How to buy gold stocks & ETFs

Gold has long been a popular store of wealth, especially in times of economic turmoil. But buying physical gold isn’t always practical — storage can be cumbersome, risky and expensive. But it’s not the only way to invest in gold.

Gold stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) give investors exposure to gold in various ways. Here’s what you need to know and how to get started investing in gold.

How to buy gold stocks and ETFs

1. Compare investing platforms. Narrow down top platforms that fit your goals and offer investing in gold.
2. Open your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details.
3. Confirm your payment details. Link an account to fund your trades.
4. Research the stock. Find the stock or ETF by name or ticker symbol and determine if it’s a good investment for you.
5. Purchase now or later. Buy your desired number of shares with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until the stock reaches your desired price.
6. Check in on your investment. Optimize your portfolio by tracking your stock.

Buy gold shares from these brokerages

Compare minimum deposits, fees and signup bonuses among top trading platforms.

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Name	Product	Asset types	Stock trade fee	Minimum deposit	Signup bonus
$10 BONUS eToro eToro Finder Award		Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrency	$0	$10	$10 when you sign up and deposit $100	Trade stocks in the app or online with $0 commissions. Not available in NY, NV, MN, or TN. Client disclaimer: US Brokerage services through eToro USA Securities Inc, member of FINRA, SIPC. Crypto assets through eToro USA LLC.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
SoFi Invest SoFi Invest		Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrency	$0	$1	$10 - $100 when you open an account and place a first crypto trade of $50 - $5,000+	A free way to invest in most equities.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Tastyworks Tastyworks		Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency	$0	$0	$200 in US stocks when you open and fund an account with min. $2,000 for 3+ mos.	Trade stocks, options, ETFs and futures on mobile or desktop with this advanced platform.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
JPMorgan Self-Directed Investing JPMorgan Self-Directed Investing		Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs	$0	$0	$125 - $625 when you open and fund an account with $25,000 - $250,000+	INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Axos Bank Self Directed Investing Axos Bank Self Directed Investing		Stocks	$0	$1,000	$150 when you open an account and deposit at least $1500.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...

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What are gold stocks and ETFs?

Investors who don’t want to take delivery of physical gold or pay to have it stored in a third-party vault may decide to buy shares in gold stocks or ETFs.

Gold stocks and ETFs typically comprise the following:

• Gold mining companies. These companies specialize in the exploration, mining and selling of physical gold. Mining stocks allow you to directly link your capital to the success of these mines and the changing value and price of gold. Many offer the added benefit of dividends.
• Gold-focused ETFs. These funds invest in gold mining companies, physical gold or both, giving investors access to a wide array of assets through a single investment.
• Gold royalty and streaming companies. These companies provide mining companies with capital to expand or develop their projects and, in return, receive a percentage of the mine’s revenue or gold production.

Top gold stocks and ETFs for 2022

Here are some of the top gold stocks and ETFs for 2022. Information is accurate as of June 6, 2022.

Newmont (NEM)

Colorado-based Newmont is the world’s largest gold mining company and the only one included in the S&P 500 index. The company operates mines in North America, South America, Australia and Africa and holds reserves of around 93 million gold ounces as of the end of 2021.

Most recently, Newmont’s Coffee Gold Project — a proposed open-pit and heap leaching gold development project located in west-central Yukon — was approved by Canadian federal and territorial governments. The proposed mine will be capable of producing roughly 67 million tons of ore over the project’s lifecycle, according to the CBC.

• Price: $67.51*
• 52-week range: $52.60 to $86.37*
• Performance YTD: 9.35%*
• Dividend yield: 3.24%*
• Analysts’ opinion: 2 Strong Buys, 9 Buys and 7 Holds**
• Analysts’ consensus recommendation: Buy**
• Analysts’ average price target: $113.66**

*Compiled by Yahoo Finance

Franco-Nevada (FNV)

Franco-Nevada is a leading gold-focused royalty and streaming company. In the first quarter of 2022, 55% of its revenue came from gold.

Headquartered in Canada, Franco-Nevada provides investors with dividends and exposure to gold price and exploration optionality. The company’s portfolio comprises 405 assets covering roughly 63,000 square kilometers, primarily throughout North America, South America, Africa and Australia.

While Frano-Nevada doesn’t perform mining operations, it receives revenue through various agreements. These include: net smelter return royalties, streams, net profit interests, net royalty interests and working interests.

• Price: $143.76*
• 52-week range: $124.95 to $169.32*
• Performance YTD: 3.91%*
• Dividend yield: 0.89%*
• Analysts’ opinion: 1 Buy and 5 Holds**
• Analysts’ consensus recommendation: Buy**
• Analysts’ average price target: $163.89**

*Compiled by Yahoo Finance

SPDR Gold Shares

The SPDR Gold Shares ETF is the largest physically backed gold ETF globally, with over $63 billion in assets under management. It aims to track the performance of gold bullion and has over 34 million ounces of vaulted gold in its custody.

The fund has been operating since 2004.

• Price: $171.74*
• 52-week range: $160.68 to $193.30*
• Performance YTD: 2%*
• Dividend yield: 0%*
• Net asset value: $63.3 billion
• Expense ratio: 0.40%

*Compiled by Yahoo Finance

Factors that affect gold pricing

There are numerous pricing factors to consider and compare before selecting your gold.

• Spot price. This is the industry standard that represents the up-to-date rate for one ounce of gold. The spot price of gold fluctuates constantly and is determined by the forward month’s futures contract with the most volume.
• Markup. Gold markups help retailers cover costs and can range from 2% to 30% on top of the gold’s spot price. This cost may be expressed as a commission or service fee by the retailer.
• Premium. Some gold has additional collector’s value, and some issuers of gold — like the US Mint — command a higher premium than others.
• Market factors. The price of gold can be affected by a variety of market factors, including economic conditions, geopolitical events and more.

How much is gold worth now?

The graph below tracks the spot price of gold, which is the current marketplace price per ounce of gold.

Why is gold a “safe haven?”

Investors view gold as a safe haven for several reasons:

• Gold is a physical asset.
• It’s not easily created or destroyed.
• It doesn’t change — gold is resistant to oxidation and will look the same hundreds of years from now.
• It has cultural and historical value — gold predates modern currency and has always been seen as beautiful and special.
• Governments have turned to gold in times of financial crisis, which in itself adds to gold’s stability.

What is a safe haven?

A safe haven investment is typically stable in times of market volatility. A safe haven is also useful for investors looking to diversify their portfolio, decreasing exposure to riskier assets or investments.

Bottom line

If you’re searching for ways to protect your wealth or diversify your investments, gold stocks and ETFs may be a practical addition to your portfolio. These securities provide a means to add gold exposure to your portfolio without taking hold of the physical asset or paying for its safe storage.