Those who prefer not to hold physical gold can also invest in gold-exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as the Central Fund of Canada (CEF). These investment vehicles can help you invest in gold without having to pay a higher spot price per ounce. Like gold ETFs, Canadian central fund stocks pay a small dividend.
If you are just starting out with an investment, you can build your platform from scratch with the help of our free Gold Bullion Investment Guide.
In this guide, we take a look at different investment options in some of the top gold stocks we are considering. You will find different ways to invest in gold, from buying physical gold to investing in precious metals such as gold bars, silver, platinum and palladium. The easiest and most practical way to invest in gold in Canada is to have it directly, buying a small amount of gold in the form of a gold coin, gold ingots or gold coins.
The physical possession of gold is a safe investment opportunity, because the asset cannot disappear from the market as quickly as other assets. If gold were an asset traded on the stock exchange, a gold ETF might be a more attractive option for investors who, rather than bother with the hassle of storing several grams of gold safely, can buy it in the form of a bullion stock.
Each share of the ETF represents one-tenth of an ounce of gold, and since gold is currently $1,200 an ounce, a gold ETF can be traded for $120 a share.
It is important to remember that owning a gold ETF does not mean that you own gold directly, but that the ETF holds gold on your behalf, and you then benefit from the valuation of gold in the market. ETFs are also cheap – design-based so investors who don’t have a substantial nest egg can choose gold ETFs because they are cheaper than physical gold and therefore more attractive to them. Those who invest in an ETF typically embed an investor, as opposed to physical gold, who is discouraged by the associated fees.
Buying gold through an ETF also helps you avoid having to store physical commodities such as gold, silver, copper or other precious metals such as platinum.
The best way to invest in gold in Canada is to buy physical gold from the Royal Canadian Mint or to invest in gold ETFs through Questrade. If you are using Robinhood and want to buy SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), you can search for “GLD” in the search box. To buy goldETFs, simply enter the ticker symbol of the ETF you want and the information page SPDr Gold shares will open.
With the price of gold steadily rising, many Canadian investors are looking to physical commodities. In recent years, the price of gold has more than doubled, rewarding those who diversify into physical commodities.
Exchange – Traded funds, commonly known as ETFs, are shares that are sold on an exchange every day. Gold stocks usually follow the price of gold and are suitable for long-term investment goals, as dividend income in gold stocks is usually non-existent or very low. When the price of gold rises, when the economy falters, the price of gold will decline, but when the price of gold falls, you can buy a gold ETF at the same time.
ETFs offer an easy and cost-effective way to invest in gold and may be a better option for many people than buying physical gold. A gold ETF could track the price of gold in the future, but could be backed by physical gold values.
Gold can provide a regular income by owning gold as an investment, just as owning real estate or stocks can provide you with your own real estate shares.