Core Insights - The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) provide different exposures to precious metals, with GDX focusing on gold mining companies and PPLT offering direct exposure to platinum's spot price [2] Cost & Size - GDX has an expense ratio of 0.51% and assets under management (AUM) of $30.36 billion, while PPLT has a higher expense ratio of 0.60% and AUM of $3.52 billion [3] - The one-year return for GDX is 185.16%, compared to PPLT's 190.64% [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, GDX experienced a maximum drawdown of -46.52%, while PPLT had a lower maximum drawdown of -35.73% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in GDX would have grown to $2,587, whereas the same investment in PPLT would have grown to $2,133 over five years [5] Portfolio Composition - PPLT holds physical platinum, making it one of the older options in its niche with a 16-year track record [6] - GDX tracks an index of global gold mining companies, with top holdings including Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., Newmont Corp., and Barrick Mining Corp. [7] Dividend Yield - GDX offers an annual dividend yield of 0.59%, while PPLT currently provides no dividend yield [8][9] Market Context - Investing in precious metals is often viewed as a hedge against the U.S. dollar, with prices typically rising during economic uncertainty [10] - Platinum is estimated to be at least 10 times rarer than gold, which may contribute to its long-term value appreciation [10]

Core Insights - SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) provide investors with access to precious metals, focusing on gold and platinum respectively [2][3] - GLD has a lower expense ratio and larger assets under management compared to PPLT, making it more affordable and liquid for long-term investors [4][5][9] Cost & Size Comparison - GLD has an expense ratio of 0.40% and assets under management (AUM) of $153.7 billion, while PPLT has a higher expense ratio of 0.60% and AUM of $2.0 billion [4] - The one-year return for GLD is 77.5%, whereas PPLT significantly outperformed with a return of 185.8% [4] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over five years, GLD experienced a maximum drawdown of -21.03%, while PPLT faced a steeper drawdown of -35.73% [6] - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $2,396 in GLD compared to $2,133 in PPLT over the same period [6] Fund Structure & Strategy - PPLT is designed for investors seeking direct exposure to platinum with minimal credit risk, existing for 16 years without physical delivery or futures contracts [7] - GLD offers 100% exposure to the basic materials sector through physical gold holdings, being the oldest and largest US-listed gold ETF, which enhances its liquidity and acceptance [8]

Core Insights - Precious metals, particularly silver, are experiencing significant gains due to current market turmoil, with silver reaching $100 for the first time in history and showing a 43% year-to-date increase [1] Group 1 - Silver has hit an unprecedented price of $100, marking a historical milestone [1] - The year-to-date gain for silver stands at 43%, indicating strong demand and market performance [1]

Group 1 - Precious metals, particularly gold and silver, have seen significant price increases this year, with silver surpassing $100 per troy ounce for the first time in history [2] - The price of gold is approaching a milestone of $5,000, indicating strong investor interest in precious metals [2] - The surge in silver prices highlights a growing trend in the precious metals market, attracting attention from investors [2]

Core Insights - The rising prices of precious metals such as gold, silver, and copper indicate a significant distrust among investors towards the stock market [1][2] - Kiyosaki emphasizes that the current market situation reflects a loss of faith rather than a mere shift of cash between investment types [2] - He argues that tangible assets like metals do not require trust or confidence, contrasting them with stocks, bonds, and currencies, which are seen as promises [3] Group 1: Precious Metals Investment - Kiyosaki encourages followers to build resilience by investing in tangible assets, suggesting that preparation is key for financial advantage [4] - He has a history of advocating for precious metals, and his predictions, such as silver potentially reaching $70, have shown accuracy, with silver hitting $93.10 in January 2026 [5] Group 2: Market Conditions and Investor Behavior - Campbell Harvey notes that high uncertainty in the U.S. economy is driving investors towards gold as a hedge against volatility [6] - Concerns over tariff policies, inflation, and economic slowdown are prompting investors to seek protection in gold, which is historically viewed as a safe asset [7]

Core Insights - Major Wall Street banks are projecting that gold prices could reach $5,000 per ounce, indicating a significant shift in market sentiment towards precious metals [1] Group 1: Market Analysis - Lear Capital has released a comprehensive market analysis that highlights the fundamental shifts driving institutional confidence in precious metals [1] - The report is authored by Global Financial Research Specialist Kathrynn Ward, emphasizing the analytical depth of the findings [1] Group 2: Industry Commentary - Kevin DeMeritt, founder of Lear Capital, remarked on the remarkable nature of the current market conditions, reflecting a broader trend among financial institutions [1]

