The price of gold has hit 15 record highs in 2025, breaking and holding strong above the $3,000 per ounce. Following the US election in November, more investors chose to protect their wealth by investing gold due to concerns about Trump administration’s trade and foreign policies.
Rising gold prices have also driven a bull market in mining stocks. As of 21 March 2025, the materials sector, of which metals and mining stocks belong was up 20.08% on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), while the broader TSX market was up only 0.97% over the same period.
Against the backdrop of geopolitics and trade wars, Canadian gold mining stocks remain defensive assets that investors can feel comfortable buying, with two stocks in particular, Alamos Gold (TSX:AGI) and Aura Minerals (TSX:ORA).
Alamos Gold is an intermediate gold miner operating high-quality, long-life assets in safe, low-risk jurisdictions. Growing production, expanding margins and record financial results over the past year have added momentum for this Canadian gold mining stock.
After hitting a 52-week high of C$37.78 on 20 March 2025, Alamos Gold’s shares are currently trading at C$37.40 per share, up 41.17% year-to-date. For the fourth quarter and full year of FY2024, the company reported 86% and 35% year-on-year increases in net income to C$88 million and C$284 million, respectively; and full year cash flow from operations increased 40 per cent to C$661 million.
Alamos president and chief executive officer John A. McCluskey said the company’s gold production rose 7 per cent last year to 567,000 ounces, the second consecutive year of record production, driven by strong performances across its business units. Recently, Bay Street analysts have recommended the top mining stock to strong buy rating.
Aura Minerals stock was ranked No. 1 on the Toronto Stock Exchange’s TSX 30 list in 2022, and was the best-performing Canadian stock that year. The C$1.88 billion mid-tier gold and copper producer operates and develops gold and base metal projects in the Americas, with four operating mines (in Mexico, Honduras, and Brazil) with significant exploration potential.
In 2024, thanks to higher gold prices and efficient operations, the company doubled its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$267 million, and its full-year net income and adjusted net earnings increased 43% and 39% year-on-year to US$594.2 million and US$81.5 million, respectively. In the fourth quarter of 2024, for the second consecutive quarter, Aura recorded adjusted EBITDA of $79.3 million. Meanwhile, all-in sustaining costs of $1,320 per ounce were below the industry average.
Aura Minerals has a high-quality portfolio and visible growth prospects, including one project under construction and two in development. With a current share price of C$25.71, this Canadian gold stock has posted a 47.02% year-to-date gain, while its 4.59% dividend yield leads the industry.
