In this article, we will examine the Best Precious Metals Stocks to Buy Now.
Gold has been a measure of wealth and a symbol of trust for centuries. History tells us that whenever paper money collapsed, due to wars, high inflation, or financial crises, investors often turned back to gold and silver as safe havens. Even in today’s world, dominated by digital assets and complex derivatives, precious metals continue to serve as a store of value when confidence wavers.
For equity investors, rather than holding physical assets, precious metals stocks provide a way to capture both the defensive qualities of the underlying commodities and the growth potential of mining companies. Carefully selected companies in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium often outperform during economic downturns and provide useful diversification over the long term.
Gold remains the reference asset for gauging the performance of this sector and has been setting new record highs so far in September. A September 22 report from CNBC stated that this was partially due to markets pricing in a more dovish Federal Reserve path. According to the CME FedWatch tool, investors now assign a 93% probability of a 25-basis-point cut in October and an 81% chance of another in December.
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In the report, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo explained that gold is now drawing interest from more than just central banks and Asian buyers. Investors in the U.S. and Europe are also adding to gold through ETFs, encouraged by the outlook for lower interest rates. With Fed officials set to speak this week and key inflation data ahead, Staunovo expects gold could climb even higher.
Given this backdrop, let’s turn to our selection of the 14 best precious metals stocks to buy now.
Photo by suradeach saetang on Unsplash
Our Methodology
To create our list of the best precious metals stocks, we looked at U.S.-listed companies with exposure to gold, silver, palladium, or platinum. We used data from ETFs, industry reports, and other credible sources to build the initial pool. From there, we selected the 14 stocks most widely owned by hedge funds, based on Q2 2025 filings from Insider Monkey. Finally, we ranked them according to the number of hedge fund investors with active positions.
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).
Note: All pricing data is as of market close on September 19, 2025.
14 Best Precious Metals Stocks to Buy Now
14. Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE:EGO)
Market Cap: $5.7 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE:EGO) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. The company boasts a diversified portfolio of high-quality, long-life assets, including four operating gold mines and a strong pipeline of development projects.
For 2025, the company guides gold production between 460,000 and 500,000 ounces, compared to the 520,293 ounces produced in 2024. Its growth prospects are well-pegged, with total proven & probable gold reserves standing at 11.9 million ounces.
Commercial production from its Skouries mine in Greece is expected to start in mid-2026. Factoring that in, the total gold production is expected to increase 44% between 2025 and 2027 to 605-665 Koz.
The company’s balance sheet is also quite strong with over $1.0 billion in cash & equivalents, as of June 2025.
Eldorado Gold Corp.’s (NYSE:EGO) optimistic outlook is evident in the September 10th reiteration of a Buy rating by RBC Capital Markets’ Michael Siperco. Not only that, the analyst also raised his price target to $34 from $27 earlier, despite the stock’s already strong year-to-date performance. The stock currently trades at the top end of its 52-week high.
Siperco’s optimistic stance has performed very well as the stock has appreciated nearly 30% since his last Buy note on August 4.
Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE:EGO) is a Canadian mid-tier gold and base metals producer with mining operations in Europe and the Americas.
13. Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. (NYSE:SBSW)
Market Cap: $6.8 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. (NYSE:SBSW) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 10, Ben Davis, an analyst from RBC Capital, reiterated his positive stance with a Buy rating on the stock and raised his price target from $8.00 to $9.50.
This update follows shortly after Sibanye Stillwater reported the completion of its acquisition of Metallix Refining, which was announced on July 21, 2025. The company paid around $129 million in total enterprise value. This deal is expected to strengthen the company’s existing U.S. recycling operations and generate significant value through operational synergies.
Before Davis, an analyst from BMO Capital also raised his price target on the stock from $7.00 to $8.50 on September 2, but maintained his Market Perform rating. The analyst considered the recently reported H1 2025 results to be weaker and the South African Gold business guidance to be below expectations.
However, the analyst was upbeat about the South African platinum group metals (PGM) business, which is performing well and continues to benefit from the better pricing environment.
Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. (NYSE:SBSW) is a mining and metals processing group with a diverse portfolio of operations, including metal recycling, across the globe. The company is one of the world’s largest primary producers of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and is a top-tier gold producer.
12. Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM)
Market Cap: $49.0 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28
Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 19, UBS analyst Daniel Major increased the price target on the company’s stock to $118 from $106, while maintaining his Neutral rating.
Contrary to Major’s earlier expectations, a slowdown in Q3 has not occurred, thus supporting a more constructive view on the company’s near-term fundamentals. The revision of the target price reflects improving sentiment around key commodities, with the analyst highlighting stronger outlooks for copper, aluminium, and gold.
