The price of gold has pushed to new all-time highs in 2025, so what are the best gold stocks to buy today so you can capitalize on the boom? We’re going to help you weigh your options and start building a gold portfolio from scratch, or add to your existing holdings.

  • Newmont Corporation (NEM)
  • Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)
  • AngloGold Ashanti (AU)
  • Franco-Nevada (FNV)
  • Gold Fields (GFI)
  • Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM)
  • SSR Mining (SSRM)

You can get a free stock analysis for any of these opportunities in the VectorVest stock analysis software – a buy, sell, or hold recommendation is just a few clicks away!

Key Takeaways on the Best Gold Stocks

  • Gold stocks give you exposure to rising gold prices without the storage, insurance, or liquidity issues of physical gold.
  • There are quite a few types of gold stocks, ranging from miners (junior to mid-cap and large) and royalty/streaming companies.
  • The best gold stocks include NEM, AEM, AU, FNV, GFI, WPM, and SSRM. Each has seen major developments and rapid price appreciation over the past year.
  • VectorVest helps you find the best gold stocks to buy at any given time, with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation. The system has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 10x over the past 20 years and counting.

What Are Gold Stocks?

These stocks represent shares of companies whose businesses are tied directly to gold – usually mining companies that explore for, extract, and sell gold. It can also include royalty and streaming companies that earn revenue from gold production without operating mines themselves, though.

At any rate, these companies benefit from gold price growth through higher revenue and stronger cash flow. But what separates them from investing in physical gold is there are other ways a gold stock’s price can climb – expanding production, improving efficiency, acquiring new assets, or paying dividends.

They’re also a lot easier to buy and sell than physical gold since they trade on public exchanges. You can buy the best gold stocks in seconds. Learn more about physical gold vs gold stocks in our blog.

Criteria For Vetting Gold Stocks

Here’s what we looked at in compiling this list of the best gold stocks to buy today:

    • Cost of production: Lower all-in sustaining costs give companies more room to stay profitable when gold prices fluctuate.
    • Jurisdiction risk: Mines in stable countries have fewer political, regulatory, and operational surprises.
    • Balance sheet strength: Cash levels, debt load, and access to financing affect how well a company handles downturns – and whether it can pay dividends or not.

 

  • Production profile: Consistent output trumps aggressive but unreliable growth plans.

 

  • Management track record: A history of success matters in capital-intensive businesses like mining.
  • Leverage to gold prices: Some stocks move closely with gold, while others lag due to operational issues.
  • Liquidity and market size: Heavily traded stocks are easier to enter and exit without price slippage.

Part of what makes the VectorVest stock advisory so great is you don’t have to dig into all these details on your own if you don’t want to. Just navigate to “Watchlists” and pull up the top gold stocks on any given day. You can then look at the simple VST rating to determine what’s worth buying and what’s not.

That being said, we’ve pulled 7 solid opportunities for you to investigate further if you’re looking for the best gold stocks to buy now.

What Are the Best Gold Stocks to Buy Today?

Gold prices get the headlines, but the more realistic opportunity for retail investors like you is in the companies that turn those higher prices into cash flow, balance-sheet strength, and long-term growth. These are the best gold stocks to buy now:

Newmont Corporation (NEM)

  • Market cap: $111 billion
  • Current price: $102.62
  • Performance: Up over 1666% YTD
  • Recent development: Completed integration of Newcrest acquisition and asset sales; strong free cash flow in 2025

This is by far the world’s largest gold miner, operating globally across the Americas, Australia, and Africa. The company has been generating strong cash flow as gold prices stay high. Meanwhile, divestitures of non-core assets have unlocked capital for shareholder returns.

Leadership change and cost dynamics have raised scrutiny for NEM, but there’s no question that the company is a benchmark in its sector and one of the most resilient gold miners out there.

Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)

  • Market cap: $87 billion
  • Current price: $173.34
  • Performance: Up over 111% YTD
  • Recent development: Record adjusted net income (just over $1.085 billion) and 35% YoY revenue growth in 2025 quarter

Agnico Eagle recently reported very strong production and financial results, supported by higher realized gold prices. The company shifted from net debt to net cash in 2025 with a bolstered balance sheet and capacity for dividends and buybacks.

This mining operation is also advancing exploration and development projects in Canada and elsewhere, so investors have both current cash flow and long-term growth prospects.

AngloGold Ashanti (AU)

  • Market cap: $44 billion
  • Current price: $87.06
  • Performance: Up over 257% YTD
  • Recent development: Completed optimization of its global mine portfolio for better operational efficiency at key sites.

