
Record Quarterly Earnings and Free Cash Flow Generation
Lundin Gold Inc. (TSX: LUG) (Nasdaq Stockholm: LUG) (OTCQX: LUGDF) announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. The Company delivered a strong start to the year, generating record free cash flow¹ of $349 million and net income of $273 million, supported by consistent operating and cost performance at Fruta del Norte, and record realized gold prices.
Gold production totaled 119,742 oz in the quarter, with gold sales of 115,308 oz at an average realized gold price¹ of $4,951 per oz, resulting in revenues of $567 million. Cash operating costs¹ and all‑in sustaining costs¹ were $987 per oz and $1,114 per oz sold, respectively, reflecting higher royalties and statutory profit sharing associated with higher gold prices.
The Company ended the quarter with a robust balance sheet, including cash and cash equivalents of $704 million and no debt, while returning $278 million to shareholders through dividends. The Company has declared cash dividends of $1.21 per share payable in the second quarter of 2026 and, subject to completion of the previously announced silver stream-for-equity transaction with LunR Royalties Corp. anticipates distributing LunR shares to its shareholders as a dividend in kind during the second quarter.
Lundin Gold remains on track to meet its 2026 production and cost guidance and continues to advance its growth pipeline through early‑stage development at FDNS, the mine-to-mill expansion study, and the largest exploration program in the Company’s history. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Jamie Beck, President and CEO, commented, “We delivered an excellent start to 2026, generating record free cash flow while executing on our long‑term growth strategy. FDN’s consistent operational performance, combined with a strong gold price environment, further strengthened our financial position and supports substantial returns to shareholders. During the quarter, we also made meaningful progress at FDNS and on the mine‑to‑mill expansion study, while our exploration programs continued to demonstrate the quality and scale of the Fruta del Norte district, reinforcing the depth of our pipeline and the long‑term optionality of the business.”
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS SUMMARY
The following two tables provide an overview of key operating and financial results.
| Three months ended
March 31, |
||
| 2026 | 2025 | |
| Tonnes ore mined | 480,240 | 403,221 |
| Tonnes ore milled | 496,798 | 398,159 |
| Average mill throughput (tpd) | 5,520 | 4,424 |
| Average mill head grade (g/t) | 8.4 | 10.4 |
| Average recovery | 89.2 % | 88.5 % |
| Gold ounces produced | 119,742 | 117,313 |
| Gold ounces sold | 115,308 | 117,641 |
| Three months ended March 31, |
|||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||
| Revenues ($’000) | 567,380 | 356,345 | |
| Income from mining operations ($’000) | 420,703 | 233,546 | |
| Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ($’000)1 | 423,895 | 241,502 | |
| Net income ($’000) | 273,331 | 153,500 | |
| Basic income per share ($) | 1.13 | 0.64 | |
| Cash provided by operating activities ($’000) | 369,976 | 194,308 | |
| Free cash flow ($’000)1 | 348,510 | 170,783 | |
| Free cash flow per share ($)1 | 1.44 | 0.71 | |
| Average realized gold price ($/oz sold)1 | 4,951 | 3,081 | |
| Cash operating cost ($/oz sold)1 | 987 | 792 | |
| All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold)1 | 1,114 | 909 | |
| Dividends paid per share ($) | 1.15 | 0.30 | |
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Financial Results
| __________________ |
| 1 Refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” section. |
Operational Results
Outlook
| _______________________ |
| 1 Refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” section. |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At the end of March 31, 2026 the Company is in a strong financial position.
| (in thousands of U.S. dollars) | As at March 31,
2026 |
As at December 31,
2025 |
| Financial Position: | ||
| Cash | 703,601 | 630,181 |
| Working capital | 572,110 | 594,654 |
| Total assets | 1,830,438 | 1,787,158 |
As at March 31, 2026, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $704 million and a working capital balance of $572 million compared to cash and cash equivalents of $630 million and a working capital balance of $595 million at December 31, 2025.
The change in cash during the first quarter of 2026 was primarily due to cash generated from operating activities of $370 million and proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $3.0 million. This is offset by dividends paid of $278 million and capital expenditures of $21.5 million.
Capital Expenditures
Sustaining Capital Expenditures1
Non-Sustaining Capital Expenditures1
| ___________________ |
| 1 Refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” section. |
Health and Safety
During the first quarter there was one Lost Time Incident and three Medical Aid Incidents. The Total Recordable Incident Rate across the Company was 0.39 per 200,000 hours worked for the quarter.
