Sydney, Feb 17, 2026, 17:46 (AEDT) — Closing bell rings; market shut for the day.
- Shares of Evolution Mining slipped Tuesday, deepening the retreat that began after last week’s high.
- Gold slid further, leaving the sector under pressure heading into the next session.
- Attention turns to when the miner will pay its dividend, along with timing for the next update.
Evolution Mining Ltd shares slipped another 1.8% on Tuesday, wrapping up the day at A$14.91. That marks an ongoing drop since last week’s all-time high, putting the stock roughly 8% below its Feb. 11 finish at A$16.28. Shares moved in a range from A$14.80 to A$15.27, with around 4.0 million changing hands.
That’s significant: Evolution has turned into a packed trade for those chasing high gold prices on the ASX. The stock tends to outpace bullion itself when the metal shifts direction.
Gold slipped further on Tuesday, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and fading geopolitical jitters. Traders are eyeing the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes, expected Wednesday. “It (gold) is not really going very far,” said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive, citing the Fed minutes as a potential catalyst. Reuters
Australian gold stocks slipped by 1% to 2% around midday, with the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index off 1.2%, according to Market Index. Shares in Genesis Minerals and Westgold Resources each dropped over 2%. Northern Star Resources also edged down, losing roughly 1%.
Evolution logged a record statutory net profit of A$767 million for the half-year ended Dec. 31, with the company announcing a fully franked 20-cent interim dividend — giving shareholders a payout that includes Australian company tax credits. CEO Lawrie Conway called the dividend consistent with Evolution’s “commitment to reward shareholders.” The stock goes ex-dividend on March 3, with payment slated for April 2. Looking further ahead, Evolution outlined FY26 production guidance: 710,000 to 780,000 ounces of gold, plus 70,000 to 80,000 tonnes of copper, at all-in sustaining costs between A$1,640 and A$1,760 per ounce. ASX Announcements
Evolution announced it has tweaked its Northparkes metal purchase agreement with Triple Flag, altering the “streaming” arrangement—where miners swap a portion of future production for upfront cash. The updated deal now includes an A$120 million refundable deposit, set for payment in December 2026. The streaming rate on gold drops to 25% of payable output at the E44 deposit, and silver moves to 37.5%, the company said. Company Announcements
Tuesday’s pullback served as a wake-up call for traders: after such a strong rally, the stock is now vulnerable to even small moves in bullion. The dividend provides some cushion, sure, but it doesn’t override what’s happening in the commodity market.
Here’s the risk: gold prices slide, and miners feel the squeeze—margins narrow, buyers vanish. There’s also the hit from project costs, which can balloon or drag out, especially as the company ramps up growth plans.
The ASX has closed—attention shifts to two familiar drivers for the next session: gold’s closing level, and the broader risk appetite. A sudden jolt in the dollar or rates could hit miners, even if there’s nothing specific from the companies themselves.
Evolution is set to report March-quarter numbers on April 15, its financial calendar shows. Full-year figures land August 19.
