Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) is included among the 13 Best Performing Long Term Stocks to Invest in.

On February 26, BofA downgraded Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) to Underperform from Neutral. It raised its price target on the stock to $175 from $162. The firm said the downgrade reflects concerns about the stock’s “stretched” valuation and weaker near-term operating outlook.BofA said the company’s valuation has become “difficult to justify” following the recent rally in its shares. The firm expects Southern Copper’s production to decline by 3% through 2027. It also said the stock appears to reflect a more optimistic scenario that may not materialize.

Earlier, on January 30, Morgan Stanley raised its price recommendation on Southern Copper to $156 from $137. The firm reiterated an Underweight rating on the shares. The update came after the firm revised its estimates to reflect current commodity prices, foreign exchange assumptions, and the company’s latest guidance following its Q4 earnings report.

Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) operates as an integrated copper producer. The company produces copper, molybdenum, silver, and zinc. Its mining, smelting, and refining operations are based in Peru and Mexico, and it also conducts exploration activities in Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador.

While we acknowledge the potential of SCCO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 14 Value Stocks to Buy With High Dividend Yields and 13 Best March Dividend Stocks to Buy

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What you should know as your mortgage comes up for renewal. (Credit: National Post)

This week FP Video looks at the Canadian airline WestJet on its’ 30th anniversary of taking to the skies, what’s behind the recent rush for copper, what investors can expect from volatile markets, and some important tips for renewing your mortgage.

Mortgage myths you need to know before renewal

Victor Tran, Rates.ca mortgage and real estate expert, talks about what homeowners can expect when their mortgage comes up for renewal.

WestJet at 30: The airline’s next stage of growth

30 years on, WestJet is still cruising. It has flown five billion kilometres and carried 400 million passengers to nearly 150 destinations on four continents.

Lundin on 5 forces pushing copper demand higher

Jack Lundin, chief executive of Lundin Mining Corp., talks with Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn about the five forces driving copper demand right now and how its Vicuña project in South America could make it one of the top producers in the world.

Trump tariffs have likely peaked, says CIO

Laura Lau, chief investment officer at Brompton Funds, talks about the major forces affecting markets this year, including Donald Trump’s tariffs and the AI scare trade, and how investors can position their portfolios.

Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St’s easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge.

Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN) is back in focus after reporting full year 2025 results, with sales of US$4,053.2 million and net income of US$1,283 million following a prior year net loss.

See our latest analysis for Lundin Mining.

The strong full year earnings rebound, new mineral resource estimates and progress around the Vicuña copper project have coincided with very strong momentum, including a 30 day share price return of 20.12% and a 1 year total shareholder return of 279.40%.

If Lundin Mining’s run has you looking for other resource names, this could be a good time to scan 8 top copper producer stocks and see what else fits your watchlist.

With the share price up strongly over the past year and the stock trading above the current analyst price target, plus an indicated intrinsic discount of about 29%, you have to ask: is there still a buying opportunity here, or is the market already pricing in future growth?

Most Popular Narrative: 20.6% Overvalued

The most followed narrative pegs Lundin Mining’s fair value at CA$36.05, well below the CA$43.46 last close, framing the current premium in clear numerical terms.

Lundin Mining is advancing multiple organic growth initiatives, such as the Vicuña project and brownfield expansions at existing operations, that are expected to significantly increase copper and gold production volumes over the coming years, positioning the company to benefit from rising global demand for electrification metals; these developments are set to drive higher future revenue and EBITDA.

Read the complete narrative.

Curious what sits underneath that growth story and still results in a lower fair value than today’s share price? Revenue assumptions, margin profiles and valuation multiples all pull in different directions. The full narrative lays out how those moving parts add up.

Result: Fair Value of CA$36.05 (OVERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

However, you still need to keep an eye on Lundin’s heavy reliance on South American copper operations, as well as the legal overhang from the Candelaria securities class action.

Find out about the key risks to this Lundin Mining narrative.

Another Lens On Value

Those narrative fair value estimates of CA$36.05 suggest Lundin Mining looks expensive at CA$43.46, but our DCF model points the other way, with a fair value of CA$61.58. One view indicates a premium risk; the other implies a discount. Which set of assumptions do you find more reasonable?

Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.

LUN Discounted Cash Flow as at Feb 2026

Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Lundin Mining for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 8 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match – so you never miss a potential opportunity.

Next Steps

With mixed signals across valuation models and sentiment, this is a good moment to review the numbers yourself and move quickly to your own view, starting with 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign.

Looking for more investment ideas?

If Lundin Mining has sharpened your focus, do not stop here. Fresh ideas from our screeners can help you pressure test your thinking and spot new angles.

  • Target long term compounding by reviewing 8 high quality undervalued stocks that combine quality fundamentals with prices that may not fully reflect their financial profile.
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  • Lower portfolio stress by checking 8 resilient stocks with low risk scores that score well on balance sheet strength and business risk factors.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include LUN.TO.

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 27, 2026 /CNW/ – (TSX: LUN) (Nasdaq Stockholm: LUMI) Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin Mining" or the "Company") reports the following updated share capital and voting rights, in accordance with the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act.

The number of issued and outstanding shares of the Company has increased by 299,188 to 854,667,165 common shares with voting rights as of February 27, 2026. The increase in the number of issued and outstanding shares from January 31, 2026 to date is a result of the exercise of employee stock options or the vesting of employee share units. During this period, the Company did not purchase any shares for cancelation under its Normal Course Issuer Bid program.

About Lundin Mining

Lundin Mining is a Canadian mining company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada with three operating mines in Brazil and Chile. We produce commodities that support modern infrastructure and electrification. Our strategic vision is to become a top ten global copper producer. To get there, we are executing a clear growth strategy, which includes advancing one of the world's largest copper, gold, and silver projects in the Vicuña District on the border of Argentina and Chile, where we hold a 50% interest. Lundin Mining has a proven track record of value creation through resource growth, operational excellence, and responsible development. The Company's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (LUN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (LUMI). Learn more at www.lundinmining.com.

The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Lundin Mining under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below on February 27, 2026 at 3:30 Pacific Time.

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2026/27/c1679.html

  • BHP Group Limited recently reported half-year 2025 results showing group sales of US$27,902 million and net income of US$5,640 million, while also declaring an interim dividend of US$0.73 per share payable on 26 March 2026.
  • At the same time, copper has become BHP’s largest earnings contributor and the company is deepening its copper footprint through deals such as backing Faraday Copper and entering a US$4.30 billion silver stream at Peru’s Antamina mine, underscoring a clear shift toward future-facing minerals.
  • We’ll now examine how BHP’s accelerating pivot toward copper-backed growth, highlighted by the Antamina streaming deal, reshapes its investment narrative.

Find 9 companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

BHP Group Investment Narrative Recap

To own BHP today, you need to believe its shift toward copper and potash can offset any softness in traditional pillars like iron ore, while large projects such as Jansen are delivered without major cost or schedule surprises. The recent half year 2025 results and dividend increase support BHP’s financial flexibility, but do not materially change the near term execution risk around big-ticket growth projects or its exposure to regulatory and inflation pressures.

The announcement that copper now contributes more earnings than iron ore, backed by FY2027 copper production guidance of 1.0 to 1.1 million tonnes and an extra 500,000 tonnes over 2027 to 2031, is what really ties this news together. It reinforces copper as the key near term catalyst for BHP’s narrative, while also highlighting that any delays, cost inflation or permitting hurdles across this build out could quickly become the most important risk to watch.

But while copper backed growth looks appealing, investors should also be aware that…

Read the full narrative on BHP Group (it's free!)

BHP Group's narrative projects $49.6 billion revenue and $10.0 billion earnings by 2028. This requires a 1.1% yearly revenue decline and a $1.0 billion earnings increase from $9.0 billion today.

Uncover how BHP Group's forecasts yield a A$51.72 fair value, a 10% downside to its current price.

Exploring Other PerspectivesASX:BHP 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Some of the most cautious analysts were assuming BHP’s revenue could fall about 4.9% a year and still reach around US$46.4 billion by 2029, which is a far more pessimistic take than the copper growth story tied to new guidance and Antamina. These lower expectations show how far views can differ, and both the bullish and bearish cases may need to be revisited as BHP’s copper exposure and project execution evolve from here.

Explore 16 other fair value estimates on BHP Group – why the stock might be worth 41% less than the current price!

Form Your Own Verdict

Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts.

Ready For A Different Approach?

Every day counts. These free picks are already gaining attention. See them before the crowd does:

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include BHP.AX.

Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU) has drawn fresh attention after reporting the submission of its final Phase 1 documentation under an agreement with the US Department of War, which focuses on its RapidSX rare earth separation technology.

See our latest analysis for Ucore Rare Metals.

The Phase 1 report appears to have arrived after a sharp pullback, with a 30 day share price return of a 25.81% decline and a 1 day gain of 2.90%. The 1 year total shareholder return remains extremely high, and short term momentum looks to be cooling after strong year to date and 90 day share price gains.

If this rare earths update has your attention, it could be a good moment to see what else is available in the sector. You can use our 31 best rare earth metal stocks as a starting point.

With Ucore Rare Metals posting a very high 1 year total return, trading at a large discount to its analyst price target and intrinsic value estimate, and experiencing a recent 30 day pullback, is there still a buying opportunity here, or is the market already pricing in future growth?

Preferred Price to Book Multiple of 16.8x: Is It Justified?

On traditional metrics, Ucore Rare Metals looks expensive, with a P/B ratio of 16.8x against the Canadian Metals and Mining industry average of 3.8x and a peer average of 15.1x. This is the case even though the shares last closed at CA$7.10 and are flagged as trading at a large discount to both analyst price targets and the SWS DCF estimate of future cash flow value.

P/B compares the market value of the company to its book value, which can matter a lot for resource focused businesses where hard assets and projects sit heavily on the balance sheet. A 16.8x P/B suggests investors are paying a substantial premium over the company’s reported net assets, despite Ucore currently generating no revenue and reporting a net loss of CA$33.29m.

Relative to its sector, that premium is steep, with the P/B multiple more than 4x the broader Canadian Metals and Mining industry average of 3.8x and also above the 15.1x peer average. This points to the market attaching a high expectation to Ucore’s future projects and forecasts, at a time when the company has less than 1 year of cash runway, is unprofitable, and has seen substantial shareholder dilution and significant insider selling over the past 3 months.

See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.

Result: Price to book ratio of 16.8x (OVERVALUED)

However, there are clear pressure points here, including less than 1 year of cash runway and recent shareholder dilution, which could weigh on how the story plays out.

Find out about the key risks to this Ucore Rare Metals narrative.

Another View: DCF Suggests A Very Different Story

While the 16.8x P/B ratio makes Ucore Rare Metals look expensive next to the 3.8x industry average and 15.1x peer average, our DCF model points in the opposite direction. At CA$7.10, the shares are flagged as trading about 69.4% below an estimated future cash flow value of CA$23.24, which presents a very different picture of potential risk and reward. So which signal do you put more weight on: the rich balance sheet multiple or the discounted cash flow gap?

Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.

UCU Discounted Cash Flow as at Feb 2026

Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Ucore Rare Metals for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 8 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match – so you never miss a potential opportunity.

Next Steps

With mixed signals across valuation methods, do you feel the market is being too cautious or too optimistic here? If you want to move quickly and build your own view using the same data we see, take a close look at the balance of 2 key rewards and 5 important warning signs.

Looking for more investment ideas?

If this story has you thinking harder about where to put your money next, do not stop here. Broaden your watchlist with ideas built from hard numbers.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include UCU.V.

The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Gold Fields (GFI) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Basic Materials peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Gold Fields is one of 254 companies in the Basic Materials group. The Basic Materials group currently sits at #2 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Gold Fields is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GFI's full-year earnings has moved 13.8% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, GFI has returned 34% so far this year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 27%. As we can see, Gold Fields is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Another Basic Materials stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMPUY). The stock has returned 36.7% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 54.9%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Breaking things down more, Gold Fields is a member of the Mining – Gold industry, which includes 43 individual companies and currently sits at #42 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 32.1% so far this year, so GFI is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. falls under the Mining – Miscellaneous industry. Currently, this industry has 73 stocks and is ranked #47. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +31.4%.

Gold Fields and Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

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Gold Fields Limited (GFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMPUY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Most of us have heard the dictum "the trend is your friend." And this is undeniably the key to success when it comes to short-term investing or trading. But it isn't easy to ensure the sustainability of a trend and profit from it.

The trend often reverses before exiting the trade, leading to a short-term capital loss for investors. So, for a profitable trade, one should confirm factors such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate revisions, etc. that could keep the momentum in the stock alive.

Investors looking to make a profit from stocks that are currently on the move may find our "Recent Price Strength" screen pretty useful. This predefined screen comes handy in spotting stocks that are on an uptrend backed by strength in their fundamentals, and trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, which is usually an indicator of bullishness.

There are several stocks that passed through the screen and Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMPUY) is one of them. Here are the key reasons why this stock is a solid choice for "trend" investing.

A solid price increase over a period of 12 weeks reflects investors' continued willingness to pay more for the potential upside in a stock. IMPUY is quite a good fit in this regard, gaining 68.7% over this period.

However, it's not enough to look at the price change for around three months, as it doesn't reflect any trend reversal that might have happened in a shorter time frame. It's important for a potential winner to maintain the price trend. A price increase of 0.3% over the past four weeks ensures that the trend is still in place for the stock of this company.

Moreover, IMPUY is currently trading at 89.1% of its 52-week High-Low Range, hinting that it can be on the verge of a breakout.

Looking at the fundamentals, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than the 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises — the key factors that impact a stock's near-term price movements.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Another factor that confirms the company's fundamental strength is its Average Broker Recommendation of #1 (Strong Buy). This indicates that the brokerage community is highly optimistic about the stock's near-term price performance.

So, the price trend in IMPUY may not reverse anytime soon.

In addition to IMPUY, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our "Recent Price Strength" screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.

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Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMPUY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 27, 2026) – Metallic Minerals Corp. (TSXV: MMG) (OTCQB: MMNGF) (FSE: 9MM1) ("Metallic" or the "Company") is pleased to be attending the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") Convention in Toronto from March 1-4, 2026.

The Company will be exhibiting at Booth #2724 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre under The Metallic Group, shared with Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PGE). Management will be available to provide updates on the Company's La Plata copper-silver-gold-PGE critical minerals project in Colorado, supported by a strategic investment from Newmont Corporation, as well as its 100%-owned, district-scale Keno Silver project in Yukon, located adjacent to Hecla Mining's Keno Hill operations.

Shareholders, investors, and industry participants are invited to visit Booth #2724 to discuss recent progress and upcoming catalysts across Metallic Minerals' portfolio.

About Metallic Minerals

Metallic Minerals Corp. is a resource-stage exploration and development company advancing copper, silver, gold, platinum group elements, and other critical minerals at the La Plata project in southwestern Colorado, and high-grade silver exploration at the Keno Silver project in the Yukon Territory, adjacent to Hecla Mining's Keno Hill silver operations. The Company is also one of the largest holders of alluvial gold claims in the Yukon and is building a production royalty business through partnerships with experienced mining operators.

Metallic is led by a team with a strong track record of discovery and exploration success across multiple precious and base metal deposits in North America and is backed by strategic investment by Newmont Corporation and Eric Sprott. The Company integrates advanced data analytics into its exploration process to support target generation, accelerate discovery, and unlock value across its portfolio.

Metallic's project districts have a history of significant mineral production and benefit from existing infrastructure, including road access and nearby power. The Company is committed to responsible and sustainable resource development, engaging and collaborating with Canadian First Nation groups, U.S. Tribal and Native Corporations, and local communities to support long-term project advancement.

Upcoming Events

Metallic's management team will be attending several upcoming key industry events over the coming months and welcomes the opportunity to meet with investors and stakeholders:

  • Metals Investor Forum – Toronto, Canada, February 27-28, 2026.
  • PDAC 2026 – Toronto, Canada, March 1-4, 2026.
  • Swiss Mining Institute Conference – Zurich, Switzerland, March 18-19, 2026.
  • SAFE Summit 2026 – Washington, D.C., USA, April 27-28, 2026.

    • FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

    Website: metallic-minerals.com Phone: 604-629-7800Email: info@metallic-minerals.com Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting timelines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, statements about expected results of operations, royalties, cash flows, financial position and future dividends as well as financial position, prospects, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, unsuccessful operations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration, development of mines and mining operations is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at sedarplus.ca.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285676

    Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 27, 2026) – Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PGE) (OTCQB: PGEZF) (FSE: J0G) (the "Company" or "Stillwater") is pleased to be attending the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") Convention in Toronto March 1-4, 2026.

    The Company will be exhibiting at Booth #2724 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre under The Metallic Group, shared with Metallic Minerals Corp.

    In addition, Stillwater will be showcasing drill core from its 2025 resource expansion drill campaign at the Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in Montana in PDAC Core Shack #3116B on the third and fourth days of the convention (March 3rd and 4th). Management including Dr. Danie Grobler, VP Exploration, and Justin Modroo, Project Geophysicist, will be on hand to discuss results, upcoming catalysts, and expansion plans.

    Management welcomes shareholders, investors, and industry participants to visit the booth and Core Shack displays.

    Upcoming Events

    Michael Rowley, President and CEO of Stillwater, is scheduled to attend the following events. Additional events will be announced as confirmed.

  • Metals Investor Forum – Toronto, Canada, February 27-28, 2026. For information, click here.
  • PDAC 2026 – Toronto, Canada, March 1-4, 2026. For information, click here.
  • SMI Conference – Zurich, Switzerland, March 18-19, 2026. For information, click here.
  • SAFE Summit 2026 – Washington, D.C., USA, April 27-28, 2026. For information, click here.
  • Top Shelf Partners – Washington, D.C., USA, May 17-19, 2026. For information, click here.
  • Top Shelf Partners – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 20-22, 2026. For information, click here.

    • About Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp.

    Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSXV: PGE) (OTCQB: PGEZF) (FSE: J0G) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on its flagship Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in the iconic and famously productive Stillwater mining district in Montana, USA. With the addition of two renowned Bushveld and Platreef geologists to the team and strategic investments by Glencore plc, the Company is well positioned to advance the next phase of large-scale critical mineral supply from this world-class American district, building on past production of nickel, copper, and chromium, and the on-going production of platinum group, nickel, and other metals by neighboring Sibanye-Stillwater. An expanded NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, released January 2023, positions Stillwater West with the largest nickel resource in an active U.S. mining district as part of a compelling suite of ten minerals now listed as critical in the USA.

    Stillwater also holds a 49% interest in the high-grade Drayton-Black Lake-gold project adjacent to Nexgold Mining's development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, currently under an earn-in agreement with Heritage Mining, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co critical minerals project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum's Wellgreen deposit in Canada's Yukon Territory. The Company also holds the Duke Island Cu-Ni-PGE property in Alaska and maintains a back-in right on the high-grade past-producing Yankee-Dundee in BC, following its sale in 2013.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

    Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director – Stillwater Critical MineralsEmail: info@criticalminerals.com Phone: (604) 357 4790Web: http://criticalminerals.com Toll Free: (888) 432 0075

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, approval of the TSXV and the filing of the Amended Offering Document. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Stillwater Critical Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Stillwater Critical Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285655

    OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 27, 2026 /CNW/ – Northern Shield Resources Inc. ("Northern Shield" or the "Company") (TSXV: NRN) is pleased to announce that through map staking, option agreements and property purchase, the Company has increased its land position from 32 km2 to 420 km2 pursuant to definitive agreements entered into with arm's length parties on February 18, 2026 (collectively, the "Definitive Agreements"). The Company's flagship Root & Cellar Gold-Silver-Tellurium-Copper Property ("Root & Cellar" or the "Property"), on the Burin Peninsula in southeastern Newfoundland, forms the core of the land position. Recent work at Root & Cellar, suggests a large, diatreme/porphyry-hosted, polymetallic Cu-Au-Ag-Te-Mo zone, which was the impetus for the land acquisitions in the Avalon Zone of eastern Newfoundland.

    The most significant of these new properties is the 212 km2 Fortune Property (Figure 1) composed of two property options totalling 65 km2, with the remainder having been map staked directly by Northern Shield. The Fortune Property covers a 40 km trend that is highly prospective for porphyry copper and epithermal gold systems, and includes multiple indications of such systems including 4 known occurrences:

    Stewart: The Stewart prospect represents the most aerially extensive and continuous zone of exposed alteration on the Burin Peninsula, reaching widths of up to 850 m and extending along strike for upwards of 4 km (Figure 2a). It represents an extensive zone of advanced argillic alteration including pyrophyllite, alunite and vuggy quartz, interpreted to be a lithocap to a porphyry Cu-Mo-Au system. The lithocap is anomalous in gold, copper and molybdenum over significant intervals including historical surface trenching results of 0.09 g/t Au over 219 m, (Dyke, B., 2008,) and a drill intercept of 0.13 g/t Au over 111 m (Setterfield, T., 2016,) along with anomalous Cu and Mo.

    Forty Creek: The Forty Creek intermediate sulphidation quartz vein is along strike from Stewart and hosts gold and silver tellurides with values up to 59 g/t Au and 2,290 g/t Ag (Setterfield, T. 2011). (Figure 2b) and grab samples with values to 0.16% Cu and 0.1 g/t Au in a nearby silicified pyrophyllite alteration zone.

    Point Rosie: Hosts multiple quartz-sericite-pyrite (phyllic) alteration zones consistent with epithermal and porphyry copper systems over a 4 km strike length. Copper-gold-silver anomalous quartz veins (Figure 2c) with values up to 0.67 g/t Au and 0.65% Cu (Noel, N., 2020) have recently been discovered within a 2.5 km gold-in-soil anomaly.

    Feeder Brook: Hosts multiple quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zones with grab samples values to 0.9 g/t Au (Dimmell, P., 2003). Nearby till samples collected by the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador are anomalous in porphyry copper pathfinder elements.

    Some of the assay certificates for the results mentioned have been reviewed by Northern Shield while others have not, and Northern Shield is relying on third party assessment reports filed with the Newfoundland and Labrador government for the values quoted. None of the samples were collected or assayed by Northern Shield and hence cannot be fully and independently verified by the Company.

    The Company has also acquired 3 claim groups totalling 136 km2 on the Cape St Mary's Peninsula across Placentia Bay from Root & Cellar. The primary target is a porphyry copper system similar to Root & Cellar based on Cu and Mo anomalous till samples reported by the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador and description of "malachite-stained quartz stockwork veining" in the government's mineral occurrence database. Some of the tills are also highly anomalous in nickel and cobalt and since gabbroic rocks are reported from the area, the claims will also be targeted for magmatic Ni-Cu-Co sulphides.

    "We are very excited about these new land positions. We see growing interest in the porphyry copper potential of the Burin Peninsula as we uncover more mineralization at the Creston Copper Target. As such these new properties cement our "first mover status" and allow us to use the knowledge we have gained from Root & Cellar to our advantage. We haven't just amalgamated a prospective land position but amalgamated, incentivized, and mobilised some of the most experienced and tenacious prospectors in the region. They are our first asset and, collectively, have seen more rocks on the Burin than anybody. I have little doubt that they will have success in finding new mineralization in the spring."

    – Ian Bliss, President and CEO, Northern Shield

    Definitive Agreements

    Point Rosie/Feeder Brook

    Under the Point Rosie/Feeder Brook Option Agreement (the "Point Rosie Agreement"), the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Seabourne Resources Inc. ("Seabourne"), acquired the right to earn up to an undivided 100% interest in Point Rose Property located in Newfoundland. By its terms, the Company will pay $13,835 in cash and issue 650,000 common shares ("Common Shares") on signing pursuant to the Point Rosie Agreement, and issue up to an aggregate of up to 2,650,000 Common Shares and pay, in aggregate, $153, 835 over a four-year period thereafter.

    Stewart/Forty Creek

    Under the Stewart Option Agreement (the "Stewart Agreement"), the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Seabourne, acquired the right to earn up to an undivided 100% interest in Stewart Property located in Newfoundland. By its terms, the Company will pay $6,755 in cash and issue 400,000 Common Shares on signing pursuant to the Stewart Agreement, and issue up to an aggregate of up to 2,900,000 Common Shares and pay, in aggregate, $146,775 over a four-year period thereafter.

    Kelstone

    Under the Kelstone Purchase Agreement (the "APA"), the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Seabourne, acquired two Mining Claims located near Marystown, Newfoundland in exchange for $1,500 in aggregate cash consideration and the issuance of 400,000 Common Shares on signing.

