Gold has had an incredible run lately, and that could temporarily make gold stocks look even more appealing. But I wouldn’t buy any gold stock today simply because I expect the yellow metal to keep climbing. After all, when the metal and mining shares have already climbed sharply, it’s natural to start wondering how much upside may still be left.

But any stock with solid fundamentals could still offer long-term value even after a strong rally. That is why Barrick Mining (TSX: ABX) remains interesting even as gold prices stay elevated. Notably, ABX stock has surged 26% over the last year, yet its underlying business momentum is getting stronger.

Let’s find out whether Barrick Mining stock still offers enough operational strength and long-term growth potential to be worth buying today.

Barrick Mining stock

In short, Barrick mainly produces gold and copper across a wide global footprint, with major assets including Nevada Gold Mines, Pueblo Viejo, and Lumwana.

This Toronto-based miner’s stock currently trades at $61.81 per share and has a market cap of about $102 billion. Its shares have surged 164% over five years. The stock offers a 1.6% dividend yield at the current market price.

The recent rally in ABX stock has mainly been supported by its improving operating momentum. In the second quarter, Barrick produced 796,000 ounces of gold, up 11% from the first quarter and above its guidance range of 730,000 to 770,000 ounces.

Several factors helped drive that stronger production. For example, its Loulo-Gounkoto complex restarted ahead of schedule, Pueblo Viejo recovered faster than expected following planned maintenance, and the Cortez mine delivered record underground tonnes.

Robust financials backed by strengthening operations

Barrick’s second-quarter revenue jumped 44% year over year (YoY) to US$5.3 billion, as higher realized gold and copper prices boosted results. The company’s net earnings also climbed 50% YoY to US$1.2 billion, while adjusted earnings per share were even stronger, increasing 74% YoY to US$0.82.

Last quarter, the gold miner also generated US$1.7 billion in operating cash flow, up 28% YoY. However, investors shouldn’t overlook rising costs. Barrick’s gold all-in sustaining costs in the latest quarter rose 11% YoY, mainly because of lower grades at some operations, higher fuel expenses, and increased royalties linked to stronger gold prices.

Nonetheless, Barrick kept its full-year gold production guidance unchanged at 2.9 million to 3.25 million ounces. That operational consistency strengthens its investment appeal while gold prices remain elevated.

Growth beyond high gold prices

Investors looking at Barrick today may want to focus not only on strong gold prices but also on the company’s long-term growth pipeline.

The company continues to advance its Fourmile project in Nevada, where decline development is expected to begin in the third quarter this year. At the same time, its Lumwana Super Pit Expansion remains on schedule, with first copper production targeted for the end of the first quarter of 2028.

Barrick’s agreement with Newmont is another major development to watch. As part of the arrangement, Fourmile will be added to the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, while Newmont will contribute the Fiberline and Mike developments and pay Barrick US$1.95 billion.

Taken together, its stronger production, rising earnings, and major expansion projects make Barrick an attractive gold stock even after its strong rally. Although high gold prices are certainly helping, the company’s improving fundamentals give long-term investors more than one reason to buy it today.

The post Gold Prices Remain High: Is Barrick Mining Stock Still a Buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Gold has long been seen as a safe place to put money during uncertain times, but investing in mining companies can come with risks such as rising costs and operational challenges. That is why some investors prefer businesses that benefit from gold production and rising prices without actually operating the mines themselves.

One of the best Canadian stocks that has built its entire business around that idea is Franco-Nevada (TSX: FNV). Through royalties and streaming agreements, it gains exposure to gold and other commodities while avoiding many of the risks traditional miners face. Even after a strong long-term track record, this top gold stock has recently pulled back from its highs, creating a more attractive entry point for investors with a long-term horizon.

In this article, I’ll explain why this TSX stock currently looks attractive to buy now and hold for the long term.

A different way to invest in gold

To put it simply, Franco-Nevada is a gold-focused royalty and streaming firm based in Toronto. Instead of operating mines itself, it provides upfront capital to mining companies in exchange for royalties or streams tied to future production or revenue.

This model gives the company exposure to gold prices and exploration upside while limiting direct exposure to many operating risks that miners face.

FNV stock recently traded at $322.47 per share, giving the company a market cap of about $62.2 billion. Although the stock has risen nearly 14% so far in 2026, it is still down nearly 17% from its 52-week high. At this market price, its dividend yield sits near 0.8%, paid quarterly.

Why its business model matters

This royalty-and-streaming model is powerful because Franco-Nevada does not carry the same mine-level cost inflation risk as a mining operator. Its diversified portfolio includes assets such as Candelaria, Antapaccay, Antamina, Côté Gold, and South Arturo, which support recurring cash flow.

The company’s latest quarterly numbers show how well this model could work when commodity prices are strong. In the first quarter of 2026, Franco-Nevada’s revenue jumped 77% year-over-year (YoY) to a record of US$650.7 million. Its operating cash flow also hit a record US$520.4 million, rising 80% YoY.

Those are not small improvements. They show that Franco-Nevada is benefiting from higher gold and silver prices, along with new asset contributions from places like Côté Gold, Porcupine, and Valentine.

