Investing in Gold Mining Companies Could Yield 53% Returns in 2017

While physical gold will always be a strong hedge to have in your portfolio, investing in gold mining companies can be far more profitable. In fact, we think they're the best way to play the upcoming gold price rally. That's why we're bringing readers one gold mining stock that could provide returns of 53% in 2017.

Video

3 Catalysts That Will Boost Gold Prices in 2017

You see, the metal is already up 9.1% to $1,257 this year. And Money Morning Resource Specialist Peter Krauth sees prices rising to $1,400 per ounce by the end of 2017. That would be a robust 11.4% gain from the current level.

Gold mining companies stand to benefit the most from this bullish gold price environment. After all, a higher price means these firms will make a bigger profit on every ounce of gold they produce.

That's why we're currently looking at one gold mining stock that could surge as much as 53.2% over the next 12 months.

We'll tell you more about this stellar gold investment in a minute. First, let's review the bullish case for the price of gold this year...

Why Gold Prices Are Set to Rise 11.2% in 2017

We're bullish on gold this year because we may be entering a hawkish interest rate environment. And contrary to popular belief, higher rates can often be good for the gold price over the long term.

investing in gold mining companiesYou see, many investors believe that gold can never rally through a rising interest rate environment. Rising interest rates usually hike the U.S. dollar. Because gold is denominated in dollars, it will become more costly vis-à-vis other currencies if the dollar rises. That can depress demand for gold.

In mid-March, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) increased rates to the 0.75% to 1% range. Janet Yellen, the chair of the FOMC, indicated the Fed could boost rates three more times in 2017 and perhaps several times in 2018.

But we don't believe the popular myth that interest rates going up means gold prices can't go up. In fact, Krauth points out that climbing interest rate environments can actually send prices rallying over the long term. Proof of this can be found if you look back to the 1970s...

During most of the 1970s, interest rates were above 5%. That was significantly higher than the current 0.75% to 1% rate range. Not only that, but rates climbed to a whopping 15% by 1979, which was one of the highest levels in history.

Trending: The Four Best Silver Investments to Make in 2017

And the price of gold per ounce saw record returns throughout the decade. In January 1970, the price per ounce was $34.83. By January 1980, it hit $500, unadjusted for inflation.

Krauth believes we're currently entering another era of simultaneously rising interest rates and gold prices. After all, since mid-December 2015, the Fed has hiked rates three times. During the same time, the gold price has gained 18.3% to the current $1,257. And he expects it to gain another 11.4% to his $1,400 target by the year's end.

And the best way to play the rise in the yellow metal is to start investing in gold mining companies...

Gold miners are poised to benefit from a rise in the price of their product. Just like any other company, an increase in product price results in higher profit margins. Higher profit margins benefit the bottom line and help lift the stock price.

Here's the best gold miner to invest in, which analysts say could surge 53.2% by next May...

Investing in Gold Mining Companies All Comes Down to This One Pick

[mmpazkzone name="in-story" network="9794" site="307044" id="137008" type="4"]

The best gold stock to buy this year is one of our longtime favorites - Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG).

Goldcorp is a leading global producer of gold, and it doesn't plan on giving up that title anytime soon. The firm recently announced it wants to hike production as much as 20% through 2022. That hike in production will undoubtedly lift the bottom line as the price of gold per ounce rises.

In mid-February, GG stock sold for $17.67. It recently slid to a low of $13.36 on May 4 but has started to rebound from there. It's up 7.5% to $14.36 today (Thursday, May 18).

However, analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance think GG could soar as much as 53.2% to $22 per share by May 2018. That means the currently discounted price could represent a great buying opportunity.

The stock gave up some gains between February and April because the company was expending capital on big projects that should result in long-term profits for GG. The first is Goldcorp's agreement with fellow gold miner Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX) for a stake in a Chilean gold mine called Cerro Casale. This mine is believed to be one of the biggest gold mines on the planet, making it highly lucrative for any company with a stake in it.

Goldcorp's partnership gives it a 50% stake. It also brings it together with Barrick, the world's biggest and most efficient gold miner.

One measure of a gold mining company's productivity is its all-in sustaining cost (AISC), a metric of how much it costs to produce one ounce of gold. Goldcorp's AISC is very low at $812. But Barrick's is the least expensive in the gold mining industry at $760.

The partnership thus gives Goldcorp a stake in ABX's great productivity metric, while also enjoying its own. And as the price of gold continues to rise to $1,400, its profit margins on the low AISC will become stronger.

The rising gold price and big production projects in the future make Goldcorp the best mining company to invest in this year.

Urgent: Rare gold anomaly - an event so rare, it's only happened twice in 20 years! The first time it created $1.25 billion in new wealth virtually overnight. The second time, it created a cash windfall of $6 billion. And it's about to happen again. Find out more.

Follow Money Morningon Facebook and Twitter.