Freeport McMoran Copper (FCX) is a miner of copper, gold and molybdenum. It has operations in North and South America, Indonesia and Africa, and competes with other miners such as the Southern Copper (SCCO), Codelco and Newmont Mining (NEM).

Newmont Mining (NEM) is primarily a gold producer with significant assets or operations in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico. Newmont Mining competes with other international gold producers like Barrick Gold (ABX), AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Goldcorp (GG).

Launch of Coverage on Newmont Mining; $80.90 Price Estimate

We recently launched coverage on Newmont Mining with an $80.90 price estimate for the company's stock. Our number stands roughly 35% above market price.

While gold may be in a new bull move, the shares of Newmont Mining (NEM) have been slipping lately. In Thursday morning trading, the stock price was off 2.24% even though the company posted a solid earnings report.

Profits came to $812 million, or $1.61 per share, up from $558 million, or $1.13 per share in the same period a year ago. During this period, revenues increased slightly from $2.52 billion to $2.55 billion.

Newmont Mining (NEM), first discussed here on June 3, 2009, at a price of $46.42, retreated slightly in late 2010 after pushing through $65, but that may be viewed as opportunity to consider the shares, if you missed the June 2009 entry point.

Newmont has the right commodities for globalization's third decade: copper and gold. However, it's not a stock for squeamish or low-risk investors: Newmont's stock practically defines uptrend volatility. Therefore, if you're looking for a steady, predictable, staircase north, it's probably best to skip NEM.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded BP (BP) to buy from neutral.
• STEC (STEC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.
• MCG Capital (MCGC) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Corporate Office (OFC) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• Citigroup upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) and Post Properties (PPS) to hold from sell.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Embraer (ERJ) to buy from underperform.
• Wilmington Trust (WL) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Parkway Properties (PKY) was upgraded to hold from sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Newmont Mining (NEM) reported Q3 EPS on Nov. 2. Gold is recently down 0.43% to $1,363, according to Bloomberg. Put option implied volatility is at 37, January is at 36, near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

EXCO Resources (XCO) announced that its Chairman and CEO, Douglas H. Miller, has proposed to purchase all of the outstanding shares of the company for $20.50 per share. November option implied volatility of 31 is below its 26-week average of 41, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Put volume skyrocketed Tuesday on Newmont Mining (NEM), with roughly 22,000 contracts crossing the tape within the first 90 minutes of the session. By contrast, NEM was only expected to see about 1,800 puts change hands -- so this surge represents about 12 times the norm.

The equity's November 60 put is far and away the most active. By 11 a.m., this out-of-the-money strike had already seen in excess of 13,200 contracts exchanged, with 59% of these puts trading at the ask price. Implied volatility on this back-month option has climbed by 2.6 percentage points to 35.2%, so it seems likely that buyers are driving the bulk of today's volume.

Newmont Mining (NEM), the world's largest gold producer, reported net income of $382 million or 77 cents a share, up from $162 million or 31 cents per share a year earlier. This was below analysts' estimates of 84 cents, according to Bloomberg. Sales rose 34% to $2.15 billion. Shares of Newmont fell 38 cents Wednesday to $55.40 per share.

Heavy rains in Indonesia were responsible for a shortfall at the Batu Hijau mine. Production there was down 6.8% to 82,000 ounces. This compares with 88,000 ounces during the first quarter. Gold output was also less than expected at Newmont's Boddington mine in Australia.