In this article, we discuss the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now.

On September 16, 2025, as investors positioned themselves ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, gold continued its incredible rise and reached yet another record high. U.S. gold futures increased to $3,726, while spot gold briefly touched $3,697.05 per ounce before settling close to $3,688. A weaker dollar, which is already at a two-month low, and increased anticipation that the Fed will lower rates by at least 25 basis points—traders even factored in the remote possibility of a further 50 basis point cut—were the main drivers of the spike.

Gold does well in low-rate situations, according to analysts, and since markets are anticipating further easing into 2026, momentum may push bullion toward $4,000 an ounce following a possible short-term correction. Giovanni Staunovo of UBS pointed out that the bullish outlook has only been strengthened by Trump’s public push for the Fed to make “bigger” cuts.

The rise highlights the appeal of small-cap miners and gold royalty companies, which often yield disproportionate profits during periods of rising metal prices. Since manufacturing costs remain constant and revenues increase in tandem with the price of gold, these companies enjoy high profit margins.

For investors seeking the finest gold royalties and small-cap gold stocks to buy now, the situation is becoming more alluring as bullion reaches successive highs and global demand expands. With this backdrop, let’s move on to our list of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now.

Our Methodology

To curate our list of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now, we used the Finviz screener to extract a list of gold royalty stocks and small-cap gold stocks. Next, we assessed hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock using Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database, which tracks over 1,000 hedge funds. We present our list of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in each stock as of Q2 2025.

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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

11. SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22

With significant hedge fund interest, SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) secures a spot on our list of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now.

SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) reached a 52-week high on September 5, 2025, ending at $20.93, which increased its market capitalization to $4.23 billion. The milestone represents an impressive 327.2% increase in the stock price over the last 12 months, which includes a 193.25% return so far this year.

The rigorous approach and financial soundness of SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM), as seen by its current ratio of 2.39, were cited by investors as important factors supporting its durability. The rapid surge indicates growing trust in the company’s ability to deliver consistent performance across its global asset base. With a broad range of activities including base metals, silver, and gold, SSR Mining is well-positioned to benefit from additional growth in a commodities market that is encouraging.

SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:SSRM) produces gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc by purchasing, exploring, and developing precious metal resources in the United States, Turkey, Canada, and Argentina. It is one of the Best Gold Stocks.

10. Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22

Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA) is one of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now.

Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA) strengthened its defense of the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office’s ruling to grant the Substantially Started Designation (SSD) to its KSM project on September 9, 2025. The company submitted thorough written arguments, supporting previous answers and stating that the petitioners’ concerns were insufficient and that the procedure was fair.

Interestingly, one of the two petitioners, the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission, recently withdrew from the proceedings. CEO Rudi Fronk stated his confidence in Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA)’s position, highlighting that the SSD is still in effect and protecting the project’s Environmental Assessment Certificate, with hearings set for September 22–October 1.

With a primary focus on the KSM project in British Columbia, Seabridge Gold Inc. investigates and develops gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum properties in North America. It is one of the Best Gold Stocks.

9. NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE:NG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

With significant hedge fund interest, NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE:NG) secures a spot on our list of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now.

NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE:NG)’s stock reached a 52-week high of $6.96 on September 10, 2025, bringing the miner’s market capitalization to a record $2.8 billion. Over the last six months, the stock has increased by an astounding 105%, indicating that investors are becoming more confident in the company’s long-term prospects.

With positive price predictions as high as $8.86, analysts are still upbeat, highlighting the strong sentiment surrounding NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE:NG)’s key position in the precious metals industry. As the company moves forward with its main projects, the steady upward trajectory indicates strong market support.

With a 50% stake in the Donlin Gold project in Alaska, NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE:NG) investigates and develops gold mineral resources in the United States. It is one of the Best Gold Stocks.