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Top 10 Gold Reserves by Country

Investing 11 Mins Read

Gold is one of the most important metals on the planet. For millennia it has been used in jewelry, art and currency, capturing the collective imagination as a thing of wonder. Gold’s association with royalty and wealth has inspired explorers and treasure hunters alike, who put themselves at risk for a chance to strike it rich.

Today, gold’s hold on us as a precious metal is no less powerful. Still used for jewelry and as a store of wealth, the metal also has a variety of modern industrial and electronic applications.

Even though gold seems to be everywhere, in reality it’s a finite resource. Only 244,000 metric tons of gold have ever been mined, and two-thirds of that has been extracted since 1950. Comparing that amount to the more than 700 million metric tons of copper that have been pulled from the ground provides an idea of how precious a resource gold truly is.

For investors interested in the yellow metal and the companies that mine it, it’s important to understand global gold reserves. This data can provide critical information on the long-term viability of supply and which countries have room to grow.

Data for this article comes from the most recent Mineral Commodity Summary from the US Geological Survey as well as Mining Data Online (MDO).

Although gold is often measured and discussed in ounces, the USGS uses metric tons for its gold data, so this article will contain a mix of the two measurements. For perspective, 1 metric ton of gold is equal to 35,274 ounces and worth US$116 million at a price of US$3,300 per gold ounce.

According to the US Geological Survey, identified economic gold reserves currently stand at 64,000 metric tons globally. This is a significant jump from 59,000 metric tons in the previous report, with reserves for many countries revised to the upside. Read on to learn about the top 10 gold reserves by country.

1. Australia

Gold reserves: 12,000 metric tons

The sixth largest country by land area, Australia is tied for the most gold reserves of any nation at 12,000 metric tons, with over 60 percent of its gold deposits located in Western Australia.

The mining nation is also one of the top producers of gold, digging up 290 metric tons of the metal in 2024.

Australia is home to many large gold mines, including Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Boddington and Cadia Valley operations, which produced 590,000 ounces and 464,000 respectively in 2024. It also hosts the Tropicana mine, a joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) and Regis Resources (ASX:RRL,OTC Pink:RGRNF) that produced 426,000 ounces of gold.

1. Russia

Gold reserves: 12,000 metric tons

Russia has the largest land area of any country, and unsurprisingly is now tied for the top country for gold reserves, boasting an impressive 12,000 metric tons of gold. Its reserves were raised from 11,100 in 2023, but they mark an even more sizeable increase from the 6,800 metric tons of reserves reported for 2022.

Additionally, Russia’s gold output remained steady in 2024 with 310 MT extracted. Russia has several large gold mines, but none are more prolific than Polyus’ (MCX:PLZL) Olimpiada mine in the Krasnoyarsk Krai region of Siberia. According to the company’s most recent data, the mine produced 1.48 million ounces in 2024.

Russian gold is having difficulties reaching most markets following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The London Bullion Market Association halted trading and removed Russian refiners from its accredited list in March 2022. However, a significant portion of the metal was exported to the United Arab Emirates following the sanctions, according to Reuters, and Russian gold has also made its way into the country’s stockpiles.

3. South Africa

Gold reserves: 5,000 metric tons

South Africa remains a powerhouse in terms of global gold reserves, and the country’s Witwatersrand Basin is among the top gold jurisdictions in the world.

Although South Africa remains comfortably in the top three countries for reserves with 5,000 metric tons, the country has lost some of its luster when it comes to production. At the turn of the century, South Africa was the top gold-producing country, with 431 metric tons extracted in 2000. The country’s output has slowly fallen in the decades since though, and has hit all-time lows in recent years — South Africa produced just 100 metric tons of gold in 2024.

One reason for lowered production is decreasing gold grades, which have led miners operating in the country to move to greater depths. In fact, eight of South Africa’s gold mines are among the world’s 10 deepest mines for any commodity, with AngloGold Ashanti’s (NYSE:AU,JSE:ANG) Mponeng gold mine topping the list at 2.4 kilometers to over 4 kilometers below surface. This has made industrial mining operations prohibitively expensive and more dangerous.

Harder to reach resources and high electricity costs have resulted in limited investment in exploration as companies looked to lower cost projects in other countries like Australia and Canada.

4. Indonesia

Gold reserves: 3,600 metric tons

Indonesia is home to 3,600 metric tons of gold reserves. The country jumped significantly from 2023, adding more than 1,000 metric tons to its reserves and climbing to number four on our list.

Indonesia is home to the Grasberg complex, one of the world’s largest gold operations and host to 23.9 million recoverable gold ounces. Operated by Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX), Grasberg includes several underground mines and the Kucing Liar deposit, which is currently being developed.