A strong balance sheet and room to grow

Another big reason Foolish investors may like Franco-Nevada is its financial strength. The company remains debt-free and had US$3.4 billion in available capital at the end of March 2026. This matters because royalty companies grow by making new deals.

Franco-Nevada also remains on track with its 2026 guidance of 510,000 to 570,000 gold equivalent ounces sold. That guidance does not include potential extra contributions from Cobre Panamá.

There is also some possible upside from Cobre Panamá. Although the mine remains halted, the government of Panama has approved the processing and export of stockpiled ore. Franco-Nevada expects related stream deliveries to start in the third quarter of 2026, with most deliveries likely coming in 2027.

One short-term risk investors should watch

Of course, Franco-Nevada is not risk-free. The company recently said it is dealing with a dispute related to its Karma Mine stream in Burkina Faso. A local court decision there purported to nullify the stream agreement. Franco-Nevada said the agreement is governed by Ontario law and that it believes the Burkina Faso judgment is not valid. The company is seeking to have the judgment vacated and is pursuing legal remedies.

While this development is worth watching, it doesn’t change the bigger picture as Franco-Nevada’s long-term growth outlook remains strong with a very broad portfolio, a debt-free balance sheet, and strong cash flow.

The post 1 Ideal TSX Gold Stock Down 17% to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Since the start of 2024, gold prices have risen from US$2,040 to US$3,375 today. Historically, the precious metal has been viewed as a store of value and a hedge against inflation. Moreover, gold has an inverse relationship with bonds and stocks, which further diversifies your portfolio.

Several factors have driven gold prices higher over the past 15 months, including central bank buying from China and India, multiple interest rate cuts from central banks, the ongoing tariff war, and geopolitical tensions.

In addition to buying physical gold or related exchange-traded funds, Canadian investors should consider holding quality gold stocks in their portfolio amid economic uncertainty. Here are two gold stocks you should add to your watchlist in April 2025.

Is this TSX gold stock a buy right now?

Valued at a market cap of $61.6 billion, Newmont (TSX: NGT) is a gold mining giant. The TSX mining stock delivered record free cash flow of US$1.6 billion in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, capping a transformational year that saw the gold giant integrate new assets while divesting non-core operations.

The world’s largest gold producer reported full-year 2024 production of 6.8 million ounces of gold and over 150,000 tonnes of copper, exceeding its production guidance. Moreover, it generated US$2.9 billion in free cash flow for the year.

“2024 was a transformational year for Newmont,” said Tom Palmer, president and chief executive officer. “We took important steps to unlock the value of everything we have done so far on our journey to build a world-class company with an outstanding portfolio of assets.”

Newmont has successfully sold or reached definitive agreements for all six of its non-core operations announced in February last year. It expects to receive about US$2.5 billion in cash proceeds in the first half of 2025 after taxes and closing costs.

Looking ahead, Newmont projects 2025 gold production from its core portfolio to be approximately 5.6 million ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,620 per ounce. The company raised its gold reserve price assumption to US$1,700 per ounce from US$1,400 previously.

Palmer emphasized that Newmont’s focus is now shifting to improving costs and productivity across its streamlined portfolio. Newmont maintained its US$1 per share annual dividend commitment and has US$1.8 billion remaining in its current share repurchase authorization, having already executed US$1.2 billion in buybacks.

Priced at 14 times forward earnings, the TSX gold stock trades at an 11.6% discount to consensus price targets in April 2025.

Is the TSX stock undervalued?

Valued at $6.2 billion by market cap, IAMGOLD (TSX: IMG) is a gold producer and developer. In Q4, IAMGOLD highlighted production growth and improved financial position, positioning it as a rising mid-tier gold producer with strong Canadian assets.

It produced 667,000 attributable gold ounces in 2024, a 43% increase from the prior year, driven by the successful start-up of its Côté Gold mine in Canada, along with strong performance from its Essakane and Westwood operations.

Its financial results reflected the production gains, with adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) doubling to US$780.6 million in 2024, while net earnings reached $819.6 million, boosted by a reversal of prior impairment on Westwood of $455.5 million.

Looking ahead, IAMGOLD expects Côté Gold to nearly double its output in 2025, forecasting production of 360,000 to 400,000 ounces on a 100% basis. The mine is targeting a throughput capacity of 36,000 tonnes per day by the end of Q4 despite some equipment challenges in early 2025.

The gold miner announced an increase in mineral resources at its Nelligan project in Quebec, now positioning it among Canada’s largest gold deposits, with 3.1 million indicated ounces of gold and 5.2 million inferred ounces.

With approximately 80% of measured and indicated resources now located in Canada, IAMGOLD is positioning itself as a predominantly Canadian producer with the potential for significant free cash flow growth and balance sheet improvement in 2025, particularly if current gold prices persist.

Bay Street expects the company’s adjusted earnings to grow from US$0.55 per share in 2024 to US$0.87 per share in 2026. So, priced at 11.3 times forward earnings, the gold stock is priced at a 14% discount to consensus price targets.

The post 2 Gold Stocks I’d Consider for a $10,000 Investment Amid Economic Uncertainty appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.