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Gold and gold mining stocks have historically been sought by investors as a defensive play during times of economic uncertainty, one of the biggest reasons being that these assets have had a low to negative correlation to the broader equities market. For the 40-year period through May 9, 2023, the correlation between the S&P 500 and the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Index was negative 0.01, suggesting that the two have moved in opposite directions.
As for when we might see a recession, the economic data continues to be mixed. On the one hand, employment remains strong in the U.S. with a consensus-beating 253,000 new jobs created in April.
This data point is historical, however, and if we look at leading indicators, a fuller picture of the U.S. economy’s health begins to take shape.
Since 1973, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has been polling small businesses on their outlook on the U.S. economy and business conditions in general. In April, the NFIB’s Optimism Index sank to 89, the lowest reading in a decade and, as the organization points out, the 16th straight month below the 49-year average of 98.
When asked if the next three months were a good time to expand, only 3% of small businesses said yes in April—meaning 97%, or nearly all, said no. This is slightly up from 2% in March, but on a three-month moving average, the reading is 3.7%. That’s the lowest point since March 2009, when the S&P 500 bottomed during the financial crisis.
Small Businesses As A Leading Indicator
It’s worth pointing out how important small businesses are to the U.S. economy. Huge multinational corporations like Apple and Amazon may get all of the headlines, but I believe small businesses are the real backbone of America.
Loosely defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, these companies represent 99.9% of all firms in the U.S., according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). They collectively employ 61.7 million Americans as of March, or 46.4% of the workforce, and are responsible for 43.5% of the country’s $26 trillion economy.
In other words, when only 3% of small businesses say the conditions are right to expand, it may be time for investors to diversify with assets that have shown a low to negative correlation to the market. I believe gold and gold equities could be an attractive option.
Diversifying With Gold Royalty Companies
During an economic recession, gold mining stocks can potentially benefit from increased demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. However, their performance depends on factors such as the company’s management, operational efficiency, production costs and the overall health of the mining industry. It’s also worth remembering that gold mining stocks are still equities and can still be affected by broader stock market trends.
That’s why we prefer to focus on high-quality, well-managed companies, which can be an important factor in mitigating risks while also potentially benefiting from their stock performance.
Among our favorites are gold royalty and streaming companies, the largest of which are Franco-Nevada, Wheaton Precious Metals and Royal Gold. As a quick reminder, these companies lend upfront capital to producers and explorers in exchange for either a share of the metal sales (royalty) or a share of the metal itself (stream).
We consider these firms to be the “smart money” of the gold mining industry because they have a history of strong management and operational efficiency. They’ve taken on little to no debt and have allocated their capital wisely, building their stable of active mines across the globe.
You can see the results for yourself below. For the three-, five- and 10-year periods through the end of April, Franco-Nevada, Wheaton Precious Metals and Royal Gold have beaten the price of gold bullion and the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index.
Looking to get exposure to all three companies in one easy way? Launched in 1974, our Gold and Precious Metal Miners Fund (USERX) has traditionally held Franco-Nevada, Wheaton Precious Metals and Royal Gold as part of its strategy to focus on high-quality, well-run mining companies that a diverse stable of active mines.
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