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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.

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

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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.

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

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

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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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Copper has morphed from a cyclical industrial metal into the backbone of a structural super theme, with prices recently hovering near record territory after jumping more than 40% in 2025 and staying above roughly $13,000 per metric ton on London futures early this year.

To this end, the S&P Global projects global copper demand to surge 50% by 2040, jumping to an estimated 42 million metric tons (as cited in a Forbes report).

Such a robust demand, combined with constrained mine growth, is causing a structural supply deficit, underpinning spot prices and strengthening the long-term outlook for copper. For investors seeking to position themselves for this multi-decade theme without being exposed to single-stock-specific risks, targeted copper exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide a straightforward way to gain diversified exposure to the red metal’s upside.

Before adding such ETFs to your portfolio, it is important to understand the specific catalysts behind this “Copper Crunch” and why a basket approach may be a prudent strategy. Doing so will help you make a more informed investment decision.

What’s Driving Copper Demand?

The primary engine driving this demand is undoubtedly the global energy transition. Copper is the metal of electrification, with everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to solar farms requiring it in vast quantities.

For example, S&P Global Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin highlighted in a recent interview with CNBC Television that an electric car uses significantly more copper (roughly 2.9% more) than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle.

The second most important catalyst reshaping the demand pool for Copper is the humongous demand for electricity generated from the skyrocketing number of artificial intelligence (AI) models being built. AI-driven data centers require immense amounts of power, and that power must be transmitted and managed using extensive copper-intensive electrical infrastructure.

This dual demand from electrification and AI is creating a powerful tailwind for demand, reinforcing copper's critical role in the modern economy as well as reshaping the mining industry's hierarchy. Evidently, BHP Group BHP, one of the world’s largest mining companies, recently reported that copper has officially displaced iron ore as its primary profit driver, accounting for 51% of its total underlying earnings in its latest half-year results.

Other pure-play copper miners like Freeport McMoRan FCX and Southern Copper SCCO have also witnessed a strong rally in their share prices lately, reflecting Wall Street’s favorable reaction to rising copper prices.

Why ETFs & Not Individual Miners?

Considering the aforementioned discussion, investing directly in a copper miner can be lucrative, but it comes with company-specific risks. For instance, a miner might face a sudden regulatory hurdle in a key jurisdiction, a labor strike at a primary mine, or significant cost overruns on a new expansion project—all of which can hammer the stock price even if copper prices remain strong. Thus, a single operational setback can wipe out an investor's gains.

A copper ETF effectively sidesteps this "single-stock risk." By holding a diversified basket of miners — from global giants to smaller developers — and potentially copper futures contracts, the ETF helps smooth out volatility caused by issues at any single company.

Copper ETFs to Consider

For investors looking to capitalize on the anticipated demand surge of copper, here are a few ETFs to consider:

Global X Copper Miners ETF COPX

This fund, with assets worth $7.49 billion, provides exposure to 41 copper mining companies. Its top three holdings include Lundin Mining LUNMF (6.11%), Sumitomo Metal Mining SMMYY (5.73%), and Boliden AB (5.43%).

COPX has surged a solid 24.1% year to date. The fund charges 65 basis points (bps) as fees. It traded at a good volume of 3.99 million shares in the last trading session.

iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF ICOP

This fund, with net assets worth $455.7 million, provides exposure to 47 global copper and metal ore miners. Its top three holdings include FCX (8.42%), BHP (7.91%) and Anglo American NGLOY (7.90%).

ICOP has soared 22.3% year to date. The fund charges 47 bps as fees. It traded at a volume of 0.16 million shares in the last trading session.

United States Copper ETF (CPER

This fund, with net assets worth $875.5 million, reflects the performance of the investment returns from a portfolio of copper futures contracts on the COMEX exchange. CPER has gained 3.4% year to date.

The fund charges 106 bps as fees. It traded at a volume of 0.59 million shares in the last trading session.

Sprott Copper Miners ETF COPP

This fund, with net assets worth $288.8 million, provides exposure to physical copper and 63 copper miners. Its top three holdings include FCX (25.70%), Teck Resources TECK (9.90%) and Antofagasta plc (9.40%).

