In this article, we will look at the 10 Best Gold Stocks to Buy for the Long Term.
Gold stocks are getting renewed attention as uncertainty around the U.S.-Iran war continues to whip markets around. In April 2026 alone, investors had to digest ceasefire headlines and uncertainty over whether that would hold, all while tensions around the Strait of Hormuz kept oil and inflation concerns in focus. That kind of backdrop tends to pull gold into the conversation.
That broader case is also showing up in institutional commentary. Schroders, in a report on “gold and gold equities,” argues that gold’s shift toward an “anti-fragile, secular portfolio allocation” may still have “a long way to run.” J.P. Morgan Asset Management says gold serves as a “long-term store of value,” has shown “strong historical performance during crises,” and can provide “useful insurance for portfolios.” BlackRock makes a similar point, describing gold as a “strategic diversifier and store of value” and a “strategic ballast” during periods of market stress. The case for gold is about whether a more unstable geopolitical backdrop keeps supporting demand for assets that can hold their ground when other parts of the market become harder to trust.
Against that backdrop, gold stocks deserve a closer look. That brings us to the 10 Best Gold Stocks to Buy for the Long Term.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify gold stocks that are viewed favorably by analysts. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI)
On April 15, 2026, Morgan Stanley upgraded Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) to Equal Weight from Underweight and raised its price target to ZAR 77,000 from ZAR 68,000. The firm said it is increasing earnings estimates and price targets across its gold coverage, driven primarily by a higher gold price forecast.
On April 6, 2026, JPMorgan lowered its price target on Gold Fields Limited to $76 from $80 and maintained an Overweight rating.
Earlier in the month, Gold Fields reaffirmed its commitment to South Africa’s long-term growth through a R1.714 billion investment pledge for 2026 and 2027 at the Sixth South Africa Investment Conference in Sandton. The investment supports the South Deep Expansion Project and will focus on infrastructure development, early access to new mining areas, and expansion of renewable energy capacity. The company said the project is expected to increase production from 309Koz in 2025 to approximately 338Koz in 2027, reaching 400Koz by 2030. President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the need to translate investment pledges into projects that support economic growth and job creation, while more than 70% of the South Deep investment is expected to go to local businesses, representing about R1.23bn into the local economy.
Gold Fields Limited operates as a gold producer with assets across South Africa, Ghana, Australia, Peru, Canada, and Chile.
9. Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC)
On April 10, 2026, Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) said it received notice that TRC Capital launched an unsolicited “mini-tender” offer on April 7 to acquire up to 2.5M common shares, or about 0.21% of shares outstanding, at C$41.75 per share. The company urged shareholders to reject the offer, noting it was approximately 4.4% below the April 6 closing price of C$43.68 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Kinross said it does not endorse the offer and is not affiliated with TRC Capital Investment.
On March 26, 2026, UBS lowered its price target on Kinross Gold Corporation to $37 from $43 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares.
Earlier in March, RBC Capital upgraded Kinross Gold Corporation to Outperform from Sector Perform and raised its price target to $45 from $36, citing high free cash flow, leverage to rising gold prices, a stable operating outlook, and a “clear pathway” for capital returns with growth in per share metrics.
Kinross Gold Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties across multiple regions globally.
8. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (NYSE:HMY)
On April 15, 2026, Morgan Stanley analyst Christopher Nicholson upgraded Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (NYSE:HMY) to Overweight from Equal Weight and raised the price target to ZAR 34,000 from ZAR 30,000 previously. Christopher Nicholson said that the firm is increasing earnings estimates and price targets across its gold coverage, primarily due to a higher gold price forecast, and noted that Harmony has underperformed global and South African peers over the past 15 months, providing a valuation buffer.
Last month, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited reported revenue of ZAR 44.4B, up 20% year-over-year, compared to an estimate of ZAR 47.56B. For CSA copper guidance, Harmony expects production of 17,500 to 18,500 tonnes for the period ending June 30, 2026, with output temporarily impacted by a planned one-month halt at the CSA mine to replace steel on two shaft levels. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited also revised its dividend policy, saying “Our strengthened cash generation has enabled us to revise our dividend policy to ensure that up to 50% of our net free cash is returned to investors,” and declared an interim dividend of ZAR 5.30, or 32c per share.
