Why Did Newmont Stock Jump Nearly 12% This Week?

By Howard Smith – Apr 3, 2026 at 9:36AM ESTKey PointsInvestors who sought safety in the dollar could boost Newmont stock when they return to precious metals.Newmont generated a record $7.3 billion in free cash flow last year. Almost half of that was returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks. Gold prices have fluctuated since the start of the year, and so has the stock price of gold miner Newmont (NEM +0.23%). That volatility gives investors opportunities, though. This week was one where precious metals investors bought back in. Gold moved higher this week, and Newmont shares jumped by 11.7% since last Friday's close, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Image source: The Motley Fool. Flight to safety Newmont's weekly move far outpaced that of the underlying metal. That's because the gold, silver, and copper miner has the potential to deliver strong gains moving forward. Geopolitical strife has led investors to seek safety in the U.S. dollar. Gold contracts have plunged by more than 10% since the Iran war began. But Newmont's underlying business is strong. Investors will likely look to get back into gold and Newmont stock as geopolitical issues get resolved. ExpandNYSE: NEMNewmontToday's Change(0.23%) $0.26Current Price$114.05Key Data PointsMarket Cap$124BDay's Range$108.80 - $115.2552wk Range$42.93 - $134.88Volume9.2MAvg Vol11MGross Margin49.78%Dividend Yield0.89% Newmont had a strong 2025, and that could help attract those investors. The company generated an all-time high in free cash flow. Almost half of that $7.3 billion was also returned to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. The next look at how the underlying business is performing comes when first-quarter results are reported on April 23. Macroeconomic and geopolitical factors may swing stock prices, but investors should focus on the results. Price dips unrelated to the business are the times to add Newmont shares. Read NextApr 1, 2026 •By Neha ChamariaWhy Newmont Stock Surged on WednesdayMar 29, 2026 •By Lee SamahaHere's What to Expect for Gold and Silver Mining Stocks as the Iran Conflict ContinuesMar 27, 2026 •By Neha ChamariaWhy Newmont Mining Stock Rebounded on FridayMar 27, 2026 •By Todd ShriberHere's How the Plummeting Price of Gold Is Affecting This Leading Gold Mining StockMar 25, 2026 •By James HalleyHere Are 2 Mining Stocks to Buy on the DipMar 22, 2026 •By Rich SmithHere's Why High Oil Prices Are Hurting Precious Metals Mining StocksAbout the AuthorHoward Smith is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology and industrial stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Howard spent nearly 30 years supervising quality and operations in the steel industry, mostly with leading steel company Nucor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Lafayette College and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University.TMFBuilt2LastStocks MentionedNewmontNYSE: NEM$114.05(+0.23%)+$0.26*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.