The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Credit Suisse analyst Fahad Tariq continues to rate Barrick Gold "outperform." The Globe's David Leeder writes that Mr. Tariq trimmed his share target to $25 from $29 (all figures U.S.). Analysts on average target the shares at $31.69. Mr. Tariq says the gold sector "remains unloved." Mr. Tariq says in a note: "Despite the strong fundamental backdrop, gold equities have continued to rerate lower, beyond what would be implied by the lower gold price. Anecdotally, in discussions with investors, it appears the sector is being overlooked due to concerns on the gold price outlook (investors are still trying to determine gold price direction, with rising inflation expectations but also rising yields), and also because other metals such as copper and lithium are getting the most attention as part of the green energy transition trade. Common trends and discussion include most gold producers replacing depleted reserves in 2020." The Globe reported in a Reuters dispatch on Jan. 6 that hedge funds had increased bets against major gold miners as COVID-19 vaccines weakened expectations for the metal after a year of record gains. Barrick shares were then worth $24.28.