Barrick produced Free Cashflow of $669M on 5.3m onces & 413 million pounds of copper in FY 17. So you'd have to say NCM with the smaller production profile is superior on that front.
NCM has about 4BN less debt vs. Barrick. NCM also has larger reserves.
It's interesting that in 2013 Barrick approach Newmont about a merger. I wonder if this will force Newmont to talk to NCM.?Issue being though, Newmont don't have the balance sheet to pay all cash for NCM so it would most likely be a "merger of equals".
I still think BHP has the highest probability of M&A with NCM vs. another gold major...
It would be a shame if NCM did lose its ASX listing though (in the event of a t/o) it would be great to have a massive 30BN + Gold & copper player in the ASX20.
NCM Price at posting:
$19.46 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held