While Major remains on the sidelines, analysts from Raymond James and Jefferies, both of whom rate the stock a Buy, raised their respective price targets to $114 from $105.45 and $112, respectively, on September 12 and 11.
Chris LaFamina, the Jefferies analyst, cited the high-quality and diversified asset base of Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM) as the reason for his positive stance. Moreover, the company’s ability to scale and maintain a higher margin also impresses the analyst.
With those positive ratings, the majority of analysts now hold a positive view of the stock.
Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM) is a Canadian precious metals streaming company that provides financing to miners in return for the right to buy gold, silver, palladium, and other metals at fixed prices. The company holds interests in more than 20 producing assets and a pipeline of development projects.
11. Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (NYSE:SAND)
Market Cap: $3.5 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30
Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (NYSE:SAND) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. With a 115% rally, the company’s stock has already reached its highest level in a decade. It is in advanced stages of its merger with Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD), which is expected to close in Q4 2025 (the deal was announced in early July). After the completion, shareholders at Sandstorm and Royal Gold will own approximately 23% and 77%, respectively, of the merged entity on a fully diluted basis.
On September 15, Sandstorm announced a special shareholder meeting scheduled for October 9, at which they will approve the proposed plan of arrangement with Royal Gold.
According to the latest investor presentation, the investment appeal of the deal lies in its scalability, robust cash flow generation, and reduced concentration risk. With it, the New Royal Gold company will have a high-quality royalty base with nearly 400 streams and royalties, including more than 80 cash-flowing assets. The combined portfolio will be Americas-focused, with 90% of its net asset value coming from precious metal assets.
Encouraged by the strong growth profile for Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (NYSE:SAND), on September 10, analyst Josh Wolfson from RBC Capital reiterated a Buy rating on Sandstorm Gold and raised his price target to $14 from $10.50 earlier.
Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (NYSE:SAND) is a precious metals royalty and streaming company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
10. Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
Market Cap: $7.3 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 16, H.C. Wainwright analyst Heiko Ihle reaffirmed a Buy rating on the stock with an unchanged price target of $12.50.
This update followed the company’s presentation at the Gold Forum Americas 2025 conference in Colorado. The management highlighted that the company currently trades at an enterprise value of approximately 2.70 times per silver equivalent ounce, which is the lowest among its peers.
The management also argued that they are focusing on allocating capital towards high-return projects, which can unlock substantial value through asset revaluation. The company is making significant efforts to deleverage, with a net leverage ratio (net debt to adj. EBITDA) decreasing to 0.7x in Q2 2025 compared to 1.5x over the last twelve months.
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest silver producer in the United States and Canada, with exposure to gold, lead, and zinc. It also owns several exploration and pre-development projects in silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.
9. Royal Gold Inc. (NYSE:RGLD)
Market Cap: $12.6 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35
Royal Gold Inc. (NYSE:RGLD) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 11, Royal Gold stated that Centerra Gold Inc.’s (NYSE:CGAU) updated pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Mount Milligan mine in British Columbia extends the operation’s life by roughly 10 years, to 2045. The study confirms substantially higher gold and copper reserves, improved throughput potential, and a more efficient permitting process.
Mount Milligan remains Royal Gold’s largest streaming asset, and the extension significantly increases the mine’s contribution to long-term cash flows. The company owns the right to purchase 35% of the payable gold and 18.75% of the payable copper produced from this mine.
On the announcement, Bill Heissenbuttel, President and CEO of Royal Gold, stated:
“Our Cost Support Agreement with Centerra, entered into in early 2024, was designed to help Centerra unlock the potential of the large resource at Mount Milligan and add long term value for each company’s stakeholders, which is clearly demonstrated with the results of this study. Mount Milligan is our largest stream interest and we have recovered over 150% of our advance stream deposit to date. With the mine life expected to continue for another 20 years and the potential for further extensions, Royal Gold has another significant interest on a long-life mine in a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction.”
Wall Street analysts’ response following the results was positive. Carey MacRury, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity, reiterated a Buy rating on the stock on September 12, and raised the price target from $217 to $237, implying an upside of approximately 24%. Earlier, on September 10, RBC Capital analyst Josh Wolfson had also raised his price target from $200 to $230, while maintaining his Buy rating.
Royal Gold Inc. (NYSE: RGLD) is a precious metals streaming and royalty company that owns interests in several mines.
8. Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI)
Market Cap: $13.6 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 15, Jefferies analyst Fahad Tariq reiterated his Buy rating but raised the price target on the stock to $39.00 from $38.00. The reason for the higher price target is the divestment of its assets in Turkey at a much better valuation than expected.
On September 14, the company announced to have agreed to sell its wholly owned Turkish subsidiary Dogu Biga Madencilik Sanayi, which owns the Kirazli, Agi Dagi, and Camyurt projects located in northwestern Turkey.
