Gold Investment in 2025: Performance Analysis per Ounce

Looking back to the 2025 scenario, if you had invested 5,000 USD in gold at the beginning of the year, when it was trading around 2,575 USD per ounce, and sold it toward the end of December at 2,716 USD per ounce, your capital would have experienced moderate growth. At that time, this movement resulted in an approximate profit of 274 USD, representing a 5.5% return over the entire year.

How much return did each ounce of gold generate?

The operation involved converting the initial 5,000 USD into approximately 1.94 ounces of gold at January’s price. Those same ounces, sold at the end of 2025, would have generated about 5,274 USD, thus consolidating the mentioned net gain. This calculation reveals an interesting aspect: the return was not explosive, but each ounce held contributed consistently to capital protection, a distinctive feature of the yellow metal.

The demand drivers for gold in 2025

Throughout the year, gold experienced contained movements relative to the highs reached in November 2024, when it approximately touched 2,800 USD. This behavior was directly linked to persistent geopolitical tensions, global inflationary pressures, and monetary policy adjustments by major central banks. These factors converge in a scenario that reinforces gold as a wealth preservation asset, especially for investors concerned about erosion of purchasing power.

Breakdown: from 1.94 ounces to 274 USD profit

For those seeking a clear visualization, the numbers speak for themselves. With an initial 5,000 USD divided by 2,575 USD per ounce, you obtained approximately 1.94 ounces. That amount, revalued at the 2025 closing price, multiplied your investment into a 5.5% gain. In absolute terms, each ounce contributed around 141 USD additional profit by the end of the year, reflecting the contained but positive upward movement of the metal.

Protection or performance?: Gold versus other assets

Here arises a key question for investors: was 5.5% enough? In 2025, more volatile assets, such as technology sector stocks, generated significantly higher returns. However, gold offered something those instruments did not guarantee: stability amid uncertainty. Beyond the percentage return, investing in ounces acted as a buffer against inflation and geopolitical volatility.

An additional consideration: for investors in Latin America, the final profitability would have varied depending on the evolution of the USD/local currency exchange rate. A devaluation of the national currency would have amplified the return in local terms, while an appreciation would have moderated it. This regional factor adds a layer of complexity to the analysis that deserves consideration in future decisions.