Latest news with #World Gold Council
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Can gold be classified as an 'alternative asset' within an investor's portfolio?
In recent years, institutional investors have increasingly turned to alternative assets in pursuit of higher returns, broader diversification, and insulation from traditional market cycles. Yet, these benefits often come with trade-offs — namely, limited liquidity, delayed valuations, and vulnerability to economic shocks that may not be immediately priced in. Against this backdrop, a recent World Gold Council report suggests a rethinking of gold's role—not just as a traditional safe haven, but as a strategic component within the evolving landscape of alternative investing. While gold is not always classified as an 'alternative asset,' it possesses characteristics that make it uniquely suited to complement such portfolios. It is highly liquid, exhibits low correlation with most asset classes, and has a proven track record of resilience during periods of systemic stress. These attributes position gold as a natural counterbalance to the illiquidity and opacity that often characterise private market investments. To quantify gold's value in a diversified portfolio, the report employs a robust Monte Carlo simulation using 20 years of historical data. The findings are clear: portfolios that include a 5–8 per cent allocation to gold consistently outperform those without it in terms of risk-adjusted returns. Gold reduces volatility, cushions drawdowns, and enhances overall portfolio efficiency. For example, in a 20-year simulation, portfolios with gold experienced a maximum drawdown of –38.8 per cent, compared to –43.2 per cent without it. Even in shorter timeframes, gold's inclusion improved Sharpe ratios and reduced downside risk. 'To investors, public and private markets exist along a continuum of liquidity, returns, and volatility. The difference is one of timing and access. Gold exists in this continuum, not because it mimics public or private assets, but because its attributes bridge across both,' said Marissa Salim, Senior Research Lead, APAC at the World Gold Council. The analysis goes further by stress-testing portfolios under four macroeconomic shock scenarios: rate hikes, inflation spikes, equity crashes, and credit spread widening. In every case, gold helped reduce portfolio losses by 50 to 90 basis points. These results underscore gold's role as a reliable shock absorber—especially when both traditional and alternative assets come under simultaneous pressure. But gold's value extends beyond numbers. The report introduces the concept of a 'portfolio continuum,' where public and private markets are not seen as binary choices but as points along a spectrum of liquidity, returns, and volatility. In this continuum, gold serves as a bridge. It trades with the immediacy of public markets yet offers the defensive stability often sought in private strategies. This duality makes gold particularly valuable in today's environment, where private market liquidity is tightening and exit timelines are lengthening. Indeed, the report highlights a notable slowdown in private market deal activity and IPOs, which has created a bottleneck in capital redistribution. Innovations like GP-led secondaries and continuation funds are emerging to address these challenges, but they do not eliminate the underlying issue: capital remains locked for longer, and access to cash is less predictable. Gold, by contrast, provides immediate liquidity and flexibility—qualities that are increasingly scarce in private markets. In essence, gold is not a replacement for private credit or equity, but a strategic complement. It addresses the blind spots of alternative investments—liquidity constraints, valuation lags, and delayed responses to market stress. As portfolios become more complex and span a wider range of asset classes, gold offers a quiet but powerful form of stability. It is the connective tissue in a portfolio that must perform across cycles, across asset types, and across market regimes.