Alamos will receive $470 million in cash for the deal, a value that was significantly ahead of the consensus estimate of $273 million and Tariq’s own estimates of $19 million. According to the agreed-upon payment structure, the company will receive $160 million at the end of Q4 2025, upon the deal’s closure. This will be followed by payments of $160 million and $150 million in the two subsequent years after the deal closes.
The company expects to use these payments, which are secured by international financial institutions, to fund the development of its pipeline of growth projects and reduce its debt.
John A. McCluskey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alamos, believes this deal has generated substantial value for the company. He plans to use the proceeds to strengthen and develop the lower-cost, high-return projects in North America, which will bolster its growth profile.
Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI) is a Canadian intermediate gold producer with diversified production from three operations in North America, along with several development stage projects.
7. IAMGOLD Corp. (NYSE:IAG)
Market Cap: $6.5 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
IAMGOLD Corp. (NYSE:IAG) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 9, RBC Capital’s Michael Siperco upgraded the stock, moving it to Outperform from Sector Perform and lifting the target price to $14 from $9. One of the key reasons for his upgrade is his confidence in the company’s growth pipeline beyond Côté mine, which is now running at full planned capacity.
The analyst believes that the future growth opportunities from Gosselin, expansion projects, and possibly Nelligan and Monster Lake are becoming an increasingly important part of its investment case. Interestingly, his updated model assumes a 15% higher long-term gold price forecast, which means $3,550 versus $3,100, resulting in an estimated $2.5 billion of free cash flow through fiscal 2030.
Following this update, on September 15, the company announced assay results from its ongoing 2025 drilling programs at its Nelligan and Monster Lake Project, both of which are 100% owned by IAMGOLD. These results were positive and confirmed the extension of the mineralized zones of both deposits to nearly 9 million ounces of resources.
On the significance of the results, Renaud Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of IAMGOLD, stated:
“When you combine Nelligan with the high-grade satellite Monster Lake deposit, there are nearly 9 million ounces of resources in this mining camp already, positioning Nelligan among the largest gold projects in Canada with significant potential for further growth. Together, the Nelligan and Monster Lake camp offers a compelling opportunity for organic growth, further positioning IAMGOLD as a leading mid-tier mining company with a high-quality pipeline in a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction like Canada.”
IAMGOLD Corp. (NYSE:IAG) is an intermediate gold producer and developer based in Canada with operating mines in North America and West Africa, including Côté Gold (Canada), Westwood (Canada), and Essakane (Burkina Faso).
6. Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE:FNV)
Market Cap: $41.2 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40
Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE:FNV) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 19, UBS analyst Daniel Major increased the price target on the company’s stock to $250 from $210, while maintaining his Buy rating.
As was the case for four other stocks on this list where UBS published updates, the analyst has indicated that, contrary to his expectations, a slowdown in Q3 has not occurred, which supports his constructive view in the near term. He believes that this sentiment around key commodities underpins his stronger outlook for copper, aluminium, and gold.
On a more positive note, on September 12, Franco-Nevada reported that it has resolved its tax dispute with the Canada Revenue Agency covering the years 2013 to 2019. The dispute was related to the income generated by two of the company’s wholly owned foreign subsidiaries, namely Franco-Nevada (Barbados) Corporation and Franco-Nevada Mexico Corporation.
The settlement confirms there will be no Canadian tax on foreign income for that period, adjusts service fee arrangements, and cancels related penalties. With the issue settled, Franco-Nevada gains more visibility on its tax position and can keep its focus on pursuing global growth opportunities.
Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE:FNV) is a gold-focused royalty and streaming company with a highly diversified portfolio.
5. Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE:KGC)
Market Cap: $29.4 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42
Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE:KGC) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 19, UBS analyst Daniel Major increased the price target on the company’s stock to $27 from $20, while maintaining his Buy rating.
The company has a robust balance sheet with $1.1 billion in cash and a total liquidity (including credit facilities) of $2.8 billion. This enables it not only to fund expansions at its existing operations but also to accelerate new growth projects, supporting production through 2030 and beyond.
It also boasts a strong free cash flow yield of over 7%, which stands above most of its peers, and is supported by a high-margin production profile. Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE:KGC) has guided for annual attributable gold equivalent production of 2.0 million oz between 2025 and 2027. This production profile is underpinned by a sizeable gold and resource base with nearly 22 million ounces in proven/probable reserves and 26 million ounces of measured and indicated resources.
Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE:KGC) is a Canadian global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile, and Canada.
4. Coeur Mining Inc. (NYSE:CDE)
Market Cap: $11.2 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
Coeur Mining Inc. (NYSE:CDE) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 10, RBC Capital analyst Michael Siperco reiterated his positive view on the stock, assigning a Buy rating and a higher price target of $18, up from $13 previously.
