All gains, baby.
Gold prices have soared to historic levels, so if you bought one of the coveted Costco gold bars last year — you’ve already made a nice profit.
On Wednesday, an ounce of gold was worth $3,549 before dipping slightly to $3,557 on Thursday, according to Fox News.
That’s roughly a 42% increase, more than $1,000, from $2,495 per ounce a year ago.
Americans often clutch onto their gold whenever they’re concerned about the economy — so experts blame this jump in value on inflation concerns, geopolitical tension and increasing bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts.
“With two wars ongoing, trade tensions, U.S. debt concerns and fears over [Federal Reserve] independence, gold’s traditional ‘fear hedge’ role remains strong,” Jon Ulin, a certified financial planner, told CNBC. “It’s beating bonds at providing portfolio safety.”
But before you rush to cash in that Costco bar, remember that gain isn’t all yours to keep, so don’t expect to pocket the full $870 profit.
The spot price is a benchmark, not a guaranteed sale price. Most gold dealers will offer 5% to 10% below spot, Ulin explained to the outlet.
And while those gleaming gold bars from Costco come with packaging and a certificate, that unfortunately won’t do much for your pockets.
“Most buyers will likely melt the bar down for resale, so whether it’s still in its original Costco packaging with the certificate doesn’t make a huge difference,” Ulin explained.
Even if you sell for a solid gain, you’ll still owe Uncle Sam in taxes — potentially a lot of them.
The wholesale giant began selling these coveted bars in 2023 — but this past May, they were so in demand that Costco was forced to restrict purchases on them, limiting customers to up to two bars with only one transaction per membership every 24 hours.
Around the same time, a finance influencer who purchased one of the retailer’s gold bars sold the nugget nearly a year later for a $600 profit.
Humphrey Yang had reportedly purchased the one-ounce bar for $2,359 from Costco in April 2024 and sold it in March 2025 at the bullion dealer Witter Coin in San Francisco for $2,955.42.
But maybe he should have waited until now?
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