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AEM vs AU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Gold
AEM vs AU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Gold | Gold |
| Market Cap | $96.80B | $54.05B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.87B | $9.89B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.45B | $2.64B |
| Gross Margin | 57.3% | 48.3% |
| Operating Margin | 52.9% | 43.3% |
| Forward P/E | 13.9x | 10.0x |
| Total Debt | $321M | $2.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.87B | $2.93B |
AEM vs AU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnico Eagle Mines … (AEM) | 100 | 301.9 | +201.9% |
| AngloGold Ashanti P… (AU) | 100 | 435.8 | +335.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AEM vs AU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
AEM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.66, yield 0.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.66, Low D/E 1.3%, current ratio 2.02x
- PEG 0.42 vs AU's 0.58
AU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 70.8%, EPS growth 122.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 30.0%
- 7.0% 10Y total return vs AEM's 363.7%
- Beta 0.95, yield 3.4%, current ratio 2.87x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 70.8% revenue growth vs AEM's 43.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.0x vs 13.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 37.5% margin vs AU's 26.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.66 vs AU's 0.95, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.4% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs AEM's 0.7% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +164.1% vs AEM's +69.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 18.4% ROA vs AEM's 13.7%, ROIC 35.9% vs 21.9% |
AEM vs AU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
AEM vs AU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AEM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AEM and AU operate at a comparable scale, with $11.9B and $9.9B in trailing revenue. AEM is the more profitable business, keeping 37.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AU's 26.6%. On growth, AU holds the edge at +75.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.9B | $9.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.9B | $4.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.4B | $2.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.4B | $3.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +57.3% | +48.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +52.9% | +43.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +37.5% | +26.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +37.1% | +31.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +64.9% | +75.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +199.0% | +63.1% |
Valuation Metrics
AU leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 20.6x trailing earnings, AU trades at a 5% valuation discount to AEM's 21.8x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AEM offers better value at 0.65x vs AU's 1.19x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $96.8B | $54.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $94.3B | $53.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.81x | 20.62x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.94x | 9.98x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.65x | 1.19x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.82x | 9.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.13x | 5.46x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.93x | 5.48x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.71x | 17.41x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — AEM and AU each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AU delivers a 28.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $19 for AEM. AEM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AU's 0.25x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +19.3% | +28.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.7% | +18.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +21.9% | +35.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +20.9% | +35.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.25x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2.5B | -$492M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.9B | $2.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $321M | $2.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 73.32x | 20.48x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AU leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AU five years ago would be worth $49,672 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $29,406 for AEM. Over the past 12 months, AU leads with a +164.1% total return vs AEM's +69.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AU at 58.1% vs AEM's 49.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.6% | +27.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +69.9% | +164.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +233.6% | +295.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +194.1% | +396.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +363.7% | +702.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +49.4% | +58.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — AEM and AU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AEM is the less volatile stock with a 0.66 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AU's 0.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AU currently trades 82.9% from its 52-week high vs AEM's 75.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.66x | 0.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $255.24 | $129.14 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $103.38 | $38.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.7% | +82.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.7 | 52.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 2.7M |
Analyst Outlook
AU leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AEM as "Buy" and AU as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 24.3% upside for AU (target: $133) vs 23.0% for AEM (target: $238). For income investors, AU offers the higher dividend yield at 3.44% vs AEM's 0.75%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $237.71 | $133.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +3.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.45 | $3.68 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | 0.0% |
AU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AEM leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
AEM vs AU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AEM or AU a better buy right now?
For growth investors, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the stronger pick with 70.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 43. 7% for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM). AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) offers the better valuation at 20. 6x trailing P/E (10. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) a "Buy" — based on 31 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — AEM or AU?
On trailing P/E, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the cheapest at 20.
6x versus Agnico Eagle Mines Limited at 21. 8x. On forward P/E, AngloGold Ashanti Plc is actually cheaper at 10. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited wins at 0. 42x versus AngloGold Ashanti Plc's 0. 58x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AEM or AU?
Over the past 5 years, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) delivered a total return of +396.
7%, compared to +194. 1% for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AU returned +702. 4% versus AEM's +363. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AEM or AU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
66β versus AngloGold Ashanti Plc's 0. 95β — meaning AU is approximately 44% more volatile than AEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 25% for AngloGold Ashanti Plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AEM or AU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is pulling ahead at 70.
8% versus 43. 7% for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited grew EPS 134. 4% year-over-year, compared to 122. 7% for AngloGold Ashanti Plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, AU leads at 30. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — AEM or AU?
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more profitable company, earning 37.
5% net margin versus 26. 6% for AngloGold Ashanti Plc — meaning it keeps 37. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AEM leads at 53. 1% versus 45. 1% for AU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AEM leads at 58. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is AEM or AU more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus AngloGold Ashanti Plc's 0. 58x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) trades at 10. 0x forward P/E versus 13. 9x for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited — 4. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AU: 24. 3% to $133. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AEM or AU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 0. 7% for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM).
09Is AEM or AU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
66), 0. 7% yield, +363. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AEM: +363. 7%, AU: +702. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between AEM and AU?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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