Once Kucing Liar is operational, Freeport expects it to deliver an additional 520,000 ounces of gold per year for 6 million total ounces between 2029 and 2041.

5. Canada

Gold reserves: 3,200 metric tons

Canada’s gold reserves total 3,200 metric tons, up 900 metric tons in the latest USGS report. Its gold reserves had previously remained constant since 2012 at 2,300 metric tons. The country has more than doubled its gold output in that time, jumping from 97 metric tons in 2012 to 200 metric tons in 2024.

Canada has a rich history of gold mining since the metal was first discovered in Québec in the early 1800s. Mining operations can now be found across Canada, but more than 70 percent of the country’s gold is produced in Ontario and Québec. Other significant producers are BC with 9 percent, the Yukon with 4 percent and Manitoba with 2 percent.

Canada has a number of very large gold mines, the largest of which is Agnico Eagle Mines’ (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM) Canadian Malartic Complex in Québec. The mine produced 689,000 ounces of gold in 2023 and hosts proven and probable reserves of 7.92 million ounces.

Because of its well-established natural resource sector, Canada is leading the way in sustainable initiatives to protect the environment and communities. The Mining Association of Canada’s Toward Sustainable Mining initiative has been adopted by organizations around the world, including those in Finland, Brazil and the Philippines.

6. China

Gold reserves: 3,100 metric tons

China’s importance as a gold miner has been growing over recent years and made significant gains, moving from number nine on our list with 1,900 metric tons in 2022, to number six with 3,100 metric tons in 2024. Additionally, China’s gold output ranks first overall globally with 380 metric tons of gold last year.

China’s gold-mining industry is dominated by state-owned operators. Some of the largest companies include Zijin Mining Group (HKEX:2899), which owns the Shanxi mine, the largest gold mine in the Shanxi province. The mine produced 107,700 ounces of gold in 2024.

Another of China’s largest companies is China Gold International Resources (TSX:CGG,HKEX:2099), which owns a 96.5 percent stake in the Chang Shan Hao gold mine located in Inner Mongolia, one of China’s largest gold mines. Chang Shan Hao produced 108,188 ounces of gold last year.

In addition to its high gold reserves and production, China also has a strong impact on the gold market through significant purchases by the People’s Bank of China in recent years. As of April 2025, the Chinese central bank holds an estimated 2,280 metric tons of gold.

7. United States

Gold reserves: 3,000 metric tons

Gold reserves in the US have remained steady at 3,000 metric tons since 2012. The country is home to well-developed infrastructure, highly experienced companies and an advanced workforce. However, over the last decade, production and refinement of the yellow metal in the US has been in decline, dropping from 230 metric tons in 2012 to 160 metric tons in 2024.

The largest gold-mining assets in the US are all owned by Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) and Newmont, and consist of Turquoise Ridge, the Cortez Complex and the Carlin Complex. Between them, the mines produced 3.03 million ounces of gold in 2023.

8. Peru

Gold reserves: 2,500 metric tons

Gold has been an important part of Peru’s economy for centuries. The country has a well-documented mining industry, and it ranks as one of the top nations in the world when it comes to gold reserves. Its gold reserves peaked in 2022 with 2,900 metric tons before falling to 2,300 metric tons in 2023. Peru’s gold reserves were back up slightly in this report, helping it to land at number eight on our list with 2,500 metric tons.

Peru’s gold production has remained consistent over the past two years at 100 metric tons.

Large players make up the bulk of Peru’s gold industry, with major miner Newmont leading the way at Yanacocha, the biggest gold mine in Peru. In 2024, output from the mine reached 354,000 ounces of gold, a significant jump from 2023’s 276,000 ounces.

There are also artisanal operations in the country, along with operations being run by criminal organizations. While environmental concerns are common in the mining industry, illegal and small-scale gold miners often employ mercury during the extraction process, which is very damaging to the environment.

To counteract illegal mining operations, the Peruvian government instituted Operation Mercury in 2019, which involved military interventions at illegal mine sites and the destruction of mining operations. For small-scale and artisanal mining, programs such as the Fairmined Ecological Gold certification exist to encourage environmentally friendly mining methods by introducing premium prices for gold that meets particular requirements. This also allows gold buyers to identify gold from legal operations that reduce the use of toxic treatments like mercury during the extraction process.

9. Brazil

Gold reserves: 2,400 metric tons

Home to the first modern gold rush over 300 years ago, Brazil currently has 2,400 metric tons of economic gold reserves. Brazil has an undeniable history with the precious metal, although its extracted only 70 metric tons in 2024.

The largest gold mine in Brazil is AngloGold Ashanti’s AGA Mineracao Operaation in Minas Gerais. In 2024, the mine produced 271,000 ounces of gold. New production also came online last year. G Mining Ventures (TSX:GMIN,OTCQX:GMINF) declared commercial production at its Tocantinzinho mine in September 2024, and the mine produced 63,566 ounces of gold by the year’s end.

