The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday edition gold stocks may still have more upside. The Post's John Shmuel, writing in Trading Desk, says analysts at RBC figure the recent cost cutting by miners bodes well for margin expansion, especially as they forecast gold prices will move higher. The gold segment of the S&P/TSX composite is up 27 per cent this year, thanks to an 11-per-cent rise in gold to $1,336.80 an ounce. The average all-in cost for gold production is somewhere between $1,100 and $1,200. Analysts' average estimate for year-end gold prices sits at $1,412 an ounce. The analysts said a portfolio of quality names was the best way to invest in gold miners and take advantage of their rally forecast. They named Barrick and Goldcorp as the best bets among tier-one producers, with Agnico Eagle, B2Gold, Eldorado, New Gold and Yamana being their preferred choices among tier-two producers. "Our preferred names are those companies that offer a combination of lower cost operations, strong balance sheets, financial flexibility, improving free cash flow prospects, funded growth projects, track record of operational consistency, attractive valuations and consistent corporate strategies," the analysts said.