NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2025, 7:11 p.m. ET — Market closed
Skeena Resources Limited (NYSE: SKE; TSX: SKE) heads into the weekend with fresh attention on both price action and permitting headlines tied to its flagship Eskay Creek gold-silver project in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle.
Skeena shares last closed at $25.42 on Friday, Dec. 26, finishing higher on the day as trading volumes across U.S. markets remained characteristically thin in the post-Christmas stretch. [1]
Broader market context matters here: Wall Street ended Friday’s session nearly unchanged in “light-volume” trading after a strong multi-day run, according to Reuters—exactly the kind of tape where single-stock moves can look outsized on relatively modest volume. [2]
The 48-hour news cycle: what moved the conversation on Skeena stock
1) Cross-border scrutiny intensifies around Eskay Creek benefits, payments, and environmental oversight
The most notable new reporting in the last 24–48 hours was a Dec. 26 story from Chilkat Valley News (co-published with the Wrangell Sentinel and Northern Journal) focusing on the Tahltan Nation vote and the implications for communities downstream in Southeast Alaska. The report says Tahltan officials described an upfront payment intended for distribution to individual members—$7,250 per person—alongside provisions that reportedly give the First Nation government a measure of environmental oversight. It also highlights ongoing criticism from some Tahltan members and downstream advocates who are worried about watershed impacts from an open-pit mine and associated waste storage in the Unuk River headwaters region. [3]
For investors, this matters because the “social license” story around major mines can influence timelines, cost of capital, and headline risk—especially for projects near sensitive or politically complex watersheds.
2) A Friday pop, but on muted volume
A separate Dec. 26 MarketBeat trading recap noted that Skeena stock rose during Friday’s session and flagged that volume was below typical levels—an important detail in late-December trading, when liquidity can be uneven and spreads can widen. The same write-up also emphasized that the shares were trading above their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, a basic trend signal many momentum-oriented investors watch. [4]
Company backdrop investors are still digesting
While there were no new company-issued press releases in the past 48 hours, Skeena’s most recent corporate update remains central to the narrative: on Dec. 15, the company announced that the Tahltan Nation voted in support of the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) connected to the development and future operation of Eskay Creek. The company also said the Tahltan Central Government Board of Directors’ decision regarding consent to the project would be under consideration in January 2026. [5]
In that same Dec. 15 release, Executive Chairman Walter Coles framed the ratified IBA as a new standard for Indigenous involvement in environmental protection and benefit-sharing, while Senior VP of External Affairs Justin Himmelright described the agreement as a foundation for a long-term partnership. [6]
The key investor takeaway: the IBA vote is a meaningful milestone—but it does not eliminate the remaining steps and scrutiny. The next phase of decision-making (including consent considerations and provincial approvals) is likely to be a market-moving catalyst as 2026 begins.
Analyst forecasts and price targets: where the Street stands on SKE
Forecasts differ depending on the platform and dataset, but the common theme is that most tracked analysts skew bullish—while acknowledging meaningful dispersion.
- Simply Wall St’s aggregated view shows an average 12‑month price target around $26.47, with a high estimate near $32.72 and a low near $18.25 (based on 11 analysts in its table). [7]
- TipRanks shows an average 12‑month price target of $26.17, with a high forecast of $32.64 and a low forecast of $18.50 (based on 6 analysts over the last three months, per its page). [8]
- For the TSX listing, Investing.com lists an average 12‑month target of CAD 36.4 (high CAD 45, low CAD 25.1) and labels the overall rating “Strong Buy,” while also noting the currency explicitly—important for U.S. investors comparing NYSE vs. TSX targets. [9]
How to read this: the upside implied by consensus targets looks modest from Friday’s U.S. close, but the high-low spread is wide—signaling that analysts broadly agree Eskay Creek is a valuable asset, yet disagree on timing, execution risk, and the discount rate the market should apply until permitting and construction visibility improves.
Technical and trading lens: trend support vs. year-end tape
From a purely technical standpoint, Skeena is still benefiting from a stronger multi-month trend (as reflected by moving-average references in recent trading coverage). [10]
Meanwhile, Investing.com’s technical snapshot currently labels the daily signal “Strong Buy” based on its indicator set. [11]
That said, investors should keep late-December microstructure in mind: when liquidity is thinner, moves can be sharper in both directions, especially in single-name stories tied to commodities and permitting headlines.
What investors should know before the next session
Because U.S. markets are closed this weekend, the next actionable window is Monday’s open (core session 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET). NYSE materials also detail the pre-opening and late trading frameworks that can affect liquidity around the bell. [12]
Here’s a practical checklist to consider before Monday:
- Watch for any new Eskay Creek-related headlines
The most market-sensitive developments are likely to come from (a) permitting and environmental-review milestones, (b) statements from the Tahltan Central Government or related community bodies, and (c) cross-border commentary tied to downstream watershed concerns. Recent reporting shows the topic remains active and contested, even after the vote. [13] - Respect the “thin tape” dynamic into year-end
Reuters noted the post-holiday session was light-volume, with investors still in a broader year-end “Santa Claus rally” window. Carson Group’s chief market strategist Ryan Detrick told Reuters the market may simply be “catching our breath” after a strong run—context that often applies doubly to mid-cap resource names where liquidity can be episodic. [14] - Compare NYSE vs. TSX signals (and currency)
Skeena is dual-listed. If you track targets, trading levels, or options activity, keep the currency and venue straight—especially when reading Canadian-dollar targets for a U.S.-dollar quote. [15] - Use disciplined order types if volatility spikes
When headlines hit—particularly on ESG/permitting—price can gap. In thin weeks, limit orders and patience can matter more than usual.
Looking ahead: calendar awareness as 2025 turns to 2026
With the final week of the year approaching, investors are also watching the holiday schedule: Investopedia notes that U.S. stock markets are closed on New Year’s Day (Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026), while New Year’s Eve (Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025) is a full trading day for stocks. [16]
For Skeena Resources stock specifically, the near-term thesis remains tied to whether the company can keep de-risking Eskay Creek through the next set of community and regulatory gates—while the market continues to price both the upside of a high-profile gold-silver build and the real-world execution and permitting uncertainties that come with it. [17]
References
1. finance.yahoo.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.chilkatvalleynews.com, 4. www.marketbeat.com, 5. skeenagoldsilver.com, 6. skeenagoldsilver.com, 7. simplywall.st, 8. www.tipranks.com, 9. www.investing.com, 10. www.marketbeat.com, 11. www.investing.com, 12. www.nyse.com, 13. www.chilkatvalleynews.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.investing.com, 16. www.investopedia.com, 17. skeenagoldsilver.com