Much like Peru, gold mining in Brazil has a darker side as well. Illegal operators, many of which have found their into mining through social media sites like YouTube and TikTok, are impacting both sensitive rainforest ecosystems and local Indigenous communities. Despite government crackdowns, new operations continue to pop up throughout the Amazon.

10. Kazakhstan

Gold reserves: 2,300 metric tons

Kazakhstan’s gold reserves total 2,300 metric tons, up a sizeable 1,300 metric tons compared to the prior year, a big enough boost to break into this top 10 gold reserve list.

The jump is owed to a significant increase in exploration, which saw 23 new deposits, including 20 metric tons of gold, added to the country’s subsoil registry. Launched in 2023, the registry has helped to streamline the exploration process and allowed modern technology to be applied to historical data sets.

Kazakhstan’s largest gold-mining operation is the Altyntau Kokshetau mine, owned by mining giant Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF).

In its 2024 production report, Glencore stated that it produced 603,000 ounces of gold across all its Kazakhstan assets, the majority of which came from the Altyntau Kokshetau mine.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Trump Admin Fast Tracks Anfield’s Velvet-Wood Uranium Project in Push for US Energy Independence

Investing 4 Mins Read

The US Department of the Interior announced on Monday (May 12) that it will fast track environmental permitting for Anfield Energy’s (TSXV:AEC,OTCQB:ANLDF) Velvet-Wood uranium project in Utah

The decision slashes what would typically be a years-long review process down to just 14 days, and makes Velvet-Wood the first uranium project to be expedited under a January 20 statement from President Donald Trump. In it, he declares a national energy emergency and emphasizes the importance of restoring American energy independence.

This week’s decision signals what Anfield calls “a decisive shift in federal support for domestic nuclear fuel supply.”

The Velvet-Wood project, located in San Juan County, Utah, is expected to produce uranium used for both civilian nuclear energy and defense applications, as well as vanadium, a strategic metal used in batteries and high-strength alloys.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum characterized the move as part of an urgent federal response to what he said is “an alarming energy emergency” created by the “climate extremist policies” of the previous administration.

“President Trump and his administration are responding with speed and strength to solve this crisis,” he said. “The expedited mining project review represents exactly the kind of decisive action we need to secure our energy future.”

Anfield acquired Velvet-Wood, which is currently on care and maintenance, from Uranium One in 2015.

The asset sits on the site of a previously active operation. Between 1979 and 1984, Atlas Minerals extracted approximately 400,000 metric tons of ore from the Velvet deposit, recovering around 4,000,000 pounds of U3O8. If approved, the revived project would disturb only three acres of new surface area, according to the interior department.

‘As a past-producing uranium and vanadium mine with a small environmental footprint, Velvet-Wood is well- suited for this accelerated review,’ said Anfield CEO Corey Dias.

He added that the company aims ‘to play a meaningful role in rebuilding America’s domestic uranium and vanadium supply chain and reducing reliance on imports from Russia and China.”

The company also owns the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill in Utah, which it plans to restart. The facility, described as one of only three licensed, permitted and constructed conventional uranium mills in the country, would convert uranium ore into uranium concentrate bound for nuclear fuel production.

Uranium market sentiment turning a corner?

After a rocky start to 2025, the uranium market is showing signs of renewed strength and resilience.

According to Sprott Asset Management’s latest uranium report, the U3O8 spot price rose by 5.4 percent in April, climbing to US$67.70 per pound from a March low of US$63.20. The price recovery continued into early May, with the spot price briefly touching US$70, a nearly 10 percent gain from 2025 lows.

This rebound has renewed investor confidence and appears to signal the beginning of a steadier climb, underpinned by tight supply conditions, resurgent utility activity and greater clarity around US trade and tariff policy.

The uranium term price, which remains steady at US$80, continues to reflect strong long-term fundamentals. This persistent premium over spot pricing has re-energized the uranium carry trade — where traders purchase spot uranium for future delivery under term contracts — helping to support spot prices and inject fresh liquidity into the market.

A major contributor to the uranium market’s renewed confidence has been improved policy visibility in the US.

The Trump administration’s decision to pause the implementation of its new reciprocal tariffs for 90 days provided utilities with the breathing room needed to resume contracting.

Although uranium was excluded from the initial tariff package, it remains part of an ongoing Section 232 investigation into critical minerals, a move that Sprott believes elevates uranium’s strategic profile.

As for the long-term outlook, uranium’s bullish case is also being bolstered by growing power demands from artificial intelligence and data centers. In April, Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) announced funding for three new nuclear projects, each with at least 600 megawatts of planned capacity.

