Gold Rush: Exploring 5 Sector Giants Amidst Soaring Prices

Picture of pile of gold nuggets and hammer on black background

Key Points

  • Gold has surged to new all-time highs, defying expectations amidst a robust U.S. economy and soaring stock markets.
  • Analysts remain bullish on Newmont, with a consensus price target predicting a significant upside of 33%.
  • Despite Barrick Gold's recent underperformance, analysts see considerable potential, forecasting a 33% upside and assigning a moderate buy rating based on sixteen analyst ratings.
  • 5 stocks we like better than Agnico Eagle Mines

Gold has reached new all-time highs, defying expectations amidst a robust U.S. economy and soaring stock markets. Its rally seems unstoppable, with gold trading at around $2,300 per ounce, marking an 11% increase year-to-date and a staggering 16% gain over the past 12 months. 

Several factors contribute to gold's remarkable rally. While the U.S. economy projects a positive growth rate this year, other developed economies like Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom lag behind with negative growth rates. This divergence, coupled with underperforming foreign stock markets, propels investors towards the perceived safety of gold. Furthermore, Chinese investors are driving significant demand for gold amid economic instability in China, particularly in its commercial real estate sector.

Within the U.S., investors seek refuge in gold to hedge against potential inflation, rebalance portfolios following stock market surges, and mitigate geopolitical risks. Anticipated interest rate cuts and high gold purchases by central banks worldwide further bolster the bullish outlook for gold.

As gold continues its ascent, now might be an opportune time to analyze sector giants like NEM, GFI, FNV, AEM, and GOLD, whose fortunes could be intertwined with the commodity's rise.

Newmont NYSE: NEM

Newmont is a gold production and exploration corporation with a $43 billion market capitalization and 2.69% dividend yield. Notably, the company projects 33% earnings growth for the entire year.

Newmont's shares were up 16% over the previous month, thanks to the recent surge in the commodity. However, year-to-date, the gold exploration company's shares are down 10.5%.

Analysts are considerably bullish on the name, with a moderate buy rating and consensus price target predicting an impressive 33% upside. 


Gold Fields NYSE: GFI

GFI is a prominent gold producer, boasting a market capitalization of $15 billion. Notably, GFI has demonstrated strong performance compared to its peers, with shares up nearly 16% year-to-date and a remarkable 21% surge over the previous month.

Despite GFI's impressive stock performance and projected earnings growth of 74% for the full year, analysts are bearish about the company. The consensus analyst rating stands at reduce, reflecting cautious outlooks. The consensus price target also suggests an anticipated downside of almost 18%, indicating a lack of confidence in future stock performance.

Franco-Nevada NYSE: FNV

FNV is a gold-focused royalty and streaming company with a substantial market capitalization of $23 billion. Although it is not a direct gold producer, its unique business model offers investors exposure to the precious metal.

The company has a modest dividend yield of 1.13% and a projected earnings growth of 16% for the upcoming year. Analyst sentiment towards the company is mixed, as indicated by the hold rating based on eleven analyst ratings.

However, there remains optimism regarding FNV's potential, with the consensus price target forecasting an impressive upside of almost 23%. This suggests that despite the hold rating, analysts see substantial growth prospects for FNV in the foreseeable future.

Agnico Eagle Mines NYSE: AEM

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited is a leading gold mining company specializing in developing and producing precious metals. With a robust market capitalization of nearly $31 billion, AEM offers investors substantial exposure to the gold market.

Investors seeking income may find AEM appealing, as the company boasts a dividend yield of 2.59% and a reasonable price-to-earnings ratio of 15.02. AEM's stock performance has been impressive year-to-date, with double-digit gains of almost 11% and a remarkable surge of nearly 23% over the previous month.

Barrick Gold NYSE: GOLD

GOLD is a prominent global mining entity with operations in North America, South America, Africa, and Australia. Barrick Gold specializes primarily in the exploration and production of gold and copper and has established itself as a critical player in the industry.

Despite its extensive presence and diversified operations, Barrick Gold has faced challenges recently, with its stock underperforming compared to its peers. Year-to-date, the stock has experienced an 8% decline, although it has shown promising signs, with a notable increase of almost 15% over the previous month.

Despite recent setbacks, analysts remain bullish on the company's prospects. The consensus price target forecasts an impressive 33% upside, reflecting analysts' confidence in Barrick Gold's ability to rebound. Based on sixteen analyst ratings, Barrick Gold receives a moderate buy rating, indicating optimism about the stock's growth and recovery potential.

Should you invest $1,000 in Agnico Eagle Mines right now?

Before you consider Agnico Eagle Mines, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Agnico Eagle Mines wasn't on the list.

While Agnico Eagle Mines currently has a "Moderate Buy" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

7 AI Stocks to Invest In: An Introduction to AI Investing For Self-Directed Investors Cover

As the AI market heats up, investors who have a vision for artificial intelligence have the potential to see real returns. Learn about the industry as a whole as well as seven companies that are getting work done with the power of AI.

Get This Free Report

Companies Mentioned in This Article

CompanyMarketRank™Current PricePrice ChangeDividend YieldP/E RatioConsensus RatingConsensus Price Target
Newmont (NEM)
4.0806 of 5 stars
$42.52-0.5%2.35%-15.93Moderate Buy$51.77
Gold Fields (GFI)
1.4988 of 5 stars
$17.92+2.2%1.95%N/AReduce$13.67
Barrick Gold (GOLD)
4.9182 of 5 stars
$17.34+1.5%2.31%24.08Moderate Buy$21.60
Franco-Nevada (FNV)
2.4355 of 5 stars
$123.34+0.3%1.10%-50.76Moderate Buy$148.60
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)
3.9526 of 5 stars
$65.77+0.4%2.43%69.23Moderate Buy$64.14
Compare These Stocks  Add These Stocks to My Watchlist 

Ryan Hasson

About Ryan Hasson

  • Ry.has7@gmail.com

Contributing Author

Technical Analysis, Momentum Trading, Risk Management

Experience

Ryan Hasson has been a contributing writer for MarketBeat since 2023.

Areas of Expertise

Equity research and analysis, technical analysis and price action, market sentiment and underlying themes, risk management and trading psychology

Education

Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management

Past Experience

Equities trader, Kershner Trading Group, business analysis consultant, SMB Capital

Zoom International: Business Analysis Consultant.


Featured Articles and Offers

7 Must-Buy Stocks Under $20

7 Must-Buy Stocks Under $20

In this video, we highlight seven stocks under $20 that are worth a closer look.

Search Headlines: