Now more than ever, it’s time to consider our pick for the best platinum stock to buy in 2017. That’s because the price of platinum is beginning a huge rally right now.

Despite some volatility in March, platinum prices are up 7.9% from $905.70 to $977.40 this year.

While that’s not a stunning return, Money Morning Resource Specialist Peter Krauth predicts the platinum price could rise another 33% to $1,300 by the end of December 2017.

Those projected gains are why you should invest in platinum stocks this year – and we’re going to show you one stock that could soar as much as 40.6% by April 2018.

First, here are the two reasons why platinum will rally another 33% in 2017…

2 Reasons Why Platinum Prices Will Rally to $1,300 This Year

[ad#Google Adsense 336×280-IA]The first bullish reason behind the platinum price in 2017 is the metal’s role in the auto industry.

Platinum is the most important component of catalytic converters, which are devices used in cars to reduce toxic emissions.

Vehicles send harmful exhaust through the converters, which reduces the gas’ harmful impact on the environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated since 1975 that most automakers install catalytic converters in their cars.

Because of its oxidizing properties, platinum makes harmful hydrocarbon gases cleaner before they’re emitted.

According to Krauth, about 43% of all platinum consumed in the United States is used specifically for catalytic converters. The auto industry is the biggest source of industrial platinum demand, beating the 35% used in the jewelry industry.

That industrial demand will only grow as U.S. auto sales are expected to rise 1.1% from 18.5 million to 18.7 million by 2020. While that’s modest growth, this forecast from Trading Economics is very conservative. Right now, analysts don’t know how Trump’s initiative to keep auto production in the United States will affect long-term consumer spending on cars.

But our second reason – rising platinum ETF inflows – is even more bullish because it indicates traders are growing more confident in long-term platinum prices.

You see, Bloomberg recently reported that the number of long futures contracts on the price of platinum is surging. They’re up from about 5,000 in September 2016 to a whopping 40,000 on March 17. That’s a stunning sevenfold increase in the number of traders betting platinum prices will rally in 2017.

Analysts cited strengthening demand as a big reason behind the rise in contracts. Since platinum is one of the hardest metals to mine, there’s always a short supply around the world. Only 168.9 metric tons of platinum were produced in 2016, compared to 3,100 metric tons of gold.

According to the World Platinum Investment Council, strengthening demand will likely surpass that short supply. It predicts platinum consumption will outpace supply by about 120,000 ounces by the end of this year. If that happens, 2017 will be the fifth year in a row with a platinum deficit.

Auto industry demand, increasing bullishness among traders, and strengthening supply-demand dynamics will work together to lift the platinum price 33% to $1,300 this year. And rising platinum prices will hand our platinum stock recommendation a huge 40.6% gain.

Here’s one of the best platinum stocks to buy right now…

The Best Platinum Stock to Buy in 2017

Right now, Krauth recommends investing in Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSE: IVN).

Ivanhoe is a Canada-based mining company that primarily produces platinum, palladium, and copper. Its projects are mainly located throughout Africa, including its principal Platreef project in South Africa and its Kamoa project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Krauth says IVN stock’s growth potential will come mostly from Ivanhoe’s 64% ownership of the Platreef project announced last year…

Platreef boasts one of Africa’s largest deposits of platinum-group metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Ivanhoe’s mining output in the region is expected to eventually reach 12 million tonnes per year. That would make it the highest-producing platinum-group metals mine in the world.

Since the price of platinum is expected to rise 33%, Ivanhoe’s profit margin will undoubtedly grow as it produces more and more of the metal. This will continue IVN stock’s rally, which has already seen shares gain a massive 110% so far this year.

“The stock has undeniably had a strong run, but I believe the outstanding world-class quality and grade of its projects make it an attractive play,” Krauth said.

Despite having already gained triple digits this year, Ivanhoe stock currently trades for cheap at $5.29 CAD, or $3.99. Analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance give IVN stock a one-year target of $7.44 CAD, or $5.61. That means you could see a return as high as 40.6%.

— Alex McGuire

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Source: Money Morning