GFI vs NEM: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

Last updated August 2026

Short answer

GFI and NEM are similarly sized, but GFI trades noticeably cheaper on forward earnings (6.04x vs 8.85x): the market is paying up for NEM's profile and pricing GFI more conservatively, or for faster growth. Which you prefer comes down to the drivers you believe, and whether adding either over-concentrates what you already own.

GFI vs NEM: the tie-breaker metrics

Same yardstick, side by side (as of August 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.

MetricGFINEMWhat it tells you
Forward P/E6.048.85Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up.
Trailing P/E8.2311.82Valuation on the last 12 months. A big drop from trailing to forward means the market expects earnings to jump, so more growth is already in the price.
Beta0.520.48Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through.
Price vs 52-week range18% of range43% of rangeWhere today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why.
Price / book6.882.82How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price.

Reading it: GFI is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.

Before you buy: how GFI and NEM affect your concentration

The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. GFI and NEM share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.

This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined GFI and NEM exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.

What does Gold Fields (GFI) do?

Gold Fields (GFI) is one of the world's largest gold producers, mining and selling gold from a globally diversified portfolio of operations. Its assets span South Africa (the deep-level South Deep mine), Australia (St Ives, Agnew, Granny Smith, and Gruyere), Ghana (Tarkwa and Damang), Peru (the Cerro Corona copper-gold mine), and newer growth assets including Salares Norte in Chile and the Windfall project in Canada, added through its acquisition of Osisko Mining. The company produces roughly 2.5 million ounces of gold-equivalent output a year. As a gold miner, Gold Fields' revenue and profits are driven heavily by the gold price, which it does not control, and by all-in sustaining costs that move with currencies, energy, and labor. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, and listed on the NYSE as a sponsored ADR, Gold Fields is widely viewed as a way to gain leveraged exposure to the gold price through a large, established producer with mines on several continents.

Full GFI guide

What does Newmont (NEM) do?

Newmont (NEM) is the world's largest gold producer and a leading name in precious-metals mining. It explores for, mines, and sells gold, with meaningful byproduct production of copper, silver, zinc, and lead from a global portfolio of tier-one operations across North America, South America, Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea. Gold is the company's core driver, and its revenue and profits move closely with the gold price, which it does not control and which tends to rise with inflation fears, falling real interest rates, and market or geopolitical stress. Newmont expanded its scale and reserves through the 2023 acquisition of Newcrest Mining and has since worked to streamline the combined portfolio around its highest-quality, longest-life assets while returning cash through dividends and buybacks. As a commodity producer, Newmont's earnings swing with gold and byproduct prices as well as mining costs. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, it is widely viewed as a large-cap, liquid way to gain equity exposure to gold, often held as a diversifier or an inflation and safe-haven hedge rather than as a steady compounder.

Full NEM guide

GFI vs NEM: how do they differ?

Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.

  • GFI drivers: Leveraged exposure to the gold price; Diversified, multi-continent asset base.
  • NEM drivers: Leveraged exposure to gold; Scale, tier-one assets, and reserves.

Which fits which kind of investor

A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: Gold Fields is a commodity producer, so its revenue and profits swing with the gold price, which it does not control and which can fall sharply. For NEM, newmont is a commodity producer, so its revenue and profits swing with the gold price and byproduct metal prices it does not control, and those prices can fall sharply.

GFI or NEM: which should you pick?

Pick GFI if you believe its drivers more; NEM if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the GFI and NEM guides.

GFI vs NEM: the full fundamentals

GFI. Gold Fields' valuation is inherently cyclical because earnings move with the gold price the company does not control. A normal P/E can look low near the top of the gold cycle and high or not meaningful at the bottom, so the stock often trades on the gold-price outlook and on all-in sustaining costs rather than trailing earnings. Rising costs and currency swings can compress margins even when the gold price is firm, and new-mine ramp-ups affect near-term output. Figures are approximate and move with commodity prices; verify current numbers before relying on them.

NEM. Newmont's valuation is inherently cyclical because earnings move with the gold price and mining costs the company does not fully control. A normal P/E can look low near the top of the gold cycle and high or not meaningful at the bottom, so the stock often trades on the gold-price outlook, real interest rates, and cost trends rather than trailing earnings. Rising all-in sustaining costs can compress margins even when gold is firm. Figures are approximate and move with commodity prices; verify current numbers before relying on them.

Headline figures (approximate, early 2026): GFI shows annual production ~2.5 million gold-equivalent ounces (guidance range 2.4-2.6M oz), primary product gold, with byproduct copper at Cerro Corona, key operating regions South Africa, Australia, Ghana, Peru, Chile, Canada, all-in sustaining cost roughly $1,800 per ounce and rising with cost pressures; NEM shows revenue (ttm) ~$20 billion (varies with gold prices), primary product gold, with byproduct copper, silver, zinc, and lead, gold production (2025) ~5.9 million attributable ounces, gold aisc (2025) ~$1,358 per ounce by-product basis; guided higher for 2026.

The bottom line: GFI vs NEM

GFI and NEM are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined GFI and NEM exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.

Wondering how GFI or NEM fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.

Investing in Gold Fields with AI

Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how GFI fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.

FAQ

What is the difference between GFI and NEM?

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Gold Fields (GFI) is one of the world's largest gold producers, mining and selling gold from a globally diversified portfolio of operations. Newmont (NEM) is the world's largest gold producer and a leading name in precious-metals mining. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.

Is GFI or NEM the better stock?

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Neither is universally better; they suit different views and risk levels. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.

Which is cheaper, GFI or NEM?

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On forward P/E (as of August 2026), GFI trades at 6.04x and NEM at 8.85x, so GFI is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.

Should you own both GFI and NEM?

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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.

What are the risks of GFI vs NEM?

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GFI: Gold Fields is a commodity producer, so its revenue and profits swing with the gold price, which it does not control and which can fall sharply. All-in sustaining costs have risen with currency moves, energy, and labor inflation, squeezing margins even when production grows. A large share of output comes from South Africa, Ghana, Peru, and other regions that carry country-specific political, regulatory, tax, currency, and power-supply risks. Deep-level and open-pit mining carry operational, safety, environmental, and permitting risks, and new mines like Salares Norte can face ramp-up delays. As a South African-based ADR, the stock also reflects rand movements. It is a cyclical, high-beta position, not a steady income or defensive holding. NEM: Newmont is a commodity producer, so its revenue and profits swing with the gold price and byproduct metal prices it does not control, and those prices can fall sharply. Mining is capital intensive and carries operational, geological, environmental, permitting, and safety risks, and unexpected mine problems can cut production. Its global footprint exposes it to country-specific political, regulatory, tax, currency, and labor risks. All-in sustaining costs have risen with energy, labor, and input inflation, squeezing margins if gold does not keep pace. Large acquisitions like Newcrest carry integration and execution risk. The stock is volatile and tied to gold sentiment, real interest rates, and the US dollar. It is a cyclical position, not a steady income or defensive holding.

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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell GFI or NEM; figures are approximate and dated (as of August 2026). Verify current data before investing.

    GFI vs NEM: Which Is the Better Buy in 2026? - Walnut AI Investing App