As I analyzed in depth in my GDX-Q3'24-results essay in mid-November, Newmont had been forecasting lower AISCs all year. But Q3's proved a huge disappointment, surging 13.0% YoY to a very-high $1,611. In order to meet its own full-year guidance, those would've had to average $1,300 in Q3 and Q4. Newmont somehow screwed up the best of times for gold mining spawned heavy selling, its stock crashed 14.7%! That was this company's worst down day in 27 years, in the then-best quarter ever for gold stocks. That dragged down GDX and unfairly damaged institutional investors' view of this sector. As the only gold stock included in the mighty S&P 500, Newmont is the only gold stock plenty of professionals loosely follow. Sadly it has a troubled history of serious mismanagement of production, mining costs, and buyouts.