Get $500 and your FREE investor kit!

Request your FREE Precious Metals Investor Kit and we’ll immediately add $500 to your account to help you get started!

The $500 can be used for shipping, insurance charges or IRA custodial fees

Lear does not provide financial advice and is a for profit retailer.
Skip to main content

The Precious Metals Rally: Why It's Not Too Late to Buy Gold and Silver

by Kathrynn WardJanuary 22, 2026
The prices of gold, platinum, silver, and copper have all climbed

Why the Recent Run Isn't the End - It's a Milestone in a Broader Trend

Gold and silver prices have captured the market's attention with remarkable strength. Gold recently surged above $4,800 per ounce, and silver also hit above $90 per ounce. Both are driven by heightened safe-haven demand and structural market forces. These aren't simple short-term spikes; they reflect broader macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties that many Americans are watching closely.

Even with strong recent moves, analysts continue to project further price appreciation for both metals. Strategic buyers looking at the long term still have reasons to consider stacking gold and silver today.

Gold: A Safe Haven With More Room to Run

Gold's momentum looks structural rather than speculative. Nicky Shiels, Head of Metals Strategy at MKS PAMP, says the current cycle doesn't resemble a peak and expects prices to reach as high as $5,400 this year. Meanwhile, Julia Du, Senior Commodities Strategist at ICBC Standard Bank, is even more ambitious, saying that we could see levels as high as $7,150 per ounce if structural demand persists.

A key backdrop for this rally is the broader economic landscape of persistent fiscal pressures in the U.S. The total U.S. national debt has climbed past $38 trillion and continues to rise, with no clear path to meaningful reduction in sight. Large and growing government debt load can weigh on confidence in paper assets and the U.S. dollar, reinforcing gold's role as a durable store of value when investors seek protection from currency depreciation or fiscal imbalance concerns.

Silver: Dual Demand and Upside Potential

Silver's appeal has grown beyond its monetary hedge role into a strategic industrial metal, recently receiving designation as a critical mineral by the U.S. government, which is a formal acknowledgment of its importance to national manufacturing, energy, and defense supply chains.

Global supply dynamics also matter. China, a major player in silver refining and production, implemented new export controls on silver and other metals, tightening the flow of physical metal into global markets and reinforcing supply pressure. That's particularly significant given silver's already high industrial use, comparatively limited annual production, and existing multi-year deficit.

On the price outlook, Bank of America forecasts that silver could reach an extraordinary range of $135 to $309 per ounce, based on structural demand drivers.

And another voice added to the bullish chorus, financial educator Robert Kiyosaki has stated that silver could potentially rise to $200 per ounce in 2026 as a hedge against inflationary pressures and fiat currency weakness. His view underscores silver's role as both an inflation hedge and a strategic store of value.

These multiple scenarios reflect a wide range of possible upside, depending on supply/demand trends, macro pressures, and investor sentiment.

Forces Supporting Continued Metal Strength

Gold and silver often perform well when traditional asset classes face pressure from widening fiscal deficits, currency weakness, or geopolitical stress. A softening U.S. dollar that has declined roughly 8.3% over the past 12 months, influenced by rising federal debt and ongoing global trade turbulence, tends to increase demand for tangible stores of value like precious metals. But this isn't just a global macro story; it's something Americans feel every day.

From groceries and insurance to housing, utilities, and healthcare, the cost of living has climbed steadily, stretching household budgets and quietly eroding purchasing power. In that kind of environment, assets that have historically held their value, like gold and silver, can become an important way for families to protect what they've worked hard to build.

Economic uncertainty, trade tensions, monetary policy shifts, and tightening supply in key commodities all contribute to a backdrop where precious metals remain relevant as part of a diversified strategy.

So - Is It Too Late to Buy?

Even after the recent gains, the broader case for precious metals remains intact. While both gold and silver have risen sharply, the broader trend, as suggested by multiple forecasting models, still points to continued structural demand and further room to run, suggesting that buying precious metals today can be part of a smart long-term strategy.

Precious metals have proven over decades to hedge against fiscal strain, currency uncertainty, and economic volatility. Buying after a rally is a common psychological hurdle, but history shows that in many strong bull markets, hitting new highs is part of the trend, not the end of it.

Ready to Act? Call Lear Capital Today

If you're considering adding physical gold and silver to your portfolio or increasing your existing holdings, now could be a strategic moment to start or continue stacking before the next movement.

Our experts can help connect you with the resources you need to make an informed decision.

Call Lear Capital today at 855-271-2873 to speak with a precious metals specialist and explore your options in this dynamic market.

Kathrynn Ward

Kathrynn Ward is a Research Specialist at Lear Capital, focused on educating our readers and customers about gold, silver, and the economic forces shaping the U.S. dollar and financial markets. She distills current events as well as topics like inflation, government debt, central bank policy, and market volatility into clear, practical insights to help Americans make educated decisions about their financial future.

Secure Your Retirement with Gold

Free 2026 Gold Kit

* denotes a required field.

Lear does not provide financial advice and is a for profit retailer.
We respect your Privacy