Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are making financial headlines on Friday.
Two of the large-cap ASX shares are racing ahead of the 0.6% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) during the Friday lunch hour while one is trailing those losses.
Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest today.
Fortescue shares slide on shipments dip
Fortescue shares are taking a hit today, down 3.8% at $20.16 apiece.
This follows the release of the ASX 200 mining stock’s March quarter update (Q3 FY 2026).
Over the three months, the miner reported total iron ore shipments of 48.4 million tonnes (Mt). While that’s up 5% from Q3 FY 2025, it’s down 4% from last quarter.
Still, Fortescue has notched record shipments of 148.7Mt in the nine months to 31 March. That’s up 4% from the same period last year.
On the cost front, the company’s hematite C1 unit cost of US$18.29 per wet metric tonne (wmt) over the quarter was down 4% quarter on quarter
Fortescue had a cash balance of US$4.2 billion and net debt of US$1.6 billion as at 31 March 2026.
Management reaffirmed full year FY 2026 guidance for total shipments at 195Mt to 205Mt.
Fortescue shares may be under some added pressure today after the miner separately announced a US$680 million cash splash to accelerate the development of its 200MW Pilbara Green Energy Project. That comes atop the miner’s existing US$6.2 billion decarbonisation program.
Management expects the green energy project to be completed by 2028.
 PLS shares jump on revenue surge
Unlike Fortescue shares, PLS shares are charging higher today, up 3.5% at $5.88 each.
PLS shares are also making headlines after the ASX 200 lithium stock released its third quarter update.
Highlights for the March quarter included a whopping 52% quarter on quarter increase in revenue to $567 million. This was fuelled by a 61% increase in the average realised spodumene price PLS received over the three months, which rose to US$1,867 per tonne (SC5.2 equivalent).
PLS shares are also likely getting a lift today, with the miner reporting a 12% increase in production to 232,400 tonnes. The miner sold 195,700 tonnes of spodumene over this period.
As at 31 March, the lithium miner had a cash balance of $1.45 billion, up 52% from 31 December.
Which brings us toâ¦
Newmont shares lift on earnings leap
Joining PLS and Fortescue shares in the financial headlines today, we find Newmont.
Shares in the ASX 200 gold mining giant are up 2.1% at time of writing, changing hands for $157.73 apiece. This also follows the release of the miner’s March quarter update (Q1 2026).
On the negative side of the scale, Newmont’s gold production was down 10% quarter on quarter to 1.3 million ounces.
But the average realized gold price Newmont received increased by US$684 per ounce over the quarter to US$4,900 per ounce.
And net income rocketed to $3.3 billion, an increase of $2.0 billion from the prior quarter.
On the earnings front, Newmont reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$5.15 billion, up from US$2.63 billion in Q1 2025.
The post Why Newmont, PLS and Fortescue shares are grabbing headlines on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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More reading
- Why Newmont, Nuix, PLS, and Vulcan Energy shares are rising today
- Newmont shares jump again as record cash flow and buyback boost sentiment
- Guess which ASX iron ore stock could rise 85% (hint, not Fortescue shares)
- PLS shares jump 6% on record quarter and massive cash generation
- Why are Fortescue shares falling today?
Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.