Why Silver Will Outperform Gold in 2026

Core Insights - Silver's performance has significantly outpaced gold, with a return of 145% in 2025 compared to gold's 64% rise, and it has continued this trend into 2026 with a 25% return in the first two weeks while gold rose 6% [1] Group 1: Interest Rates - The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2025, with a forecasted over 60% likelihood of another rate cut by June 2026 [2] - Lower interest rates enhance the attractiveness of precious metals like gold and silver, as they are non-yielding assets compared to dividend stocks or bonds [3] Group 2: Industrial Demand for Silver - Industrial demand for silver is increasing, driven by its applications in electric vehicles, solar panels, and semiconductors, among other technologies [4][5] - The rise of solar panels, which require significant amounts of silver, is a major catalyst for increasing silver demand, especially as major economies focus on decarbonization [5] Group 3: Supply Constraints - Silver's supply cannot be easily increased, which may lead to further price momentum as demand continues to rise [6] - U.S. solar capacity is projected to grow by 70 gigawatts in 2026 and 2027, translating to a 49% increase from late 2025 levels, potentially consuming an additional 143 million ounces of silver [7] - The global energy transition, particularly in countries like China, is expected to drive hundreds of millions of ounces in new silver demand in 2026 [8]