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Why USAU Stock Is Surging As Gold Prices Near Record Highs

By Henry Khederian | January 23, 2026, 2:21 PM

U.S. Gold Corp (NASDAQ:USAU) shares are trading sharply higher Friday afternoon, recently changing hands near $22, up about 7%, as trader and investors appear to chase fresh leverage to record gold prices.

Spot gold is hovering around $4,987 an ounce Friday, holding just below this week's all-time highs. Here’s what investors need to know.

Unpacking The Profit Potential Of USAU's Gold Project

USAU is still pre-production, so every dollar on the gold chart feeds directly into the future economics of its flagship CK Gold Project in Wyoming.

A 2025 pre-feasibility study already outlined a roughly 10-year mine life at about 110,000 gold-equivalent ounces per year and all-in sustaining costs near $937 per ounce, implying very wide margins at prices far below today's levels. That operating torque is likely why traders are bidding the stock up Friday.

Gold’s Surging Demand: A Game Changer

The macro backdrop is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Goldman Sachs now sees gold reaching $5,400 by late 2026, arguing that private wealth, not just central banks, has become a structural buyer of the metal as a hedge against fiscal stress, currency debasement and geopolitical risk.

For USAU, that matters in three ways: stronger project economics at CK, a better chance of securing mine-construction financing on favorable terms and rising option value on exploration assets in Nevada and Idaho, which become more attractive to majors at elevated gold prices.

If demand regime keeps bullion high, developers like USAU can potentially see equity value compound much faster than the metal itself.

Benzinga Edge Rankings: Benzinga Edge rankings show USAU with extremely strong momentum (96.60) and a positive price trend across short-, medium- and long-term horizons.

USAU Price Action: U.S. Gold shares were up 7.59% at $22.15 at the time of publication on Friday. The stock is approaching its 52-week high of $23.44, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image: Shutterstock

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