5 Precious Metals That Could Add Luster To Your Portfolio in 2025

At first blush, commodities don't seem to be popping in 2025 – not with the benchmark S&P GSCI Commodities Index down by 1% this year.

Yet if you start chiseling away at the index, it's easier to see one sub-sector outperforming early in 2025 – precious metals. Take the S&P GSCI Precious Metals Index (SPGSPM), up 9.9% year-to-date. The S&P GSCI Gold Index (SPGSGC) is up over 10%, and the S&P (SPSSI) GSCI Silver Index is riding high at 10.9% over the same time period.

All are well ahead of the S&P 500 (-1.2% year-to-date) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (-4.70%).

Here are the five metals with the best prospects for a golden 2025.

Sitting side by side precious metals are looking better and better for 2025, as investors lean back for an old perennial in chaotic market times – not that metal commodities are immune from volatility right now.

"The 2025 metals market is chaotic, driven by geopolitical tensions, supply constraints, and shifting demand," said Brad Thor, CEO at Thor Metals Group in Beverly Hills, Cal. "China's restrictions on critical mineral exports and U.S. tariffs on foreign metals have created price instability, while central banks continue devaluing currencies through reckless monetary policies. Meanwhile, inflation remains sticky, and fiat confidence is eroding."

Yet simultaneously, investors are fleeing paper assets in search of actual stores of value—driving demand for hard assets like physical silver, platinum, and palladium, Thor noted. "The rise in gold prices has acutely observed this," he said. "However, given metals’ tendency to move as a tribe, these macro drivers also provide similar tailwinds for other metals markets."

What's to like about precious metals in 2025? Here are the five hard commodities to make room for in your portfolio.

Silver is popping

Silver is emerging as the standout metal of 2025.

"Industrial demand is skyrocketing due to its irreplaceable role in solar panels, electronics, and medical technologies," Thor said. "Global silver inventories are shrinking, with supply deficits projected to widen."

Thor noted that as central banks hoard gold, silver remains the undervalued alternative—historically lagging behind gold's moves before experiencing exponential gains. " The gold-to-silver ratio remains wildly distorted, signaling silver is dramatically underpriced," he said.

The best way to invest in metal is through physical silver.

"Forget ETFs, mining stocks, or futures—if you don't hold it, you don't own it," Thor said. "Physical silver is real money with no counterparty risk. Unlike paper assets, it can't be frozen, defaulted on, or manipulated by Wall Street. I believe owning physical silver is the most lucrative and secure way for retail investors to gain exposure to the silver market."

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Aluminium rising

Another shining commodity in 2025 is aluminum, which seems immune to the trade and tariff wars emerging across the globe.

"Recent data from the London Metal Exchange (LME) indicates that a single entity controls up to 90% of available aluminum inventories, valued at approximately $505 million," said Tracy Shuchart, senior economist at NinjaTrader. "This concentration has contributed to price increases, with aluminum reaching its highest levels in nearly nine months, in addition to new tariffs."

Copper is worth a look, too

Demand for copper is surging due to its critical role in green energy technologies, with prices up 7.8% year to date. "However, the market remains volatile, with miners facing challenges related to extraction costs, taxation, and environmental concerns," Shuchart noted.

Copper is also reshaping itself as a diversified commodity.

"Copper has always been a reliable industrial metal, but with the expansion of infrastructure projects worldwide and the electrification movement, its value has surged," said Benson Varghese, an attorney and the founder and managing partner of the Texas-based law firm Varghese Summersett, which advises clients on financial investments. "Everything from EV charging networks to wind and solar farms depends on copper, and supply struggles keep prices high. Investors hedge against inflation by holding copper futures or stocks in mining companies with stable supply chains.

Platinum shines

Platinum has performed well this year, with the S&P GSXCI Platinum Index up 7.5% in 2025.

"Upward price movement has been driven by increased industrial demand and supply constraints," Shuchart said. "The metal’s use in automotive catalytic converters, as we have seen car makers in the West scale down EV production and return to more ICE vehicle production, and potential applications in hydrogen fuel cells have bolstered its demand."

Lithium in play

Another metal that's been making waves in 2025 is lithium.

"The demand for lithium has skyrocketed as the electric vehicle (EV) market expands, and despite temporary corrections, long-term supply shortages continue to push prices upward," Varghese said. "Governments worldwide are pumping incentives into renewable energy storage, which means lithium isn’t slowing down. I've had clients diversify into lithium investments, whether through mining stocks or ETFs, to capitalize on this growth while traditional assets flounder."

Roundabout Ways of Investing in Precious Metals

Investors may consider unconventional strategies when first investing in precious metals.

"For instance, instead of only investing in the metals themselves, look at companies that manufacture essential components using these metals," Varghese advised. "Processors, refineries, and battery manufacturers can often see higher returns than the raw commodities themselves. Understanding where the money flows after extraction is just as important as the metal itself."

If you're investing for the long term, aim for direct ownership.

"It's best to own physical metals and hold for years," said Brett Elliott, American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX) marketing director. "It's easier than ever to shop for precious metals online and have them delivered safely and anonymously directly to your doorstep."

Elliot noted that direct metal ownership is one of the only ways to invest in something with zero counterparty risk.

"If you prefer some form of digital gold, consider buying metal and paying a vaulting company to store the metal," he added. "This has the advantage of enhanced liquidity if you go with the right company, but make sure you read the fine print and know how to either sell the metal or take ownership in the future. Fully allocated, insured, and third-party-audited vaults are the only ones you should consider."

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