COPP has rallied 19.3% year to date. The fund charges 65 bps as fees. It traded at a volume of 0.31 million shares in the last trading session.

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

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

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX): ETF Research Reports

Lundin Mining Corp. (LUNMF) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Teck Resources Ltd (TECK) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Anglo American (NGLOY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF (ICOP): ETF Research Reports

Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP): ETF Research Reports

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. – Unsponsored ADR (SMMYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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BHP Group has agreed to sell its San Manuel copper property in Arizona to Faraday Copper.
As part of the transaction, BHP will receive a 30% equity stake in Faraday Copper.
The deal positions both companies to work toward a potential restart of copper production at San Manuel.
The transaction supports efforts to strengthen U.S. copper supply chain resilience.

BHP Group (ASX:BHP), trading at A$54.02, is adding another piece to its copper presence in North America through this San Manuel deal. The company gains an ownership interest in Faraday Copper while consolidating copper assets in Arizona. For investors, this move comes after a period of recent share price appreciation, with the stock up 7.3% over the past week and 18.1% year to date.

Looking ahead, the San Manuel property provides BHP with exposure to a possible future production site in the U.S. without directly operating the asset at this time. The collaboration with Faraday Copper may create potential for infrastructure and environmental efficiencies and could support regional economic activity if redevelopment proceeds.

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

ASX:BHP Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026

3 things going right for BHP Group that this headline doesn't cover.

This San Manuel deal fits into a wider copper-focused push at BHP. Recent guidance points to copper production of 1.0 to 1.1 million tonnes in FY 2027, with an additional 400,000 tonnes of incremental production targeted over 2027 to 2031. Rather than pursuing every project on its own balance sheet, BHP is using a partner-operator model here, trading ownership of the property for a 30% stake in Faraday and rights to support future equity raises up to US$20 million. That gives BHP exposure to a potential U.S. copper hub with road, rail, gas and power access, while Faraday focuses on project execution at San Manuel and Copper Creek. For you as an investor, this sits alongside other copper-linked moves, such as the US$4.3b silver stream on Antamina, where BHP has retained full exposure to core copper output. Together, these transactions show BHP tying its portfolio more tightly to copper, while using partnerships to share capital and operational risk with smaller counterparties.

How This Fits Into The BHP Group Narrative

The San Manuel and Faraday agreement lines up with the narrative focus on copper growth projects and long-life assets in large resource districts.
Relying on a partner to advance a key U.S. project introduces project execution and permitting risk that sits outside BHP’s direct operational control, which could test the narrative’s emphasis on cost leadership and disciplined delivery.
The potential creation of a U.S. copper hub with consolidated infrastructure and streaming-style deals like Antamina may not be fully reflected in earlier commentary that focused mainly on iron ore, Jansen and existing copper operations.

Knowing what a company is worth starts with understanding its story.
Check out one of the top narratives in the Simply Wall St Community for BHP Group to help decide what it's worth to you.

The Risks and Rewards Investors Should Consider

⚠️ The San Manuel transaction is based on a non binding agreement and still depends on shareholder and regulatory approvals, so there is a risk the deal timeline slips or terms change.
⚠️ Concentration in copper and exposure to project partners in Arizona and Peru add another layer of operational and permitting risk alongside existing exposure to iron ore and large projects like Jansen.
🎁 The equity stake in Faraday gives BHP upside if a consolidated Copper Creek and San Manuel district proves successful, without committing all the development capital itself.
🎁 Recent results showing US$27,902 million of sales and US$5,640 million of net income, together with increased copper guidance and new streaming deals, indicate BHP is using its balance sheet and cash flow to reshape the portfolio around higher priority commodities.

What To Watch Going Forward

You may want to watch how quickly the non binding letter of intent with Faraday Copper moves to a definitive agreement, and whether closing by the end of Q3 2026 remains on track. Progress on technical studies and permitting at San Manuel and Copper Creek will be important to see if a restart is realistic. It is also worth tracking how this Arizona hub concept fits alongside BHP’s wider copper targets for FY 2027 and beyond, and how management allocates capital across other options in Chile, Peru and future deals competing for funding with Rio Tinto, Glencore and Teck Resources. Finally, monitor future commentary around U.S. copper supply chain resilience, as that policy backdrop could influence timelines and the eventual shape of the project.

