Step Aside, Mag 7—Gold Miner ETFs Are Taking Center Stage Now
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 15 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Gold Mining ETFs Performance: The Themes Gold Miners ETF (AUMI) has reached a 52-week high, outperforming the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) by over 40% since July, with a year-to-date increase of 93%. Other ETFs like VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) have also shown significant gains, with GDX up 97.4% YTD and GDXJ over 100% YTD.
Market Influences on Gold: Gold prices are rising due to expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, lower Treasury yields, and geopolitical tensions. Goldman Sachs predicts gold could reach $5,000, which may further support the performance of gold miner ETFs as they gain traction over traditional tech stocks amid concerns about an "AI bubble."
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy NEM?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on NEM
Wall Street analysts forecast NEM stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 108.330
Low
89.00
Averages
110.85
High
125.00
Current: 108.330
Low
89.00
Averages
110.85
High
125.00
About NEM
Newmont Corporation is a gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver with operations and/or assets in the Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea regions. The Company's operations include Brucejack, Red Chris, Penasquito, Merian, Cerro Negro, Yanacocha, Boddington, Tanami, Cadia, Lihir, Ahafo, and NGM. The Brucejack operation includes four mining leases and six core mineral claims which cover 8,169 acres (3,306 hectares) and 337 mineral claims covering 298,795 acres (120,918 hectares). The Red Chris operation includes five mining leases which cover 12,703 acres and 199 mineral claims, encompassing an area of 164,903 acres (66,734 hectares). Penasquito includes 20 mining concessions for operations comprising 113,231 acres (45,823 hectares) and 60 mining concessions for exploration of 107,456 acres (43,486 hectares). The Merian operation includes one right of exploitation encompassing an area of 41,687 acres (16,870 hectares).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
New Strategies for Gold Investment in 2026
- Gold Investment Misconception: While purchasing physical gold or gold ETFs like SPDR Gold Trust offers direct exposure to precious metals, long-term investors may find this approach overly reliant on gold price fluctuations, making effective asset diversification challenging.
- Mining Company Advantages: For instance, Newmont Mining generated $3.1 billion in free cash flow in Q1 2026, benefiting from high gold prices, showcasing the profit potential of mining companies during price surges, although their operational risks and capital-intensive nature cannot be overlooked.
- Streaming and Royalty Companies: Companies like Franco-Nevada, Royal Gold, and Wheaton Precious Metals mitigate operational risks by providing upfront cash to miners in exchange for the right to purchase gold at favorable prices, enabling long-term growth potential while maintaining diversified portfolios.
- Learning About Streaming Investments: Although streaming and royalty companies are relatively niche in the investment landscape, understanding these firms and their unique business models will be worthwhile for long-term investors looking to add gold exposure in 2026, as they offer better protection and profitability amid market volatility.
See More
Analysis of Gold Investment Strategies
- Gold Investment Options: Short-term investors can opt for gold bullion or gold ETFs, while long-term investors should consider mining companies like Newmont, which generated $3.1 billion in free cash flow in Q1 2026, reflecting strong profitability from high gold prices.
- Mining Company Advantages: Newmont's production capacity grows with rising gold prices, and despite the complexities and capital intensity of mining operations, its long-term growth potential makes it a noteworthy investment choice.
- Streaming and Royalty Companies: Companies like Franco-Nevada, Royal Gold, and Wheaton Precious Metals provide upfront funding to miners in exchange for the right to purchase gold at favorable prices in the future, thereby reducing operational risks and achieving diversified revenue streams.
- Investor Recommendations: For long-term investors looking to add gold in 2026, streaming and royalty companies offer a more attractive business model; although they are relatively niche in the market, their stable profit margins and growth potential warrant further exploration.
See More
US Stocks Close Lower as Tech Rally Falters
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.67% and 0.61%, respectively, reaching 1.5-week lows, indicating concerns over a pullback in tech stocks, particularly as the AI-driven rally loses momentum, which may affect investor confidence.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year T-note yield surged to a 16-month high of 4.69%, triggering risk-off sentiment that led to increased stock liquidation, further heightening market uncertainty and potentially prompting the Fed to adopt tighter monetary policies.