These moves align with a broader US Department of Energy strategy that includes identifying 16 federal sites for co-locating data centers and new energy infrastructure.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Crypto Market Recap: Coinbase to Join S&P 500, Robinhood Eyes Canadian Crypto Boom

Investing 6 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (May 14) as of 6:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$103,243 as markets closed, down 1 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency has seen a low of US$102,964 and a high of US$104,836.

Bitcoin performance, May 14, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Ethereum’s (ETH) price has stabilized since surging after the May 7 Pectra upgrade. ETH has increased by over 44 percent since last week and is up 57.2 percent month-on-month. It finished Wednesday at US$2,586.72, a 1 percent decrease over 24 hours. The day’s range saw a low of US$2,571.87 and a high of US$2,708.81.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) closed at US$175.53, down 1.6 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$174.64 and a high of US$184.05.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.54, reflecting a slight 0.3 percent decrease over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.63 and a high of US$2.55.
  • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$3.92, showing a decreaseof 2.6 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.88 and a high of US$4.08.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.7991, down 2.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.7939, and it reached a high of US$0.8354.

Today’s crypto news to know

Strategy’s Bitcoin binge draws shock and skepticism

A new Financial Times documentary has reignited scrutiny over Strategy’s (NASDAQ:MSTR) high-risk Bitcoin accumulation strategy, which has transformed the software firm into a de facto Bitcoin investment vehicle.

The company has acquired over 568,000 BTC since 2020, funding the purchases through repeated stock sales and convertible bond issuances totaling over US$12 billion.

Insider Jeff Walton, a former reinsurance broker turned Strategy advocate, has called the firm’s capital-raising feat “insane,” highlighting how it raised the equivalent of US$100 million 120 times in just 50 days.

Critics also warn that the model’s success is contingent on sustained Bitcoin price growth; any prolonged downturn could unravel investor confidence and the firm’s market cap. Meanwhile, supporters argue the move is a master stroke in capital deployment, leveraging valuation premiums to secure more digital assets without diluting core equity value.

Strategy Chair Michael Saylor claims the firm’s balance sheet is “bulletproof,” stating that even a 90 percent Bitcoin drop held for half a decade would not destabilize the company.

Perplexity and PayPal team up to automate AI shopping

Artificial intelligence search startup Perplexity has entered into a partnership with payments giant PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) to enable seamless purchases directly within its chat interface.

Starting this summer in the US, users of Perplexity Pro will be able to book travel, buy tickets or purchase goods through a single query — without manually inputting payment information. Transactions will be processed behind the scenes using PayPal or Venmo, streamlining everything from checkout to invoicing while eliminating the need for passwords.

The companies are calling the deal a major leap for “agentic commerce.” The partnership is expected to integrate Perplexity’s tools into PayPal’s 430 million active accounts, dramatically expanding the reach of both platforms.

Backed by tech titans like Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and SoftBank, Perplexity is also reportedly in talks to raise US$500 million in fresh capital at a US$14 billion valuation, showing investor confidence in the model.

Coinbase to join S&P 500

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) will officially join the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) on May 19, replacing Discover Financial Services following its acquisition by Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF).

Shares of Coinbase surged 24 percent on the news, marking its largest single-day rally since November 2016. Analysts say inclusion in the S&P 500 not only legitimizes Coinbase’s role in the financial system, but could also drive as much as US$16 billion in fresh inflows from passive index funds, according to Bernstein.

The stock has also drawn new bullish forecasts, with Oppenheimer raising its target price to US$293 while maintaining an ‘outperform’ rating. This development comes on the heels of Coinbase’s strong first quarter earnings report, which beat earnings per share expectations, but slightly missed on revenue.

Coinbase recently announced plans to acquire crypto derivatives exchange Deribit for US$2.9 billion, a deal that represents the largest acquisition in the industry to date.

Thailand to issue US$150 million worth of digital investment tokens

Thailand’s finance ministry announced it will issue 5 billion baht (US$150 million) worth of blockchain-based “G-Tokens” within the next two months as part of the government’s borrowing strategy. The issuance follows cabinet approval, and will function as a market test to gauge public appetite for blockchain-based debt instruments.

Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said the tokens will offer higher returns than traditional bank deposits, which currently yield between 1.25 and 1.5 percent — below the central bank’s 1.75 percent policy rate.

Retail investors will be able to participate with relatively small capital as the government aims to democratize access to high-yield investment tools. The initiative reflects growing enthusiasm within Thailand for blockchain innovation; last year, the country exempted crypto earnings from taxation and expanded stablecoin trading on local exchanges.

Robinhood to buy WonderFi for US$179 million

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD)has agreed to acquire Canadian crypto firm WonderFi (TSX:WNDR,OTCQB:WONDF) in an all-cash deal worth C$250 million (US$179 million).