The biggest gainer this year, at least among notable gold miners, is AngloGold. The company’s valuation has skyrocketed thanks to not just higher bullion prices but its own operational optimization as well.

Its global mine portfolio exposes you to diverse geological regions for a better balance in revenue streams across multiple markets. Investors tend to watch AU for momentum tied closely to gold price trends.

Franco-Nevada (FNV)

  • Market cap: $55 billion
  • Current price: $209.83
  • Performance: Up over 73% YTD
  • Recent development: Achieved more than 18 consecutive annual dividend increases.

This company actually doesn’t mine gold. Franco-Nevada operates a royalty and streaming model that collects payments based on production rather than bearing mining costs. What does this mean for investors, though? High margins, predictable cash flow – especially as gold prices continue to climb.

It hasn’t seen the same triple-digit growth as almost every other company on our list of the best gold stocks to buy, but 73% growth YTD is nothing to scoff at.

Gold Fields (GFI)

  • Market cap: $40 billion
  • Current price: $44.61
  • Performance: Up over 217% YTD
  • Recent development: Brought a new long-life asset to its portfolio in the Salares Norte mine (located in Chile).

A global gold producer with operations across Africa, Australia, and the Americas. It’s only positioned to keep growing with the recently added producing asset in Chile. Gold Fields focuses on long-life assets and production consistency over aggressive expansion, which is something that investors are drawn to.

Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM)

  • Market cap: $54 billion
  • Current price: $119.49
  • Performance: Up over 105% YTD
  • Recent development: Signed new streaming agreements on multiple precious-metal assets.

Wheaton Precious Metals operates a streaming model. It provides upfront capital to miners in exchange for the right to purchase gold and silver at fixed prices. This translates to low operating costs and less direct exposure to mining execution risk.

The company continued to expand its portfolio through additional streaming agreements tied to producing mines, increasing diversification across assets and operators. This is a good gold stock to buy now if you already hold multiple miners.

SSR Mining (SSRM)

  • Market cap: $4.5 billion
  • Current price: $22.06
  • Performance: Up over 207% YTD
  • Recent development: Reported impressive milestones at the Marigold mine, including stable production outputs and cost management gains.

Last but not least, we have a mid-cap producer with a mix of gold and precious-metal assets in North and South America. The company spent the year focused on operational stability at core mines, and it showed in each earnings report from 2025 (and in 207% stock growth).

SSRM sits between senior producers and junior miners. You get liquidity without the complexity of massive global portfolios. It sits in the sweet spot for a lot of investors.

Different Types of Gold Stocks

Before you start investing in gold stocks, it’s important that you have a stronger grasp on the different types of companies that exist in this sector. This way, you can diversify your portfolio with multiple players from the gold industry.

Major Gold Miners

These large, established companies operate multiple mines across different regions. They generate revenue directly from gold production and are usually the most liquid. These stocks move closely with gold prices but can be affected by costs, labor, and geopolitical issues tied to where they operate. NEM and AEM are two examples from this category.

Mid-Cap Gold Miners

Mid-cap miners sit between industry leaders and smaller players. They operate fewer mines but still produce meaningful volume. These stocks can offer more upside than majors if operations improve, but they may be riskier with less diversification. For example, SSRM.

Junior Gold Miners

Junior miners focus on exploration or early-stage development. Some don’t produce gold yet and rely on drilling results, permits, and financing.

These stocks can move sharply on news but carry the highest risk, since many projects never reach full production. We didn’t list any junior gold miners for that reason – but if you’re a speculative investor willing to take a gamble, CMCL and ORLA are good examples.

Gold Royalty Companies

Royalty companies earn a percentage of revenue or production from mines they don’t operate. They avoid mining costs and operational headaches. This can lead to higher margins.

Their performance still depends on gold prices, but risk tends to be lower than traditional miners. FNV is a good opportunity if you want to add a royalty company to your portfolio.

Gold Streaming Companies

Streaming companies provide upfront capital to miners in exchange for the right to buy gold at fixed prices. They get predictable cash flow and minimal exposure to cost overruns.

Streaming stocks make sense to investors who want gold exposure with fewer surprises. WPM is a streaming company with solid potential, even after its price skyrocketed through 2025.

Should You Buy Gold Stocks? Pros and Cons to Think About

It’s clear gold stocks are having a moment, tracking with the performance of the precious metal itself. But there are potential downsides and risks to any stock. You should be aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly for any investment you make.