To ensure you're always in the loop on how the latest news impacts the investment narrative for BHP Group, head to the
community page for BHP Group to never miss an update on the top community narratives.

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.

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

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / February 23, 2026 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY)(OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$100,002,000 (the "Offering") from strategic and other investors, including Lundin Family Trusts (as defined below) and a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Group Limited ("BHP"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering primarily for the ongoing advancement of copper projects in Pinal County, Arizona, including transaction expenses in connection with the planned acquisition and integration of the San Manuel property from BHP (see news release dated February 20, 2026).

Under the terms of the Offering, the Company intends to issue up to 23,810,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of C$4.20 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$100,002,000.

The Private Placement is scheduled to close on or about March 11, 2026, and will be subject to regulatory approval, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and other customary closing conditions for a transaction of this nature including, but not limited to, execution of subscription agreements between the Company and the subscribers.

The Common Shares will be issued on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws and will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Trusts settled by the late Adolf H. Lundin (the "Lundin Family Trusts") have indicated their intention to participate in the Offering. Any such participation would be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), as a private entity controlled by the Lundin Family Trusts is currently the Company's largest shareholder. The Company intends to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of any Common Shares issued to or the consideration paid by such persons will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Faraday Copper

Faraday Copper is an exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek Project is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with significant district scale exploration potential. Faraday is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".

For additional information please contact:

Stacey Pavlova, CFAVice President, Investor Relations & CommunicationsFaraday Copper Corp.E-mail: info@faradaycopper.comWebsite: www.faradaycopper.com

To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the quantum and the completion of the Offering, and the timing thereof; the anticipated use of net proceeds of the Offering; and the receipt of TSX and other regulatory approvals.

Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of mineral resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Rio Tinto Group RIO reported strong growth in iron ore production and shipments in the fourth quarter of 2025. During the quarter, Pilbara iron ore shipments reached 91.3 million tons, increasing 7% from the year-ago-quarter figure. The company’s Pilbara iron ore production stood at 89.7 million tons (up 4% year over year), reflecting robust output despite weather-related disruptions earlier in 2025.The robust performance was primarily supported by Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations in Western Australia. The Gudai-Darri project continued its strong performance in the fourth quarter, after achieving a record 51 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) run rate in the previous quarter. The successful rollout of the new Pilbara Blend product strategy also contributed to improved product mix, with lower SP10 volumes as planned.Also, the company is poised to benefit from several of its major growth projects. 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 likely to conclude in 2029. In October 2025, at the Simandou iron ore project based in Guinea, the first ore was loaded and transported. It marked the start of commissioning across the mine, rail and port infrastructure.The company’s strong performance at the Gudai-Darri facility, supported by record output and improved system efficiency, highlights Rio Tinto’s operational strength in iron ore. Its major pipeline of projects, including the likes of Rhodes Ridge and Simandou, is advancing steadily, positioning the company well for long-term growth.

Snapshot of RIO’s Peers

Among its major peers, Vale S.A.’s VALE iron ore sales totaled 84.9 metric tons (Mt) in the fourth quarter of 2025, which marked 5% growth from last year’s comparable quarter. Vale’s iron ore production was up 6% to 90.4 Mt from the year-ago quarter. Vale’s average realized iron ore fines price increased 1.1% quarter over quarter to $95.40 per ton.Its other peer, BHP Group Limited BHP, produced a record 263 Mt of iron ore in fiscal 2025. This came within BHP Group’s guidance of 255-265.5 Mt and was up 1% year over year. Production at BHP Group’s Western Australia Iron Ore was a record of 257 Mt (290 Mt on a 100% basis).

RIO's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates

Shares of Rio Tinto have gained 57.2% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 42.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, RIO is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11.88X, below the industry’s average of 16.00X. Rio Tinto carries a Value Score of B.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RIO’s 2026 earnings has increased 12.3% over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

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Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Compass Minerals (CMP), a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Compass Minerals currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?

Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for CMP that show why this minerals producer shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For CMP, shares are up 10.3% over the past week while the Zacks Chemical – Diversified industry is up 3.42% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 0.53% compares favorably with the industry's 11.11% performance as well.