WonderFi operates Bitbuy and Coinsquare — two of Canada’s largest registered crypto exchanges — with more than C$2.1 billion (US$1.5 billion) in assets under custody. The deal, expected to close in the second half of the year, marks Robinhood’s third major crypto acquisition following its purchases of Bitstamp and TradePMR in the past year.

WonderFi’s recent history has been tumultuous: its CEO Dean Skurka was kidnapped last year in a US$1 million ransom plot that ultimately cost the company US$3.6 billion in damages and security upgrades.

Canada Crypto Week in full swing in Toronto

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy struggling Foot Locker for $2.4 billion

Business 4 Mins Read

Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying the struggling footwear chain Foot Locker for about $2.4 billion, the second buyout of a major footwear company in as many weeks as business leaders struggle with uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Dick’s said Thursday that it expects to run Foot Locker as a standalone unit and keep the Foot Locker brands, which include Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and Japanese sneaker brand atmos.

“Sports and sports culture continue to be incredibly powerful, and with this acquisition, we’ll create a new global platform that serves those ever evolving needs through iconic concepts consumers know and love, enhanced store designs and omnichannel experiences, as well as a product mix that appeals to our different customer bases,” Dick’s CEO Lauren Hobart said in a statement.

Both companies are led by women. Hobart became CEO at Dick’s in 2021, while Mary Dillon has served as CEO of Foot Locker since 2022.

Foot Locker announced a turnaround plan in 2023 in part to help improve its relationship with big brands. Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Retail Round Up Conference last month, Dillon said that Foot Locker is working closely with Nike, specifically in categories including basketball, sneaker culture and kids.

Earlier this month, Skechers announced that it was being taken private by the investment firm by 3G Capital in a transaction worth more than $9 billion.

A Foot Locker store in San Diego.Kevin Carter / Getty Images file

The retail industry has been growing increasingly concerned over Trump’s trade war with other countries, particularly China. Athletic shoe makers have invested heavily in production in Asia.

Shares of sporting goods and athletic shoe companies have been under pressure all year. Foot Locker’s stock has plunged 41% this year. It is also facing pressure elsewhere, with major athletic companies like Nike and Adidas shifting their sales strategies.

Skechers had fallen almost 8% this year.

About 97% of the clothes and shoes purchased in the U.S. are imported, predominantly from Asia, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Using factories overseas has kept labor costs down for U.S. companies, but neither they nor their overseas suppliers are likely to absorb price increases due to new tariffs.

Foot Locker, based in New York City, offers Dick’s a lot of potential, namely its huge real estate footprint, and would give the Pittsburgh company its first foothold overseas.

Foot Locker has about 2,400 retail stores across 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It also has a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The company had global sales of $8 billion last year.

Jefferies analyst Jonathan Matuszewski said that about 33% of Foot Locker’s sales come from outside the United States. He anticipates that the combined company would generate approximately 12% of sales internationally on a pro forma basis.

The deal also broadens Dick’s customer base, with sneaker collectors anxiously anticipating new drops from Foot Locker.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in an emailed statement that Foot Locker, which has a 4.3% share of the sporting goods market, would give an immediate boost to Dick’s.

“It would also give Dick’s substantially more bargaining power with national brands, especially in the sneaker space,” he added.

Foot Locker shareholders can choose to receive either $24 in cash or 0.1168 shares of Dick’s common stock for each Foot Locker share that they own.

Dick’s said that it anticipates closing on the Foot Locker deal in the second half of the year. The transaction still needs approval from Foot Locker shareholders.

Dick’s stock dropped more than 10% before the market open, while shares of Foot Locker surged more than 82%.

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Netflix says its ad tier now has 94 million monthly active users

Business 1 Min Read

Netflix said Wednesday its cheaper, ad-supported tier now has 94 million monthly active users — an increase of more than 20 million since its last public tally in November.

The company and its peers have been increasingly leaning on advertising to boost the profitability of their streaming products. Netflix first introduced the ad-supported plan in November 2022.

Netflix’s ad-supported plan costs $7.99 per month, a steep discount from its least-expensive ad-free plan, at $17.99 per month.

“When you compare us to our competitors, attention starts higher and ends much higher,” Netflix president of advertising Amy Reinhard said in a statement. “Even more impressive, members pay as much attention to mid-roll ads as they do to the shows and movies themselves.”

Netflix also said its cheapest tier reaches more 18- to 34-year-olds than any U.S. broadcast or cable network.

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‘Shark Tank’ alum Bombas taps former Under Armour exec as CEO as it looks beyond digital roots

Business 5 Mins Read

Bombas founder David Heath is stepping down from his role as CEO as the socks and apparel company looks to expand beyond its direct-to-consumer roots.

