Barrick Gold Corp. ( TSX:ABX )(NYSE:ABX) stock has gained nearly 20% year to date, even as gold prices are up only about 8% so far. Clearly, there's more to Barrick's rise than just gold prices, and the market appears to be applauding the gold miner for its remarkable turnaround efforts in FY 2016. But that's also where the concern is. Can the stock maintain the momentum, or has it gotten ahead of itself? Investors should get a hint this week when Barrick reports its numbers later today after market close. As this will be Barrick's first-quarter release, it will also set the pace for the full year, which is why this earnings report is so crucial. For the stock to continue to move higher, Barrick needs to deliver in the following key areas this week. Production and AISC Barrick's production has been on the decline lately; it was down nearly 10% to 5.52 million ounces in 2016.