- Supportive Economic Data: April pending home sales rose by 1.4% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 1.0%, and March figures were revised up to 1.7%, demonstrating resilience in the housing market that could provide some support for stocks.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude prices fell nearly 1% following President Trump's comments on Iran, while the IEA reported a decline in global oil inventories of about 4 million bpd, suggesting that the market will remain undersupplied in the near term, impacting related energy stocks.
See More
Newmont Corp Shares Drop Amid Declining Gold Prices
- Stock Decline: Newmont Corp's shares (NEM) fell by 4.2% by 11:45 AM today, reflecting the ongoing decline in gold prices, indicating an increasing sensitivity of the company to gold price fluctuations.
- Investment Strategy Shift: By acquiring top-tier assets like Newcrest Mining and divesting non-core assets, Newmont has focused on gold, which enhances the correlation between its stock price and gold prices, potentially leading to increased volatility in the future.
- Gold Price Outlook: Despite a decline in demand due to high prices in 2025, global central banks are likely to continue increasing their gold reserves, suggesting that the long-term fundamentals for gold remain strong, which could positively impact Newmont's stock.
- Market Dynamics Analysis: The surge in speculative positions in gold over the past few years has contributed to the recent relative weakness in gold prices, and this trend may continue to affect Newmont's stock performance this year.
See More
US Stocks Retreat as Tech Rally Falters
- Market Retreat: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.68% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.95%, both hitting 1.5-week lows, indicating a weakening confidence in tech stocks that could affect investor sentiment and future capital flows.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 16-month high of 4.69%, intensifying concerns over rising inflation that may prompt the Fed to pursue tighter monetary policy, thereby impacting stock market performance.
- Supportive Economic Data: April pending home sales rose by 1.4% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 1.0%, demonstrating resilience in the housing market that could provide some support for stocks, despite overall market pressures.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices dropped over 1% today due to geopolitical factors, with market concerns about future supply tightness intensifying, potentially affecting stock performance in related sectors, particularly airlines and mining stocks.
See More
Newmont's Business Strategy Increases Gold Price Sensitivity
- Increased Gold Price Sensitivity: Newmont's strategy of investing in top-tier assets, particularly through the 2023 acquisition of Newcrest Mining, has significantly heightened its sensitivity to gold prices, suggesting that its stock price will increasingly correlate with gold price fluctuations.
- Stock Price Decline: As of 11:45 today, Newmont's shares fell by 4.2%, reflecting the ongoing weakness in gold prices, which, despite a strong start to 2026, have only risen about 4.3% recently.
- Investment Demand Shift: The increase in investment demand in 2025 has offset declines in jewelry sector demand, leading to relative weakness in gold prices, indicating a significant rise in speculative positions that could impact Newmont's market performance.
- Optimistic Long-Term Outlook: Although gold prices may weaken in the short term, the trend of global central banks increasing their gold reserves is likely to continue, especially as U.S. debt levels rise, suggesting that the long-term fundamentals for gold remain strong.
See More
New Strategies for Gold Investment in 2026
- Gold Investment Misconception: While purchasing physical gold or gold ETFs like SPDR Gold Trust offers direct exposure to precious metals, long-term investors may find this approach overly reliant on gold price fluctuations, making effective asset diversification challenging.
- Mining Company Advantages: For instance, Newmont Mining generated $3.1 billion in free cash flow in Q1 2026, benefiting from high gold prices, showcasing the profit potential of mining companies during price surges, although their operational risks and capital-intensive nature cannot be overlooked.
- Streaming and Royalty Companies: Companies like Franco-Nevada, Royal Gold, and Wheaton Precious Metals mitigate operational risks by providing upfront cash to miners in exchange for the right to purchase gold at favorable prices, enabling long-term growth potential while maintaining diversified portfolios.
- Learning About Streaming Investments: Although streaming and royalty companies are relatively niche in the investment landscape, understanding these firms and their unique business models will be worthwhile for long-term investors looking to add gold exposure in 2026, as they offer better protection and profitability amid market volatility.
See More
Analysis of Gold Investment Strategies
- Gold Investment Options: Short-term investors can opt for gold bullion or gold ETFs, while long-term investors should consider mining companies like Newmont, which generated $3.1 billion in free cash flow in Q1 2026, reflecting strong profitability from high gold prices.