Community
Lundin Gold sponsored community projects continued to advance in the first quarter of 2026. The implementation of the second phase of the Company’s local community mental health and well-being program advanced according to plan in the quarter and is expected to run until December 2026. Since the inception of the second phase of the program in August 2025, approximately 3,990 counselling sessions were provided to local community residents by quarter end. In addition, the sports academy component of the program continues with strong performance, with more than 550 youth registered by quarter end in extra-curricular activities, including basketball, soccer, dance, music, and boxing.
The School Meals program at the local school in Los Encuentros launched prior to year end and was in full operation during the quarter. Through this program, nutritious meals are provided to over 1,200 students during the school day, integrating food supplies from local farmers. This program is planned to run until July 2028.
Engagement with numerous local governments continues to support rural road maintenance, community wellbeing, and the Company’s regional exploration activities. During the quarter, the Company committed to several significant projects focused on electrification and public street lighting and paving works.
Lundin Gold continued to participate in the community dialogue roundtable process. Six separate roundtables were held in February. Approximately 250 individuals participated in these sessions, including local vendors, local authorities, and Lundin Gold personnel.
Local businesses received ongoing support from the Company, in partnership with the Lundin Foundation. Companies participating in the Lundin Foundation’s supplier development program continued to provide products and services to FDN, while also advancing growth strategies. Lundin Gold, the Lundin Foundation and the Shuar Federation of Zamora Chinchipe, kicked off Tsentsak, a new Shuar tire distribution business to supply FDN. The first supply of tires to FDN’s operations from this Indigenous-led business occurred in the quarter, marking an important milestone for this initiative.
EXPLORATION
Near-Mine Exploration Program
During the first quarter of 2026, the Company completed a total of 25,367 metres of drilling across 63 holes from surface and underground.
The underground near-mine drilling program continues to focus on resource growth and definition around Fruta del Norte. At FDNS, one underground rig is drilling the main extensions of the deposit, which remains open for expansion. At FDN, one rig is targeting the upper extension of the deposit, while at FDN East, one rig continues to explore the northern extension. As at the date of this MD&A, three underground rigs are active in the near-mine drilling program.
The surface near-mine drilling program continued to advance copper-gold mineralization across multiple targets, including Trancaloma, Sandia, and Castillo. Surface drilling also progressed within distinct sectors along the southern extension of the Suarez Basin. As at the date of this MD&A, 11 surface rigs are drilling with four at Sandia, one at Trancaloma, one at Castillo, and five targeting new discoveries.
In addition, an exploratory drilling program is underway to define additional exploration targets beneath the Suarez Basin cover. Drilling is systematically testing the presence of hydrothermal alteration horizons and epithermal deposits pathfinder elements hosted in the Suarez Basin sediments, which could indicate the presence of gold epithermal systems at depth.
The near-mine exploration program also continues to advance in previously unexplored areas close to FDN. A systematic exploration program employing geochemical and geophysical surveys and geological mapping continues to support the identification of new drill targets.
A table of first quarter 2026 near-mine results for the FDNS, FDN East, and FDN deposits received to date can be found in Lundin Gold’s press release dated May 5, 2026. Several drill results for Sandia, Trancaloma, and Castillo are pending and expected to be announced during the second quarter.
Regional Exploration Program
The Company advanced its multi-year regional exploration program during the first quarter of 2026. The program is expected to cover approximately 54,000 hectares on 23 of the Company’s concessions along the Zamora Copper Gold Belt, a high potential geological setting which hosts the Fruta del Norte mine and several large copper-gold projects. 2026 is the first year of drilling to test targets with 8,000 metres planned. During the first quarter, the exploration program advanced in the Guacamayo District, located 17 kilometres south of FDN. Geological mapping, followed by soil and rock sampling, was completed in distinct parts of this district.
CORPORATE
Qualified Persons
The technical information relating to Fruta del Norte contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Terry Smith P. Eng, Lundin Gold’s COO, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The disclosure of exploration information contained in this press release was prepared by Andre Oliveira P.Geo, Vice President, Exploration of the Company, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.
About Lundin Gold
Lundin Gold, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, owns the Fruta del Norte gold mine in southeast Ecuador. Fruta del Norte is among the highest-grade operating gold mines in the world.
The Company’s board and management team have extensive expertise and are dedicated to operating Fruta del Norte responsibly. The Company operates with transparency and in accordance with international best practices. Lundin Gold is committed to delivering value to its shareholders through operational excellence and growth, while simultaneously providing economic and social benefits to impacted communities, fostering a healthy and safe workplace and minimizing the environmental impact. Furthermore, Lundin Gold is focused on continued exploration on its extensive and highly prospective land package to identify and develop new resource opportunities to ensure long-term sustainability and growth for the Company and its stakeholders.
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