Is It Too Late To Consider AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) After 136% One Year Surge?

Anglogold Ashanti PLC

Anglogold Ashanti PLC

AU

0.00

  • Wondering whether AngloGold Ashanti at around US$98.60 is still offering value after a strong run, or if most of the easy gains are already behind it.
  • The stock has been volatile recently, with a 9.0% return over the last 7 days, a 2.8% decline over 30 days, a 15.2% return year to date, and a 136.0% return over the last year, alongside very large multi year gains of around 3x over 3 years and nearly 4x over 5 years.
  • Recent coverage has focused on AngloGold Ashanti's position within the broader gold mining sector and how investors are reassessing producers amid changing sentiment toward precious metals. That context helps explain why the stock's strong longer term performance has come with short term swings in both directions.
  • On Simply Wall St's valuation checks AngloGold Ashanti scores 5 out of 6. The next step is to compare what different valuation methods say about the stock and then look at an even deeper way to think about value that goes beyond any single model.

Approach 1: AngloGold Ashanti Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

A Discounted Cash Flow, or DCF, model estimates what a stock could be worth by projecting the company’s future cash flows and discounting them back to today’s value.

For AngloGold Ashanti, the model uses a 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity approach, based on current last twelve month free cash flow of about $3.04b. Analyst and extrapolated projections have free cash flow ranging around $5.09b in 2026 and about $5.36b in 2035, with a specific projection of $5.91b for 2028. Simply Wall St uses analyst estimates where available, and then extends the series using its own assumptions for later years.

Pulling those cash flows together and discounting them back, the DCF model arrives at an estimated intrinsic value of about $167.05 per share. Compared with a recent share price around $98.60, this implies the stock trades at roughly a 41.0% discount to that DCF estimate. This suggests the shares may be priced below this model’s assessment of value.

Result: UNDERVALUED

Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests AngloGold Ashanti is undervalued by 41.0%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio, or discover 48 more high quality undervalued stocks.

AU Discounted Cash Flow as at May 2026
AU Discounted Cash Flow as at May 2026

Approach 2: AngloGold Ashanti Price vs Earnings

For a profitable company like AngloGold Ashanti, the P/E ratio is a useful way to think about what you are paying for each dollar of earnings. Investors usually accept a higher P/E when they expect stronger earnings growth or see lower risk, and prefer a lower P/E when growth looks more modest or risks feel higher.

AngloGold Ashanti currently trades on a P/E of about 18.9x. That sits below the Metals and Mining industry average of roughly 23.2x and also below the peer group average of about 27.1x. Simply Wall St also calculates a proprietary “Fair Ratio” of around 34.7x for AngloGold Ashanti. This is the P/E level that would be expected given factors such as its earnings growth profile, profit margins, industry, market cap and risk characteristics.

Because the Fair Ratio incorporates company specific drivers rather than only comparing with broad industry or peer averages, it can provide a more tailored sense of what a reasonable multiple might be. With the current P/E of 18.9x sitting well below the Fair Ratio of 34.7x, the P/E approach points to the stock trading below that model’s implied level.

Result: UNDERVALUED

NYSE:AU P/E Ratio as at May 2026
NYSE:AU P/E Ratio as at May 2026

P/E ratios tell one story, but what if the real opportunity lies elsewhere? Start investing in legacies, not executives. Discover our 21 top founder-led companies.

Upgrade Your Decision Making: Choose your AngloGold Ashanti Narrative

Earlier it was mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation. Narratives let you turn your view of AngloGold Ashanti into a clear story that links assumptions about future revenue, earnings and margins to a forecast and then to a Fair Value that you can compare with the current price. On Simply Wall St’s Community page, investors can easily set up and update these Narratives as new news or earnings arrive. This is why one investor may build a bullish AngloGold Ashanti Narrative anchored around a Fair Value of US$155.00, while another may build a more cautious one around US$75.00, giving you a simple way to see where your own view sits within that range.

For AngloGold Ashanti, here are previews of two leading AngloGold Ashanti Narratives to help frame the discussion:

First is a bullish view that focuses on growth, margins, and the value of the Arthur project in Nevada.

Fair Value: US$155.00

Implied discount vs last close: about 36.4% below this fair value

Revenue growth assumption: 27.3% a year

  • Assumes efficiency gains, firm costs, and supportive gold prices help AngloGold Ashanti convert more of its revenue into cash and margin, with room for higher shareholder returns.
  • Sees U.S. listing, index inclusion, and the Arthur project plus other brownfield expansions as key to stronger production, a deeper reserve base, and more visibility with global investors.
  • Prices in a bullish analyst stance on earnings growth and dividends while still stressing real risks from gold demand, operating geographies, rising costs, aging assets, and ESG requirements.

The second is a more cautious lens that focuses on cost pressure, jurisdiction risk, and what investors may be paying for that growth today.

Fair Value: US$75.00

Implied premium vs last close: about 31.5% above this fair value

Revenue growth assumption: 4.4% a year

  • Highlights rising regulatory, ESG, and operating costs, plus exposure to higher risk regions, as potential drags on future margins, earnings stability, and production consistency.
  • Questions how easy it will be to replace reserves and fund growth as quality assets become harder to secure and investor attention shifts toward other sectors and assets.
  • Accepts that operational execution, balance sheet strength, and Nevada growth projects are positives, but still treats the current P/E and capital needs as a constraint on future returns.

Taken together, these two narratives frame the current debate around AngloGold Ashanti in clear, number driven terms so you can decide which set of assumptions is closer to your own view and what that means for the stock at around US$98.60 today. To see how these results tie into long-term growth, risks, and valuation, check out the full range of community narratives for AngloGold Ashanti on Simply Wall St. Add the company to your watchlist or portfolio so you'll be alerted when the story evolves.

Do you think there's more to the story for AngloGold Ashanti? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying!

NYSE:AU 1-Year Stock Price Chart
NYSE:AU 1-Year Stock Price Chart

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.