The Gold Trade 2026: Buying Miners (NEM, GOLD) vs. Bullion - What Pays More?

1. Trading Spot Gold (XAUUSD)

This is the purest trade.

• Pros: High liquidity, tight spreads (0 pips on Exness), 24/5 trading.
• Cons: No passive income (dividends). You pay 'swap' fees if you hold overnight (unless using a swap-free account).
• Best For: Swing Traders and Scalpers.

2. Trading Mining Stocks (NEM, GOLD)

• Pros: Dividends! You get paid to wait. Leverage to the gold price.
• Cons: Operational risk. If a mine floods or taxes rise in a host country, the stock can tank even if gold prices are up.
• Best For: Long-term investors and dividend seekers.

3. The ETF Alternative (GDX)

If you don't want to pick a winner, trade the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) via CFDs. It tracks the whole sector.

Recommendation: The Hybrid Approach

Smart portfolios in 2026 hold both.

1. Core Holding: 50% in Physical Gold or XAUUSD (via Exness) for safety.
2. Growth Engine: 50% in Mining Stock CFDs (via Plus500) to capture the explosive upside of earnings beats.

Monitor the Miners

Are mining stocks undervalued compared to Gold?

Use our Stock Screener to check the P/E ratios of NEM and GOLD in real-time.