Top gold stocks for traders in 2025: value picks, momentum plays, royalty names, and ETFs with technical setups and volatility.
With heightened macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and persistent inflation risks, gold remains a core hedge in many traders' playbooks. But physical gold isn't always the most efficient route. For those seeking liquidity, leverage, and technical setups, trading gold stocks can offer a more dynamic way to capture momentum and volatility in the precious metals space.
This article explores the best gold stocks to trade now, highlighting names that are trending, undervalued, or technically primed for breakout or reversal. From large-cap miners to royalty plays and high-beta momentum stocks, this is your strategic map for navigating the gold equities market in mid-2025.
Some traders prefer to anchor their strategies on intrinsic value, entering positions when price diverges significantly from fundamentals. In this respect, Barrick Gold (NYSE: GOLD) is a standout.
Despite being one of the largest gold miners globally, Barrick has lagged its peers in share price appreciation, creating a value window. With cost controls in place, strong free cash flow, and improving returns on capital, Barrick offers not only a defensive long but also a potential catch-up trade if sentiment shifts in its favour.
Technical setup: Barrick recently bounced off its 200-day moving average and is consolidating in a wedge formation, suggesting a potential breakout in the coming weeks.
Traders thrive on earnings momentum, and few gold stocks have delivered as consistently in recent quarters as Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) and Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM).
Newmont (NEM)
Newmont, despite a recent pullback due to the sudden resignation of its CFO, remains a fundamentally strong operator. The sell-off has provided a buy-the-dip opportunity for contrarians betting on a recovery post-leadership clarity. Traders looking for oversold conditions and technical reversals should keep this stock on watch.
Recent RSI dipped below 30; watch for confirmation via MACD crossover and price action at support.
Agnico Eagle (AEM)
AEM is on a technical tear, supported by triple-digit earnings growth and rising institutional accumulation. Its inclusion in several top-tier trading lists such as IBD 50 signals it as a high-quality momentum candidate.
Currently forming higher highs and higher lows, with strong volume breakouts. Ideal for trend-followers and swing traders.
Not all gold exposure needs to come from miners. Streaming and royalty companies, such as Franco-Nevada (NYSE: FNV) and Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD), provide a different kind of trading edge.
These firms operate with lower operational risk, as they don't directly mine gold but instead fund miners in return for a share of future production or revenue. For traders, they offer smoother price action and strong correlation with gold prices, without the volatility tied to mine-specific disruptions.
Franco-Nevada (FNV)
FNV has one of the strongest balance sheets in the sector and is widely regarded as the "gold stock's gold stock." For short-term traders, this name often acts as a defensive hedge during sharp sector sell-offs or as a rotational play in choppy markets.
Tends to outperform during gold rallies and underperform during risk-on equity moves—perfect for pair trading.
If your trading strategy centres around high-beta setups, few sectors match the explosiveness of mid-cap gold miners. In 2025. two names stand out:
SSR Mining (NASDAQ: SSRM)
With a 119% one-year gain, SSRM has been one of the sector's hottest plays. The stock moves in tight correlation with gold spot prices, and due to its size, it often overreacts to macro catalysts—ideal for breakout and momentum traders.
Look for flag/pennant continuation patterns on the daily chart. SSRM often rewards aggressive entries after light volume pullbacks.
Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC)
Up over 67% in the past year, Kinross is making a strong comeback after years of underperformance. The company's recent restructuring and cost rationalisation efforts have improved margins, and traders are beginning to take note.
Watch for psychological resistance at key round numbers and trendline resistance near 2022 highs.
For traders who prefer not to single out companies—or those wanting broad exposure to gold equities—ETFs offer efficient vehicles for sector rotation, hedging, or quick entry/exit strategies.
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)
While GLD tracks the price of gold rather than equities, it remains a staple for traders wanting pure gold exposure. It's heavily liquid, options-rich, and a frequent target for macro-driven trade setups.
Great vehicle for trading CPI prints, Fed decisions, or geopolitical risk spikes.
VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX)
If your strategy is to trade the entire sector, GDX is your go-to. It holds major gold mining stocks and is a strong barometer of sector-wide strength or weakness. It often leads or lags gold spot prices by a few days, offering clues to divergences.
Ideal for breakout traders using ETF breadth indicators or volume confirmation.
Gold stocks in 2025 are exhibiting a rare confluence of macroeconomic tailwinds, technical setups, and company-level catalysts. For traders, this isn't just an opportunity—it's a playground of volatility and potential alpha.
Whether you prefer value reversals, earnings momentum, streaming stability, or high-beta breakouts, the current gold equity landscape has a setup that fits. But remember: in this sector, volatility cuts both ways. Employ tight risk management, consider position sizing carefully, and always respect your stop-loss.
Disclaimer: This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended as (and should not be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by EBC or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.
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