1. Total Metals Corp (TSXV:TT, FSE: O4N)
Total Metals Corp. is focused on advancing high-grade gold projects to production.
During periods of rising inflation, geopolitical tensions, or uncertain economic outlooks, investors often view gold as a safe-haven asset. In early 2026, against the backdrop of inflationary pressures and heightened global risks, gold prices experienced a sharp climb. Unlike physical gold, gold stocks (i.e., publicly traded gold mining companies or firms holding gold-related investments) can generate higher returns by expanding production and reducing costs to boost profits. However, this upside potential is not guaranteed, and prudent stock selection is crucial. This article introduces three gold-related investment targets that have garnered significant attention in 2026.
Barrick Mining is committed to becoming the world’s most valuable gold and copper mining company. This Canada-based enterprise focuses on operating Tier 1 mining assets, with operations across 17 countries on five continents, and is the largest gold producer in the United States. At the end of 2025, Barrick announced plans to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) of its North American gold assets, expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The company projects gold production of 2.9 million to 3.25 million ounces in 2026, copper production of 190,000 to 220,000 tonnes, and gold production capacity exceeding 3.4 million ounces by 2028. In 2025, the company generated record cash flow, achieved a net cash position of $2.4 billion by the first quarter of 2026, authorized a $3 billion share buyback program, and significantly increased its dividend, distributing approximately 50% of its free cash flow as dividends.
Franco-Nevada is a Canada-based gold streaming and royalty company with a portfolio encompassing gold, silver, platinum group metals, iron ore, and oil and gas. In 2026, approximately 85% of its revenue comes from gold and other precious metals. The primary advantage of this business model is risk reduction—it does not face the capital and operating cost overruns that mining companies do. The company expects gold equivalent ounces to increase from 519,000 in 2026 to over 555,000 by 2030. Since its IPO in 2008, Franco-Nevada has increased its dividend every year, marking 19 consecutive years of dividend increases by 2026. The company has a debt-free balance sheet and total available capital of approximately $3.4 billion by mid-2026. Because it can profit from gold mining while avoiding mine development risks, the company’s stock has historically outperformed the gold price and other gold mining stocks.
The VanEck Gold Miners ETF holds shares of large-cap gold mining companies. As of mid-2026, the fund had approximately $23.6 billion in assets, holding stakes in 60 gold mining companies, with its top five holdings—Newmont, Agnico Eagle Mines, Barrick Mining, Franco-Nevada, and AngloGold Ashanti—accounting for nearly 42% of the total. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.51%, offering investors a convenient, low-cost way to gain exposure to a diversified, high-quality portfolio of large gold companies.
In summary, against the backdrop of inflation intertwined with global risks in 2026, Barrick Mining demonstrates the resilience of a leading mining enterprise, Franco-Nevada achieves long-term dividend growth through its royalty and streaming model, and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF provides one-stop, low-cost coverage of major global gold mining companies. Each of these three options has distinct risk-return characteristics.