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited explores, extracts, and processes mineral properties across South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
7. Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO)
On April 20, 2026, Scotiabank lowered its price target on Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) to $56 from $58 and maintained an Outperform rating ahead of Q1 results in the Gold & Precious Minerals sector. The firm expects margins to be roughly flat quarter-over-quarter but higher year-over-year, while also anticipating strong free cash flow and lower production costs compared to the prior quarter.
Similarly, BMO Capital analyst Brian Quast lowered the firm’s price target on Eldorado Gold Corporation to C$82 from C$98 previously and kept an Outperform rating on the shares.
Last month, Eldorado Gold entered into a project alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding with G Mining Services, forming a strategic engineering and construction partnership to support project delivery across its portfolio. G Mining will provide services including early project definition, engineering support, constructability reviews, and planning. The agreement is intended to improve project readiness, delivery certainty, and capital efficiency across projects such as Perama Hill; the Lamaque Complex, including the Sigma Mill expansion; Skouries, including mill start-up, ramp-up, and underground infrastructure; Olympias, including mill filtration modernization and facility upgrades; and McIlvenna Bay, including studies and potential implementation to increase throughput, improve value, and optimize materials handling.
Eldorado Gold Corporation engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, and Greece.
6. Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD)
On April 14, 2026, UBS analyst Daniel Major initiated coverage of Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD) with a Buy rating and a $325 price target. Daniel Major said the company provides an “attractive combination of low-risk, more reliable” leverage to gold price upside relative to many miners, adding that near- and medium-term volume growth does not appear reflected in the stock. UBS also views Royal Gold as entering a growth phase with potential for “strong” earnings growth.
On March 30, 2026, Royal Gold, Inc. issued its inaugural five-year outlook for total GEOs of 430,000 to 480,000, based on operator guidance, steady-state production estimates, and company assumptions, without risk adjustments for production levels or startup timing. Royal Gold said it does not plan to update this range through 2026 and expects to provide a new outlook in early 2027.
The outlook reflects expected production increases from expansions at Khoemacau and Platreef Phase 2, the extension of Bald Mountain Redbird, and new production from assets including Corani, Great Bear, Hod Maden, La India, Robertson, and Warintza, along with expected stream rate step downs at Wassa and the Rainy River silver stream. It excludes any contribution from the 30% joint venture interest in Hod Maden, as well as assets expected to begin production beyond the five-year period, including Cactus, Fourmile, Gualcamayo, Horne 5, MARA, Oyu Tolgoi, and the Platreef Phase 3 expansion.
Royal Gold, Inc. acquires and manages precious metal streams, royalties, and related interests across multiple regions globally.
5. Centerra Gold Inc. (NYSE:CGAU)
On April 21, 2026, Scotiabank analyst Ovais Habib raised the price target on Centerra Gold Inc. (NYSE:CGAU) to $21 from $19 previously and maintained an Outperform rating on the company’s shares as part of updates across the firm’s Gold & Precious Minerals coverage.
Last month, Centerra Gold Inc. announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Hendriks will be leaving the company and will remain available in a consulting role to support the transition. Mike Sylvestre assumed the role of interim Chief Operating Officer effective March 30, 2026. Mike Sylvestre has more than 45 years of international mining experience across major, mid-tier, and junior companies and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Americas at Kinross Gold before retiring in 2022.
Centerra Gold Inc. operates, develops, explores, and acquires gold and copper properties across North America, Turkey, and other international markets.
4. Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE:FSM)
On April 19, 2026, Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE:FSM) entered into an earn-in agreement with Qstone, a private Guyanese company, under which it can earn up to a 70% interest in the 29,600-hectare Quartzstone Project in north central Guyana. The project lies within a greenstone belt and has seen 183 diamond drill holes totaling 23,190 meters between 2010 and 2017, with drilling across a five-kilometer corridor identifying multiple zones of high-grade near-surface gold mineralization. Located about 120 kilometers west of Georgetown and 35 kilometers northwest of G Mining’s Oko West project, the asset hosts an orogenic gold system along the contact between a granitoid complex and Lower Proterozoic greenstone rocks.
Fortuna’s initial $5.5M exploration program will focus on advancing existing targets and identifying new ones along a 26-kilometer shear zone, including airborne magnetic surveys, satellite imaging, geochemical sampling, auger drilling, mapping, and an initial 5,000-meter diamond drilling campaign.