    There are no yearly expenditure requirements other than those required for assessment purposes to keep the Mining Claims in good standing. The properties underlying the Definitive Agreements are subject to a royalty in the amount of 2.0% Net Smelter Returns; provided that the Company shall have, under each respective Definitive Agreement, the pre-emptive right at any time and from time to time prior to commencement of commercial production to buy-down the royalty from 2.0% to 1.0% for $1,500,000.

    Closing of transactions underlying the Definitive Agreements are subject to certain customary conditions, including, without limitation, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), and all of the securities issued under the Definitive Agreements will be subject to a four-month and one-day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Christine Vaillancourt, P. Geo., Northern Shield's Chief Geologist and a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

    About Northern Shield Resources

    Northern Shield Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based company, a leader in generating high-quality exploration targets, that views greenfield exploration as an opportunity to find a mineable, near surface deposit at relatively low cost. We implement a model driven exploration approach to reduce the risk associated with early-stage projects for ourselves, our shareholders, and the environment. This approach led us to option the Root & Cellar Property from a Newfoundland prospector, who discovered the copper mineralization, and then to its advancement to the large gold-silver-tellurium and porphyry copper system that it has become.

    References

    Dimmell, P., 2003, First Year Assessment Report, Western Feeder Property.

    Dyke, B., 2008. Satellite imagery, property tour, prospecting, rock sampling, lake sediment sampling, stream sediment sampling, soil sediment sampling, mapping, Terrasepec and trenching, Burin Gold Project. Assessment Report for Cornerstone Resources Inc.,

    Noel, N., 2020, 1st Year Assessment Report on License 30828M

    Setterfield, T., 2011. Assessment Report Stewart Property, Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland for TerraX Minerals Inc

    Setterfield, T., 2016. Analysis of Radar Data, Stewart Property, Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland. Assessment Report for TerraX Minerals Inc

    Forward-Looking Statements AdvisoryThis news release contains statements concerning the exploration plans, results and potential for epithermal gold deposits, and other mineralization at the Company's Root & Cellar Property , geological, geophysical and geometrical analyses of the properties and comparisons of the properties to known epithermal gold deposits and other expectations, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information or statements about future, conditions, results of exploration or performance that may constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect.

    Although Northern Shield believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements because Northern Shield can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Northern Shield and described in the forward looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with geological, geometrical and geophysical interpretation and analysis, the ability of Northern Shield to obtain financing, equipment, supplies and qualified personnel necessary to carry on exploration and the general risks and uncertainties involved in mineral exploration and analysis.

    The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Northern Shield undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2026/27/c4285.html

    It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Southern Copper (SCCO). Shares have added about 3.7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

    Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Southern Copper due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Southern Copper Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

    Southern Copper Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Up Y/Y

    Southern Copper reported third-quarter 2025 earnings of $1.35 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.25. The bottom line marked a 21% increase year over year.

    Southern Copper’s Sales & Margins Rise

    The company’s sales increased 15% year over year to $3.38 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.16 billion.

    Higher sales volumes for silver, zinc and molybdenum, and elevated metal prices were offset by lower sales volumes of copper.

    The cost of sales was up 11% year over year to $1.36 billion. Operating profit in the third quarter was $1.77 billion, up 22% year over year. The operating margin in the reported quarter was 52.4% compared with 49.5% in the year-ago quarter.

    Adjusted EBITDA rose 17.3% year over year to $1.97 billion in third-quarter 2025. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 58.5% compared with the year-ago quarter’s 57.5%.

    SCCO’s Production Details

    Copper: Southern Copper mined 234,892 tons of copper in the reported quarter, down 6.9% year over year. This was due to a 7.3% decline in output in Peru operation, namely at Toquepala and Cuajone mines. Production at Mexican operations fell 6.5%, attributed to lower output at the Buenavista mine due to lower ore grades. Also, the new Buenavista concentrator has been utilized to maximize zinc and silver production to leverage the favorable ore grades identified in an important segment of the mine.Copper sales were down 3.6% year over year to 234,300 tons.

    Molybdenum: The company mined 7,874 tons of molybdenum in the reported quarter, reflecting year-over-year growth of 8.3%, attributed to higher production at La Caridad and Toquepala, which was partially offset by lower production at Buenavista and Cuajone mines. 

    Sales were 7,908 tons in the quarter under review, up 7.9% from the third quarter of 2024.

    Zinc: The company’s zinc production surged 46% year over year to 45,482 tons in the quarter mainly due to increased production at the Buenavista zinc concentrator. Zinc sales increased 7% year over year to 40,081 tons in the third quarter of 2025.

    Silver: Southern Copper’s silver production improved 16.4% year over year to 6.21 million attributed to higher output at Mexican operations, partially offset by lower production from the Peruvian mines. Sales rose 21.9% year over year to 6.32 million ounces.

    Southern Copper’s Cash Flow & Balance Sheet

    SCCO generated net cash from operating activities of $1.56 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up from $1.44 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Cash and cash equivalents were $3.95 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2025 compared with $3.26 billion as of the end of 2024. Long-term debt was $6.75 billion as of Sep. 30, 2025, higher than the debt balance of $5.76 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024.

    Southern Copper’s Guidance for 2025

    Southern Copper targets copper production around 958,800 tons for 2025, a 2% dip from last year. The company’s zinc production is projected at 174,700 tons for 2025, which indicates a 34% growth year over year. The increase will be driven by the Buenavista zinc concentrator. Silver production is likely to be around 23 million ounces, 10% higher than in 2024. The company expects to produce 30,000 tons of molybdenum in 2025, which represents a 4% increase from the 2024 output.  

    How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

    In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.

    The consensus estimate has shifted 27.03% due to these changes.

    VGM Scores

    Currently, Southern Copper has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

    Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

    Outlook

    Estimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision looks promising. Notably, Southern Copper has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

    Performance of an Industry Player

    Southern Copper belongs to the Zacks Mining – Non Ferrous industry. Another stock from the same industry, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), has gained 5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended December 2025.

    Freeport-McMoRan reported revenues of $5.63 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -1.5%. EPS of $0.47 for the same period compares with $0.31 a year ago.

    For the current quarter, Freeport-McMoRan is expected to post earnings of $0.52 per share, indicating a change of +116.7% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +11.6% over the last 30 days.

    Freeport-McMoRan has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B.

    Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

    Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

    Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) : Free Stock Analysis Report

    This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

    Zacks Investment Research

    Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

    • Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN) has launched a major rebranding alongside updates to its copper focused growth plan following recent portfolio changes.
    • The company reported significant progress at its flagship Vicuña copper project, including an updated resource estimate that positions it among the leading global development projects.
    • Lundin Mining also secured an expanded credit facility, with access tied to meeting project milestones at Vicuña.

    Lundin Mining, a diversified base metals producer listed on the TSX under the ticker LUN, is sharpening its focus on copper at a time when the metal is central to long term electrification and infrastructure themes. The refreshed brand and project update provide investors with clearer visibility into how the company is aligning its portfolio and identity with that copper centric direction.

    For you as an investor, the combination of a new corporate identity, progress at Vicuña and added credit capacity outlines a more defined path for how Lundin Mining intends to advance its strategy. How management executes on Vicuña and uses the expanded financing will be key factors to monitor as the copper narrative evolves.

    Stay updated on the most important news stories for Lundin Mining by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Lundin Mining.

    TSX:LUN Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026

    We’ve flagged 1 risk for Lundin Mining. See which could impact your investment.

    Quick Assessment

    • ❌ Price vs Analyst Target: At CA$43.31, Lundin Mining trades about 18% above the CA$36.63 analyst target range midpoint.
    • ✅ Simply Wall St Valuation: The model suggests the shares are trading at roughly 22.3% below estimated fair value.
    • ✅ Recent Momentum: The stock has returned about 21.2% over the last 30 days.

    The timing of any decision to buy, sell or hold Lundin Mining depends on individual objectives and risk tolerance. For more detail, see Simply Wall St’s
    company report for the latest analysis of Lundin Mining’s fair value.

    Key Considerations

    • 📊 The rebranding and Vicuña update indicate that Lundin Mining is emphasizing its copper-focused strategy and long term project pipeline.
    • 📊 Investors may want to monitor progress against Vicuña milestones, the use of the expanded credit facility, and how the share price compares with both analyst targets and estimated fair value.
    • ⚠️ Forecasts pointing to earnings declining on average by 8.3% per year over the next 3 years underline execution risk if Vicuña does not contribute to stronger profitability.

    Dig Deeper

    For a fuller picture, including additional risks and potential rewards, review the
    complete Lundin Mining analysis. You can also visit the
    community page for Lundin Mining to see how other investors believe this latest news may influence the company’s narrative.

    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
    and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
    financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
    Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
    Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

    Companies discussed in this article include LUN.TO.

    The mining market offers opportunities through demand for critical minerals, adoption of low-emission practices, expansion in emerging economies, and focus on safety and productivity technologies. Government support and strategic partnerships further enhance growth prospects.

    Mining Market

    Mining Market

    Dublin, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The "Mining Market Report 2026" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

    The Mining Market Global Report 2026 is an essential resource for strategists, marketers, and senior management seeking to understand the mining industry's current and future landscape. With coverage of 16 key geographies, the report offers an unprecedented global perspective, assessing influential macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies, inflation rates, and regulatory changes.

    The global mining market is experiencing significant growth, with its value expected to increase from $2.06 trillion in 2025 to $2.16 trillion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5%. This growth trajectory is largely driven by robust industrial mineral demand, infrastructure advancements, rising energy consumption, and increased investments in large-scale mining projects. The presence of mineral-rich reserves further emphasizes the market's promising outlook.

    Forecasts indicate a continued upward trend, predicting the market will reach $2.76 trillion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 6.3%. Contributing factors include heightened demand for critical minerals, the adoption of low-emission mining practices, and advancements in worker safety technologies. Furthermore, emerging economies are expanding mining operations, and there's a notable focus on productivity enhancements through technological innovations. Key trends include mechanization, sustainable resource extraction, and an increase in large-scale surface mining projects.

    Government entities are playing a crucial role in this growth by facilitating foreign investments and providing subsidies. Initiatives from public finance institutions and state-owned enterprises are fueling sector developments. For instance, Australia's mining industry demonstrated marked growth from 2022 to 2023, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in May 2024, illustrating the impact of governmental support.

    Strategic partnerships are another pivotal component, as major industry players collaborate to boost revenue and innovation. Notably, in May 2023, Gradiant Corporation formed an alliance with Schlumberger NV and Rio Tinto Group to enhance mining productivity and sustainability, underscoring the industry's commitment to responsible practices.

    Significant acquisitions are also shaping the landscape. In April 2025, Discovery Silver Corp., a Canadian mining company, acquired the Porcupine Complex from Newmont Corporation for $425 million. This move expanded Discovery Silver's North American portfolio and production capacity, underscoring the strategic maneuvers companies are making to secure market dominance.

    Among the prominent players in the mining market are BHP Group Limited, Rio Tinto Group, Glencore plc, Vale S.A., and China Shenhua Energy Company Limited. These industry giants are leading innovations and operations across key regions, including Asia-Pacific, the largest regional market as of 2025, followed by North America.

    Overall, the mining market is characterized by its diverse production and extraction activities, with sales encompassing minerals, metals, and valuable materials such as coal and gravel. Given the increasing global demand and strategic initiatives from both government and private sectors, the industry is poised for robust growth and transformation in the coming years.

    Report Scope:

    • Markets Covered: Mining Support Activities; General Minerals; Metal Ore; Coal, Lignite, and Anthracite.
    • Processes: Underground Mining; Surface Mining.
    • Service Providers: Independent Contractors; Companies.
    • Subsegments and Activities: Drilling Services, Exploration Services, and others.

