By Nicole Strandlund Business Edge

Act I: Golden wings

• The Player: NovaGold Resources (TSX:NG.WT) • Action: Up 93 per cent in a month (from $2.85 Jan. 1) • Recent Price: $5.50 • 52-Week High/Low: $13.61/$1.55 It may have been a tough month for the markets in general, but at least one sector isn't having the same experience. Nine of the 10 top stock gainers for the month (measured by percentage price gain) are gold stocks. NovaGold Resources warrants lead the pack with an 82-per-cent gain, closing at $5.50 on Jan. 28.

Back in late November, shares of the Vancouver-based gold company took a dive when the company, along with partner Teck Cominco Ltd., suspended activities of the Galore Creek copper-gold-silver project in northwestern B.C. Development costs for the project had exploded to $5 billion - more than double what was originally expected.

But the stock is making a valiant comeback, thanks to gold reaching record high prices, a U.S. appeals court decision in NovaGold's favour (allowing the company to proceed with two open-pit mines in Alaska) and the announcement of a new development plan in the works for the suspended Galore Creek project. (That plan is expected in the next 12 to 18 months.)

Comparatively, NovaGold's stock TSX:NG is up 43 per cent to $11.60 in the same period.

Act II: Mining IPO

• The Player: Franco-Nevada Corp. (TSX:FNV) • Action: Up 29 per cent in a month (from $15.15 Jan. 1) • Recent Price: $19.60 • 52-Week High/Low: $20.70/$13.63 The one non-gold stock in the top 10 gainers this month is Franco-Nevada Corp., a Toronto-based resource sector royalty and investment company.

The listing launched on the TSX in December, when the company completed a US$1.2-billion purchase of royalties and other interests from Newmont Mining Corp.

The company also recently appointed a new CFO to help it manage its portfolio of about 290 royalty investments and other development and exploration opportunities.

So far, the market seems excited to have the listing on the board, as shares have climbed 26 per cent from the IPO price of $15.20.

Act III: Fruit blemish

• The Player: SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL) • Action: Down 57 per cent in a month (from US$13.35 Jan. 1) • Recent Price: US$5.76 • 52-Week High/Low: US$15.25/$5.53 Oh, those pesky financials - a restatement will smack a stock price every time.

SunOpta, an Ontario-based company primarily focused on the natural, organic and specialty foods markets, recently announced what it called "significant issues" within its fruit and bioprocess groups, which have led to US$12- and $14-million writedowns.

The company has launched an investigation and has issued a warning that previously issued fiscal 2007 statements will likely be restated, giving no assurance that the impact will stop there.

To make matters worse, lawyers have begun looking into possible securities violations by SunOpta relating to the announcement that 2007 earnings have been materially impacted.

Other divisions of the company performed well, but that doesn't seem to matter.

SunOpta shares have shed 55 per cent of their value in under a month and have dropped more than 60 per cent off a US$15.25 high in October.

Act IV: Weak service

• The Player: FirstService Corp. (TSX:FSV) • Action: Down 32 per cent in a month (from $30.30 Jan. 1) • Recent Price: $20.54 • 52-Week High/Low: $39.93/$20.26 There's good and then there's not good enough.

FirstService Corp., the Toronto-based property service company (providing services to commercial, residential and institutional customers), has announced two record-breaking financial quarters in a row.

Recently released Q3 revenue was US$502.2 million, up 34 per cent compared to the same period last year. Net earnings for the quarter (ending Dec. 31, 2007) were US$7.985 million, up from US$7.757 million last year.

For the nine months ending Dec. 31, revenue was up 30 per cent to US$1.349 billion, and net earnings rose to US$43.76 million from US$32.51 in the same period last year.

Those numbers come on the heels of a record-breaking second quarter announced at the end of October.

In contrast, the stock is breaking records of its own, hitting new 52-week lows as it continues its steady decline from November, and has made TSX:FSV one of the month's worst performers (greatest share price percentage loss).

Note: The above is not intended as investment advice to buy or sell any mentioned securities. Investors should do due diligence before investing. Quotes are based on results through Jan. 28, 2008.

(Nicole Strandlund can be reached at nicole@businessedge.ca)