Core Insights - Uncommon Cents Investing sold 77,370 shares of ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited for an estimated $3.92 million, reducing its stake in the company [2][3][6] - The fund's quarter-end position in ASA was valued at $26.28 million, reflecting a net decrease of $2.56 million due to share sales and market price changes [3][6] - ASA shares have increased by 189.9% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 17% gain during the same period [4] Company Overview - ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited is a specialized investment company focused on a diversified portfolio of precious metals and mining equities, utilizing fundamental analysis and a bottom-up approach [8] - The company primarily invests in equities of firms involved in the exploration, mining, or processing of precious minerals, and operates as a closed-end investment company [9] - ASA serves both institutional and individual investors seeking exposure to the global precious metals sector and related mining industries [9] Fund Details - After the sale, ASA accounted for 6.36% of Uncommon Cents Investing's assets under management (AUM), making it the fund's top holding [4][6] - The fund's top five holdings post-transaction include ASA at $26.28 million, Wells Fargo (WFC) at $10.42 million, Microsoft (MSFT) at $9.84 million, Raytheon Technologies (RTX) at $9.62 million, and Kroger (KR) at $8.82 million [7]

Company Overview - ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (NYSE: ASA) focuses on investing in gold and other precious metals, operating as a closed-end fund that provides investors with exposure to the precious metals sector [1] Shareholder Activity - On January 14, 2026, Saba Capital Management, L.P., a significant shareholder of ASA, purchased 5,000 shares at $63.82 per share, increasing their total holdings to approximately 5.45 million shares, indicating continued confidence in ASA's potential [2] - Earlier, on January 7, Saba Capital increased its stake by purchasing 3,598 shares at an average price of $59.78 each, totaling around $215,000, which represented a 0.07% increase in their position, bringing total holdings to over 5.4 million shares valued at approximately $324 million [3] - On January 6, Saba Capital acquired 3,280 shares at an average price of $61.80 per share, highlighting their commitment to ASA despite recent stock price fluctuations [4] Stock Performance - ASA's stock has experienced a price range over the past year, with a high of $66.12 and a low of $21.57, and the company's market capitalization is approximately $1.2 billion [5] - The current stock price of ASA is $63.41, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.69% or $0.44 [4] - Recent transactions by Saba Capital reflect a strategic investment approach, with share purchases at prices ranging from $59.78 to $63.82 [6]

Core Insights - The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) provide investors with direct exposure to silver and gold prices without the need for physical storage [2] Cost & Size Comparison - SLV has an expense ratio of 0.50% and assets under management (AUM) of $41.11 billion, while GLDM has a lower expense ratio of 0.10% and AUM of $27.73 billion [3][4] - As of January 14, 2026, SLV's 1-year return is 213.65%, compared to GLDM's 73.92% [3] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, SLV experienced a maximum drawdown of -38.79%, while GLDM had a lower drawdown of -20.92% [5] - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $3,118 in SLV and $2,427 in GLDM over five years [5] ETF Structure and Holdings - GLDM tracks the London Bullion Market Association's (LBMA) Silver Price Index and has been available for seven years, holding only gold [6] - SLV also tracks the LBMA's Silver Price Index and has been operational for nearly 20 years, holding only silver [7] Market Context - Precious metal ETFs like SLV and GLDM can exhibit high volatility due to the nature of the metals they hold, with silver being 2-3 times more volatile than gold [8] - Both ETFs have shown similar long-term trends, moving directionally with gold [9] Recent Performance Trends - In 2025, SLV surged approximately 141% and is up 25% year-to-date as of January 15, 2026, while GLDM increased by 62% in 2025 and is up 6% year-to-date [11]

Core Insights - Palm Valley Capital Fund experienced a 0.66% appreciation in Q4 2025, underperforming the S&P SmallCap 600's 1.70% gain and the Morningstar Small Cap Total Return Index's 3.12% rise [1] - The Fund increased its allocation to Treasury bills from 74.1% to 76.3% during the quarter, while equity holdings rose by 1.12% [1] - Investments in precious metals, particularly silver, significantly influenced the Fund's performance, with silver being the largest allocation for several years [1] Fund Performance - The Fund's performance in Q4 was positively impacted by the strong price action in silver and gold, attributed to the nation's fiscal and monetary policies [3] - Physical silver shortages led to a significant price increase in Q4, with silver and gold reaching record levels [3] - The Fund sold its position in Sprott Physical Silver Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:PSLV) near the end of the quarter, indicating a strategic shift away from reliance on metals as a hedge [3] Key Holdings - Sprott Physical Silver Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:PSLV) was highlighted as a key stock, closing at $26.87 per share on January 6, 2026, with a market capitalization of $15.609 billion [2]