Total score = number of passes. Since we looked at Newmont Mining last year, the company hasn't been able to regain the point it lost from 2011 to 2012. The stock has gotten hammered, dropping 20% over the past year. Newmont has had to deal with two major forces working against it lately. Gold prices have been fairly weak, with the SPDR Gold Trust (ETF) (NYSEMKT: GLD ) having lost 5% of its value in the past 12 months as it has closely tracked the falling price of gold bullion. Even worse, rising production costs have led to considerable concern among investors about Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE:NEM)'s ability to keep its profit margins up.