While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics — such as performance over the past three months or year — can be useful as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Compass Minerals have risen 23.73%, and are up 92.42% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 2.88% and 13.25%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of CMP's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now CMP is averaging 514,620 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings Outlook

The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with CMP.

Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. This revision helped boost CMP's consensus estimate, increasing from $0.70 to $0.80 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom Line

Given these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that CMP is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Compass Minerals on your short list.

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Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research

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BHP Group (ASX:BHP) is converting its Escondida Norte pit into one of the world’s first fully autonomous mines, reshaping how it runs one of its key copper assets.
Chinese import restrictions on Jimblebar iron ore are affecting BHP’s sales into a core market and are feeding into contract talks and sourcing decisions.
The company has selected its largest cohort for the 2026 Xplor early-stage exploration program, expanding its pipeline of potential future projects.

BHP Group, trading as ASX:BHP, sits at the center of global commodity supply, with major positions in iron ore and copper that link directly to construction, infrastructure and electrification trends. Automation at Escondida Norte ties into a broader industry push toward remote operations and data driven pits, which can change cost profiles, operating risks and workforce needs over time.

At the same time, China’s restrictions on Jimblebar iron ore and BHP’s broader exploration push through the 2026 Xplor cohort offer a view of how the company is adjusting its mix of customers and future options. These moves may affect how BHP balances technology, market access and new resource discoveries over time.

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

ASX:BHP Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026

How BHP Group stacks up against its biggest competitors

Investor Checklist Quick Assessment

❌ Price vs Analyst Target: At A$49.42, the share price is about 3.8% above the A$47.62 analyst target.
❌ Simply Wall St Valuation: Shares are described as trading 23.1% above estimated fair value.
✅ Recent Momentum: The 30 day return is 8.0%.

Check out Simply Wall St’s
in depth valuation analysis for BHP Group.

Key Considerations

📊 The Escondida Norte autonomous mine plan and China import restrictions point to a business that is adjusting how and where it sources returns from key assets.
📊 Watch how automation spending, copper output from Escondida and any changes in Jimblebar sales mix show up in future earnings and capital expenditure numbers.
⚠️ The flagged risk of an unstable dividend record may matter more if trade restrictions or project costs pressure cash flows.

Dig Deeper

For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the
complete BHP Group analysis.

Companies discussed in this article include BHP.AX.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

Last Friday, the three most widely followed benchmark indexes closed a mixed week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite receded 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively, while the S&P 500 managed a 0.3% gain.

The market’s movement was driven by investors digesting President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, which triggered concerns regarding future monetary policy, a stronger dollar and a massive sell-off in precious metals like silver and gold. Additionally, the tech sector faced pressure from poor earnings, with Microsoft and other heavyweights causing volatility, while higher-than-expected producer price data added to anxiety over persistent inflation.

Regardless of market conditions, we, here at Zacks, provide investors with unbiased guidance on how to beat the market.

As usual, Zacks Research guided investors over the past three months with its time-tested methodologies. Given the prevailing market uncertainty, you may want to look at our feats to prepare better for your next action.

Here are some of our key achievements:

Ekso Bionics and Five Below Surge Following Zacks Rank Upgrade

Shares of Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. EKSO have gained 115.9% (versus the S&P 500’s 4.4% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on November 20.

Another stock, Five Below, Inc. FIVE, which was upgraded to a #1 (Strong Buy) on December 5, has returned 13.8% since then.

An equal-weight portfolio of Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy) stocks outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 index by 7 percentage points (+17.81% for the Zacks Rank #1 stocks vs. +10.85% for the index).

This hypothetical equal-weight portfolio returned +22.4% in 2024 vs. +13.7% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. Over the preceding 10-year period (2016 through 2025), this portfolio of qual-weight Zacks Rank #1 stocks has outperformed the equal-weight S&P 500 index by more than 7 percentage points (+18.55% vs. +11.65%).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here >>>

Check Ekso’ historical EPS and Sales here>>>

Check Five Below’s historical EPS and Sales here>>>

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Zacks Recommendation Upgrades Lumentum and BHP

Shares of Lumentum Holdings Inc. LITE and BHP Group Limited BHP have surged 23.3% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.7% rise) and 17.8% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.2% rise), since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on December 2 and December 9, respectively.