Some days later, the company presented at the Mining Forum Americas 2025 in Colorado on September 15. The management highlighted that the company is entering late 2025 from a position of renewed strength, following years of heavy capital investment. They underpinned this, citing that the expansion of the Rochester mine in Nevada is complete and expected to boost output by more than 70% while lowering costs by over 20%.
The company has substantially improved its balance sheet over the last two years, with the leverage ratio (net debt to adjusted EBITDA) decreasing to 0.4x from 4.0x as of September 2023.
Management also noted that exploration at Palmarejo, Silvertip, and Kensington is expected to extend mine lives and add new reserves. The Wharf mine continues to generate strong free cash flow, while Rochester remains a key driver of margin expansion. The company has maintained its 2025 gold production guidance of 380,000 to 440,000 ounces.
Coeur Mining Inc. (NYSE:CDE) is a U.S.-based precious metals producer with operations in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
3. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE:AEM)
Market Cap: $81.1 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE:AEM) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 19, UBS analyst Daniel Major increased the price target on the company’s stock to $160 from $125, while maintaining his Neutral rating. Major is among the few analysts who hold a cautious stance on the stock, which is otherwise viewed optimistically by the majority of analysts. Among the recent ones is the analyst at RBC Capital, who reiterated a Buy rating with an unchanged $175 price target on September 15.
On the investment side, the company made two notable announcements on September 9. Firstly, it announced the purchase of 586,619 units of Maple Gold Mines Ltd. for a total value of around $352,000. Each unit comprises one common share and a purchase warrant which entitles the company to buy one common share at C$0.85, and is valid for 36 months.
With this purchase, Agnico now owns 16.32% of Maple Gold equity on a partially diluted basis. The company believes this aligns with its strategy of capitalizing on opportunities with high geological potential.
In another decision, the company monetized its stake in Orla Mining Ltd. by selling its 11.3% stake or ~38 million shares for a total consideration of C$560.5 million. The company made the decision by taking into consideration the current gold market and its strategic priorities.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE:AEM) is Canada’s largest mining company and the second largest gold producer in the world.
2. Barrick Mining Corp. (NYSE:B)
Market Cap: $56.3 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
Barrick Mining Corp. (NYSE:B) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 18, Raymond James analyst Brian MacArthur raised his price target on Barrick Mining to $32 from $30 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The move followed Barrick’s updated report on its assessment of the Fourmile project in Nevada, which suggests it could become one of the world’s top 10 gold mines.
MacArthur notes that Fourmile’s economics may improve further over time due to its nearness to existing infrastructure, favorable geology, and potential for additional resource growth.
Barrick President and Chief Executive Mark Bristow described Fourmile as an emerging multi-generational project and a discovery that may reset the industry’s cost curve. He further stated:
“With the ongoing exploration drilling results, we expect to double the resource by the end of this year and, even more excitingly, we are continuing to define significant high-grade orebody extensions underpinning the current exploration upside estimate of 32-34Mt @ 15-16g/t outside of our current 2024 mineral resource. As a result, Fourmile is rapidly competing to be the largest and highest-grade gold discovery this century.”
Barrick Mining Corp. (NYSE:B) is one of the world’s leading gold and copper producers, with operations and projects across North America, South America, Africa, and the Middle East.
1. Newmont Corp. (NYSE:NEM)
Market Cap: $89.8 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66
Newmont Corp. (NYSE:NEM) is one of the best precious metals stocks to buy now. On September 19, Daniel Major, an analyst at UBS, increased the price target on the company’s stock substantially to $92 from $70, while maintaining his Buy rating. This increase is a part of a series of reviews of its precious metals coverage undertaken by analysts at UBS.
On the same day, Newmont also announced the divestment of its entire stake in Orla Mining Ltd. The company sold approximately 43 million shares (~13.3% stake), listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, for a consideration of $439 million (approximately C$605 million). Earlier, on September 9, Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE:AEM) had also monetized its stake in Orla Mining by selling its 11.3% stake or ~38 million shares for a total consideration of C$560.5 million.
Earlier, on September 15, the company informed stakeholders that it would sell its Coffee Project in Yukon, Canada, to Fuerte Metals Corporation for up to $150 million, with the expectation of closing the deal in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Tom Palmer, the company’s CEO, said that the decision to sell was driven by better capital allocation opportunities elsewhere as well as the company’s effort to focus on its core assets. Management had announced its plans to streamline the portfolio the previous year and has since implemented several strategic decisions for its non-core assets.
Newmont Corp. (NYSE:NEM) is the world’s largest gold producer. The company also produces copper, silver, zinc, and lead, with a portfolio of mines and projects spanning North America, South America, Australia, and Africa.
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