It has been a rough year for Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL), but investors are getting something to cheer about on Friday.  

At the time of writing, the ASX gold stock is up 12.33% to $5.74.

That gives Catalyst shares some relief after a weaker year so far. Catalyst shares are still down around 22% in 2026, although they remain up about 7% since this time last year. 

Here’s what the company announced.

A record year at Plutonic

According to the release, Catalyst produced 31,812 ounces of gold in the fourth quarter from its Plutonic Gold Belt in Western Australia. 

That helped lift annual gold production to 104,000 ounces, which was in line with the company’s FY26 guidance range of 100,000 ounces to 110,000 ounces.

Catalyst said this was both a record quarterly and annual gold production result for the Plutonic Gold Belt under its ownership.

It was also the highest quarterly and annual production from Plutonic since 2013, when the asset was owned by Barrick.

Production came from four mines across the Plutonic Gold Belt, including Plutonic Main, Plutonic East, the Trident open pit, and K2.

Management said the result reflected a year of consistent operating performance across the asset. It noted that Catalyst has now lifted production from around 15,000 ounces a quarter to more than 30,000 ounces a quarter since taking control of Plutonic. 

Balance sheet improves

Catalyst’s cash position also moved in the right direction.

The company ended June with cash and bullion of $323 million. That was up $46 million since 31 March and up $85 million over the six months to 30 June. 

That increase came after exploration, capital, and corporate spending.

Catalyst also said it is debt-free. On top of that, its undrawn $100 million debt facility gives it total liquidity of $423 million.

Can the rebound continue?

This update should give Catalyst shares more support after a weak start to 2026.

The company delivered a stellar result, but most importantly, grew its cash and bullion balance, and remains debt-free. 

Catalyst said detailed operating figures and costs will be provided in its upcoming June quarterly report. That will give investors a better look at margins, costs, and how much of this stronger production result is flowing through to the bottom line. 

The K2 mine is also worth watching, with commercial production appearing to be on track despite some early grade reconciliation and cost pressures.

 

The post This ASX gold stock is jumping 12% after a record year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) is charging higher today. 

Vault Minerals shares closed yesterday trading for $4.22. In late morning trade on Friday, shares are swapping hands for $4.48 apiece, up 6%. 

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.7% at this same time.

With today’s intraday gains factored in, the Vault Minerals share price is up 70.3% over the past 12 months, giving the miner a market cap of around $4.6 billion. 

Vault Minerals will be catching some broader tailwinds today following an overnight uptick in the gold price. The yellow metal is currently trading for US$4,135 per ounce, according to data from Bloomberg.

That sees the gold price up 2.6% since Wednesday, and it also sees the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) up 3.7% today. 

Here’s why the Vault Minerals share price is outpacing those gains.

ASX 200 gold stock jumps on production increase

Investors are bidding up Vault Minerals shares following the release of the gold miner’s preliminary fourth-quarter (Q4 FY 2026) update.

Among the highlights, the ASX 200 gold stock reported Q4 gold production of 89,338 ounces. That meets the company’s guidance and represents a 14% increase in gold production from the prior quarter.

Q4 gold sales came in at 87,922 ounces, helping deliver quarterly underlying free cash flow of $219 million.

Looking at the full (unaudited) FY 2026 year, Vault reported gold production of 336,540 ounces. FY 2026 gold sales came in at 334,901 ounces.

Turning to the balance sheet, the ASX 200 gold stock held cash and bullion of $842 million at the financial year end. Vault Minerals has no debt and remains fully unhedged, giving the miner full exposure to any further rises, or falls, in the gold price. 

FY 2026 also saw Vault pay its first-ever dividend. If you owned shares in the gold miner at market close on 9 March, you would have received the unfranked 7 cents per share interim dividend on 8 April.

Atop with Vault’s share buyback, management noted, this has seen the company return $74.3 million to shareholders over the financial year just past. 

What else is happening with Vault Minerals?

The ASX 200 gold stock also highlighted the ongoing processing upgrades underway at its flagship King of the Hills (KoTH) mine, located in Western Australia. 

Management noted:

Stage 1 was commissioned on schedule and within budget in March 2026, with the new crushing circuit consistently exceeding its 8Mtpa run rate. Stage 2 is 71% complete, remains on budget, and is tracking ahead of schedule for completion in September 2026.

The upgrade will increase KoTH processing capacity by 50%, further strengthening its position as the leading regional processing facility.

The post Up 70% in a year, guess which $4.6 billion ASX 200 gold stock is leaping higher again today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

The Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR) share price is in focus today after the company unveiled new mining contract awards, including a $562.5 million deal for its Dingo Range Gold Project and an extension at Okvau Gold Mine.

What did Emerald Resources report?

• Executed two Letters of Award with MACA Mining for mining services at Dingo Range Gold Project (WA) and Okvau Gold Mine (Cambodia)
• Dingo Range contract valued at approximately A$562.5 million over 74 months, commencing December 2026
• Okvau Gold Mine contract extended to include Stages 8 and 9, now running through to February 2030
• Strong balance sheet: A$337.8 million in cash, A$39.2 million in bullion, and A$22.3 million in listed investments as of March 2026
• Ongoing commitment to carbon-neutral operations in Cambodia

What else do investors need to know?

Emerald’s agreements with MACA Mining build on a partnership that has delivered successful projects for over two decades. The Dingo Range contract covers drill and blast, load and haul, mine development, and associated services, with mobilisation expected in late 2026. The Okvau Gold Mine contract extension will enable further development and mining of additional stages, reinforcing Emerald’s plans for sustainable growth. The company’s resource base continues to expand, with significant exploration potential at both its Australian and Cambodian projects.

What did Emerald Resources management say?

Managing Director Morgan Hart said:

We are extremely pleased to announce the Letters of Award for both the Dingo Range Gold Project and the extension of mining operations at the Okvau Gold Mine through Stages 8 and 9. These awards continue a long-standing relationship between Emerald and MACA that spans more than 20 years and has delivered numerous successful mining projects. “The Letters of Award follow the successful completion of negotiations undertaken in accordance with the Exclusivity Agreement announced in August 2024. The negotiations were conducted through a clear and transparent open book process, resulting in an agreed schedule of rates. We look forward to MACA mobilising to the Dingo Range Gold Project in late 2026 and continuing to leverage the strong working relationship and operational synergies that have been established between the Emerald and MACA teams. “This is an exciting period for Emerald as we advance two fully funded and permitted mining developments at the 100% owned Dingo Range Gold Project in Western Australia and the 100% owned Memot Gold Project in Cambodia, while continuing to expand our operations at Okvau by building on our partnership with MACA to assist in the delivery of Emerald’s next phase of growth.

What’s next for Emerald Resources?

Emerald is pressing ahead with fully funded mining developments at both its Dingo Range and Memot projects. The company’s focus on operational efficiency, long-term mine planning, and ESG commitments positions it well for future growth. With MACA’s mobilisation scheduled for December 2026 at Dingo Range and ongoing work at Okvau, Emerald aims to further cement its role as a leading gold producer in both Australia and Cambodia.

Emerald Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Emerald Resources shares have risen 37%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Emerald Resources locks in major mining deals at Dingo Range, Okvau appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.