Under the agreement, Fortuna can earn an initial 51% interest by completing at least 60,000 meters of drilling within four years while covering license fees and expenditures, after which a joint venture with Qstone will be formed. The company can increase its stake to 70% by funding a feasibility study within three years of exercising the first option and continuing to cover license costs. Upon signing, Fortuna paid Qstone a non-refundable $5M option premium.
Earlier in April, Fortuna Mining reported Q1 2026 production of 72,872 gold equivalent ounces from its operations in West Africa and Latin America, compared to 70,386 ounces in Q1 2025 and 65,130 ounces in Q4 2025, and maintained its FY26 production guidance of 281,000 to 305,000 gold equivalent ounces.
Fortuna Mining Corp. engages in precious and base metal mining across Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Mexico, Peru, and Senegal.
3. Aura Minerals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUGO)
On April 13, 2026, Aura Minerals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUGO) said its Board of Directors approved development of the Era Dorada Project, marking a new step in the project’s progress. The company also secured budget authorization for an advanced water treatment system and plans to pursue required permits to deliver purified, potable water to the local community. Total capital expenditures are estimated at $382M, with operations expected to begin in the first half of 2028. The project is expected to produce an average of 111,000 ounces of gold annually during its first four years, with an estimated mine life of 17 years based on mineral reserves under S-K 1300.
On April 9, 2026, Aura Minerals reported preliminary Q1 production from its six operating mines: Aranzazu, Apoena, Minosa, Almas, Borborema, and MSG. Total production reached 82,137 gold equivalent ounces, above the prior quarter and 37% higher than Q1 2025, marking another record quarter. At constant prices, production rose 1% from Q4 2025 and 41% from Q1 2025. The company sold 81,364 GEO during the quarter. Rodrigo Barbosa said the company delivered a “record production quarter,” noting impacts from infrastructure upgrades at MSG and lower output at Apoena and Borborema due to mine sequencing, while expecting higher production in the second half at Aranzazu, Apoena, MSG, and Borborema, with Almas and Minosa remaining stable and aligned with annual guidance.
Aura Minerals Inc. focuses on the development and operation of gold and base metal projects across the Americas.
2. SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM)
On April 21, 2026, Scotiabank analyst Ovais Habib raised the price target on SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) to C$55 from C$50 previously and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares.
On March 25, 2026, SSR Mining announced a definitive share purchase agreement with Cengiz Holding to sell its 80% stake in the Copler mine and related properties in Türkiye for $1.5B in cash. The agreement follows the key terms outlined in the memorandum of understanding disclosed on March 4, 2026. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval from the Turkish General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs, along with other required consents and customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
Earlier in March, CIBC upgraded SSR Mining Inc. to Outperformer from Neutral and raised its price target to $48 from $35.50, saying the Copler divestiture shifts the company toward an Americas-focused profile. The firm noted SSR is currently the third largest gold producer in the U.S. and said the balance sheet is expected to improve following the sale, adding that the shares should no longer trade at a discount to peers.
SSR Mining Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties across the United States, Türkiye, Canada, and Argentina.
1. Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM)
On April 22, 2026, Reuters reported that Ghana’s mining regulator gave Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), AngloGold Ashanti, and Chinese-owned Zijin until December 2026 to transition mining operations to local contractors or face sanctions, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter and related documents. The three companies currently operate the mines with their own staff and are the only ones still doing so after Ghana, Africa’s top gold producer, revised local ownership rules in January 2025, requiring all miners to switch to contract mining.
A day earlier, CIBC analyst Anita Soni lowered the price target on Newmont Corporation to $176 from $177 previously and maintained an Outperformer rating on the shares as part of a Q1 preview across the gold and base metals group. Anita Soni said the roughly 20% decline in gold from its January high, along with the “flip-flop” in Federal Reserve funds expectations, could “support a bounce in the asset’s price,” while noting a more constructive outlook for base metal equities driven by supply constraints and viewing current levels as an attractive entry point.
Newmont Corporation operates as a gold producer and also explores for copper, silver, lead, zinc, and other metals.
READ NEXT: 8 Best Beginner Stocks to Buy Right Now and 10 Fastest-Growing Financial Stocks to Invest In
Hedge Fund Resource Center