Top 5 ASX gold shares to watch in 2026

What are gold shares?

Gold shares are the stocks of publicly listed companies involved in the mining and production of the precious metal.

There are different ways for traders to access gold markets; they can physically buy it in bullion or jewellery, trade it via exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or buy the stocks of companies involved in its production.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll be talking about CFD trading or share trading the stocks of ASX-listed companies involved in gold mining.

About gold shares

As one of the world's oldest forms of money, gold has been a highly popular means for people to amass and safeguard their wealth for thousands of years.

Unlike other metals, gold doesn’t rust or corrode, making it an ideal substance to serve as a long-term storehouse of wealth. It’s also prized for its beauty and malleability, lending itself to the creation of jewellery and ornamental items in many places around the world since antiquity.

In the modern era, gold has also found a range of industrial applications, mainly in electronics manufacturing. It’s resistant to corrosion and a highly efficient conductor, making it an excellent material for fine wiring in electronic devices, which can range from smartphones to desktop computers.

In the realm of finance and money, gold continues to retain a strong appeal in the modern era.

Until the 1970s, it served as the basis for the statutory currencies issued by the world's advanced economies.

Advocates of gold share trading favour the precious metal because of its finite supply. They claim that its scarcity makes it a safe-haven investment during inflationary episodes that can erode the wealth of other types of assets.

Gold is also appealing because of its nature as a tangible substance that people can physically handle and store, providing many share traders with a great sense of reassurance. This advantage also creates challenges, however, as ownership of large amounts of gold requires the use of physical storage locations with strict security measures to prevent theft.

For this reason, equities are an effective means for gold-inclined share traders to gain exposure to the precious metal. Instead of buying and holding physical gold themselves, traders can acquire stakes in gold-producing companies to reap the potential benefits of any appreciation in the precious metal's value.

Given the tremendous wealth of its mineral deposits and the scale and sophistication of its mining sector, Australia is home to a variety of listed companies in the gold sector. Our country is the second-largest gold producer in the world,¹ and there are plenty of opportunities for both share and CFD traders to sink their teeth into, especially considering the recent volatility in price.

Risks of trading ASX gold shares

While gold is seen as a safe-haven investment, it does come with potential risks, like:

• Volatility: Like all commodities, the gold price is largely determined by supply and demand. It’s been particularly volatile over the past six months, with record highs and sharp corrections
• Cost and operational risks: When you’re share trading gold stocks, costs and operational concerns are a risk; weather and other phenomena could affect mining and production, which could bring a company’s share price down
• Regulatory risks: As mining evolves, so do the regulations and laws surrounding it. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on companies that follow local laws and maintain sustainable mining practices

Top 5 ASX gold shares to watch

Gold shares can be volatile, which is why we’ve chosen the five biggest ASX-listed gold stock companies by market cap – to mitigate some of the unpredictable behaviour of gold shares. However, be aware that no stock is guaranteed to grow, and you always stand to lose your investment.

Overview of the shares in this article 

All the shares on our list can be share traded by buying the stocks themselves with an IG share trading account, or via CFD trading with us, where you speculate on the direction you think the market will move.

All figures are correct as of 26 March 2026.

1. Newmont Mining Corporation (ASX: NEM)

Market cap: A$162.10 billion²

Newmont is one of the largest mining companies globally, with operations spanning the Americas, the Caribbean, Asia Pacific and Africa.

In Australia, Newmont operates three significant mines: Boddington, Cadia and Tanami. Located in Western Australia, Boddington is expected to increase production in 2026 despite a lower yield in 2024. Cadia is notable for producing gold doré bars, with a gold content between 50% and 70%. Meanwhile, Tanami is undergoing major expansions, ensuring its operations will continue until at least 2040.

The past six months have been a period of refinement for the giant. Most notably, in early 2026, Newmont completed its non-core divestiture programme, selling off smaller interests –including its equity stake in Greatland Resources – to focus on its most profitable mines.

Highlights:

• Newmont is often viewed as a cornerstone holding for long-term share traders due to its robust dividend framework and relative stability
• However, because it’s unhedged (meaning it sells gold at current market prices), its share price is highly sensitive to daily gold price movements – making it a practical choice for CFD traders as well
• The share price has increased by 14.17% over the past six months³

2. Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST)

Market cap: A$26.89 billion⁴

Northern Star has three major operations – Kalgoorlie and Yandal mines in Western Australia, and the Pogo production centre in Alaska, US.

