Stock Strategist (ETF Edition): Gold Is a Dull Investment

[Morningstar Logo]( [Company Site]( [Company News]( [Membership]( [Portfolio]( [Stocks]( [Options]( [Funds]( [ETFs]( [Markets]( [Tools]( [Personal Finance]( [Discuss]( Stock Strategist (ETF Edition) Gold Is a Dull Investment Gold may offer some insurance against a market meltdown, but there is a cost to own it. [tab_bar] by Alex Bryan, CFA | 11/25/2020 5:00:00 AM I’ve never been a big fan of gold. It’s not a productive asset, so it doesn’t generate any cash flows, and it’s only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Yet there’s evidence that gold can serve as a hedge against a market meltdown and inflation, so it may serve a purpose as a small position in a diversi­fied portfolio. The opportunity cost of holding gold is currently low, as real interest rates are negative. Yet insurance doesn’t boost expected returns. Rather, it tends to reduce them. There is no compelling economic reason to expect gold to provide strong real (inflation-adjusted) returns over the long term. Gold is far from a perfect hedge against inflation and market tail risk. But then again, nothing is. To read more, click [here](. Sponsored Links [Buy a Link Now]( Podcast: Investing Insights From Morningstar.com Listen to a roundup of the latest videos featured on Morningstar.com [in this podcast]( available through iTunes. Free Issue | Morningstar's Stock Newsletter >> Morningstar StockInvestor is celebrating more than 10 successful years of high-quality stock investing. Its two real-money portfolios have outperformed the S&P 500 since 2001. [Get new ideas for the core of your stock portfolio.]( Search Most Recent Articles [Stakeholder Votes Divided on Social Justice]( [Why Become an ESG Investor?]( [Building a Niche Advisory Firm From the Ground Up]( ABOUT OUR EMAIL To unsubscribe and update your preferences, go to our [email newsletter page](. All subscription changes will take effect within one business day. If you have questions about Morningstar.com or your membership, send a note to premium@morningstar.com. ABOUT OUR PRIVACY POLICY Please [click here]( to learn about Morningstar's privacy policy. (c) Copyright 2020. Morningstar, Inc. 22 W. Washington Chicago, Illinois, 60602 All rights reserved.