# Gold vs Stocks Today | ShouldIBuyGoldNow > Compare today's gold price performance versus the S&P 500. See which asset is winning this week and what it means for your investment decisions. Daily Comparison # Gold vs Stocks Today Stocks are outperforming gold over the last 7 sessions (1.07% vs -3.19%). Updated May 15, 2026 at 5:47 AM Gold (XAU/USD) $4,570 24-hour change \-2.31% 7-day change \-3.19% S&P 500 7,444.25 24-hour change +0.58% 7-day change +1.07% ## How to interpret this page Relative performance helps frame risk sentiment. When stocks are under pressure and gold is firm, defensive positioning is often in play. When stocks are leading and volatility is muted, risk assets tend to dominate. Sources: finance.yahoo.com, fred.stlouisfed.org ## Historical Performance: Gold vs S&P 500 Over the past decade, gold and the S&P 500 have traded leadership multiple times. From 2016 to 2025, the S&P 500 delivered a cumulative return of approximately 170%, while gold returned around 135%. However, the story changes dramatically when you look at individual years. | Period | Gold | S&P 500 | Winner | | ------ | ---- | ------- | ------ | | 2025 | +64% | \-5% | Gold | | 2024 | +27% | +23% | Gold | | 2023 | +13% | +24% | Stocks | | 2022 | 0% | \-19% | Gold | | 2020 | +25% | +16% | Gold | | 2018 | \-2% | \-6% | Gold | Source: Yahoo Finance (GC=F, ^GSPC). Returns are approximate annual calendar-year returns. ## When Does Gold Outperform Stocks? Gold tends to outperform equities during specific macroeconomic conditions. Understanding these patterns helps investors decide when to increase or decrease their gold allocation relative to stocks. ### Gold wins when... * + Inflation exceeds expectations (negative real rates) * + The US dollar weakens against major currencies * + Geopolitical tensions escalate (wars, sanctions, trade disputes) * + Central banks are net buyers of gold (1,000+ tonnes/year since 2022) * + Stock market volatility (VIX) is elevated above 25 ### Stocks win when... * + Economic growth is strong and accelerating * + Corporate earnings are growing above expectations * + Real interest rates are positive and stable * + Risk appetite is high and volatility is low * + Monetary policy is accommodative (rate cuts, QE) ## Portfolio Allocation: How Much Gold? Gold and stocks are not competing investments — they complement each other. Gold's near-zero long-term correlation with equities makes it one of the most effective portfolio diversifiers available. Adding 5-15% gold to a stock-heavy portfolio has historically reduced overall volatility without significantly sacrificing returns. ### Model portfolio allocations **Conservative** (capital preservation) 10-15% gold **Balanced** (growth + stability) 7-10% gold **Aggressive** (max growth) 5% gold Learn the different ways to add gold to your portfolio: [Gold ETFs](/how-to-buy/etfs), [gold bars](/how-to-buy/bars), or [gold coins](/how-to-buy/coins). ## Gold vs Stocks FAQ Is gold a better investment than stocks? ▾ Neither is universally better — they serve different roles. Stocks offer long-term growth through earnings and dividends, while gold acts as a hedge against inflation, currency devaluation, and systemic risk. Historically, the S&P 500 has delivered higher average annual returns (\~10%), but gold has outperformed during recessions, high-inflation periods, and geopolitical crises. Most advisors recommend holding both. How much of my portfolio should be in gold vs stocks? ▾ Most financial advisors recommend allocating 5-15% of a diversified portfolio to gold and precious metals. The exact split depends on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and market outlook. Conservative investors or those near retirement may lean toward 10-15%, while younger investors focused on growth might hold 5% as a hedge. Does gold go up when stocks go down? ▾ Gold often rises during stock market declines, but the inverse correlation is not guaranteed. During the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 COVID crash, gold rallied as equities fell. However, in a liquidity crisis (like March 2020 initially), both can fall simultaneously as investors sell everything for cash. Over longer periods, gold and the S&P 500 have a near-zero correlation, which is exactly what makes gold valuable for diversification. What are the disadvantages of gold compared to stocks? ▾ Gold produces no cash flow — no dividends, no earnings growth, no compounding. Stocks in the S&P 500 reinvest earnings and pay dividends, which compounds over time. Gold also has storage and insurance costs for physical holdings, and wider bid-ask spreads compared to highly liquid stock ETFs. Over 20+ year periods, stocks have historically outperformed gold in total returns. Should I buy gold during a stock market crash? ▾ Gold often performs well during and after stock market crashes, making it a common safe-haven trade. However, buying gold after a crash has already begun may mean paying elevated prices. The better strategy is to hold gold before a crash as portfolio insurance. Our verdict engine analyzes 11 macro factors daily to help you time your gold allocation decisions based on data, not panic. ### Related Comparisons [Gold vs Silver →](/gold-vs-silver) [Gold vs Bitcoin →](/gold-vs-bitcoin) [Gold vs Bonds →](/gold-vs-bonds) [Gold vs Real Estate →](/gold-vs-real-estate) [Gold vs Index Funds →](/gold-vs-index-funds) [All Comparisons →](/compare) [Interactive Chart →](/compare/gold-vs-sp500) [Price Predictions →](/gold-price-prediction) [Read today's verdict](/today) [Open gold price page](/gold-price-today) Important disclaimer This website is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always speak with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. --- Source: https://shouldibuygoldnow.com/gold-vs-stocks Site: shouldibuygoldnow.com — Daily gold investment signals powered by 11 macro factors