The company is a powerhouse in the Australian gold sector. Its business model is built on acquiring undermanaged assets and using operational expertise to extend their mine life and lower costs. Unlike global conglomerates, Northern Star is heavily concentrated in Australia and Alaska, offering share traders a pure-play exposure to gold in stable, low-risk jurisdictions.

The last six months have presented a mix of high-stakes growth and operational hurdles. Early 2026 saw some share price pressure after the company revised its full-year guidance downward due to temporary maintenance issues at its processing facilities.

Highlights:

• This stock is a favourite for long-term share traders
• For CFD traders, the share’s recent sensitivity to production updates and its high trading volume provide ample opportunities for short-term plays
• The share price has dropped 17.21% over the past six months⁵

3. Evolution Mining Limited (ASX: EVN)

Market cap: A$26.19 billion⁶

Evolution Mining has carved out a unique position by focusing on a balanced portfolio of gold and copper. This multi-commodity approach provides a natural hedge; copper production often lowers the overall cost of mining gold because the copper can be sold as a byproduct.

It holds five mines across Australia, along with one in Ontario, Canada (Red Lake), specialising in gold and copper mining. The Australian mines are Cowal, Northparkes, Mt Rawdon, Ernest Henry and Mungari.

In July 2025, it started an extension plan for its Cowal gold mine in New South Wales that will carry the location through to 2042. The project will cost an estimated A$430 million but will see an expected rate of return of around 34%.⁷

Evolution has been one of the strongest performers on the ASX over the last year, with its share price climbing over 80%.⁸

Highlights:

• Evolution’s impressive dividend growth and low debt make it highly attractive for growth and income share traders
• Simultaneously, its significant copper exposure adds another layer of complexity that CFD traders can exploit
• Its share price has soared by 27.04% over the past six months⁹

4. Ramelius Resources Limited (ASX: RMS)

Market cap: A$7.03 billion¹⁰

Ramelius Resources is a high-performing mid-cap producer that has rapidly climbed the ranks of the ASX. Its business model is centred on the ‘hub and spoke’ method in Western Australia: it operates central processing hubs and feeds them with ore from several nearby mines. This allows the company to be agile, bringing new, smaller deposits online quickly to maximise cash flow.

The last six months have been characterised by aggressive capital management and strategic expansion. In early 2026, Ramelius initiated a A$250 million share buyback programme, signalling management's confidence that the company was undervalued. Additionally, its new Dalgaranga project is hitting major milestones.

Highlights:

• Ramelius is a good candidate for investors seeking mid-cap growth that larger peers might lack
• For CFD traders, the stock can be more volatile than its larger counterparts, often reacting sharply to high-grade drilling results or news regarding its frequent mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity
• Over the past six months, its share price has decreased by 0.28%¹¹

5. Greatland Resources Limited  (ASX: GGP)

Market cap: A$7 billion¹⁴

Greatland Resources is the new kid on the block, having only recently listed on the ASX in mid-2025. The company’s crown jewel is its 100% ownership of the world-class Havieron gold-copper project and the nearby Telfer mine. Its business model is focused on transitioning from an explorer to a major producer by revitalising the iconic Telfer site and integrating it with the high-grade Havieron deposit.

It’s currently one of the most talked-about transition stories on the ASX. While it was once seen as a high-risk explorer, it has spent the last year transforming into a significant producer.

The big event for Greatland right now is the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for Telfer Underground, expected in late March or early April 2026. This report will effectively tell the market exactly how many more years of life are left in the Telfer mine, which is a major driver for the share price.

Highlights:

• Greatland is better suited for share traders with a higher risk appetite who want to get in on the ground floor of a major new production story
• For CFD traders, Greatland offers high liquidity and headline risk, moving quickly on exploration updates and production milestones
• Its share price, over the past six months, has rocketed up by 44.43%¹⁵

How to trade ASX gold shares with IG AU

CFDs

1. Open a CFD trading account with IG AU
2. Search for ASX gold shares on the IG platform
3. Decide whether to go long (buy) or short (sell)
4. Choose your position size
5. Set stop-loss and limit orders
6. Place your trade and monitor it

Share trading

1. Open a share trading account with IG AU
2. Search for ASX gold shares
3. Choose the shares you want to buy
4. Determine how many shares you want to purchase
5. Place your order
6. Monitor your investment and collect any dividends

FAQs about gold shares 

Footnotes

1. Farmonaut, 2026
2. ASX, March 2026
3. TradingView, March 2026
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5. TradingView, March 2026
6. ASX, March 2026
7. Nasdaq, May 2025
8. TradingView, March 2026
9. TradingView, March 2026
10. ASX, March 2026
11. TradingView, March 2026
12. ASX, March 2026
13. TradingView, March 2026