RBC Has 4 Gold Stocks to Buy With Fed Rate Hikes Priced In

By Lee Jackson Updated Jan 9, 10:43AM EST · Published Mar 8, 9:50AM EST

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[cnxvideo id=”510062″ placement=”ros”]Given the precarious shape of the world, with a bellicose Iran and North Korea, investors certainly would want to consider a position in gold to be a sound idea in a well-rounded portfolio. However, the potential for Federal Reserve rate hikes and other issues have continued to weigh on the precious metal, keeping it boxed in a trading range. One top Wall Street analyst feels that the floor is in and the price could go up.

A new RBC research report makes the case that three rate hikes for this year — in March, June and at the last meeting in December — are already priced into a $1,200 floor price, with $1,300 a ceiling. With gold trading at under $1,220, there is clearly the potential for upside.

We found four stocks rated Outperform at RBC that make good sense for investors looking to add some gold to their portfolios.

Newmont Mining

This is one of the largest mining companies, as well as a solid buy for more conservative accounts and a top pick at RBC. Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) is a leading gold and copper producer. It employs approximately 29,000 employees and contractors, with the majority working at managed operations in the United States, Australia, Ghana, Peru, Indonesia and Suriname.

Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 index, and it was named the mining industry leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index in 2015. The company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by its leading technical, environmental, social and safety performance. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.

The company announced recently that “first gold” has been poured at its new mine, called the Merian gold mine in Suriname in South America. Newmont reported Merian contains gold reserves of 5.1 million ounces and that annual production is expected to average between 400,000 and 500,000 ounces of gold at competitive costs during the first five full years of production.

Investors receive just a 0.61% dividend. The RBC price target for the stock is $43, and the Wall Street consensus target is $39.32. The shares closed Tuesday at $32.98.

Kinross Gold

More aggressive investors may want to consider this smaller cap company. Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC) engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of gold properties. The company’s gold production and exploration activities are carried out principally in Canada, the United States, the Russian Federation, Brazil, Chile, Ghana and Mauritania. It also produces and sells silver.

As of December 31, 2015, the company’s proven and probable mineral reserves included 34.0 million ounces of gold, 41.0 million ounces of silver and 1.4 billion pounds of copper.

Kinross posted numbers that were below estimates, and it guided output to 2.5 to 2.7 million gold equivalent ounces at all-in-sustaining costs of $925 to $1,025. The company noted that Tasiast Phase One is on track for second-quarter 2018 startup. Reserves were lower 6.7% year-over-year.

The RBC price target is $5. The consensus target is lower at $4.42. Shares closed Tuesday at $3.26.

Royal Gold

This is a solid stock for investors looking for a gold presence with somewhat less risk. Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) is a precious metals royalty and stream company engaged in the acquisition and management of precious metal royalties, streams and similar production-based interests. The company owns interests on 193 properties on six continents, including interests on 38 producing mines and 24 development stage projects.

The company maintains a solid asset base of long-life royalties operated by some of the best gold mining companies in the world. Royal Gold announced earlier this fall the acquisition of a 3.75% net value royalty (NVR) on the Crossroads deposit for $70 million. Starting in fiscal 2019, the NVR is expected to add $8 million of annual revenue to the company.

The 2017 forecast for the company was lowered back in January, and Merrill Lynch feels the stock is very undervalued when compared to sector peers. The forecast is 38% revenue growth by 2019 for estimated earnings. The analysts also think the company’s rising cash-flow can be used for acquisitions and growing the dividend.

Shareholders receive a 1.55% dividend. The $83 RBC price target is less than the consensus target of $84.14. Shares closed Tuesday at $62.20.

Silver Wheaton

This is another top company that many on Wall Street favor. Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW) is a Canada-based precious metals streaming company with approximately 60% of its revenues from the sale of silver and 40% from gold. Under the terms of long-term contracts, the company purchases silver and gold from a variety of mines, including Goldcorp’s Penasquito mine in Mexico, Vale’s Salobo mine in Brazil, Lundin Mining’s Zinkgruvan mine in Sweden, and Glencore’s Antamina and Yauliyacu mines in Peru, then sells the silver and gold into the open market.

The company fits into the RBC metrics for quality assets and royalty streams, as well as the kind of balance sheet that has protected the company from the pitfalls of miners with huge capital expenditures.

Shareholders are paid a 1.26% dividend. RBC has a $28 price target, in line with the consensus target of $28.22. The shares closed at $19.11.

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Proper asset allocation should always include a single-digit percentage holding of precious metals like gold and silver. Not only do they hedge over the long term, they can really help if the market does go into a correction or bear market mode, as they tend to trade inverse to markets. Adding shares after the recent big sell-off looks like a solid move long term.

About the Author Lee Jackson →

Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad and diverse career, which included a stint as the creative services director at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry and world.

Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans over 30 years, with nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career was marked by his presence on the sell side during pivotal Wall Street events, from the dot.com rise and bubble to the Long Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This is a testament to his resilience and adaptability in the face of market volatility.

Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, acquired from a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing on various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies and workings of Wall Street in a way that only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.

Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.