- Mining Company Advantages: Newmont's production capacity grows with rising gold prices, and despite the complexities and capital intensity of mining operations, its long-term growth potential makes it a noteworthy investment choice.
- Streaming and Royalty Companies: Companies like Franco-Nevada, Royal Gold, and Wheaton Precious Metals provide upfront funding to miners in exchange for the right to purchase gold at favorable prices in the future, thereby reducing operational risks and achieving diversified revenue streams.
- Investor Recommendations: For long-term investors looking to add gold in 2026, streaming and royalty companies offer a more attractive business model; although they are relatively niche in the market, their stable profit margins and growth potential warrant further exploration.
See More
US Stocks Close Lower as Tech Rally Falters
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.67% and 0.61%, respectively, reaching 1.5-week lows, indicating concerns over a pullback in tech stocks, particularly as the AI-driven rally loses momentum, which may affect investor confidence.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year T-note yield surged to a 16-month high of 4.69%, triggering risk-off sentiment that led to increased stock liquidation, further heightening market uncertainty and potentially prompting the Fed to adopt tighter monetary policies.
- Supportive Economic Data: April pending home sales rose by 1.4% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 1.0%, and March figures were revised up to 1.7%, demonstrating resilience in the housing market that could provide some support for stocks.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude prices fell nearly 1% following President Trump's comments on Iran, while the IEA reported a decline in global oil inventories of about 4 million bpd, suggesting that the market will remain undersupplied in the near term, impacting related energy stocks.
See More
Newmont Corp Shares Drop Amid Declining Gold Prices
- Stock Decline: Newmont Corp's shares (NEM) fell by 4.2% by 11:45 AM today, reflecting the ongoing decline in gold prices, indicating an increasing sensitivity of the company to gold price fluctuations.
- Investment Strategy Shift: By acquiring top-tier assets like Newcrest Mining and divesting non-core assets, Newmont has focused on gold, which enhances the correlation between its stock price and gold prices, potentially leading to increased volatility in the future.
- Gold Price Outlook: Despite a decline in demand due to high prices in 2025, global central banks are likely to continue increasing their gold reserves, suggesting that the long-term fundamentals for gold remain strong, which could positively impact Newmont's stock.
- Market Dynamics Analysis: The surge in speculative positions in gold over the past few years has contributed to the recent relative weakness in gold prices, and this trend may continue to affect Newmont's stock performance this year.
See More
US Stocks Retreat as Tech Rally Falters
- Market Retreat: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.68% and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.95%, both hitting 1.5-week lows, indicating a weakening confidence in tech stocks that could affect investor sentiment and future capital flows.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year T-note yield climbed to a 16-month high of 4.69%, intensifying concerns over rising inflation that may prompt the Fed to pursue tighter monetary policy, thereby impacting stock market performance.
- Supportive Economic Data: April pending home sales rose by 1.4% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 1.0%, demonstrating resilience in the housing market that could provide some support for stocks, despite overall market pressures.
- Oil Price Volatility: WTI crude oil prices dropped over 1% today due to geopolitical factors, with market concerns about future supply tightness intensifying, potentially affecting stock performance in related sectors, particularly airlines and mining stocks.
See More
Newmont's Business Strategy Increases Gold Price Sensitivity
- Increased Gold Price Sensitivity: Newmont's strategy of investing in top-tier assets, particularly through the 2023 acquisition of Newcrest Mining, has significantly heightened its sensitivity to gold prices, suggesting that its stock price will increasingly correlate with gold price fluctuations.
- Stock Price Decline: As of 11:45 today, Newmont's shares fell by 4.2%, reflecting the ongoing weakness in gold prices, which, despite a strong start to 2026, have only risen about 4.3% recently.
- Investment Demand Shift: The increase in investment demand in 2025 has offset declines in jewelry sector demand, leading to relative weakness in gold prices, indicating a significant rise in speculative positions that could impact Newmont's market performance.
- Optimistic Long-Term Outlook: Although gold prices may weaken in the short term, the trend of global central banks increasing their gold reserves is likely to continue, especially as U.S. debt levels rise, suggesting that the long-term fundamentals for gold remain strong.
See More