Globe and Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
5 Top-Ranked Gold Mining Stocks Amid Strong Central Bank Purchases
Gold prices are witnessing a northward journey this year, benefiting the stocks associated with yellow metal mining. The momentum of yellow metal is likely to continue as the World Gold Council has stated that the gold mining industry is facing a scarcity of deposits. On the demand side, several central banks of emerging economies are continuously buying the yellow metal. At this stage, it will be fruitful to buy gold mining stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank. Five such stocks are: Franco-Nevada Corp. FNV, Royal Gold Inc. RGLD, Kinross Gold Corp. KGC, AngloGold Ashanti plc AU and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. AEM. Each of our picks sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Solid Gold Demand by Central Banks Central Banks are bolstering their gold reserves following rising global debt levels, trade and tariff-related uncertainties and lingering geopolitical risks, especially in the Middle East. Central bankers are purchasing more gold from local miners without weighing on foreign exchange reserves, especially the U.S. dollar. Spot gold price is currently around $3,342/oz, up 37% year to date. Moreover, central banks across the world are in the process of cutting interest rates in order to spur economic growth. A low market interest rate is beneficial for non-income-bearing bullions like gold. Additionally, the use of gold in energy, healthcare and technology is rising. Therefore, an eventual demand-supply imbalance is likely to drive gold prices. Market participants are optimistic about the gold mining industry's prospects. Giant investment bankers like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan have forecasted that gold prices could climb to $4,000/ounce by 2026, suggesting continued bullish momentum. The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks year to date. Franco-Nevada Corp. Franco-Nevada is well-poised to deliver strong earnings growth aided by increased contributions from its streaming agreements. Contribution from buyouts and a healthy portfolio of royalty and streaming agreements will aid the growth of FNV. Even though the company has been facing lower output due to the production halt in Cobre Panama, it is likely to be offset by FNV's continued focus on cost management. FNV has a debt-free balance sheet and uses its free cash flow to expand portfolio and pay out dividends. Gold prices have been on an uptrend in 2025, aided by geopolitical reasons, and the potential for monetary policy easing. This rise in gold price will also boost the results of FNV in the coming quarters. Franco-Nevada has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 34.6% and 43.9%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.2% over the last seven days. Royal Gold Inc. Royal Gold has been benefiting from its solid streaming agreements. RGLD has been benefiting from its acquisitions and strong business model. Despite persistent inflationary pressures in the broader economy, the company has been maintaining high margins. RGLD maintains a strong balance sheet, which is likely to drive growth in the upcoming quarters. This rise in metal prices, like gold and silver, will boost RGLD's results in the coming quarters. RGLD is focused on allocating its strong cash flow to dividends, debt reduction and new businesses. Royal Gold has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 28.8% and 42%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 4.5% over the last 30 days. Kinross Gold Corp. Kinross Gold has a strong production profile and boasts a promising pipeline of exploration and development projects. These projects are expected to boost production and cash flow and deliver significant value. KGC is focusing on organic growth through its Tasiast mine, where the Phase One expansion boosted production capacity, and the Tasiast 24K expansion further increased throughput and production. KGC's Manh Choh project at Fort Knox is expected to extend operations and benefit from higher gold prices. The Great Bear project in Ontario also offers a promising long-term opportunity with substantial gold resources. Higher gold prices should also boost KGC's profitability and drive cash flow generation. Kinross Gold has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 17.9% and 72.1%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 5.4% over the last 30 days. AngloGold Ashanti plc AngloGold Ashanti operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. AU primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. AU's flagship property is a fully owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania. AngloGold Ashanti has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 52.8% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 1.6% over the last 30 days. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Agnico Eagle Mines is focused on executing projects that are expected to provide additional growth in production and cash flows. AEM is advancing its key value drivers and pipeline projects. The Kittila expansion promises cost savings, while acquisitions like Hope Bay and the merger with Kirkland Lake Gold strengthen AEM's market position. The merger with Kirkland Lake Gold established the new Agnico Eagle as the industry's highest-quality senior gold producer. Higher gold prices are also expected to drive AEM's margins. Strategic diversification mitigates risks, supported by prudent debt management and maintaining financial flexibility. Agnico Eagle Mines has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 26.6% and 52.5%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 7% over the last 30 days. Zacks' Research Chief Picks Stock Most Likely to "At Least Double" Our experts have revealed their Top 5 recommendations with money-doubling potential – and Director of Research Sheraz Mian believes one is superior to the others. Of course, all our picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier recommendations like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. See Our Top Stock to Double (Plus 4 Runners Up) >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC): Free Stock Analysis Report AngloGold Ashanti PLC (AU): Free Stock Analysis Report Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM): Free Stock Analysis Report Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV): Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD): Free Stock Analysis Report