Bombas President Jason LaRose, a former Under Armour and Equinox executive, will take over as the company’s next CEO effective Thursday. Heath said he realized it was necessary for a retail veteran to lead the company through its next phase of growth.

“We’ve reached a size and scale that is beyond my expertise. I didn’t come from a big apparel company before … I found myself more so over the last 18 months saying, ‘I don’t know what to do next,’” Heath, who is staying at Bombas as its executive chair, told CNBC in an interview. “So then, when I looked at someone with Jason’s background … having that tried and true experience is what will set Bombas up to succeed for the next chapter and I think I feel more comfortable having someone with Jason’s experience in the driver’s seat.” 

LaRose, who spent six years at Under Armour and oversaw its North America business, takes the helm at a critical point in Bombas’ growth story. 

Bombas’ revenue has grown 22% in its current fiscal year through April, it’s reached more than $2 billion in lifetime sales and its EBITDA is at a “super healthy, double digit” margin, LaRose told CNBC. The company’s footwear segment, such as its ultra-popular Sunday Slipper, is expanding the fastest. The company expects footwear revenue will soar more than 70% this year, but socks are still growing steadily, with sales up 17% in April compared to the prior year. 

But in order to reach its goal of growing from a “Shark Tank” startup into a multibillion dollar company over the next five-to-10 years, Bombas needs to expand its wholesale presence. Retailers that primarily sell online like Bombas tend to reach a growth ceiling and need to turn to other channels to keep scaling profitably.

Under LaRose’s direction, Bombas is looking to grow its wholesale revenue from around 7% of sales to between 10% and 20%. The company also wants to test out physical stores. 

“More than 60% of socks in this country are sold in physical locations, you know, whether that’s stores we could open, or stores that we fill with our partners … the wholesale opportunity is big for us,” said LaRose. “It’s also a billboard for us, right? It’s a chance to tell our story. When the customer walks by, we have a chance to tell them about the mission every time, why we’re here, let them touch and feel the product, which is always important when you’re introducing somebody to a new apparel brand.” 

Bombas currently sells in Nordstrom, Scheels and Dick’s Sporting Goods, and unlike some of its peers, it isn’t considering Amazon as a wholesale channel. Instead, it’s looking to expand its assortment offered by its current partners, try out its own stores and perhaps bring on some new wholesalers — if they’re the right fit. 

Digitally native brands that have long enjoyed the benefits of a direct model, such as customer data and the ability to stay close to customers, are often wary about expanding too deeply into wholesale because it’s less profitable and it’s harder for brands to tell their stories. For a company like Bombas, which spent years developing what it calls the “most comfortable socks, underwear, and T-shirts” on the market, that storytelling is extremely important — especially at a price point of around $15 per pair of socks. 

However, it’s that very attitude that has led some to criticize the direct selling model because of how it can stymie growth and lead to unsustainable business models. Many of the early direct-to-consumer darlings have seen their valuations shrivel up as they chase profitability years after they were founded. E-commerce has become harder to do profitably, and at a certain point, stores and wholesale are a more effective and profitable customer acquisition tool for some companies than marketing online. Selling goods through wholesale channels allows brands to scale and acquire customers more profitably than just selling online.

Brands like Bombas that were early to move to wholesale — Heath joked that the company “focused on profitability before it was cool” — understand the need for expansion but have looked to be strategic about who they partner with. Growth is important, but so is maintaining a brand, which is critical to staying ahead of rivals. 

“As a DTC brand, we care so much about our brand and our story, it has to be somebody who’s going to do an excellent job taking care of our brand. We’re not out there to be out there,” said LaRose. “We’re looking at some other partners. We’ll continue to always look for people who we think strategically give us access to the right customer, you know, nothing to announce yet on that front, but we’ll keep looking.” 

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank.”

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Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian takes minority stake in Chelsea FC women’s team

Business 2 Mins Read

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has purchased a minority stake in Chelsea FC Women, giving him an ownership stake in two of the most-valuable teams in women’s sports.

The founder of venture capital firm Seven Seven Six and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams paid 20 million pounds for a 10% stake in the English soccer team, according to a person familiar with the deal. Ohanian is also a part owner in the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City FC alongside Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife, Willow Bay.

Ohanian’s Chelsea deal values the women’s club at 200 million pounds, according to the person familiar, making it the most valuable women’s team in the world based on current foreign exchange rates. As part of the deal, Ohanian will be given a seat on the team’s board.

“I’ve bet big on women’s sports before — and I’m doing it again,” Ohanian said in a post on social media site X confirming the stake.

Chelsea FC Women have won six consecutive Women’s Super League titles. Ohanian says he see the opportunity to grow a worldwide brand within women’s football.

