WA gold miners highlight S&P/ASX 200 top performers

Gold miners with Western Australian operations are providing a strong return to investors, making up 35 per cent of the top 20 performing stocks in the S&P/ASX 200 for the past three months.

Research by Sydney-based stockbroking group Everblu Capital showed WA gold miners made up seven of the top 20 performers on the S&P/ASX 200 over the three months to the end of December, led by Saracen Mineral Holdings, which gained 59.3 per cent.

Evolution Mining was the second-top performer, with its shares rising 43.4 per cent over the period, while St Barbara was ranked third with a 34.9 per cent rise.

Other strong performers included Regis Resources (ranked 6^th, up 26.5 per cent), Newcrest Mining (10^th, up 20.1 per cent), Northern Star Resources (13^th, up 12.4 per cent) and Resolute Mining (15^th, up 11.1 per cent).

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group also made the top 20, coming in at 12^th with a 14.1 per cent gain, while tertiary education provider Navitas was ranked 11^th, with a 14.7 per cent gain.

Perth-based BWP Trust, the ASX-listed entity that owns a large portfolio of Bunnings Warehouse properties across Australia, was the final WA company in the top 20 performers, ranked 19^th with a 6.6 per cent gain.

In contrast, six of the 20 worst-performing firms in the S&P/ASX 200 for the quarter were based in WA.

Seven West Media was the worst performing company in the index with its shares plunging from around 99 cents at the end of September, to trade around 53 cents at the end of December.

Other WA-based companies on the worst-performing list included mining services group Ausdrill (down 42.5 per cent), Seven Group Holdings (down 39.2 per cent), car dealer network Automotive Holdings Group (down 33.3 per cent), nickel miner Western Areas (down 31.8 per cent) and lithium explorer Orocobre (down 31.3 per cent).