    Key Attributes:

    Report Attribute Details
    No. of Pages 250
    Forecast Period 2026 – 2030
    Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2026 $2.16 Trillion
    Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $2.76 Trillion
    Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.3%
    Regions Covered Global

    Global Mining Market Trends and Strategies

    • Autonomous Systems, Robotics & Smart Mobility
    • Sustainability, Climate Tech & Circular Economy
    • Industry 4.0 & Intelligent Manufacturing
    • Internet of Things (Iot), Smart Infrastructure & Connected Ecosystems
    • Electric Mobility & Transportation Electrification
    • Increasing Adoption of Mechanized Mining Operations
    • Rising Focus on Sustainable Resource Extraction
    • Growing Deployment of Advanced Safety Systems
    • Expansion of Large-Scale Surface Mining Projects
    • Enhanced Use of High-Capacity Mining Equipment

    Companies Featured

    • BHP Group Limited
    • Rio Tinto Group
    • Glencore plc
    • Vale S.A.
    • China Shenhua Energy Company Limited
    • Anglo American Plc
    • China Coal Energy Company Limited
    • Jiangxi Copper Corporation Limited
    • Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited
    • Zijin Mining Group Company Limited
    • National Mineral Development Corporation
    • Vedanta
    • Hindustan Zinc
    • Hindalco Industries
    • Bharat Aluminium Company
    • Rajasthan State Mines And Minerals
    • Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation
    • Fortescue Metals
    • Newcrest Mining
    • South32
    • Evolution Mining
    • China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech Co Ltd
    • Shaanxi Coal And Chemical Industry Group Co Ltd
    • China Molybdenum Co Ltd
    • Shandong Gold Mining Co Ltd
    • Nyrstar Stolberg Gmbh
    • Voerde Aluminium Gmbh
    • Thyssen Schachtbau Holding Gmbh
    • Imerys Metalcasting Germany Gmbh
    • ENGINEERING DOBERSEK Gmbh
    • Barbara Rohstoffbetriebe Gmbh
    • Fastner & Co
    • Eramet
    • Manoir Industries
    • Eurasia Mining
    • Petropavlovsk
    • Kaz Minerals
    • Hochschild Mining
    • Weglokok
    • Silesian-American Corporation
    • Kompania Weglowa
    • KGHM Polska Miedz
    • Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa
    • Alrosa
    • Nordgold
    • Polymetal International
    • Zarechnaya
    • ARMZ Uranium Holding
    • Stoilensky GOK
    • Vorkutaugol
    • Yakutugol
    • Ural Mining And Metallurgical Company
    • Freeport Mcmoran
    • Newmont Mining
    • Peabody Energy
    • Teck Resources
    • Barrick Gold (ABX)
    • First Quantum Minerals (FM)
    • Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)
    • Kinross Gold Corp
    • Lundin Mining (LUN)
    • Yamana Gold
    • B2Gold
    • Hudbay Minerals
    • CSN Mineracao
    • Veladero Mine
    • Gualcamayo Mine
    • Drummond Ltd
    • Carbomax De Colombia SAS
    • Shefa Gems
    • OREN MODEL GAN LTD
    • ARAVA Mines Ltd
    • Quarry Mining LLC
    • Centamin
    • AIMR Mining
    • African Rainbow Minerals
    • Metal Manufacturing Nigeria Limited
    • Sibanye-Stillwater

    For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bwjwy3

    About ResearchAndMarkets.comResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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    How much a stock's price changes over time is important for most investors, since price performance can both impact your investment portfolio and help you compare investment results across sectors and industries.

    Another factor that can influence investors is FOMO, or the fear of missing out, especially with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.

    What if you'd invested in BHP (BHP) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to BHP for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?

    BHP's Business In-Depth

    With that in mind, let's take a look at BHP's main business drivers.

    BHP Group Limited is one of the world's largest mining companies, with operations spanning Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, and the United States, and a market capitalization of approximately $156 billion. It is a leading producer of iron ore, copper and metallurgical coal and is making strides to move into potash production.

    The company’s Minerals Australia operations include iron ore and nickel operations in Western Australia, metallurgical (steel-making) and energy coal in Queensland and New South Wales, and copper in South Australia.

    The Minerals Americas group includes projects, operated assets and non-operated joint ventures in Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States and Brazil. Its projects focus on copper, iron ore and potash. The company has more than 90,000 employees and contractors, who work in more than 90 locations worldwide.

    BHP’s segments are-

    Iron Ore (around 45% of the company’s fiscal 2025 revenues) is engaged in the mining of iron ore. The Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) business contains five mines in the Pilbara region.

    The Copper segment (44% of the company’s revenues) is engaged in mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, molybdenum and silver. BHP owns and operates copper mines in Chile (Escondida and Pampa Norte), South Australia (Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and Prominent Hill), and a 45% stake in proposed mine located in Arizona, U.S (Resolution Copper). The company also has a 33.75% stake in Antamina, Peru project, which is a joint venture between BHP, Glencore, Teck Resources and Mitsubishi Corporation.

    The Coal segment (10% of revenues) is engaged in the mining of steelmaking and energy coal. BHP has five operating coal mines in the Bowen Basin area of Central Queensland in Australia.

    The company is investing in the Jansen project in Saskatchewan to produce potash starting mid-2027. Once fully ramped up, Jansen is expected to have an initial production capacity of approximately 8.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa), with the potential to produce 16 to 17 Mtpa in the future.

    In July 2024, BHP decided to transition Western Australia Nickel into a period of temporary suspension due to lower prices.

    Bottom Line

    Putting together a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of research, patience, and a little bit of risk. For BHP, if you bought shares a decade ago, you're likely feeling really good about your investment today.

    A $1000 investment made in February 2016 would be worth $3,577.75, or a 257.77% gain, as of February 26, 2026, according to our calculations. Investors should note that this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.

    In comparison, the S&P 500's gained 255.90% and the price of gold went up 303.87% over the same time frame.

    Going forward, analysts are expecting more upside for BHP.

    BHP witnessed a 1% dip in iron ore output, while copper production was up 4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. It projects iron ore production at 258-269 Mt for fiscal 2026. The midpoint indicates in-line results with fiscal 2025. Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) continues to perform well and maintains its position as the lowest-cost iron ore producer. Copper guidance of 1,900-2,000 kt indicates a 3% decline at the midpoint, reflecting planned lower grades in Chile. Iron ore and copper prices have gained lately, which will boost its results in the forthcoming quarters. BHP's portfolio shift toward commodities like copper and potash will help it ride on growing global trends such as decarbonization and electrification. Aided by its strong cash flow, BHP has lowered its debt over the past few years, which is commendable.

    The stock has jumped 15.11% over the past four weeks. Additionally, no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 2 higher, for fiscal 2025; the consensus estimate has moved up as well.

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    The Basic Materials group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Compass Minerals (CMP) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Basic Materials sector should help us answer this question.

    Compass Minerals is one of 254 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #2 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

    The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Compass Minerals is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

    The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMP's full-year earnings has moved 28.9% higher within the past quarter. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

    Based on the latest available data, CMP has gained about 26.6% so far this year. At the same time, Basic Materials stocks have gained an average of 26.6%.

    One other Basic Materials stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Fresnillo PLC (FNLPF). The stock is up 29.6% year-to-date.

    For Fresnillo PLC, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 38.2% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

    Breaking things down more, Compass Minerals is a member of the Chemical – Diversified industry, which includes 29 individual companies and currently sits at #189 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 22.8% so far this year, so CMP is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

    On the other hand, Fresnillo PLC belongs to the Mining – Silver industry. This 9-stock industry is currently ranked #13. The industry has moved +35.1% year to date.

    Going forward, investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to Compass Minerals and Fresnillo PLC as they could maintain their solid performance.

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    Apex Critical Metals moved rare earth and niobium exploration forward with eye on domestic supply chains Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

    While the problem has been widely recognized for decades, many of the world’s leading economies seem only now to be taking seriously the need for control over their access to critical minerals for use in everything from high-tech products to military equipment.

    If there is a positive side to this, it is that strong markets for precious, base, and other metals mean proper funding is available to explore and develop critical minerals projects in a variety of jurisdictions.

    When the goal is to bolster vulnerable supply chains, it is best to be close to home, and in this regard, Apex Critical Metals Corp (TSX-V:APXC, OTCQX:APXCF) seems well-positioned, with carefully chosen rare earth and niobium assets in Nebraska and British Columbia.

    Canadian Securities Exchange Magazine spoke with Apex Critical Metals Executive Vice President, Growth Strategy Joness Lang recently about the company’s success in 2025 and plans to progress both projects quickly in the current year.

    Apex Critical Metals’ focus on rare earths and niobium has you working in North America, with the potential to help offset China’s and South America’s respective dominance in production and processing.

    Around mid-2023, the company went through a restructuring, recapitalization, and total revamp of personnel. The CAP project, located relatively close to Prince George, British Columbia, was the primary focus out of the gate. There was good infrastructure and an emerging niobium belt for targeting that had seen very limited drilling for several years.

    Our team did a summer campaign in 2024 involving a lot of mapping and sampling, and we saw some very promising results. We followed up in 2025 and had the best niobium drill hit ever on the property, with 36 metres of 0.59% Nb₂O₅ within a 124.5-metre mineralized interval, including a 10-metre run of 1.08% Nb₂O₅.

    Importantly, none of the other drilling in that campaign directly followed up on that hole, so this area is wide open for expansion and an obvious priority for us to go back to next summer.

    The company also had intimate knowledge of the Elk Creek carbonatite complex in Nebraska, as members of our team originally assembled a land package there 15 years ago within a company that went on to become NioCorp Developments. This was not a reactionary acquisition based on recent narratives and geopolitical vulnerability. Our team spent more than a year assembling and consolidating the Rift Rare Earth Project land position after reviewing countless carbonatite targets in North America and prioritizing the Elk Creek area.  That was one that was always on our radar screen.

    Our technical leadership includes Jody Dahrouge and Darren Smith, who have been focused on critical metals, including niobium and rare earths, for two decades. They bring a wealth of experience, from discovery to processing, that will be invaluable as we advance our flagship Rift project.

    Carbonatite-hosted mineralization globally has the highest percentage of mines, be it past production, current production, or current resources. They are a prolific host rock for minerals, and there is a grocery store of commodities and minerals within them. We are very excited about the land package we have next to NioCorp in Nebraska.

    Having a successful project next door is definitely helpful. Tell us more about that aspect and the local operating environment in general.

    One of the advantages Apex has going forward is NioCorp securing significant funding, very much being in the spotlight and knocking down a number of the different development and permitting goalposts as they advance their deposit. Certainly, if we are having exploration success right next door, it puts us in a very good position to explore synergies and follow a streamlined permitting path.

    It is also private land, which provides other advantages. You are not working with the U.S. Forest Service or navigating Bureau of Land Management permitting. These are private lease deals with options to purchase that we have secured over the past year. The land position now stands at 3,500 acres in holdings that cover globally significant rare earth mineralization. There are two previously drilled holes located 160 metres apart that encountered broad intervals of more than 2% rare earth oxide (REO) mineralization. Both of these drill holes also included consistent higher-grade intervals within, with 55-metre to 70-metre runs of over 3.3% REO.

    These two significant, consistent drill hits remain wide open with no other drill holes in the immediate area, so this target area will be the primary focus for the company in Q1. We will be completing a first phase of drilling that will look to verify, extend, and expand upon those significant historical results over an approximate 850-metre strike length.

    Let’s turn our attention to CAP. It is located in northern BC but you can still access it throughout the year.

    CAP is about 250 kilometres southeast of Taseko’s niobium deposit. That’s a big company with other assets and it’s not necessarily their flagship, but it is a well-known belt in BC. The project is located 85 kilometres north of Prince George. It is accessible year-round, though we typically like to do our drilling and more significant work during the summer, as it is easier and lower cost.

    There is a 1.8-kilometre trend identified at CAP. We drilled nine holes for just over 2,300 metres this past summer and made a new discovery: 36 metres of 0.59% Nb₂O₅, including 10 metres of 1.08% Nb₂O₅. The other drill holes were regionally focused, testing various targets throughout the trend. The hole I just mentioned with the 36-metre run had no direct follow-up, so that is an area that is wide open for us to go back and step out from later this year.

    In addition, we completed a geophysical survey at the end of the summer season, which identified a massive buried magnetic anomaly that is much more significant in terms of its response and scale than the areas we drilled in 2025. A couple of deeper drill holes will also be planned to test that very compelling target later this year.

    Rift will see much of the Q1 work and plans for CAP feature in the summer. What other activity will take place in 2026?

    Rift is without question our primary focus, and from the time we put together that land package, we have been moving as fast as we can. We completed a strategic financing of $10 million that brings our cash position up to around $14 million.

    We partnered with the Conservation and Survey Division, School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to complete re-logging and re-assaying work of the preserved drill core from Molycorp's work in the 1970s and 1980s. It is rare and a huge benefit to have access to the original drill core, given the vintage of some of that drilling, so we are grateful to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for being the custodian of that drill core. We should have those results later in Q1.

    We have been working to incorporate all of the historical data that we can into a 3D model. We’ve got our permit for drilling and secured the same drill contractor that completed much of the drilling at NioCorp’s neighbouring project.

