Everyone knows Costco is a great place to stock up — whether you’re in the mood for a giant cheesecake or a kayak you didn’t plan to buy. But did you know the warehouse giant could also be a surprising stop for investors?
Just ask personal finance influencer Humphrey Yang.
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In April 2024, Yang purchased a one-ounce gold bar from Costco for $2,359.99. This past March, he walked into a gold dealership in San Francisco and filmed the moment he sold it for cash.
“Right now, we’re paying $2,955.42 [per ounce],” an employee told him.
With the spot price for an ounce of gold hovering around $3,020 at the time, Yang agreed to the deal — noting the price was reasonable given dealers typically buy slightly below market value.
Moments later, Yang walked out with a stack of bills and a simple takeaway.
“That was surprisingly easy,” he said. “$2,955 — that means I made a profit of $596 over the past 11 months or so.” The exact amount was $595.43.
Gold prices have been surging recently. Since Yang sold his gold bar, the price has increased to approximately $3,300 per ounce. Goldman Sachs has raised its year-end forecast for gold from $3,300 to $3,700 — with a projected range of $3,650 to $3,950 — according to multiple news outlets.
Gold has long served as a store of value — and that hasn’t changed. Unlike fiat currencies, the glittering metal can’t be printed at will by central banks, making it a powerful hedge against inflation and monetary instability.
It’s also long been viewed as the ultimate safe haven. Gold isn’t tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in — driving up its value.
That may help explain why, while markets are getting whipsawed by tariff uncertainty and global tensions, gold has emerged as a bright spot. Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal has surged by more than 40%.
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Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, recently highlighted gold’s role in a resilient portfolio.
“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC in February. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Fortunately, investors today have more options than ever to gain exposure to gold. You can buy gold bullion — many online platforms offer a wide selection of gold and silver bars and coins — own shares of gold mining companies, invest in gold ETFs and even tap into potential tax advantages through a gold IRA.
Gold isn’t the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.
When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.
Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.
Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).
The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today.
Crowdfunding platforms, for example, allow everyday investors to own shares in rental properties without the large down payments or management headaches traditionally associated with real estate ownership.
Alternatively, real estate investment trusts (REITs) provide another avenue for those looking to gain exposure to this asset class.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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