After nearly a decade of relative struggle, resource stocks garnered strong attention and several provided outstanding returns in 2024 and 2025 as tech growth and A.I. CAPEX predictions pushed markets to new highs. However, 2026 seems to be shaping up to potentially favor the resource sector over tech and others amidst a backdrop of international angst.
Supply interruptions, open war, regime changes, global tariff anxiety, and export quotas in the new year have all created an unsteady hand and volatile market start to 2026, pushing investors to seek clarity and a defensive stance. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) is just one of many oil companies experiencing a share price benefit due to crude oil’s price surge as Iran seeks to restrict oil’s flow via The Strait of Hormuz. Record silver and gold prices in 2026 serve as a stark reminder to tech producers that these metals, along with rare earths, are all part of a delicate geo-political supply chain and can stress markets for the key inputs needed in much of their output production.
Precious Metals Leaders & M&A Activity
Precious metals standout Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) has continued their multi-year surge upward, gaining over 20% so far in 2026 and striking a deal in January with Goldsky Resources Corp. (TSXV: GSKR), helping Goldsky move up over 30% YTD. The resource trend in 2026 has impacted large and small companies alike, even pushing micro and nano-cap companies to seek potential M&A opportunities.
Innovation Beverage Group Limited (NASDAQ: IBG) closed a $6,000,000 USD offering this week to advance milestones toward their previously announced merger plans with BlockFuel Energy Inc., as they seek to enter an energy market that has been heating up in 2026. Battalion Oil Corporation (NYSE: BATL) has demonstrated the market’s appetite to participate, as smaller companies occasionally outpace returns seen in some of the more established names.
ETF Markets
In the ETF markets, United States Oil Fund, LP (NYSE ARCA: USO) and VanEck Natural Resources ETF (NYSE ARCA: HAP) both diverged upward YTD from the S&P 500’s lackluster start to 2026.