While the Zacks Rank is our short-term rating system that is most effective over the one- to three-month holding horizon, the Zacks Recommendation aims to predict performance over the next 6 to 12 months. However, just like the Zacks Rank, the foundation for the Zacks Recommendation is trends in earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Recommendation classifies stocks into three groups — Outperform, Neutral and Underperform. While these recommendations are determined quantitatively, our analysts have the flexibility to override them for the 1100+ stocks they closely follow based on their better judgment of factors such as valuation, industry conditions and management effectiveness than the quantitative model.

To access our research reports with Zacks Recommendations for the 1100+ stocks we cover, click here>>>

Zacks Focus List Stocks Micron, Lam Research Shoot Up

Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. MU, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 85.4% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the Focus List on December 27, 2016. Another Focus-List holding, Lam Research Corporation LRCX, which was added to the portfolio on December 5, 2016, has returned 48.3% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has inched up 1.4% over this period.

The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +22.1% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.

The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024 vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio had returned +29.54% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +13.61% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. In 2022, the portfolio returned -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.

The portfolio has outperformed on a rolling one-year (+22.1% vs. +17.9%), three years (+23.3% vs. +23.01%), and 10 years (+15.5% vs. +14.8%) and since 2004 (+12.1% vs. +10.7%).

Unlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Focus List, Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. Gain full access now >>

Zacks ECAP Stocks Novo Nordisk & Intercontinental Exchange Gain Significantly

Novo Nordisk A/S NVO, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 20.2% over the past 12 weeks. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. ICE has also followed Novo Nordisk with 18.8% returns.

The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +2.7% gain (SPY ETF). For 2025 as a whole, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. +17.9% gain for the S&P 500 index.

For the year 2024, the portfolio returned +16.26% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index (SPY ETF).

In 2023, the portfolio returned +12.17% vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.

With little to no turnover and annual rebalance periodicity, ECAP seeks to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies whose earnings streams exhibit a proven 20+ year track record of surviving recessionary periods with minimal impact on aggregate earnings growth relative to the overall S&P 500.

The ECAP and many other model portfolios are available as part of Zacks Advisor Tools, a cloud-based solution to access Zacks award-winning stock, mutual fund and ETF research. Click here to schedule a demo.

Zacks ECDP Stocks Colgate-Palmolive and Hershey Outperform Peers

Colgate-Palmolive Company CL, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 17.2% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, The Hershey Company HSY, has climbed 14.8% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.

Check Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend history here>>>

Check Hershey’s dividend history here>>>

With an extremely low beta and a history of minimum earnings variability over the last 20+ years, this 25-stock portfolio helps significantly mitigate risk.

The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -2.1% in 2025 Q4 vs. the S&P 500 index’s +2.7% gain and the Dividend Aristocrats ETF’s (NOBL) +1.6% return. For 2025, the portfolio returned -0.6% vs. +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrat ETF.

For the full year 2024, the portfolio returned +6.95% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index and +6.72% for NOBL.

The portfolio returned -0.9% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +8.11% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 vs. -17.96% for the S&P 500 index and -8.34% for NOBL.

Click here to access this portfolio on Zacks Advisor Tools.

Zacks Top 10 Stock VSE Corporation Delivers Solid Returns

VSE Corporation VSEC, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025, has jumped 20.5% since Jan. 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 Index’s 1.3% increase.

The Top 10 portfolio returned +22.6% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.

The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio had returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index.

Since 2012, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,472.7%vs. +561.6% for the S&P 500 index and +403.3% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +25.8% in the period 2012 through year-end 2025, vs. +13.1% for the S&P 500 index and +10.5% for the equal-weight version of the index.

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Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Hershey Company (The) (HSY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report

VSE Corporation (VSEC) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. (EKSO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – February 2, 2026 – Zacks Market Edge is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2825783/3-strong-buy-stocks-that-are-breaking-out-in-2026)

3 Strong Buy Stocks That Are Breaking Out in 2026

Welcome to Episode #473 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.

