5 Best-of-Breed Gold Stocks to Buy Now

Gold prices have endured an up-and-down 2019 that has seen the yellow metal surge for the first couple months before sliding to a slight year-to-date loss. Still, gold stocks - the mining companies that actually produce the shiny commodity - are worth a look right now.

A little exposure to gold can help your portfolio. And one way to get that exposure is via mining companies, whose results are heavily tied to the metal's price but can also stand out from one another based on their management, operational efficiency and economies of scale.

Prices, while slightly lower this year, remain well off their two-year lows set in August 2018, sitting roughly in the middle of their three-year range. Moreover, gold and gold stocks remain a hedge against market, economic and geopolitical turmoil here and abroad. Choose your catalyst: failure to reach a trade deal