Why SSR Mining Stock Dropped Today

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2.4% CPI growth in February -- and March inflation could be worse.

  • Gold prices often fall when inflation runs hot.

  • SSR Mining just agreed to sell one of its gold mines, limiting its exposure if gold prices decline.

  • 10 stocks we like better than SSR Mining ›

SSR Mining (NASDAQ: SSRM) stock declined 3.4% through 12:45 p.m. ET Wednesday after gold prices took another leg lower on inflation fears. This morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4% for a second straight month in February.

These two things are connected.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »

Gold nuggets.

Image source: Getty Images.

Gold and silver and inflation

There's a war in the Mideast, and it may last a while. Investors view precious metals like gold and silver as safe havens in times of conflict, and SSR mines both (along with lead, zinc, and copper). Silver prices soared 2.5% in the aftermath of the attacks on Iran, and gold prices leapt 2.6%.

War can also be inflationary, though, especially when it restricts oil supplies and drives up fuel prices. So while CPI held steady in February (still above the Fed's 2% inflation target), the worry is that the March data will show a sharp rise in inflation.

If this happens, investors may sell precious metals (which don't pay interest) and buy bonds instead (which do pay interest, and pay more interest as inflation rises). This worry has gold sinking 1.1% (to $5,183 an ounce) today, and silver down 5.3% at $84.85.

What this means for SSR Mining stock

Out of all the world's gold stocks, though, SSR Mining may be one of the safer choices.

Why? Recall that one week ago, SSR agreed to cash out its stake in its Turkish gold mine for $1.5 billion. This limits the stock's exposure to falling gold prices (if they do fall) -- while guaranteeing a $1.5 billion windfall today.

When you consider that SSR costs less than 17x trailing earnings and barely 8x forward earnings, SSR looks to me like a good, cheap way to invest in gold in uncertain times.

Should you buy stock in SSR Mining right now?

Before you buy stock in SSR Mining, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and SSR Mining wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $522,791!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,132,678!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 952% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of March 11, 2026.

Rich Smith has positions in SSR Mining. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Trump Wants TACO? The Script for an Iran War May No Longer Be His to WriteThe US-Israel-Iran conflict enters its second week as new developments emerge in the situation.On March 9 local time, U.S. President Trump sent a clear signal during a press conference, s
Author  TradingKey
9 hours ago
The US-Israel-Iran conflict enters its second week as new developments emerge in the situation.On March 9 local time, U.S. President Trump sent a clear signal during a press conference, s
placeholder
WTI trades below $82.00 as IEA plans record Oil reserve releaseWest Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price gave up gains from the previous session, trading around $81.70 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday.
Author  FXStreet
17 hours ago
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price gave up gains from the previous session, trading around $81.70 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday.
placeholder
Crypto’s Great Recovery: Is the Post-Conflict Surge a Sustainable Rally or a Sophisticated Bull Trap?President Trump claimed the war is essentially over, as cryptocurrencies surged across the board and Bitcoin broke through $70,000.
Author  TradingKey
Yesterday 10: 10
President Trump claimed the war is essentially over, as cryptocurrencies surged across the board and Bitcoin broke through $70,000.
placeholder
WTI recovers to near $86.50 as Strait of Hormuz remains closedWest Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $86.40 during the early Asian trading hours on Tuesday. The WTI price faces extreme volatility following a massive spike to nearly $120 per barrel in the previous session. 
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 01: 18
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $86.40 during the early Asian trading hours on Tuesday. The WTI price faces extreme volatility following a massive spike to nearly $120 per barrel in the previous session. 
placeholder
International Oil Prices Retreat Rapidly; G-7 to Discuss Emergency Oil Reserve Release On the afternoon of March 9, Beijing time, following a surge in international crude oil prices triggered by escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, the Group of Seven (G7) u
Author  TradingKey
Mar 09, Mon
On the afternoon of March 9, Beijing time, following a surge in international crude oil prices triggered by escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, the Group of Seven (G7) u
goTop
quote