    Drilling should commence by the end of January, with roughly 8,000 metres over 10 to 15 drill holes planned, with the program running for the better part of three months. On the back of that, getting assays and really understanding the mineralization controls will position us for a follow-up Phase Two program, with the objective there being more resource-definition–focused. We are trying to rapidly advance Rift to a maiden resource stage by Q1 2027.

    Is there anything we have missed?

    I think it is probably just the growth side of the equation. We appreciate the need to secure domestic supply to reduce reliance on other parties, but the demand for permanent magnets is expected to more than triple by 2040. The growth in the electric vehicle space is well documented, but applications span renewable energy, robotics, consumer products, electronics, defence – the list goes on, and rare earth magnets are indispensable and vital to industry. Demand projections, coupled with the challenge of finding economic concentrations that can be efficiently processed, let alone on North American soil, create a significant opportunity for us at the Rift project, and one we are excited to take on in 2026.

    VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / February 26, 2026 / Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (TSX.V:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF)(FSE:J0G) (the "Company", or "Stillwater") reports the first results from its 2025 resource expansion drill campaign at the Company's 100%-owned Stillwater West project in Montana, USA. Stillwater West is one of the few U.S. critical minerals projects with a significant nickel and platinum group element ("PGE") resource and is located immediately adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater's Stillwater mines, the only primary PGE producer in the United States. This release is focused on the CZ deposit area at Iron Mountain where drilling intersected shallow, near-surface sulphide-rich polymetallic nickel-copper-cobalt-platinum-palladium-gold ("Ni-Cu-Co-PGE-Au") mineralization that extends beyond the limits of the January 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE").

    Highlights

    • The 2025 drill program was designed to expand the January 2023 MRE along a 10-kilometer ("Km") mineralized trend at Stillwater West, where a broad zone of sulphide-rich nickel, copper, cobalt, PGE, gold and chromium mineralization has been defined across multiple deposits.

    • Two holes were completed at the CZ deposit and both intersected shallow, near-surface sulphide mineralization. As detailed in Table 1, broad, continuous bulk-tonnage intercepts contain internal higher-grade horizons, demonstrating continuity across a thick mineralized package and confirming significant opportunity for resource expansion beyond current MRE boundaries:

    • CZ2025-01:

      • Bulk tonnage zone: 201.6 meters ("m") @ 0.20% Recovered Nickel Equivalent ("NiEq") from 16.9 m (see Table 1 for full metal grades);

      • Mid-grade zone: 53.3 m @ 0.37% NiEq from 24.4 m;

      • Higher-grade zone: 29.0 m @ 0.44% NiEq from 41.5 m; and

      • High-grade zone: 4.0 m @ 0.76% NiEq from 43.3 m.

      • These intercepts include 1.52 m grading 0.92% Ni, 0.27% Cu, 0.085% Co, and 0.58 g/t 3E (Pt+Pd+Au) starting at 43.3 m, and 3.7 m grading 1.0 g/t 3E starting at 44.8m.

    • CZ2025-02:

      • Bulk tonnage zone: 106.1 m @ 0.34% NiEq from 12.2 m (see Table 1);

      • Mid-grade zone: 84.4 m @ 0.38% NiEq from 13.4 m;

      • Higher-grade zone: 30.5 m @ 0.51% NiEq from 60.0 m;

      • High-grade zone: 4.9 m @ 0.73 % NiEq from 75.9 m as 0.40% Ni, 0.23%Cu, 0.042% Co, and 0.48 g/t 3E; and

      • High-grade zone: 4.9 m @ 0.72% NiEq from 85.6 m as 0.43% Ni, 0.29% Cu, 0.043% Co, and 0.40 g/t 3E.

    • Results extend known mineralization toward the Central and HGR deposits, confirming strike continuity of the shallow-dipping conductive sulphide target and highlighting potential for meaningful resource expansion east and west along the open Peridotite and Basal Zones.

    • Assays are pending from the remaining six holes, along with rhodium results for the 2025 program.

    • Stillwater is funded and permitted and is finalizing 2026 drill plans focused on resource growth and step-out testing of conductive sulphide targets.

    • Drill core will be on display at core shack 3116B on March 3rd and 4th, 2026, at PDAC.

    Table 1 – Highlight 2025 drill results from Iron Mountain CZ deposit area.

    Notes: 1) Highlighted significant intercepts with grade-thickness values over 7 percent-meter recovered NiEq are presented above, except as noted. 2) Recovered Nickel Equivalents ("NiEq") are presented for comparative purposes using conservative long-term metal prices (all USD): $8.00/lb nickel (Ni), $4.50/lb copper (Cu), $15.00/lb cobalt (Co), $1,250/oz platinum (Pt), $1,250/oz palladium (Pd), $3,000/oz gold (Au), and $6,500/oz rhodium (Rh). 3) NiEq is determined as follows: NiEq% = [Ni% x recovery] + [Cu% x recovery x Cu price/ Ni price] + [Co% x recovery x Co price / Ni price] + [Pt g/t x recovery / 31.103 x Pt price / Ni price / 2,204 x 100] + [Pd g/t x recovery / 31.103 x Pd price / Ni price / 2,204 x 100] + [Au g/t x recovery / 31.103 x Au price / Ni price / 2,204 x 100]. 4) In the above calculations: 31.103 = grams per troy ounce, 2,204 = lbs per metric tonne, and 100 and 0.01 convert assay results reported in % and g/t. 5) The following recoveries have been assumed for purposes of the above equivalent calculations: 85% for Ni and 90% for all other listed metals, based on recoveries at similar nearby operations. 6) Total metal equivalent values include both base and precious metals. In terms of dollar value, 0.20% nickel equates to a copper value of 0.36%, or a palladium value of 0.88 g/t, using the above metal values. 7) Intervals are reported as drilled widths and are believed to be representative of the actual width of mineralization.

    Table 2 – Drill Hole Location and Depths

    Stillwater's President and CEO, Michael Rowley, said "These results confirm the extension of shallow sulphide-rich mineralization beyond the current CZ deposit resource and demonstrate the effectiveness of our updated geological model. Importantly, continuity of mineralization towards the Central and HGR deposits to the east reinforces the district-scale scale potential of Stillwater West. With additional assays pending and an updated Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for the first half of 2026, we see a clear path to meaningfully growing one of the few significant U.S.-based nickel-PGE resources."

    Dr. Danie Grobler, Vice-President Exploration, commented "Our 2025 work defined two near-surface, highly prospective areas at Chrome Mountain and Iron Mountain. All eight holes intersected magmatic sulphide mineralization, confirming that the large geophysical anomalies map sulphide-rich stratigraphy beyond current resource boundaries. At Iron Mountain, the CZ deposit conductive trend appears to connect toward the Central-HGR resource areas, while at Chrome Mountain a large anomaly extends to the southeast-together indicating potential continuity over a 10-kilometer strike length of mineralized magmatic stratigraphy. These results validate our model and materially expand the set of drill-ready targets for resource growth. Furthermore, our current geological interpretation including results from CZ2025-01 indicates probable thrust-fault duplication of the lower Peridotite zone with its mineralized zones in the CZ deposit area, as shown in Figures 8 and 9."

    2025 Drill Program Overview

    As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the 2025 exploration drilling program consisted of eight drill holes totaling 3,471 meters, focused on expanding mineralisation at existing resources including:

    • Chrome Mountain – four holes in the DR/Hybrid deposit area

    • Iron Mountain – two holes in the CZ deposit area and two holes in the HGR deposit area

    The CZ deposit holes were collared near the eastern margin of the 2023 CZ deposit resource to test the eastern strike extension of a shallow-dipping sulphide-rich conductive target associated with the Peridotite-Basal Zone contact (Figures 6 and 7).

    Drilling was located approximately 300 meters east of historic high-grade mineralization intersected in IM2008-01, and 600 meters east of high-grade near-surface mineralization intersected in hole CZ2021-01 which returned 64.8 m grading 0.76% NiEq from 13.2 m including higher grade zones of 0.98% NiEq over 40.1 m and 1.24% NiEq over 17 m.

    Figure 1 – Core from the Camp Zone deposit area drill hole CZ2025-01 showing near-surface net-textured to semi-massive mineralization.

    Figure 2 – Core from the Camp Zone deposit area drill hole CZ2025-01 showing near-surface net-textured to semi-massive mineralization.

    Geological Interpretation and Targeting

    Target selection for the 2025 CZ deposit drilling was guided by integrated interpretation of electromagnetic, chargeability, and magnetic data, together with the updated geological model.

    Both 2025 CZ deposit drill holes intersected shallow, net-textured to semi-massive sulphide mineralization, confirming the conductive response observed in the 2024 MobileMT ("MMT") geophysical survey. Drill hole CZ2025-01 was extended to a final depth of 450 metres and successfully intersected the targeted low-resistivity MMT anomaly, confirming the presence of contact-style, sulphide-rich base metal and palladium-rich PGE mineralization along the Peridotite-Basal Zone floor contact (Figures 8 and 9).

    Mineralization Styles and Resource Implications

    Results from the 2025 CZ deposit drilling continue to support the first comprehensive geological model developed across the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex. The results demonstrate the presence of three key mineralization styles:

  • Broad Platreef-style Ni-PGE-Cu-Co mineralization, characterized as thick, shallow-dipping sulphide-rich intervals developed along the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex stratigraphy;

  • Nickel sulphide-rich structurally upgraded N-series mineralization; and

  • Stratiform reef-type PGE-Ni-Cu chromitite mineralization.

    • The intersections reported demonstrate the potential to significantly expand the 2023 MRE, including:

    • Bulk-tonnage mineralization at >0.20% NiEq;

    • Thick mid-grade intervals at >0.35% NiEq; and

    • Higher-grade zones at >0.70% NiEq contained within broader mineralized envelopes.

    All CZ mineralization remains open along strike and at depth, with follow-up drilling planned to test step-outs along the conductive trend toward the Central deposit (Figure 7).

    Additional 2025 Drilling and Next Steps

    Assays remain pending from drilling at the Chrome Mountain and Iron Mountain HGR deposit areas.

    The 3,471 meters completed in 2025, together with 2,310 meters drilled in 2023 and select historic holes, are being incorporated into an updated Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for the first half of 2026.

    Follow-up drilling at CZ and adjacent deposits is planned for 2026, focused on extending shallow sulphide mineralization along strike and at depth. The Company continues to refine targets across the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex in collaboration with Glencore via the technical committee in advance of the 2026 drill program.

    Glencore Strategic Investments

    The 2025 drill program was funded partially by a third strategic equity investment by Glencore Canada Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore plc, as announced August 13, 2025. Glencore maintains a 13.1% equity ownership and provides ongoing technical support through participation in the project's technical committee.

    CZ Deposit Resource Growth Implications

    The CZ deposit drill results confirm the Company's updated model for sulphide-rich mineralization within the Peridotite and Basal Zone contact and demonstrate scale – from broad, near-surface bulk-tonnage envelopes to internal higher-grade horizons that could support selective mining and blending scenarios.

    Step-out drilling shows mineralization extending beyond the 2023 MRE and remaining open along strike and at depth, providing multiple clear vectors for resource expansion. Pending assays from Chrome Mountain and the HGR area at Iron Mountain are expected to add further growth potential ahead of the updated MRE targeted for H1 2026.

    Upcoming Events

    Company representatives will attend PDAC 2026 in Toronto, where drill core from the CZ, HGR and Chrome Mountain programs will be available for viewing at the Core Shack. In addition, the Company will attend the following upcoming events:

  • Red Cloud Pre-PDAC – Toronto, Canada, February 26-27, 2026. For information, click here.

  • Metals Investor Forum – Toronto, Canada, February 27-28, 2026. For information, click here.

  • PDAC 2026 – Toronto, Canada, March 1-4, 2026. For information, click here.

  • SMI Conference – Zurich, Switzerland, March 18-19, 2026. For information, click here.

  • SAFE Summit 2026 – Washington, D.C., USA, April 27-28, 2026. For information, click here.

  • Top Shelf Partners – Washington, D.C., USA, May 17-19, 2026. For information, click here.

  • Top Shelf Partners – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 20-22, 2026. For information, click here.

    • About Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp.

    Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSX.V:PGE)(OTCQB:PGEZF)(FSE:J0G) is a mineral exploration and development company advancing its 100%-owned Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co + Au project in the Stillwater mining district of Montana, USA. Stillwater West is directly adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater's operating Stillwater mines and processing infrastructure, the only primary PGE-producing complex in the United States. An NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate released in January 2023 positions Stillwater West as one of the few significant U.S.-based nickel + PGE resources and includes ten minerals currently listed as critical in the United States. With strategic investments by Glencore and an experienced technical team with Bushveld and Platreef-style expertise, the Company is well positioned to advance the project toward the next phase of technical studies and resource growth drilling.

    Stillwater also holds a 49% interest in the high-grade Drayton-Black Lake-gold project adjacent to Nexgold

    Mining's development-stage Goliath Gold Complex in northwest Ontario, currently under an earn-in agreement with Heritage Mining, and the Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu-Co critical minerals project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum‘s Wellgreen deposit in Canada‘s Yukon Territory. The Company also holds the Duke Island Cu-Ni-PGE property in Alaska and maintains a back-in right on the high-grade past-producing Yankee-Dundee in BC, following its sale in 2013.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

    Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director – Stillwater Critical Minerals

    Email: info@criticalminerals.com Phone: (604) 357 4790

    Web: http://criticalminerals.com Toll Free: (888) 432 0075

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information". In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the interpretation of exploration results, the potential for resource expansion, the timing and results of future resource estimates (including the targeted H1 2026 updated MRE), the timing and success of exploration activities, permitting timelines, and future plans and objectives of the Company. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Stillwater Critical Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Stillwater Critical Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    A consolidated PDF containing the figures referenced below is available at the following link.

    SOURCE: Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp.

    View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

    Vox Royalty (VOXR.TO) on Thursday said its unit, Vox Royalty Australia Pty, completed the acquisition of a portfolio of two Australian gold and copper royalties from a third party in Australia for total cash consideration of up to A$650,000.

    The company said it paid A$450,000 at closing and a further A$200,000 is payable on the satisfaction of post-closing conditions, which Vox expects to be satisfied later in 2026. The portfolio includes a 4.5% gold royalty payable on production of the first 250,000 ounces (oz) of gravity gold, of which 46,372oz remain payable, from the Hera Tenement EL6162 in New South Wales, Australia.

    The portfolio also includes the rights to an uncapped feasibility-stage copper tonnage royalty in Western Australia. The Tenement is currently held and operated by a unit of Aurelia Metals.

    "We are acquiring 2,087oz of production-stage GEOs (46,372oz x 4.5%) at an implied cost of less than $200/ounce," said Vox Royalty President Spencer Cole. "Further, we expect an active year on business development within Vox's core focus of acquiring near-term producing legacy royalties."

    Shares of the company were last seen down 0.6% at $7.95 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

    DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / February 26, 2026 / Vox Royalty Corp. (NASDAQ:VOXR)(TSX:VOXR) ("Vox" or the "Company"), a returns-focused mining royalty and streaming company, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Vox Royalty Australia Pty Ltd. ("Vox Australia"), has completed the acquisition of a portfolio of two Australian gold and copper royalties from a third party in Australia (the "Portfolio") for total cash consideration of up to A$650,000. The Company paid A$450,000 at closing and a further A$200,000 is payable on the satisfaction of post-closing conditions, which Vox expects to be satisfied later in 2026.

    The Portfolio includes: (i) a 4.5% gold royalty payable on production of the first 250,000oz of gravity gold (the "Federation Royalty"), of which 46,372oz remain payable, from the Hera Tenement EL6162 in New South Wales, Australia (the "Tenement"); and (ii) the rights to an uncapped feasibility-stage copper tonnage royalty in Western Australia. The Tenement is currently held and operated by a subsidiary of Aurelia Metals Limited ("Aurelia").

    Spencer Cole, Vox's President & Chief Investment Officer, stated: "We are pleased to expand our Australian royalty portfolio with two additional Australian royalties, including a meaningful 4.5% gold royalty over producing tenure operated by Aurelia. We are acquiring 2,087oz of production-stage GEOs (46,372oz x 4.5%) at an implied cost of less than $200/ounce. This transaction aligns with Vox's strategy of acquiring value in derisked precious and base metal assets. Further, we expect an active year on business development within Vox's core focus of acquiring near-term producing legacy royalties."

    Figure 1 – Map of EL6162#

    With respect to the Federation Royalty, each of the Hera and Federation mines is located on the Tenement. Both the former Hera mine and the newly constructed Federation Mine are underground polymetallic operations producing zinc, lead, gold and silver concentrates and doré. Federation, a high-grade deposit located approximately 10km south of Hera, recently commenced commercial production and is being integrated with Aurelia's regional processing infrastructure.

    Qualified Person

    Timothy J. Strong, MIMMM, of Kangari Consulting LLC and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release.

    About Vox

    Vox Royalty Corp. (NASDAQ:VOXR)(TSX:VOXR) is a returns-focused mining royalty and streaming company built on disciplined capital allocation and risk-adjusted value creation. The Company holds a diversified portfolio of over 70 royalties and streams, including 12 producing and 25 development stage assets, with primary exposure to gold and select industrial metals across top tier mining jurisdictions. Founded in 2014, Vox combines a technically driven team, early catalyst identification, and a proprietary royalty database to generate convex, long-term returns and deliver superior investment outcomes for shareholders.

    Further information on Vox can be found at www.voxroyalty.com.

    For further information contact:

    Spencer Cole

    Kyle Floyd

    President & Chief Investment Officer

    Chief Executive Officer

    spencer@voxroyalty.com(720) 602-4223

    info@voxroyalty.com(720) 602-4223

    Cautionary Statements to U.S. Securityholders

    This press release and the documents incorporated by reference herein, as applicable, have been prepared in accordance with Canadian standards for the reporting of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, which differ from the previous and current standards of the U.S. securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "inferred mineral resources,", "indicated mineral resources," "measured mineral resources" and "mineral resources" used or referenced herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, as applicable, are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") – CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Definition Standards"). In addition to NI 43-101, a number of resource and reserve estimates have been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code (as such term is defined in NI 43-101), which differ from the requirements of NI 43-101 and U.S. securities laws but is defined in NI 43-101 as an "acceptable foreign code". Readers are cautioned that a qualified person has not carried out independent work to validate the JORC Code resource and reserve estimates referenced herein.

    For U.S. reporting purposes, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to modernize the mining property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which became effective February 25, 2019. The SEC Modernization Rules more closely align the SEC's disclosure requirements and policies for mining properties with current industry and global regulatory practices and standards, including NI 43-101, and replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7. Issuers were required to comply with the SEC Modernization Rules in their first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system, the Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve and mineral resource information contained or incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies domiciled in the U.S. subject to U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

    As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" to be "substantially similar" to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards that are required under NI 43-101. While the SEC will now recognize "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources", U.S. investors should not assume that all or any part of the mineralization in these categories will be converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into mineral reserves without further work and analysis. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that the Company reports are or will be economically or legally mineable without further work and analysis. Further, "inferred mineral resources" have a greater amount of uncertainty and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Therefore, U.S. investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of inferred mineral resources will be upgraded to a higher category without further work and analysis. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. While the above terms are "substantially similar" to CIM Definitions, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that the Company may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules or under the prior standards of SEC Industry Guide 7.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking Information

    This press release contains "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.

    The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, but are not limited to, summaries of operator disclosure provided by management and the potential impact on the Company of such operator disclosure, statements regarding expectations relating to production at the Tenement and payability of the Federation Royalty, expectations regarding the size, quality and exploitability of the resources within the Tenement and statements regarding the satisfaction of post-closing conditions.

    Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which Vox will purchase precious metals or from which it will receive royalty or stream payments, and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, delays in mine construction and operations, actual results of mining and current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans are refined; problems related to the ability to market precious metals or other metals; industry conditions, including commodity price fluctuations, interest and exchange rate fluctuations; interpretation by government entities of tax laws or the implementation of new tax laws; the volatility of the stock market; competition; risks related to Vox's dividend policy; epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the conflict in Ukraine, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Vox's annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2024 available at www.sedar.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov (as part of Vox's Form 40-F).

    Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statement prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Vox cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

    Vox has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Vox as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While Vox may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

    None of the TSX, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX) or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

    Technical and Third-Party Information

    Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this press release is based on information publicly disclosed by project operators based on the information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof and none of this information has been independently verified by Vox. Specifically, as a royalty investor, Vox has limited, if any, access to the royalty operations. Although Vox does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such information from the project operators is complete or accurate. Some information publicly reported by the project operators may relate to a larger property than the area covered by Vox's royalty interests. Vox's royalty interests often cover less than 100% and sometimes only a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and production from a property.

    References & Notes:

    # ASX Aurelia Metals Limited News Release dated 16 October 2025: Nymagee Exploration Update (https://aureliametals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ASX-Announcement_Nymagee-Exploration-Update_October-2025.pdf)

    SOURCE: Vox Royalty Corp.

    View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

    FEATURE

    De Beers is becoming a symbol of how increasing sales of lab-grown stones are adversely affecting the diamond market. The company suffered a third-straight write down in 2025 as its corporate parent,

    Anglo American

    nears a sale of the business.

    Anglo American wrote down the value of De Beers by $2.3 billion last year, the company reported Friday. This followed impairments of $2.9 billion in 2024 and $1.6 billion in 2023. The carrying value of the business is down to just $2.3 billion.

    Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad said on the company’s conference calls that it is in “advanced stages of discussion with a select group of interested parties.”

    Analysts think a sale of the business could be announced soon.

    De Beers mines most of its natural stones in Botswana. The Botswana government owns 15% of De Beers and could emerge as one its buyers.

    Lab-grown stones now make up an estimated 50% of the engagement ring market at prices that can be a fraction of natural stones.

    An index of diamond prices tracked by BofA Global Research is at its lowest level in more than 20 years. This offers a sharp contrast with gold, which is above $5,000 an ounce and near its recent record highs.

    De Beers once dominated the diamond trade and was a key part of Anglo American, now a U.K. company but with South African roots.

    De Beers had a loss of $0.5 billion in 2025 as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda), against break-even results in 2024 and $1.4 billion of profits in 2022.

    Revenue of $3.5 billion last year was just over half the $6.6 billion in 2022. Production fell 12% last year to 21.7 million carats, capping a drop from 35 million carats in 2022.

    Anglo American is keen on selling De Beers even if it gets little for the business as the mining company focuses on copper, a big beneficiary of the global electrification trend. Anglo reached a merger of equals deal with

    Teck Resources

    to create a leading global copper company. Anglo American’s U.S. shares (NGLOY) are up over 60% in the past six months to around $25 on optimism about the deal and copper. The company is now valued at $60 billion.

    Jefferies analyst Chris LaFemina wrote after the Anglo results that the stock remains one of his top mining picks as it “rerates” to more of a copper play, with copper expected to account for 70% of earnings over time. He sees the Teck deal closing this year.

    His view is that exiting De Beers and other businesses such as nickel and met coal will help Anglo’s valuation. The company divested in the platinum business last year.

    On the earnings call, an analyst suggested a spinoff to De Beers holders might be a better outcome given the low price the business will likely receive.

    Wanblad replied that a De Beers spinoff would be a challenge given the low valuation of comparable companies.

    Mined diamonds have rarely been more out of favor with investors. The apparent fear is that cheap lab-grown stones are killing the profitability of the overall market. That may allow buyers of De Beers to buy the storied company for a cheap price.

    Write to Andrew Bary at andrew.bary@barrons.com

    Lindian secures ANSTO transport exemption for Kangankunde concentrate Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

    Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has received independent confirmation from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) that its Kangankunde monazite concentrate is exempt from radioactive transport classification under international regulations — a result the company says materially de-risks its pathway to market.

    ANSTO concluded that representative Kangankunde concentrate samples would not be classified as radioactive for transport under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s SSR-6 framework, meaning shipments are not subject to Class 7 dangerous goods controls.

    For Lindian, the determination supports a simpler and more flexible export model as it advances the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi towards first production.

    Independent validation under global transport rules

    ANSTO undertook high-resolution gamma spectrometry analysis across the U-238, U-235 and Th-232 decay chains, assessing both parent isotopes and daughter radionuclides in line with IAEA transport criteria.

    The agency reported activity concentrations for the two representative concentrate samples of:

    • U-238: 0.74 becquerels per gram (Bq/g) and 0.50 Bq/g
    • Th-232: 3.0 Bq/g and 2.7 Bq/g

    These levels underpin ANSTO’s conclusion that the material is exempt from radioactive transport classification under SSR-6.

