Gold has staged a strong comeback in August 2026, rising 14% over the last month and trading around $4,700 per ounce. Investors can gain gold exposure through physical gold ETFs like GLD or by investing in gold mining company stocks and ETFs like GDX. Gold mining stocks have significantly outperformed the physical metal, with GDX up 37% in the last month and major miner Newmont up 42.5%, though Newmont carries a Sell rating due to higher costs.

Barrick Mining's dividend yield has reached 2.16%, more than double the S&P 500 average, and is considered sustainable with a 24% payout ratio. The company reported strong Q2 earnings with 28% FCF growth and 55% EPS increase. A settlement with Newmont provides $1.95 billion in cash and clears the way for an IPO of North American gold assets. The stock trades at a discount valuation of 11.5x forward earnings.

Newmont Mining shares surged 7.9% on Wednesday following a Treasury Department announcement to double its Treasury Bond buyback program for long-dated securities. The announcement caused long-term Treasury yields to decline, which boosted gold prices. While the company announced a minor $70 million divestiture, the primary driver of the rally was the positive impact on gold prices from lower interest rates.

The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) delivered 62.6% returns over the trailing 12 months compared to VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) at 47.3%, but both funds charge similar ~0.5% expense ratios. While SLV provides direct physical silver exposure, GDX offers mining company equity with operational leverage and dividend payments. The article recommends GDX due to its flexibility, dividend yield, and more favorable tax treatment for U.S. investors compared to collectibles taxes on physical silver.

The article compares two gold investment approaches: SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), which tracks physical gold bullion with lower volatility and fees, versus VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX), which invests in mining company stocks with higher returns but greater risk. While GLD offers stability and lower costs, GDX is recommended as the better buy for 2026 due to superior long-term performance, operating leverage benefits during gold rallies, and dividend payments, despite its higher volatility.

Predictive Discovery Limited (PDI) announced a $10 million strategic investment in South African exploration company Awalé Resources Limited, acquiring a 12.3% stake. The investment will fund exploration activities on Awalé's Odienné gold project in Côte d'Ivoire, which includes a joint venture with Newmont Corporation containing estimated mineral resources of 1.71 million ounces of gold equivalent.

Predictive Discovery Limited (PDI) announced a USD 10 million strategic investment in Awalé Resources Limited, acquiring approximately 12.3% stake. The investment will fund exploration activities in Awalé's Odienné gold and copper project in Côte d'Ivoire, which includes a joint venture with Newmont Corporation reporting 1.71 million ounces of gold equivalent in measured resources.

Newmont Corp (NEM) stock rose up to 5.4% following a TD Cowen analyst upgrade from hold to buy on valuation grounds, despite the analyst lowering the price target to $127 from $129. The analyst sees strength in gold's long-term outlook driven by central bank diversification away from U.S. dollar assets, positioning Newmont as an ideal way to play a potential gold recovery.

The article compares iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) as investment vehicles for precious metals exposure. SLV offers direct physical silver bullion exposure with a 58.7% 1-year return, while SGDM provides indirect gold exposure through mining equities with a 40.1% 1-year return. The author recommends SGDM due to its lower expense ratio (0.46% vs 0.50%), dividend income, and more favorable tax treatment compared to SLV's collectibles tax classification.

Gold experienced mid-single-digit declines in 2026 after a volatile first half, driven by speculative overinvestment corrections. However, fundamental demand drivers remain strong, particularly central bank buying and potential jewelry demand at lower prices. The article recommends buying into weakness in gold, gold ETFs, or gold miners, as long-term structural trends support higher prices despite near-term downside risks.

Newmont stock fell 14.9% in June as gold prices crashed into a bear market, declining over 25% from record highs despite inflation and geopolitical tensions. The decline was triggered by rising U.S. Treasury yields outcompeting gold as investors sought safer returns. Adding pressure, Newmont guided for lower production (5.3M ounces vs 5.9M in 2025) and higher costs ($1,680 vs $1,358 per ounce), creating margin compression. However, the company maintains a strong $3.2 billion net cash position and recently doubled its buyback authorization, suggesting management sees the dip as a buying opportunity.

Imperial Metals announced that the Federal Government of Canada will contribute $500 million to support the Red Chris Block Cave copper-gold project. The project, a joint venture with Newmont Corporation, is expected to extend the mine's life by 14 years, create over 1,800 construction jobs, and sustain 1,500 operational roles. The commitment strengthens the business case as the joint venture advances toward a final investment decision.