 million. The company defines it as operating cash flow less stream and royalty acquisitions and Hod Maden cash calls. Source
  • July repayment cut revolver to $325 million: $75 million was repaid on July 15, 2026. The drawn balance is $325 million, with $1.075 billion available excluding the uncommitted accordion. Source
  • Solaris advance made after EIA approval: On April 14, 2026, $50 million of the $100 million conditional Solaris stream funding was advanced, after technical approval of the EIA and a pre-feasibility study. Source
  • Lidya to fund next $397 million: Lidya will fund the next $397 million of Hod Maden project costs. Later funding is split pro rata, 15% Royal Gold and 85% Lidya. Source

“Financial results for the second quarter were strong and we made meaningful progress on executing our priorities”

Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Gold sales volume SourceFull year 2026290,000 - 320,000 ozKept
Silver sales volume SourceFull year 20263.0 - 3.5 M ozKept
Copper sales volume SourceFull year 202621.0 - 25.0 M lbKept
Other metals sales SourceFull year 2026$34 - $38 MKept
DD&A expense SourceFull year 2026$339 - 379 MKept
Effective tax rate SourceFull year 202617 - 22%Kept
Share repurchase program SourceProgram approved May 4, 2026$500 millionNew
Warintza stream funding SourceThird or fourth quarter 2026$50 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The company said 2026 gold, silver, DD&A and tax results are forecast within the March 2026 ranges; copper and other metals are the exceptions. Source
  • New: A $600 million uncommitted accordion was added to the $1.4 billion revolver, allowing commitments of up to $2.0 billion with lender consent. Source
  • New: The Hod Maden ownership restructuring closed on July 17, 2026, after its May 18, 2026 announcement. Source
  • New: Lidya assumed operatorship of Hod Maden in the second quarter, and construction activities continued through the transition. Source
  • Ended: The remaining Relief Canyon fixed gold delivery obligations were settled with Americas in June 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose to $450.5 million: Revenue was $450.5 million, against $209.6 million a year earlier. Stream revenue was $311.0 million and royalty revenue $139.6 million. Source
  • Net income rose to $236.4 million: Net income attributable to Royal Gold stockholders was $236.4 million, or $2.78 per diluted share, against $132.3 million or $2.01. Higher revenue and gains on marketable securities drove the increase. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached a record: Net cash from operating activities was $335.2 million against $152.8 million, driven mainly by $222.7 million more in net stream and royalty proceeds. Source
  • Adjusted net income and EBITDA margin: Adjusted net income was $218.2 million, or $2.56 per diluted share, against $118.8 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 83%, against 84% a year earlier. Source
  • Sales volume grew 56.5%: Sales volume, measured in gold equivalent ounces (GEOs), rose 56.5% from the prior year period. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America remained the largest region: North America revenue was $250.4 million, 56% of the total, against $160.3 million and 76% a year earlier. Source
  • South and Central America revenue rose: Revenue there was $99.5 million, 22% of the total, against $19.1 million. Andacollo gold revenue was $49.1 million against $9.5 million. Source
  • EMEA revenue rose on Kansanshi: EMEA revenue was $85.4 million against $20.4 million. Kansanshi stream revenue of $34.3 million was new this year. Source
  • Australia Pacific revenue rose: Revenue was $15.3 million against $9.8 million, with Bellevue contributing $3.4 million. Source
  • Revenue mix shifted toward stream: Stream share of revenue was 69% and royalty share 31%, against 64% and 36% a year earlier. Source

“We continued our disciplined approach to capital allocation.”

Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Metal prices rose sharply: Average prices were $4,506 per ounce for gold against $3,280, $73.15 for silver against $33.68, and $6.05 per pound for copper against $4.32. Source
  • Cost of sales rose with prices: Cost of sales excluding DD&A was $60.1 million against $24.2 million, mainly from higher stream payments at higher metal prices and new Kansanshi, Sandstorm and Horizon sales. Source
  • DD&A rose on new assets: DD&A was $96.2 million against $31.2 million, reflecting depletion on the newly acquired assets and about $12 million tied to the Relief Canyon fixed delivery sale. Source
  • Interest expense rose with borrowing: Interest and other expense was $10.0 million against $1.5 million, due to higher average revolver borrowings than a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 19.7%: Income tax expense was $58.2 million against $10.5 million. The prior-year figure included a $9.3 million withholding tax refund and a $4.3 million valuation allowance release. Source
  • G&A rose on stock compensation: General and administrative costs were $13.4 million against $10.3 million, reflecting non-cash stock compensation and higher employee and office costs. Source

