As the U.S. Dollar Falls, Invest in Gold Stocks for Capital Appreciation and Yield

Increase your gold exposure by investing in best-in-class Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX:AEM)(NYSE:AEM). Its operational excellence and strong organic growth profile will drive investor returns.

| More on:
The Motley Fool

With the U.S. dollar continuing to fall, we would be well served to remember the inverse relationship between the dollar and the price of gold, especially if we believe this weakness will continue for the next while. And with doubts over the U.S. tax plan and geopolitical uncertainty, this may very well prove to be the case.

Gold prices continue to rally, as the U.S. dollar is falling, and at the time of writing, gold stands at just under $1,300 per ounce. With this backdrop, investors may want to revisit their portfolios and add to their gold exposure.

And while there are certainly many questions that remain with respect to where gold is going from here, one thing is sure: we continue to see a definite increase in uncertainty and risk in the world, and the price of gold is reflecting this.

In late 2011, gold prices peaked at close to $1,900 per ounce, then retreated steadily to levels of just over $1,000 per ounce at the end of 2015.

The industry has suffered through a period of record production and declining demand and, in response, has worked hard at reducing costs and improving balance sheets, and this leaves gold producers in a good position operationally and financially to reap the rewards of rising gold prices.

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX:AEM)(NYSE:AEM) is a great place to start.

With the company reporting third-quarter results that were well above expectations (EPS of $0.29 versus expectations of $0.16), and guidance being increased again, this stock makes a great addition to investors’ portfolios.

The stock has a dividend yield of 1%, but the key here is that the dividend was increased by 10%, and the company continues to perform better than its guidance.

Gold production in the quarter was 454 ounces, 9.1% higher than the same quarter last year. And, just as important, the company achieved an all-in sustaining cost per ounce (AISC) of $789, which was also better than expected.

Going forward, the company increased its gold production target and decreased its AISC to $820-870. This compares to prior guidance of $830-880 and initial 2017 guidance of $850-900.

Those are pretty significant changes for the better.

Lastly, worth noting is the fact that Agnico Eagle has shored up its balance sheet and currently has a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 21.9% and almost $1 billion in cash and short-term investments.

In summary, for investors interested in ramping up their gold holdings, consider Agnico Eagle Mines for its operational excellence and strong organic growth profile.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Karen Thomas does not own shares in any of the companies listed in this article.

More on Dividend Stocks

investment research
Dividend Stocks

Best Stock to Buy Right Now: TD Bank vs Manulife Financial?

TD and Manulife can both be interesting stock picks for today, depending on your investment style.

Read more »

A worker gives a business presentation.
Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Stocks to Double Up on Right Now

These stocks are out of favour but could deliver nice returns over the coming years.

Read more »

Man holds Canadian dollars in differing amounts
Dividend Stocks

This 5.5 Percent Dividend Stock Pays Cash Every Month

This defensive retail REIT could be your ticket to high monthly income.

Read more »

Confused person shrugging
Dividend Stocks

Passive Income: How Much Do You Need to Invest to Make $600 Per Month?

Do you want passive income coming in every single month? Here's how to make it and a top dividend ETF…

Read more »

Canadian Dollars bills
Dividend Stocks

3 Monthly-Paying Dividend Stocks to Boost Your Passive Income

Given their healthy cash flows and high yields, these three monthly-paying dividend stocks could boost your passive income.

Read more »

Make a choice, path to success, sign
Dividend Stocks

The TFSA Blueprint to Generate $3,695.48 in Yearly Passive Income

The blueprint to generate yearly passive income in a TFSA is to maximize the contribution limits.

Read more »

hand stacks coins
Dividend Stocks

3 Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for a Decade

These three high-yield dividend stocks still have some work to do, but each are in steady areas that are only…

Read more »

senior man and woman stretch their legs on yoga mats outside
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: 2 Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

Here are 2 TFSA-worthy Canadian stocks. Which one is a good buy for your TFSA today?

Read more »