4 Gold-Related Stocks Investors Are Watching as Precious Metal Reaches New Heights in 2026

Gold just wrapped up 2025 as one of the biggest winners in financial markets, delivering over 60% returns according to the World Gold Council. The metal hit an incredible 50+ all-time highs throughout the year, cementing its status as the go-to safe-haven asset. Now heading into 2026, the momentum shows no signs of slowing—bullion recently touched near $4,600 per ounce as geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty continue to drive investor demand.

Why Gold Keeps Winning

Several forces are fueling gold’s remarkable run. Rising geopolitical risks, particularly escalating tensions in the Middle East, have spooked markets and sent investors scrambling for protection. Meanwhile, central banks globally have become voracious gold buyers, using the metal to diversify away from dollar-denominated reserves and hedge against currency volatility.

On the domestic front, U.S. economic signals have turned softer. Weaker-than-expected labor data and signs of economic slowdown have boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve might begin cutting interest rates in 2026. Here’s why that matters for gold: when rates drop, holding non-yielding assets like bullion becomes more attractive relative to bonds and savings accounts. The opportunity cost of holding gold declines, making it more competitive against traditional fixed-income investments.

Policy uncertainty has also played a major role. Recent developments surrounding the Fed’s independence have added another layer of concern, weakening dollar sentiment and pushing more capital into precious metals as a hedge against institutional risks.

Four Gold Stocks Gaining Serious Attention

As gold prices surge, several publicly-traded gold mining and exploration companies are attracting investor interest. These equities are particularly compelling given their earnings growth trajectories and recent analyst upgrades:

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY) operates as a South Africa-based exploration and mining enterprise focused on gold and other precious minerals extraction. The company’s projected earnings growth for the current year stands at 111%—one of the most aggressive expansion rates in the sector. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HMY’s earnings has climbed 0.8%, reflecting growing confidence from the analyst community. HMY carries a Zacks Rank #2 rating.

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) functions as a diversified global gold producer engaged in exploration, development and mining operations across multiple jurisdictions. With an expected earnings growth rate of 86.1% for the year, AEM is positioned for substantial profit expansion. Analyst sentiment has shifted favorably, with consensus earnings estimates improving 2.1% over the last two months. AEM holds a Zacks Rank #1 designation.

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) takes a different approach as a Denver-headquartered precious metals royalty and streaming operation rather than a traditional miner. This business model provides exposure to gold price movements with different leverage characteristics. RGLD’s anticipated earnings growth reaches 52.9%, with analyst estimates improving 1% recently. The company maintains a Zacks Rank #1 rating.

Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) rounds out the quartet as a gold mining specialist with operations across the Americas and West African regions. KGC shows the most aggressive growth profile with expected earnings expansion of 147.1% for the current year. Remarkably, consensus earnings estimates have surged 7.7% over the past 60 days—the strongest upgrade momentum of the group. KGC also carries a Zacks Rank #1 rating.

The Broader Investment Case

What ties these gold-related stocks together is a structural shift in how capital is being deployed. Investors are rotating away from riskier assets into protective positions. The combination of persistent geopolitical uncertainty, sustained central-bank buying, and expected interest-rate reductions creates a powerful tailwind for gold prices.

Central banks show no signs of slowing their accumulation efforts heading into 2026, having maintained aggressive purchasing patterns from 2025. This official-sector demand continues to tighten supply and reinforce bullish sentiment across the commodity and related equities.

For equity investors seeking exposure to gold’s climb without directly owning physical bullion, these four stocks offer ways to participate in the metal’s outperformance while capturing operating leverage from mining operations and royalty streams.