Gold stocks continue to find support despite the huge rally through most of 2016. Let's take a look at Kinross Gold Corporation ( TSX:K )( NYSE:KGC ) to see if it deserves to be a top gold pick right now. A long road to recovery Kinross has come a long way in its efforts to recover from the disastrous $7 billion bet on Red Back Mining in 2010. The acquisition was made shortly before gold prices peaked, and management has spent most of the past six years in survival mode. With the balance sheet finally back in good shape and gold prices on the mend, Kinross is starting to focus once again on growth. Last year the company negotiated a deal to purchase strategic assets in Nevada. Now the company is planning to expand operations at its Tasiast mine in Mauritania. Tasiast came with the Red Back deal and was supposed to be the crown jewel of the company, but the property has never lived up to expectations. That might begin to change in the next couple of years.