Operator production and developments

  • Pueblo Viejo gold output up 17%: Newmont reported that Pueblo Viejo gold production rose 17% in the quarter, with higher mill throughput partly offset by lower recovery and ore grade. Source
  • Mount Milligan reported quarterly output: Centerra reported 38,175 ounces of gold and 13.1 million pounds of copper in the quarter. Royal Gold's Mount Milligan sales were lower than a year earlier. Source
  • Cortez output fell year over year: Attributable production was about 169,200 ounces against 176,900. Legacy Zone rose to 38,400 ounces from 27,900, while CC Zone fell to 130,800 from 149,000. Source
  • Peñasquito output lower on grade: Newmont reported lower gold and other metals output from lower ore grade and mill recovery. Planned maintenance finished and higher throughput is expected in the third quarter. Source
  • Greenstone throughput above nameplate: Mining rates averaged over 199,000 tonnes per day. Mill throughput exceeded the 27,000-tonne nameplate capacity on 69% of days, against 51% in the first quarter. Source

“our outlook for the second half remains positive”

Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold

Development projects

  • Great Bear engineering half complete: Kinross reported detailed engineering of the Main Project is 50% complete. Advanced Exploration surface construction is about 93% complete, and the first blast was July 27, 2026. Source
  • Lobo-Marte steady-state output projected: Kinross expects the initial mine plan to produce about 350,000 ounces of gold a year at steady state. The EIA was accepted for review in Q2, with first gold targeted for the early 2030s. Source
  • Rainy River output expected through 2028: Coeur expects Rainy River to average 287,000 ounces of gold and 527,000 ounces of silver a year through 2028, after exploration was stepped up in May. Source
  • Red Chris block cave investment: The Canada and British Columbia agreement includes C$500 million for the Red Chris block cave. Newmont continues the feasibility study, aiming for Board approval toward year end. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Free cash flow reached $215.1 million: Free cash flow was $215.1 million against $40.1 million. The company defines it as operating cash flow less stream and royalty acquisitions and Hod Maden cash calls. Source
  • Repurchased 147,205 shares for $30 million: Shares were bought at an average $203.80 and cancelled. 84,673,027 shares remained outstanding on June 30, 2026. Source
  • Quarterly dividend up 6%: The quarterly dividend paid was $0.475 per share, a 6% increase over the prior year period. Source
  • Investing outflows rose on Hod Maden: Investing cash used was $117.2 million against $112.8 million. Hod Maden cash calls of $70.0 million exceeded the drop in acquisition payments of $62.7 million. Source

Debt and liquidity

  • Revolver repaid $200 million in quarter: The company repaid $200 million on the revolver, leaving $400 million drawn at June 30, 2026. Source
  • July repayment cut revolver to $325 million: $75 million was repaid on July 15, 2026. The drawn balance is $325 million, with $1.075 billion available excluding the uncommitted accordion. Source
  • Liquidity about $1.2 billion: Total liquidity was about $1.2 billion: $243.8 million of working capital plus $1.0 billion undrawn under the revolver. Source
  • Net debt at 0.17 times EBITDA: Net debt was $217.5 million, or 0.17 times trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA of $1.28 billion. The company uses this non-GAAP measure to monitor leverage. Source

Strategy and portfolio transactions

  • Solaris advance made after EIA approval: On April 14, 2026, $50 million of the $100 million conditional Solaris stream funding was advanced, after technical approval of the EIA and a pre-feasibility study. Source
  • Lidya to fund next $397 million: Lidya will fund the next $397 million of Hod Maden project costs. Later funding is split pro rata, 15% Royal Gold and 85% Lidya. Source
  • Hod Maden about 25% complete: At June 30, 2026, Hod Maden was about 25% complete: engineering 74%, contracts and procurement 44%, construction 8%. Cumulative spend was about $175 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • SSR royalty option window: Royal Gold may buy half of the SSR Royalty for $160 million, exercisable from closing until 12 months after Hod Maden commercial production. Source
  • Mount Milligan output reflected in 2027: Centerra expects higher gold output in Q3 2026 from mine sequencing. Royal Gold expects this to show in its 2027 results, given the delivery lag. Source
  • Hod Maden first concentrate targeted 2028: Lidya targets initial concentrate production in 2028, subject to the updated schedule and cost-to-complete review. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Lidya is reviewing the Hod Maden schedule and execution plan, and the 2028 start depends on the updated schedule and cost review. Source
  • Financial: Hod Maden equity funding needs may be lower if Artmin obtains debt financing for project development. Source
  • Regulatory: The final Warintza payment depends on completing filings to perfect security in Ecuador, which is underway. Source
  • External: Severe winter weather disrupted site power at Caserones, and operations were suspended on July 18, 2026, with restart expected in two to three weeks. Source
  • External: Teck reported a partial suspension of operations at Andacollo on July 17, 2026, due to severe weather. Source
  • Operational: MMG reported that first-half output at Khoemacau was affected by development delays and equipment constraints. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said performance is forecast within the 2026 ranges, except copper and other metals. Source
  • Not stated: The revolver balance is expected to be repaid from future cash flow in Q4 2026, at current metal prices and absent further acquisitions. Source
  • On track: Centerra said 2026 gold and copper production remains on track against its previously provided guidance. Source
  • Met: Bellevue reported full-year gold output within its guidance range. Source
  • On track: MMG said the Khoemacau expansion remains on track for first concentrate production in the first half of 2028. 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.