“I’m confident Chelsea FC Women is the next global women’s sports brand,” he said.

Ohanian told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday that one of the things that drew him to Chelsea was the team’s large social media following. Chelsea FC Women have 4 million followers on Instagram.

“As a social media guy, I look for heat online in the free market of attention,” Ohanian said. “If this were any other type of brand, there is a lot of revenue opportunity there.”

Ohanian also said he believes in the business model and that women’s sports have been undervalued too long. He said brands are only now starting to wake up to that value.

“We will see billion-dollar clubs in women’s soccer one day in the not-too-distant future,” he predicted.

Ohanian left Reddit in 2020 to focus on building a legacy for his two young daughters through sports and other investments.

He said in 2024 he had invested $250,000 from his daughters trust fund into Angel City FC. Ohanian said the investment made them the youngest owners in professional sports and multi-millionaires.

Williams also recently became part owner of WNBA expansion team the Toronto Tempo, and Ohanian has started a women’s track competition.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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How to Use Relative Strength in a Volatile Market

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Want to know how to find strong stocks in a volatile market? In this video, Joe uses Relative Strength (RS), Fibonacci retracements, and technical analysis to spot top sectors and manage downside risk.

Follow along as Joe breaks down how to use the Relative Strength indicator to separate outperforming stocks from those failing at resistance. He highlights sectors showing strong or improving RS, discusses the Fibonacci retracement on QQQ, and explains what it means for downside risk.

Joe wraps up with detailed chart analysis on viewer-submitted symbol requests, including QTUM, HOOD, and more, to help you sharpen your trading decisions with expert insights.

The video premiered on May 14, 2025. Click this link to watch on Joe’s dedicated page.

Archived videos from Joe are available at this link. Send symbol requests to stocktalk@stockcharts.com; you can also submit a request in the comments section below the video on YouTube. Symbol Requests can be sent in throughout the week prior to the next show.

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The S&P 500 Snapped Back Hard: Now What?

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The S&P 500 ($SPX) just staged one of the sharpest rebounds we’ve seen in years. After tumbling into deeply oversold territory earlier this year, the index has completely flipped the script—short-term, medium-term, and even long-term indicators are now pointing in a new direction.

One longer-term indicator that hit an extreme low in early April was the 14-week relative strength index (RSI), which dropped to 27. That’s among the lowest levels since the 2008 financial crisis.

The obvious takeaway: it was a great time to buy, even in cases where the low RSI didn’t mark the low. Everyone who pounded the table a few weeks ago has been proven right, even if the rebound was faster and stronger than most could’ve predicted. So, what happens next?

Don’t Expect a Straight Line Up

The long-term picture looks promising, but markets rarely move in a straight line. Even though the market was higher months and years after these deeply oversold readings, the path wasn’t a straight shot to new highs (even if long-term log charts sometimes make it look that way).

The chart below shows the lowest weekly RSI readings in the S&P 500 since 2008.

FIGURE 1. THE LOWEST WEEKLY RSI READING SIN THE S&P 500 SINCE 2008.

Almost every time, there was a pause, often more than one. Some were sharp, others more prolonged. The first real test typically came when RSI bounced back to the 50-zone (the mid-point of its range). Each of these moments is highlighted in yellow in the chart below.

FIGURE 2. AFTER DEEPLY OVERSOLD RSI READINGS, THERE WAS OFTEN A PAUSE IN THE INDEX.

As shown, this often marked the initial digestion phase after the face-ripping rally off the lows. Eventually, the SPX climbed back to a weekly overbought condition, but not right away. This pattern was clearest in 2011, 2015–16, and 2022. The depressed weekly RSI showed that things were getting washed out, but volatility persisted before a lasting uptrend took hold.

Indeed, the current snapback is one of the quickest and most powerful turnarounds in decades, but this pace is also unsustainable. A slowdown is inevitable.

So how does the market handle the next round of profit-taking? By continuing to make higher lows – and converting those into additional bullish patterns.

XLK Makes A Comeback

The market comeback has been led by large-cap growth; that much is clear. The Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has roared back nearly 30% in just six weeks. That’s a massive move in a short period, and far larger than any failed bear market rally seen in 2022. The best six-week rally back then came in the summer and topped out at 17%.

The last time we saw a six-week gain of 20%+ was the period following the COVID-19 low in spring 2020. As we know, that snapback continued, with XLK overtaking its pre-crash highs and ultimately rallying 160% into the early 2022 peak.

This isn’t a prediction, but we shouldn’t ignore it either. Why? Because before 2020, the last such move happened in April 2009, right after the ultimate low of the 2008 financial crisis.

FIGURE 3. WEEKLY CHART OF XLK.

