Forbes: Turbocharge Your Gold Investing
February 21, 2025
Read Time 1 MIN
Gold has long been a safe-haven asset, but for investors looking to enhance their exposure, mining stocks offer a potentially more lucrative—though riskier—alternative to holding bullion. Mining stocks may provide amplified returns compared to physical gold, but also require careful selection to navigate the sector’s volatility. VanEck portfolio manager Imaru Casanova understands these risks and rewards better than most, combining her engineering background with deep expertise in resource investing, and she shares her experience and insights in a recent Forbes article.
Casanova’s journey into gold investing started far from Wall Street. Born in Venezuela, she won a foreign studies scholarship as a teenager and arrived in the U.S. with little knowledge of English. She went on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering and began her career in the oil industry, working on offshore rigs and learning firsthand how to assess reserves, extraction costs and operational risks. That experience gave her a unique perspective when she transitioned into finance, first covering oil and gas and later specializing in gold mining.
Today, she manages VanEck’s International Investors Gold Fund (INIIX), which invests in miners that trade at historically low valuations relative to their production. Mining stocks provide built-in leverage: when gold prices rise, miner profits can multiply—but when prices fall, losses can be steep. Casanova actively seeks companies with strong balance sheets and sustainable operations, aiming to mitigate some of the risks inherent in the sector.
For those seeking a hedge against inflation and monetary uncertainty, gold remains a compelling option. But as the market for both physical gold and mining stocks evolves, understanding the nuances of each approach is crucial. Read the full Forbes article to explore how Casanova approaches this complex market and where she sees the biggest opportunities today.
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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
VanEck assumes no liability for the content of any linked third-party site, and/or content hosted on external sites.
Fund holdings will vary. For a complete list of holdings in INIVX as of the most recent date, please click on the links or visit vaneck.com.
This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned are unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the speaker(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.
You can lose money by investing in the Fund. Any investment in the Fund should be part of an overall investment program, not a complete program. The Fund is subject to risks which may include, but are not limited to, risks associated with active management, commodities and commodity-linked instruments, commodities and commodity-linked instruments tax, derivatives, direct investments, emerging market issuers, ESG investing strategy, foreign currency, foreign securities, gold and silver mining companies, market, non-diversified, operational, regulatory, investing in other funds, small- and medium-capitalization companies, special risk considerations of investing in Australian and Canadian issuers, subsidiary investment risk, and tax risks (with respect to investments in the Subsidiary), all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Emerging market issuers and foreign securities may be subject to securities markets, political and economic, investment and repatriation restrictions, different rules and regulations, less publicly available financial information, foreign currency and exchange rates, operational and settlement, and corporate and securities laws risks. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. Derivatives may involve certain costs and risks such as liquidity, interest rate, and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Investments in the gold industry can be significantly affected by international economic, monetary and political developments. The Fund’s overall portfolio may decline in value due to developments specific to the gold industry.
Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.
© Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation.
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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
VanEck assumes no liability for the content of any linked third-party site, and/or content hosted on external sites.
Fund holdings will vary. For a complete list of holdings in INIVX as of the most recent date, please click on the links or visit vaneck.com.
This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned are unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the speaker(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.
You can lose money by investing in the Fund. Any investment in the Fund should be part of an overall investment program, not a complete program. The Fund is subject to risks which may include, but are not limited to, risks associated with active management, commodities and commodity-linked instruments, commodities and commodity-linked instruments tax, derivatives, direct investments, emerging market issuers, ESG investing strategy, foreign currency, foreign securities, gold and silver mining companies, market, non-diversified, operational, regulatory, investing in other funds, small- and medium-capitalization companies, special risk considerations of investing in Australian and Canadian issuers, subsidiary investment risk, and tax risks (with respect to investments in the Subsidiary), all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Emerging market issuers and foreign securities may be subject to securities markets, political and economic, investment and repatriation restrictions, different rules and regulations, less publicly available financial information, foreign currency and exchange rates, operational and settlement, and corporate and securities laws risks. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. Derivatives may involve certain costs and risks such as liquidity, interest rate, and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Investments in the gold industry can be significantly affected by international economic, monetary and political developments. The Fund’s overall portfolio may decline in value due to developments specific to the gold industry.
Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.
© Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation.