Gold surged to new all‑time highs above A$6,860/oz in Q1 2026, fuelled by geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the Iran conflict and strong investor demand for safe‑haven assets. Higher prices have expanded margins across the sector and pushed ASX‑listed gold equities sharply higher. Based on year‑to‑date performance and market data as of 25 March 2026, these are the five top‑performing ASX gold stocks of the year so far.
1. PC Gold (ASX: PC2)
YTD gain: 147.89%
Market cap: A$175.04M
Share price: A$0.88
PC Gold continues to rise on strong exploration performance at its wholly owned Spring Hill project in the Northern Territory. The site hosts 25.6Mt at 1g/t Au in JORC resources and holds granted mining leases and environmental approvals for open‑pit mining.
Recent drilling returned standout intercepts including 25m at 36.83g/t Au and 14.9m at 3.84g/t Au, with visible gold observed in multiple holes. The company also secured approvals to reopen the historic underground adit, enabling low‑cost access for deeper drilling. A C$24M financing completed in February is supporting feasibility work and continued infill drilling. Shares peaked at A$0.98 on 5 March.
2. Riversgold (ASX: RGL)
YTD gain: 71.43%
Market cap: A$25.27M
Share price: A$0.012
Riversgold is advancing the Kalgoorlie gold project under a 50/50 profit‑share development agreement with MEGA Resources. Early 2026 drilling returned 8m at 5.81g/t Au, sparking a rapid re‑rating of the stock. The company completed a A$2.15M capital raise and resolved objections to its mining lease application. Tenure expansion of 820% further strengthened the regional footprint.
3. Hamelin Gold (ASX: HMG)
YTD gain: 71.43%
Market cap: A$25.78M
Share price: A$0.10
Hamelin maintains exposure to high‑potential gold provinces including the Tanami, Paterson and Yilgarn belts. In 2026, the focus remains on the Venus project in the Murchison district and the Day Dawn project in the Paterson province. Historical dataset reinterpretation identified the high‑grade Aurora lode, with airborne magnetic surveys and soil sampling programmes underway. Shares reached A$0.18 on 26 February.
4. Horizon Gold (ASX: HRN)
YTD gain: 55.23%
Market cap: A$217.31M
Share price: A$1.32
Horizon Gold’s wholly owned Gum Creek project hosts 2.3Moz at an average grade of 1.89g/t Au, with 71% of ounces in the Indicated category. The rising gold price has driven the share price higher, supported by high‑grade drilling results such as 4m at 11.35g/t Au from the Kingfisher prospect. Shares peaked at A$1.55 on 11 March.
5. Torque Metals (ASX: TOR)
YTD gain: 44.83%
Market cap: A$233.8M
Share price: A$0.42
Torque is developing the Paris gold project in Western Australia, which delivered a maiden 250koz resource at 3.1g/t Au following extensive drilling. Mine development and permitting activities began early in 2026, with new drilling confirming deeper continuity across multiple lodes, including 20m at 5.8g/t Au, with a high‑grade core of 7m at 13.5g/t Au. Shares reached A$0.50 on 11 March.
