With a positive gold outlook are gold miners attractive?

Equities 3 minutes to read
Peter Garnry

Chief Investment Strategist

Summary:  History shows that gold miners have not been able to deliver a value add relative gold spot underperforming significantly since early 2004. A long period of steady higher prices led to high operating costs which have made it difficult for gold miners to regain their profitability after 2013. In addition the new focus on ESG has caused the valuation spread to global equities to decline adding additional pressure.


Our view on gold has been positive for years as monetary policy has been more and more desperate in terms of easing maybe except for the Fed’s policy. But with the Fed now joining other central banks in expanding its balance sheet and moving the policy rate close to zero with market expectations even looking at negative rates our view on gold has improved even further. We expect gold to reach a new all-time high this year as investors demand a safe-haven from debasement of the world’s largest currencies. A positive gold outlook begs the question of how to get exposure to gold.

If we look at the gold market since early 2004 we can see that gold spot has been a fantastic trade outperforming the global equity market delivering 9.2% annualized return. In the same period global equities have delivered 6.3% annualized. One would think gold miners would be attractive given their leverage on the balance sheet providing investors with a leveraged play on gold spot. History suggests this is a myth and that gold miners apparently have difficulties delivering a value add for shareholders beyond the selling price of the actual commodity. Gold miners have returned 3.6% annualized since early 2004 and the industry leader Newmont has delivered 3.7% annualized hardly beating the global inflation.

Two things have hit gold miners hard since the gold price decline started back in 2013. The 13 years leading up to this regime shift in the gold price was one long march higher bolstering profits and likely causing the same illness as we observe among oil producers today; namely too high costs and inability to change the cost structure to lower gold prices. In addition to high operating costs the ESG (environmental, social and governance) theme rose to prominence on Wall Street with an entire investors class suddenly demanding ethical business practices to receive both index inclusion and investor money. Gold miners are not exactly top of the lists of ESG companies and thus the valuation spread to the global equity market has come down over time.

History tells us that gold miners do not provide any value add beyond gold spot so investors and traders should just focus on gold spot. Liquidity is also better in gold spot which is attractive. However, there is one main risk owning physical gold, most likely through an ETF, and that’s the risk that governments might make private gold ownership illegal if governments suddenly cannot control inflation following the current monetary and fiscal stimulus. This thesis was presented last week by hedge fund manager Crispin Odey.

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article

Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service, and access to analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Inspiration Disclaimer and (v) Notices applying to Trade Inspiration, Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular, no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Trading in financial instruments carries risk, and may not be suitable for you. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-sg/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Markets or its affiliates.

Saxo Markets
88 Market Street
CapitaSpring #31-01
Singapore 048948

Contact Saxo

Select region

Singapore
Singapore

Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd ('Saxo Markets') is a company authorised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) [Co. Reg. No.: 200601141M ] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms & Risk Warning to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products such as Margin FX products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo Markets does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-sg/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website are not intended for residents of the United States, Malaysia and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.