How Much Gold Should You Buy for the Looming Recession?

Amid fears of a looming recession, people are looking towards gold to see them through. Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (TSX:KL)(NYSE:KL) is a company to watch closely.

Gold bars

Image source: Getty Images

The most widely anticipated recession is looming over our heads. With the fears of an economic downturn increasing, investors are looking for ways to secure their financial future.

Most investors want to make their investment portfolios recession-proof. The dollar, yen, euro, and pound can drastically lose their value when things go downhill. While fiat currencies have historically failed to keep investors afloat during times of economic crisis, the asset gold does not fall in value during a recession. Unlike fiat currencies, gold has an inherent value and performs well during a recession.

Gold is a scarce resource that can keep up with inflation

An issue with fiat currencies is that you can always mint more. Regardless of how much a dollar inflates, gold will always keep pace with inflation. I will tell you why: there is only a limited amount of gold in the world.

If you think about the long run, fiat currencies like the British pound can never become scarce, because the government can always print more to satisfy changing needs. Gold, however, is a stable asset to invest in due to its scarcity.

Gold might reach record heights

The precious yellow metal showed bullish signs throughout the year. At the time of writing, the price of gold is US$1,496.98 per ounce, but it is firmly within the US$1,500 region. This price seemed like it was an impossible price point for gold for the past several years, and yet here we are.

With the global economic uncertainty unlikely to ease up as 2019 comes to an end, you have almost the perfect mixture for a recession and the rising price of gold. The current situation is as good a time as any to take advantage of the gold rush and consider investing in stocks like Kirkland Gold (TSX:KL)(NYSE:KL)

How much should you invest in gold?

By now, you understand that it is crucial to invest in gold to improve your portfolio’s resistance to a recession. The only question is, how much should you invest?

For those wondering about going all-in and investing their money in gold bullion, I will firmly advise you to reconsider your decision. Why buy gold when you can purchase shares of a company extracting them?

Consider this: with the looming recession, people are going to look towards gold and its perceived value to see them through the recession. The demand for this metal will only increase, and so will the price. A more viable way to get in on the gold rush is to consider companies like Kirkland Lake.

The company is a young gold mining company that has been booming over the past several years. Since 2016, Kirkland is up well over 2,000% of its value. At the same time, the company is still not overly expensive, considering the P/E ratio is at 27.20.

Kirkland is ramping up the production volume of gold, decreasing the cost per ounce and increasing earnings every day.

I think that Kirkland is not just a high-growth potential stock; it is also a very safe option to support you through the upcoming recession. Of course, I make no guarantees about the increasing value of gold and the subsequent stocks. This is a strong opinion based on what we have already seen during the previous economic recessions.

Make sure to keep the percentage less than 10% of your investment portfolio if you choose to invest in gold companies like Kirkland.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Adam Othman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Metals and Mining Stocks

Safety helmets and gloves hang from a rack on a mining site.
Metals and Mining Stocks

Here Are 3 Phenomenal Reasons to Buy Lundin Stock Right Now

Lundin stock (TSX:LUN) has seen its share price climb higher from external and internal factors that are enough to make…

Read more »

silver metal
Metals and Mining Stocks

Forget Gold: This Other Metal Is Sure to Soar Higher!

The price of gold continues to hit the headlines, but this material is also making waves and should continue to…

Read more »

ETF chart stocks
Metals and Mining Stocks

3 Best Commodity ETFs to Buy Now

Investors looking to get in on security during volatility should consider these three commodity ETFs, which do well no matter…

Read more »

gold stocks gold mining
Metals and Mining Stocks

Gold Prices Are on the Rise: Time to Invest?

Gold prices are rising, but short of buying up some bullion, what are some ways that Canadian investors can get…

Read more »

silver metal
Metals and Mining Stocks

Silver Surge: 2 Mining Stocks to Play the Recent Rally

Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS) stock and another top value play to ride the silver bull run.

Read more »

gold stocks gold mining
Metals and Mining Stocks

With Gold Soaring, Here’s 1 Mining Stock I’d Buy Now

Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX) stock could continue to move higher as the precious metal skyrockets in 2024.

Read more »

silver metal
Metals and Mining Stocks

Why Endeavour Silver Stock Jumped 10% on Friday

Endeavour (TSX:EDR) stock rose significantly last week after earnings that blew past estimates and a drawdown that means more growth.

Read more »

Metals
Stocks for Beginners

Steel Is in Demand: 2 Canadian Stocks That Should Benefit

Steel stocks are making a comeback, with 2024 and 2025 marked as huge years for the industry. And these two…

Read more »