    ANSTO also reported Actinium-227 (Ac-227) as below detection in both samples. Based on supplied uranium concentrations of around 60 parts per million and 40 parts per million, Lindian noted that calculated U-235 activities — and therefore expected Ac-227 levels under secular equilibrium assumptions — would be of a similarly low order of magnitude.

    Executive director Zac Komur said the independent assessment “provides clear confirmation” of the concentrate’s radiological profile and a structural advantage compared with many rare earth peers.

    “ANSTO’s determination that the product is exempt from SSR-6 radioactive transport classification is a significant structural advantage,” he said. “Unlike many rare earth projects that must manage Class 7 shipping constraints or undertake early downstream processing to remove and manage uranium and thorium, Kangankunde supports a simpler, lower-risk export model.”

    Logistics and cost advantages

    Class 7 transport controls require specialised packaging, documentation and carrier restrictions, or force early-stage downstream treatment to isolate radioactive streams.

    By contrast, Lindian’s concentrate is not expected to require Class 7 dangerous goods controls under SSR-6, preserving carrier flexibility and simplifying export logistics.

    The company said the ultra-low radionuclide profile also supports a lower downstream cost structure, reducing the need for dedicated radionuclide removal circuits, residue containment infrastructure and compliance overheads. This translates into simpler flowsheet design, lower reagent consumption and reduced capital intensity.

    The latest radiological assessment builds on earlier ANSTO metallurgical work confirming that Kangankunde monazite cracks cleanly to produce a high-grade mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product with uranium and thorium below analytical detection limits and negligible Ac-227 activity at 97% neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) extraction.

    Together, the results demonstrate what Lindian describes as a low-radiological pathway from concentrate through to final product.

    Long-term stockpiling flexibility

    ANSTO’s findings also support long-term storage flexibility. Because uranium and thorium hosted in monazite have extremely long half-lives, the intrinsic radioactivity of the concentrate remains stable over time.

    Lindian said this enables practical stockpiling for more than 20 years under standard industrial storage conditions, subject to periodic packaging maintenance and monitoring.

    That flexibility may align with emerging sovereign critical minerals stockpiling initiatives aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience.

    While the concentrate is exempt from radioactive transport classification, Lindian said handling and workplace activities will remain subject to applicable radiation protection standards and good industry practice.

    Kangankunde is the cornerstone asset in Lindian’s portfolio of rare earth and bauxite projects across Malawi and Guinea. The company has already announced a final investment decision for Stage 1 development and secured funding following a strategic partnership and institutional placement, with early construction works under way. 

    With independent validation now confirming a simplified radiological and logistics profile, Lindian is positioning Kangankunde as a lower-complexity rare earth development at a time when supply chain scrutiny remains high across the global critical minerals sector.

    Small Cap Watch: Lindian, ArchTIS, Riversgold and more… Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

    The S&P/ASX SMALL ORDINARIES (ASX: XSO) was at 3,727.30, up 63.50 (1.73%) yesterday, but down 2.10 (-0.06%) over the past five days. Looking to follow yesterday's positive momentum are several companies that have delivered news before market open. You can read about the following and more throughout the day.

    Lindian Resources

    Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) says the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has completed an independent radiological assessment of 2 representative Kangankunde monazite concentrate samples (Certificate of Analysis 25GAM228, Appendix A). ANSTO concluded the representative samples would not be classified as radioactive for transport under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) transport framework and are exempt from the requirements of SSR-6 (Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material). As a result, Lindian’s concentrate shipments will not require Class 7 radioactive dangerous goods controls under SSR-6, supporting a simplified export and logistics pathway.

    Riversgold

    Riversgold Ltd (ASX:RGL, FRA:RGV, OTC:RVSGF) says it has significantly increased its tenement holding in the Kalgoorlie East area, proximal to the north and east of the company’s Kalgoorlie Gold Project (Northern Zone). The Northern Zone intrusive-hosted gold project is located on P25/2651 (M25/389 application), about 25 km east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

    archTIS

    archTIS Ltd (ASX:AR9, OTCQB:ARHLF) says it has been awarded a contract by a US and European military alliance to safeguard member-nation data for secure collaboration across transatlantic allied defence operations. The initial contract is for 2,500+ users valued at about A$416,000, with 2 subsequent option years totalling about A$805,000, for a total potential award of about A$1,220,000. The initial award covers the balance of calendar year 2026 and includes about A$244,000 for licensing and about A$170,000 for configuration and support, with each option year including 12-month licensing of about A$267,000 and about A$136,000 in support costs.

    Capral

    Capral Ltd (ASX:CAA, FRA:CBZ) released its financial results for the 12 months to 31 December 2025 (FY25), reporting revenue of $686 million (FY24: $650 million), volume of 65,000 tonnes (FY24: 67,800 tonnes), underlying EBITDA of $59.6 million (FY24: $58.2 million), underlying EBIT of $35.8 million (FY24: $34.3 million) and reported NPAT of $35.6 million (FY24: $32.5 million).

    European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were tracking higher late Wednesday morning, rising 1% to 1,860.69 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index.

    From continental Europe, the gainers were led by semiconductor company Sequans Communications (SQNS) and biopharmaceutical company Cellectis (CLLS), which advanced 11% and 6.3% respectively. They were followed by lender Banco Santander (SAN) and biopharmaceutical company DBV Technologies (DBVT), which increased 4.2% and 2.2% respectively.

    The decliners from continental Europe were led by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NVO) and brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), which dropped 2.3% and 2.2% respectively. They were followed by consumer goods company Unilever (UL) and biotech firm Evaxion (EVAX), which lost 1.6% and 0.6% respectively.

    From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by lender HSBC (HSBC) and mining company BHP Group (BHP), which rose 6.9% and 3.1% respectively. They were followed by biotech firm Autolus Therapeutics (AUTL) and biopharmaceutical company Mereo BioPharma Group (MREO), which were up 2.2% and 1.6% respectively.

    The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by alcoholic beverage company Diageo (DEO) and biopharmaceutical company Amarin (AMRN), which fell 13.4% and 10.2% respectively. They were followed by biotech firm Trinity Biotech (TRIB) and hospitality company InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which were down 0.9% and 0.7% respectively.

    Southern Copper Corporation SCCO reported copper production of 956,270 tons in 2025, reflecting a modest 1.8% year-over-year decline and falling 1% short of its guidance. Lower output at Buenavista and the Peruvian mines, partially offset by a rise in production at IMMSA and La Caridad mines, led to decreased numbers for the year.

    Expecting weaker ore grades at its Peruvian mines, SCCO projects 2026 copper production at around 911,400 tons, suggesting a 4.7% decline from 2025 levels.Despite these near-term headwinds, Southern Copper maintains a strong long-term outlook, targeting a significant ramp-up in output to roughly 1.6 million tons by 2035. This implies a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.3% from 2025 levels.

    To support this ambitious growth plan, the company intends to invest nearly $19.9 billion over the next decade, with the bulk of the capital allocated to projects in Peru. A substantial portion of this spending is scheduled through 2031 as key development projects progress.

    Production is expected to increase to about 1.15 million tons by 2031, surge to roughly 1.476 million tons in 2032 and continue rising steadily to reach the above-mentioned 1.6 million ton target by 2035. This trajectory highlights SCCO’s confidence in its robust and diversified project pipeline spanning Peru and Mexico.Among the key projects, the Tia Maria project located in Arequipa, Peru, with an annual capacity of 120,000 tons of SX- EW copper cathodes, is expected to start in 2027. In Mexico, El Pilar, expected to start in 2029, will contribute around 36,000 tons of copper cathodes annually.

    The El Arco project in Baja California is projected to come online by 2030, contributing around 190,000 tons of copper. This world-class copper deposit is located in the central part of the Baja California peninsula. The project includes an open-pit mine with a combined 120 ktpd concentrator and 28 ktpy SX-EW operations.Peru’s Los Chancas project is slated to add 130,000 tons of copper starting in 2031, followed by Michiquillay in 2032 with an expected 225,000 tons of copper. It will not only significantly boost SCCO’s production profile, but is expected to become one of Peru's largest copper mines.

    This phased and diversified pipeline suggests that temporary production softness may give way to a sustained growth cycle over the next decade.

    Peer BHP Group’s BHP copper production was 984 kt for the first half of fiscal 2026. Escondida achieved record concentrator throughput and improved recoveries, aided by operational enhancements. Copper SA delivered a record amount of material mined.

    In fiscal 2025, BHP had reported record copper output of 2,017 kt, up 8% year over year, crossing the 2,000 kt mark for the first time. Fiscal 2026 copper output is targeted at 1,900-2,000 kt (raised from 1,800-2,000 kt). BHP’s project pipeline could add two Mtpa of attributable copper output by the 2030s.

    Another peer, Teck Resources TECK reported copper production of around 454 thousand tons in 2025, up 1.8% year over year. It forecasts copper production at 455-530 thousand tons for 2026, 505 – 580 thousand tons for 2027 and 435 – 510 thousand tons for 2028. 

    Teck Resources has entered into a merger agreement with Anglo American plc to form the Anglo Teck group. Anglo Teck has more than 70% exposure to copper and an industry-leading portfolio, which consists of six world-class copper assets and premium iron ore and zinc operations. The combined annual copper production of 1.2 million tons is projected to grow 10% to 1.35 million tons by 2027.

    SCCO’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates

    Southern Copper shares have gained 126.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s 102.8% growth.

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    SCCO is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales multiple of 11.95X, a significant premium to the industry’s 5.49X.

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Southern Copper’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.36 per share, suggesting 21.4% year-over-year growth. The same for 2027 indicates a decline of 12.6%. Here is how the EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised over the past 60 days.

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    SCCO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

    You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

    Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

    BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR (BHP) : Free Stock Analysis Report

    Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

    Teck Resources Ltd (TECK) : Free Stock Analysis Report

    This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

    Zacks Investment Research

    Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 25, 2026) – Wealth Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: WML) (OTCQB: WMLLF) (SSE: WMLCL) (FSE: EJZN) (the "Company" or "Wealth") announces, further to their news releases dated January 12, January 26 and February 3, 2026, that they have closed the final tranche of the private placement. On February 25, 2026, the Company issued an additional 6,825,000 units at $0.08 per unit for gross proceeds of $546,000. The aggregate units issued total 19,575,000 and aggregate gross proceeds of $1,566,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant at $0.12, expiring on February 25, 2028. All securities issued have a four-month plus one day hold period.

    Finder's fees were paid to Canaccord Genuity Corp. ($3,920 cash and 49,000 finder's warrants and Haywood Securities Inc. ($2,800 cash and 35,000 finder's warrants).

    The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended, or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

    Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests Chile. The Company's focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America.

    The Company opportunistically advances battery metal projects where it has a peer advantage in project selection and initial evaluation. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. In parallel with lithium market dynamics, Wealth believes other battery metals will benefit from similar industry trends.

    For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    On Behalf of the Board of Directors

    WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

    "Hendrik van Alphen"Hendrik van AlphenChief Executive Officer

    For further information, please contact:Marla Ritchie, Michael Pound or Henk van AlphenPhone: 604-331-0096 or 604-638-3886

    For all Investor Relations inquiries, please contact:John LiviakisLiviakis Financial Communications Inc.Phone: 415-389-4670

    For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact:Nancy ThompsonVorticom, Inc.Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053

    Follow Us:Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WealthMineralsLtdLinkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealth-mineralsTwitter – https://www.twitter.com/WealthMinerals

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral projects, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

    **NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES**

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285377

    Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 25, 2026) – Lara Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: LRA) (OTC Pink: LRAXF), ("Lara" or the "Company") invites our stakeholders, including potential Join-Venture Partners, prospectors, and investors to visit the Lara Exploration team at our booth #2700 at the Prospectors Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") convention from March 1st to March 4th, 2026. Chairman Miles Thompson, President & CEO Simon Ingram, VP Corporate Development Christopher MacIntyre, and Liam Keane will be in attendance to meet with our stakeholders, identify new ideas, and discuss new partnerships. Please reach out to Liam Keane, liam@laraexploration.com or +1 (416) 871-9103 if you would like to schedule a meeting with a member of our team while at PDAC.

    Lara is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Planalto Copper-Gold Project in the Carajás Mineral Province of northern Brazil, with an open-pitable Mineral Resource detailed in a NI 43-101 Technical Report filed on October 17, 2024. Scoping studies completed in 2025 are detailed in NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment, results of which were published on October 21, 2025.

