Shiny Things and Portfolios

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Towle & Co., a firm whose name suggests a fondness for both textiles and, presumably, accumulating assets, has decided to place a rather substantial bet on Gold.com. A sum of eleven million dollars, to be precise. Which, in the current economic climate, is roughly the price of a moderately sized island nation… or a very enthusiastic marketing campaign. They acquired 325,397 shares, which, let’s be honest, is a lot of digital ownership certificates for something you can, and often do, hold in your hand.

What Happened, or, The Alchemists Stir

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission – a body that exists, one suspects, to provide employment for people who enjoy reading very small print1 – Towle & Co. made this acquisition during the last quarter. The value, as of that particular moment in the swirling chaos of the market, was eleven million dollars. Which, naturally, will be different by the time anyone actually reads this.

What Else To Know, or, The Weight of Things

This is a new position for Towle & Co., representing 2.93% of their ‘reportable AUM’ – Assets Under Management. A phrase that sounds suspiciously like a medieval lord tallying his sheep. It’s a small percentage, yes, but enough to suggest they’ve decided shiny things are worth having. Here’s a glimpse into their holdings, should you be curious about where else they’re stashing the metaphorical gold:

  • NYSE: HOUS: $16.08 million (4.3% of AUM)
  • NYSE: AMR: $12.11 million (3.2% of AUM)
  • NYSE: UNFI: $11.44 million (3.0% of AUM)
  • NYSE: GOLD: $11.08 million (3.0% of AUM)
  • NYSE: MGA: $10.79 million (2.9% of AUM)

As of February 11th, shares of Gold.com were trading at $62.87 – a price that has, predictably, changed since then. It represents a 124.5% increase over the last year. Which is impressive, if you ignore the fact that most things go up in price. It’s called inflation, and it’s a perfectly natural phenomenon… until it isn’t.

Company Overview, or, The Illusion of Value

Here are some numbers, presented with the solemnity usually reserved for pronouncements of doom:

Metric Value
Price (as of market close February 11, 2026) $62.87
Market capitalization $1.59 billion
Revenue (TTM) $15.68 billion
Net income (TTM) $12.47 million

Company Snapshot, or, The Modern Equivalent of Dragons

Gold.com deals in precious metals – gold, silver, platinum, palladium. The usual suspects. They also offer minted silver products, ancillary services, and secured lending. In essence, they’re moving shiny things around and charging people for the privilege. Their clients include financial institutions, bullion retailers, industrial manufacturers, sovereign mints, investors, collectors, and retail customers. A diverse bunch, all united by a shared desire for… well, shiny things.

They describe themselves as a “leading precious metals trading company with a global reach.” Which is a polite way of saying they’re very good at moving metal from one place to another. They leverage an “integrated platform” to serve both institutional and retail markets. Which means they have a website and a team of salespeople.

What This Transaction Means For Investors, or, The Emperor’s New Portfolio

Capital, it seems, is rotating toward hard assets. A predictable response to… everything. It’s a move that stands out in a portfolio already tilted toward cyclical and commodity-sensitive names. An $11.08 million stake, accounting for 3% of assets, isn’t exactly a token allocation. It signals conviction in a business that has already delivered a rather impressive gain.

Gold.com isn’t just a bet on the price of gold. They report revenue growth supported by wholesale trading, direct-to-consumer bullion sales, and a secured lending arm. A diversified model that can amplify upside in a strong gold market while cushioning volatility. Or, at least, that’s the theory.

The risk, of course, is obvious. After a run like that, expectations are high, and commodity momentum can reverse quickly. But the broader portfolio context matters. With HOUS (recently acquired) at 4.3% of assets and AMR at 3.2%, this addition fits a clear theme: cyclical exposure backed by real assets and pricing power. Or, as the alchemists would say, turning lead into… slightly more valuable lead.

1 It is widely believed that the SEC employs a secret society of scribes dedicated to maintaining the illusion of transparency.

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2026-02-13 00:55