Pros

  • Liquidity: Gold stocks trade on major exchanges, so buying and selling is fast and easy.
  • Leverage to gold prices: Well-run miners and royalty companies can see profits grow faster than the metal itself when gold prices rise.
  • Growth potential: Unlike physical gold, companies can expand production, improve margins, or acquire new assets. There’s more room for stock appreciation than just gold.
  • Income opportunities: Some gold stocks pay dividends as well, giving investors a predictable cash flow alongside price exposure.
  • No storage or insurance hassles: You don’t deal with vaults, shipping, or security costs.

Cons

  • Operational risk: Mining issues, labor disruptions, and cost overruns can hurt results even when gold prices are strong.
  • Market volatility: Gold stocks swing more than gold itself – that’s a good thing during prosperous periods, but it can have the opposite impact during broader market selloffs.
  • Management execution matters: Poor capital decisions or weak leadership can drag down performance.
  • Jurisdiction risk: Mines in unstable regions come with regulatory, political, or permitting challenges.
  • Not a pure hedge: Gold stocks don’t always move in sync with gold during short-term market stress.

Getting Started Investing in Gold Stocks

Gold stocks work best when you’re comfortable analyzing businesses, not just watching metal prices. That’s why you shouldn’t just take the companies we listed above as the best gold stocks to buy now and run with them. You need to do more due diligence. Here are some tips:

Decide What Type of Gold Stock Fits You

We’ve listed quite a few of the best gold stocks to buy today, so take your time to figure out where you sit in the risk-reward spectrum. Royalty and streaming companies are safer but might not offer the same upside as miners. It usually makes sense to have both in your portfolio.

Analyze the Fundamentals

There are a few core metrics that matter most when analyzing gold stocks:

  • Production levels and expected mine life
  • All-in sustaining costs compared to current gold prices
  • Balance sheet strength and debt levels
  • Geographic exposure and political risk

These factors often matter more than short-term gold price moves. But, the timing does have to be right. Speaking of which…

Pay Attention to Timing

Gold stocks respond to more than just gold. Interest rates, inflation expectations, and equity market sentiment all play a role. Buying after sharp pullbacks or early trend shifts often works better than buying after long rallies.

You might have to be patient if you’re trying to buy gold stocks at a discount, though. We’re currently witnessing a gold boom as we’ve never seen before. Fortunately, VectorVest tells you when to buy and sell any given stock.

Build a Plan Before Buying (and Stick to it)

Decide your position size, set exit rules, and review holdings as conditions change. Because these companies react to gold prices, costs, and broader market conditions, having clear rules helps you avoid buying late or holding through avoidable drawdowns.

Our blog has a more detailed guide on how to invest in gold stocks if you’re ready to get started.

Find the Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now With VectorVest!

Whether you’re looking for the best gold stocks to buy now or the best AI stocks to buy now, the best tech stocks, the best stocks for covered calls, or anything in between, VectorVest makes it easy to build a portfolio from scratch or add to your existing holdings.

It’s a proprietary stock rating system that has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 10x over the past 20 years and counting, while calling every major market move along the way. The best part is it helps you earn higher returns with LESS work and stress.

You’re given a clear buy, sell, or hold recommendation for any given stock at any given time, and you never have to look far for your next opportunity with a myriad of prebuilt watchlists – including Gold Miners.

Get started today and see why millions of investors have trusted VectorVest.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best gold stock to buy?

There isn’t a single “best” option for everyone. The right pick depends on whether you want stability from large producers, lower-risk exposure from royalty companies, or higher upside from smaller miners. We’ve shared plenty of options for the best gold stocks to buy now.

Which gold stocks pay the best dividends?

Established producers and royalty companies tend to offer the most reliable dividends, since they generate steady cash flow and don’t rely on constant exploration success.

Is it better to buy real gold or stocks?

Physical gold works as a long-term store of value, but gold stocks are just way more practical for the average investor. You get more liquidity, growth potential, and sometimes income. You can technically hold both!

Is gold one of the best investments you can make right now?

It definitely would have been better to invest in gold back in 2024 when the current rally began. The metal has more than doubled in value in the past 2 years or so. But, gold and the stocks tied to it don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Just make sure you have a tool like VectorVest telling you when to sell if things take a turn.

What gold investment will yield the best return?

Historically, well-run gold stocks have delivered higher returns than physical gold during strong cycles. They come with more short-term volatility, though, so just keep that in mind.