Tweet The SPDR Gold (NYSE: GLD  ) ETF is up more than 240% since 2004. The S&P 500 stockindex is about flat over that period. Gold has unquestionably been one of the best, if not the best, assets to own in recent years. While high-quality blue chip stocks that more than doubled earnings have stagnated – Wal-Mart and Microsoft fit that bill – precious metals stocks like Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) and Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY  ) have been staggering successes. But when it comes to the question of what comes next, there is room for debate. It is a classic investing miscalculation to assume that what has done well in the past will do well in the future. History proves it’s usually the other way around. A recent Gallup poll asked investors what they think will be the best long-term investment. Thirty-four percent said gold; 17% said stocks. I asked Yale economist Robert Shiller what he thought about that statistic in an exclusive interview last month. Here’s what he had to say: Gold Stocks To Invest In 2012: Newmont Mining Corporation ... … Read entire article »