Industrials are Building Strength Too

The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) and XLK are the first sector ETFs to register overbought 14-day RSI readings. While that suggests a short-term pause could be near, it wouldn’t be a negative. As the weekly chart shows, a pullback could help complete a large bullish formation.

Once again, bouts of intense volatility eventually can lead to the biggest bullish chart formations. Let’s keep XLI on our radar screens.

FIGURE 4. WEEKLY CHART OF XLI.

Even Solar Stocks Are Waking Up

The Invesco Solar ETF (TAN), which has been stuck in a brutal downtrend for years, just rocketed higher by 40%, using intra-day highs and lows. That rally has produced the first overbought reading since late May 2024, which, notably, lasted only a day before momentum faded.

Yesterday, TAN tagged its 200-day moving average, prompting a round of profit-taking. This sets up a critical test for TAN, which has consistently failed at resistance or after short-term pops. Selling strength in TAN has been a highly effective strategy for quite some time.

FIGURE 5: DAILY CHART OF TAN.

The weekly chart clearly shows this pattern playing out since TAN topped in early 2021. Like anything else, TAN could eventually turn the corner—but to do so, it would need to form a legitimate higher low from here.

For now, the downtrend deserves respect. Chasing this move is not advised. Selling strength remains the recommended approach—until proven otherwise.

FIGURE 6. WEEKLY CHART OF TAN.

The Bottom Line

Yes, the market’s comeback has been fast and fierce. But fast moves don’t necessarily mean a straight path higher. Expect slowdowns and pullbacks, watch for bullish setups, and don’t chase runaway rallies. There’s opportunity out there, but it’s all about timing and discipline.

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SMCI Stock Rebounds: Why Its SCTR Score is Screaming for Attention

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Let’s be real. How many of you kicked yourselves for not jumping into some long positions last Friday?

Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and unless you’ve got a crystal ball, there’s no sure way to know what the market will do next. What you can do, though, is be ready for the next opportunity, and one stock that’s flashing signals is Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI).

Super Micro Computer has had a rocky ride. The company was delisted from the Nasdaq in 2018, after there was a report of possible accounting issues by Hindenburg Research, and it risked being delisted from the Nasdaq again in February 2025. SMCI managed to get its act together, filed its 10-K, and clawed its way back into compliance. Now it’s back on the SCTR radar, and with a current reading of 99 — an impressive move. As such, the stock has made its way into the Top 10 StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) report in the Large Cap category. Will it muscle its way back into the top three like it did in early 2024?

SMCI Stock’s Journey

The three-year arithmetic scale weekly chart of SMCI below shows the stock price rising higher and making a steep vertical upward move in 2024. SMCI’s stock price hit a high of $122.90 on the week of March 4. From there, things weren’t great. The stock price faced headwinds, bringing the stock price to a low of $17.25 by mid-November 2024. SMCI’s stock price has been grinding higher, carving out a series of higher lows.

FIGURE 1. WEEKLY CHART OF SMCI STOCK. After hitting a high of $129.90 in early March 2024, the stock tanked to $17.25 by mid-November. It is starting to show signs of recovery, but how far will it go this time?Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

From a weekly perspective, SMCI looks like it’s regrouping, and this week’s spike might just be the shot of adrenaline it needs.

The Daily View: A More Granular Perspective

A partnership with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a Saudi Arabian data center deal, and a couple of analyst nods may have had something to do with SMCI’s stock price gap up on Wednesday. But let’s shift away from the headlines and talk technicals (see daily chart of SMCI below).

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF SMCI STOCK. The stock gapped up on Wednesday. Will it continue higher, or will the gap get filled? Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

  • SMCI has broken above its 200-day simple moving average (SMA) (even if it’s still sloping downward … a small detail not to be overlooked).
  • The relative strength index (RSI) is getting close to its 70 line, indicating momentum is heating up.
  • The percentage price oscillator (PPO) is crossing above its zero line.
  • And again: SMCI’s SCTR score is at 99.1, a position of technical strength.

Is It Time to Get In Front of SMCI?

You know the drill. Timing a trade is about strategy. There’s always the temptation to hit the buy button, but rushing in can lead to expensive regrets. Ever place a limit order and end up canceling it because your nerves got the better of you? We’ve all been there.

Gaps like the one we saw in SMCI on Wednesday are tricky. They often get filled, but not always. So, in the case of SMCI, it may be worth waiting for the dust to settle. This is where patience becomes your superpower. 

An ideal scenario would be a pullback in price to perhaps the 200-day SMA, followed by a reversal. If the RSI breaks above 70 and the PPO rises above the zero line, it would confirm the necessary follow-through to push the price higher. Wait for the ideal setup before you make your move.

In other words: Don’t chase. Let the trade come to you.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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