Gold Surges 73% in 12 Months, Outperforming Traditional Asset Classes

Gold prices have experienced a massive 73% surge over the past year, significantly outperforming most traditional investment classes. The precious metal continued its strong momentum into early 2026, recording an 18% gain year-to-date as of February 20. This exceptional performance highlights a robust shift toward safe-haven assets amid evolving macroeconomic conditions. The dominance of gold over the last 12 months underscores its role as a primary hedge for both retail and institutional investors. Analysts suggest that the substantial historical returns are likely to drive further capital into gold-backed ETFs like GLD and IAU. With such high momentum, the market outlook for XAU/USD remains decidedly bullish as it attracts increased interest from the global financial community.