Equinox Gold (EQX) Sees Analyst Targets Jump to 26.52 as Institutional Backing Surges

Equinox Gold has caught the attention of major market players, with the one-year average price target now standing at $26.52 per share. This marks a significant 13.04% upward revision from the previous consensus of $23.46, reflecting growing confidence among equity researchers. Individual analyst estimates currently span from $26.26 to $27.30 per share, painting an optimistic near-term outlook. At the latest trading price of $14.57 per share, the target price suggests substantial upside potential of 82.02%.

Institutional Interest Intensifies

The surge in price targets comes alongside accelerating institutional positioning. A total of 366 funds and institutions now hold stakes in Equinox Gold, up 3 holders from the prior quarter—a modest but meaningful increase. What’s more telling is the concentration of capital: the average fund allocation to EQX has grown to 0.46% of portfolios, up 21.12% quarter-over-quarter. Institutional investors have collectively accumulated 458,174K shares, representing a 3.83% increase over the trailing three months.

What the Options Market is Signaling

The put/call ratio of 0.28 reveals a distinctly bullish undertone among options traders. This metric suggests that call buyers—those betting on further appreciation—outnumber put buyers by a comfortable margin, aligning with the constructive analyst revisions.

Major Shareholders Making Bold Moves

Van Eck Associates, the largest institutional holder, now commands 96,024K shares or 12.24% of the company. The firm’s latest filing shows a dramatic 47.72% increase from its prior 50,203K share position, with portfolio weighting in EQX jumping 205.64% in just one quarter. This aggressive accumulation sends a clear signal of institutional conviction.

Not all large holders are expanding, however. Donald Smith’s position declined 32.33% to 20,031K shares (2.55% ownership), though the firm still increased its relative portfolio allocation by 24.92%. Similarly, L1 Capital Pty trimmed holdings by 37.44% to 17,396K shares (2.22% stake), yet paradoxically increased portfolio weighting by 54.81%.

Contrasting this, Maple Rock Capital Partners boosted its stake by 14.03% to 16,645K shares and increased relative allocation by 82.42%. Evergreen Quality Fund GP rounds out the top five holders with 14,118K shares representing 1.80% ownership.

The mixed signals from fund activity—some reducing absolute positions while increasing relative weight—suggest portfolio rebalancing rather than outright bearish sentiment toward Equinox Gold.