Despite hating gold mining sector, Citi OKs Goldcorp, Barrick, Newmont

• Citigroup is bearish on the gold mining sector but it does prefer some miners to others, namely Buy-rated Goldcorp (GG -0.7%) and Barrick Gold (ABX+0.4%) as well as Neutral-rated Newmont Mining (NEM +0.8%).
• Citi sees GG as one of the few large gold producers set to deliver meaningful low-cost production growth over the next several years, and management continues to expect positive free cash flow beginning in Q4 at $1,200/oz. gold; the firm thinks ABX is in a better position to manage free cash generation after divesting high-cost assets, focusing on cost reductions and dialing back major project spending; NEM expects to generate positive free cash flow in 2014 at $1,250/oz. gold and has done a good job managing costs and dialing back capex.
• The firm slaps Sell ratings on Gold Fields (GFI -0.7%), Harmony Gold (HMY +1.1%) and Sibanye Gold (SBGL +1%).
• Source: Seeking Alpha