Gold stocks are on fire right now. With gold prices rising by the day (and recently hitting $4,000 per ounce for the first time), the profits of companies producing the precious metal are soaring. Looking for UK gold shares to buy? Here are three to consider.
Pan African Resources
First up, we have Pan African Resources (LSE: PAF). This is a mid-tier miner that has operations in Africa and produced 196,527 ounces last financial year (ended 30 June).
What I like about this company is that it has very low operating costs. For its most recent financial year, its ‘all-in sustaining costs’ (AISCs) per ounce of gold were just $1,600. So at current gold prices, its profits are likely to be huge. And if gold keeps going up, the company could make even more money.
I also like the rising dividend. Currently, analysts expect a payout of US 4.5 cents per share for this financial year, more than double the payout last year. That dividend forecast translates to a yield of about 3.7%.
As for the valuation, it remains low. Currently, this stock has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just eight. Put all this together, and there’s a lot to like here.
Hochschild Mining
Next, we have FTSE 250 company Hochschild Mining (LSE: HOC). It mines gold (and silver) in a range of countries including Argentina, Peru, and Brazil.
Hochschild’s operating costs are a bit higher than those of Pan African Resources. For the first half of 2025, gold AISCs were $1,914 per ounce. At those cost levels, however, the company is still cleaning up. For H1, profit before tax was up 102% year on year to $140m.
One thing I like about this company is its silver exposure. This year, silver prices have actually risen more than gold prices. Note that in H1, Hochschild’s AISC for silver was just $23. That’s far lower than the silver price today (about $48).
Turning to the valuation and dividend, the P/E ratio’s 8.3 and the yield’s 1.7%, (looking at forecasts for 2026). So there’s both value and income on offer.
Caledonia Mining
Finally, check out Caledonia Mining (LSE: CMCL). It’s a smaller producer that operates in Zimbabwe. In the first half of 2025, this company produced around 40,000 ounces of gold. AISC for the period was $1,801.
Looking ahead, this company should be able to make plenty of money with the price of gold near $4,000. Currently, analysts expect the group’s net profit to amount to around $63m this year – roughly 250% higher than the figure posted last year.
At present, this stock trades on a P/E ratio of around 11.7. So it appears to be reasonably valued. The yield’s about 1.5%. So there’s a little bit of income on offer too.
The key to investing in gold stocks
While all these stocks have potential, it’s important to understand risk as there’s a lot that can go wrong. For example, equipment can break down, weather can be poor, staff can go on strike, and governments can impose new restrictive laws. So there’s no guarantee that these shares will be good investments.
I think the key for anyone buying is to size these stocks carefully with small positions. That way, potential gains can be enjoyed without being exposed to excessive risk.