    Lara has maintained the Prospect and Royalty Generator business model for the rest of its portfolio, which aims to minimize shareholder dilution and financial risk by generating prospects and exploring them in joint ventures funded by partners, retaining a minority interest and or a royalty.

    The Company has entered into an agreement with Mining Stock Education LLC ("MSE") of Detroit, Michigan, to provide certain investor communication services to the Company for a period of 12 months. Payment will be made quarterly for an aggregate payment of US$84,000. Apart from such agreement, MSE has no interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

    About Lara Exploration

    Lara is an exploration company, focused on advancing its 100%-owned Planalto Copper-Gold Project in the Carajás mining district in northern Brazil. Based on the recent Planalto PEA report 1, it is anticipated that Planalto will be developed as a conventional open pit mine with a low strip-ratio, processing 8 Mtpa via a conventional crushing and grinding circuit followed by froth flotation. A single saleable chalcopyrite concentrate with a minor gold credit is to be transported internationally to third-party smelters. During the first 6 years, the PEA (Note 1) production schedule produces on average 36 kt (79 million lb) of copper and 7200 oz of gold per year, and over an 18-year mine life, Planalto will produce 560 kt (1.2 billion lb) of copper and 111,000 oz of gold. The project is located on private farmland, 4 km from the state highway with high tension powerlines alongside and close to two major Carajás mining towns within excellent infrastructure.

    Note 1: A NI 43.101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and Mineral Resource Estimate are detailed in reports filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) on November 17, 2025 and October 17, 2024 respectively. The PEA is preliminary in nature, and it includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and, as such, there is no certainty that the PEA results will be realized.

    For further information on Lara Exploration Ltd. please consult our website www.laraexploration.com, or contact Chris MacIntyre, VP Corporate Development, at +1 416 703 0010.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    -30-

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285334

    /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

    TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2026 /CNW/ – Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce the closing of a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of units ("Units"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,671,827 Units based on the market price at $1.00 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,671,827.

    The Units were subscribed by two existing institutional shareholders. The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the Offering to fund the continued development of the Company's integrated conversion strategy, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

    Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of Rock Tech (the "Common Shares", with such Common Shares comprising the Units, the "Unit Shares") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant", and together with the Units and the Unit Shares, the "Securities"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $1.15 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance of such Warrant, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the certificate evidencing such Warrant, including adjustment in certain circumstances.

    Closing of the Offering remains subject to receipt of final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

    The Company also announces that is has granted 2,510,000 stock options to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company. All Options were granted in accordance with the Company's Stock Option Plan. 1,300,000 of the options were issued to Directors and Officers of the Company. The Options were granted at an exercise price of $1,15. The Options will vest immediately and are exercisable for a five-year term, expiring February 23, 2031.

    All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    On behalf of the Company,Mirco WojnarowiczCEO

    ABOUT ROCK TECH LITHIUMRock Tech is enabling the battery age by making the battery industries in Europe and North America more independent and competitive. The Company's goal is to ensure the supply of high-quality, locally produced lithium – supporting a resilient, sustainable, and transparent value chain from mine to battery-grade material.

    Rock Tech relies on responsible sourcing, state-of-the-art and proven technologies, and a clear focus on circular economy principles. The Company's lithium hydroxide converter projects in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM per year) and Ontario, Canada (up to 36,000 tonnes LCE per year) form the foundation for a stable and regional supply to the battery and automotive industries. The Guben converter has been recognized as a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.

    The raw materials for Rock Tech's converter projects are sourced exclusively from verifiably ESG-compliant suppliers. In Canada, Rock Tech relies, among other sources, on its wholly owned Georgia Lake Project, which ensures a stable and sustainable supply for the North American market and is being developed in close partnership with local Indigenous communities. By integrating recycled materials, the company aims to close the local battery loop.

    With its facilities, Rock Tech makes a central contribution to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers, and community groups, and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards.

    CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATIONCertain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

    In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the expectations of the Company's management regarding the use of proceeds and the use of the available funds following completion of the Offering; receipt of all necessary approvals for the Offering; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties. The forward-looking information in this news release is based on several key assumptions and material factors, including but not limited to, obtaining necessary board, shareholder, and regulatory approvals. The forward-looking information also assumes favorable market conditions for lithium. Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; investor demand; changes in project plans; and risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

    View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rock-tech-lithium-closes-non-brokered-private-placement-for-aggregate-gross-proceeds-of-approximately-4-7-million-302697129.html

    Lindian strengthens Kangankunde leadership with rare earths commissioning veteran Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

    Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has appointed Cliff Webster as technical manager for its Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi, bolstering the team driving the operation toward first production as Stage 1 construction moves into its final stretch.

    Webster steps into the role at a pivotal moment, with commissioning on the horizon and Stage 2 expansion studies running in parallel. He will provide technical leadership across commissioning, operational readiness and performance reliability to underpin a disciplined start-up and ramp-up. Webster will also ensure Stage 2 technical inputs remain aligned with Lindian's objective of delivering 100,000 tonnes per annum of additional concentrate production under its expansion pathway.

    On Stage 1, Webster will lead technical governance across engineering interfaces, vendor management and construction integration, with early risk identification a central priority to protect commissioning performance and schedule integrity. His remit spans systems completion, pre-commissioning planning, commissioning execution, performance testing and operational handover, as well as the full suite of operational readiness work — operating procedures, workforce training, maintenance systems, critical spares strategy and structured ramp-up planning.

    “Stage 1 delivery will be defined by commissioning discipline, operational readiness and performance reliability. Cliff brings direct rare earth expansion experience from Mt Weld and a strong track record delivering complex process plants through start-up and ramp-up. His appointment materially strengthens our ability to execute Stage 1 efficiently while building a technically robust foundation for Stage 2 expansion,” Lindian Resources executive director Zac Komur said.

    Rare earths pedigree across two stages

    For Stage 2, Webster will contribute to ongoing expansion studies, with a particular focus on translating metallurgical test work into a robust, operable flotation concentrator design and embedding commissioning discipline and reliability principles from the outset to reduce scale-up risk.

    Webster brings more than three decades of experience across complex process plant operations and greenfields and brownfields project delivery. Most recently, he served as commissioning manager on the Lynas Rare Earths Mt Weld Expansion Project in Western Australia — a role that closely mirrors the demands he now faces at Kangankunde. His broader career spans senior technical and commissioning positions at Glencore's Murrin Murrin Nickel Operation, Vale's Goro Nickel Project, BHP's Ravensthorpe Nickel Project and Olympic Dam. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from Curtin University.

    Rio Tinto Group RIO and BHP Group Limited BHP are both familiar names operating in the Zacks Mining – Miscellaneous industry. As rivals, the companies are focused on the extraction of minerals including copper, zinc and iron, etc., and expanding operations through exploration activities, mine expansions and strategic partnerships.Both firms operate in capital-intensive mining businesses with long project timelines, regulatory requirements and heavy investment in infrastructure and technology. Let’s take a closer look at their fundamentals, growth prospects and risks.

    The Case for RIO

    Rio Tinto is benefiting from rising copper production, driven by strong operational performance across its assets. The company’s consolidated copper output increased 5% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025.RIO is making steady progress across its growth pipeline. In December 2025, the company achieved its first copper production at the Johnson Camp mine in Arizona using its proprietary Nuton technology. This marks a significant milestone, as Nuton enables cleaner, faster and more efficient copper recovery at an industrial scale.The Johnson Camp deployment includes the design and delivery of a heap leach technology package, targeting approximately 30,000 tons of refined copper over a four-year demonstration period. RIO plans to use Nuton technology to produce copper at this site with the lowest carbon emissions in the US.Also, the company is actively collaborating with U.S. customers to strengthen the domestic copper supply. Its total copper production reached 883 kilotonne (kt) in 2025, up 11% on a year-over-year basis.In the fourth quarter, RIO’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara facility showed improvement, with shipments rising 7% from the previous year. The aluminum production also delivered encouraging results. RIO’s aluminum output rose 2% in the quarter on a year-over-year basis, as refinery and smelter operations improved.Also, in January 2026, Rio Tinto and Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) inked a deal to acquire Votorantim’s controlling stake in Brazilian aluminium company CBA through a joint venture. The joint venture will be owned 33% by Rio Tinto and 67% by Chalco. The deal will help RIO to expand its green aluminium footprint and strengthen its supply chain.Several major growth projects of the company are progressing as well. In December 2025, RIO’s Rhodes Ridge joint venture approved a $191 million feasibility study to develop one of the world’s major undeveloped iron ore deposits in Western Australia, aiming for an initial annual production of 40-50 million tons. The study is expected to conclude in 2029. In October 2025, at the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, the first ore was loaded and transported, marking the start of commissioning across the mine, rail and port infrastructure. Despite the overall solid performance, the company faced some challenges during the quarter. Weather-related disruptions earlier in 2025 affected iron ore volumes. Planned maintenance activities at some copper mining projects temporarily reduced output, while cost pressures from inflation and higher sustaining capital spending impacted margins.

    The Case for BHP Group

    BHP continues to reshape its portfolio toward commodities such as copper and potash, allocating nearly 70% of its medium-term capital expenditure to these areas. This strategy positions the company to benefit from decarbonization, electrification, population growth and rising living standards in emerging markets.Copper production reached 984 kt in the first half of fiscal 2026. Escondida achieved record concentrator throughput and improved recoveries, aided by operational enhancements. Copper SA delivered a record amount of material mined.Fiscal 2026 copper output is targeted at 1,900-2,000 kt (raised from 1,800-2,000 kt). BHP Group’s project pipeline could add two Mtpa of attributable copper output by the 2030s.BHP is also advancing the Jansen Stage 1 potash project, a large-scale, low-cost, high-grade resource with a mine life exceeding 100 years. It is 75% completed and BHP is working toward its first production by mid-2027. Once operational, Jansen Stage 1 is expected to produce 4.35 million tons of potash annually. Stage 2 of the project has been 14% completed and is expected to deliver its first production in fiscal 2031. These investments will transform Jansen into one of the world’s largest potash mines, doubling production capacity to 8.5 million tons per year, positioning BHP as a major global producer of potash by the end of the decade.BHP produced 133.8 Mt of iron ore in the first half of fiscal 2026, up 2% year over year. Production at Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) was a record 129.8 Mt (146.6 Mt on a 100% basis). It is already halfway through the expected production for fiscal 2026 and is poised to offset the impact of a typically wet third quarter. Also, WAIO has been the lowest-cost iron ore producer globally for more than four years.For fiscal 2026, BHP expects iron ore production of 258-269 Mt, with WAIO contribution at 251-262 Mt (284-296 Mt on a 100% basis). This factors in the planned renewal of Car Dumper 3 (CD3) and the ongoing tie-in activities for Rail Technology Program 1 (RTP1). Over the medium term, WAIO production is expected to exceed 305 Mt annually, supported by expanded rail operation capacity unlocked by RTP1 and the Western Ridge Crusher Project, which will replace production from the depleting orebodies around Newman with first production in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. BHP is investing in a sixth car dumper and related infrastructure at Port Hedland.Despite strong operational performance, BHP faces several challenges. Ongoing geotechnical issues at its Broadmeadow coal mine have constrained production. Planned maintenance and lower ore grades at some copper operations temporarily affected output, while weather-related disruptions continue to pose risks across its iron ore and coal assets.

    How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for RIO & BHP?

    The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RIO’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates growth of 20.2%. The company’s EPS estimates have increased 12.4% over the past 60 days for 2026. 

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHP’s fiscal 2026 EPS implies year-over-year growth of 31.6%. The company’s EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have increased 6.9% over the past 60 days.

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    Price Performance and Valuation of RIO & BHP

    In the past six months, RIO’s shares have risen 56.7%, while BHP stock has surged 39.9%. 

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    Rio Tinto is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 11.98X while BHP Group’s forward earnings multiple sits at 16.14X.

    Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

    Final Take

    Rio Tinto and BHP Group are poised to benefit from strong momentum in the copper market, supported by strong asset bases and expanding production pipelines. RIO’s near-to-midterm outlook is strengthened by rising copper output, progress at the Nuton-led Johnson Camp project and diversified exposure across iron ore and aluminum. BHP’s long-term growth is driven by the strong performance of Escondida and the development of the Jansen Stage 1 potash project.However, Rio Tinto’s strong earnings estimates, price performance and an attractive valuation make it a better pick for investors than BHP currently. Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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    This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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