(0:30) – Back To The Basics: Finding Stocks Hitting New 52-Week Highs
(3:15) – How To Use A Stock Screener To Find These Strong Investments
(19:00) – Breaking Down 3 Stocks You Should Consider For Your Portfolio
(35:10) – Episode Roundup: ITUB, AAUC, ARMN, BHP
Podcast@Zacks.com

Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds, and ETFs and how it impacts your life.

This week, Tracey went solo to screen for Zacks Strong Buy stocks that were also trading at 52-week highs. It's the best of both worlds. The top Zacks Rank and the stock is already breaking out.

Screening for Hot Top Stocks

At the time Tracey ran this screen, there were 212 Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks. Zacks ranks over 4,000 stocks so it's a small group that can make the strong buy list.

Tracey also added stocks trading at their 52-week high and this screen, with just two criteria returned just 32 stocks.

Three industries dominated the list of stocks: gold miners, metal miners and foreign banks.

Here is one stock from each industry.

3 Strong Buy Stocks That Are Breaking Out in 2026

1. Aris Mining Corp. ARMN

Aris Mining is a junior gold miner headquartered in Canada but operating and exploring in South America. It operates 2 underground mines in Colombia and has a development pipeline in Guyana and Colombia. Aris Mining has a goal to produce 1 million ounces of gold annually. It guided production in 2026 in the range of 300,000 to 350,000 ounces.

With gold soaring above $5,000 an ounce in 2026, shares of Aris Mining have been hitting new highs as well. It's up 25% year-to-date. Yet the shares remain cheap, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.

Aris Mining is a Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) stock.

Is there more upside to come in the gold miners like Aris Mining?

2. BHP Group Ltd. BHP

BHP Group is an Australian commodities giant producing copper, iron ore, steelmaking coal, and energy coal. When BHP Group reported its first half 2026 results, it said it was entering the second half of 2026 with strong operating momentum. Copper prices have soared, rising over 30%.

Shares of BHP are up 26% over the last year. It's still attractively priced with a forward P/E of 15.2. A P/E ratio of 15 or less is considered a value.

BHP Group is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Should investors consider a copper producer like BHP Group in 2026?

3. Itaú Unibanco Holding ITUB

Itaú Unibanco is a regional bank headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Itaú Unibanco calls itself Brazil's largest private bank in market value and the most valuable brand in Latin America.

Shares have jumped 77.6% over the last year. Itaú Unibanco pays a dividend, which is currently yielding 0.5%.

It's a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Is it time for investors to consider emerging market stocks like Itaú Unibanco?

What Else Should You Know About Strong Buy Stocks to Start 2026?

Tune into this week's podcast to find out.

[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of ARMN in the Zacks Value Investor portfolio as well as her personal portfolio.]

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. (ITUB) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Aris Mining Corporation (ARMN) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research

MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BHP has selected 10 early-stage exploration and technology companies for the 2026 BHP Xplor program, marking the largest cohort since the program began and its fourth year of operation.

The 2026 cohort brings together junior exploration companies, geoscience organisations, and technology teams that collectively span the discovery system. It reflects a more connected approach to early-stage exploration, where geological insight, data, and emerging technologies increasingly intersect, and where collaboration across disciplines is becoming central to how discovery evolves.

As exploration moves into more remote and geologically complex environments, this intersection of expertise is opening up new possibilities for how mineral systems are understood, tested, and advanced at the earliest stages.

Tim O’Connor, BHP Group Exploration Officer, said:

“Exploration is evolving quickly. New tools, better data, and different ways of working are changing how early-stage ideas are tested and refined. This cohort reflects that shift, bringing together explorers and technology developers who are approaching discovery in thoughtful and practical ways. Xplor gives us a valuable opportunity to learn alongside them and explore what discovery could look like in the future.”

Xplor 2026’s ten successful applicants

Exploration companies

FrontierX (Canada) – Frontier X is an early-stage uranium exploration company in Canada, formed by two BHP Xplor Year One alumni, Fabian Baker and Andrew Tunningley. Through Xplor, the company is undertaking a preliminary uranium project, focused on testing early geological concepts and building an initial understanding of exploration potential.

Litchfield Minerals (Australia) – Litchfield Minerals is an Australian exploration company advancing copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold opportunities in the Northern Territory. Through Xplor, the company is focusing on its Oonagalabi project in the Arunta region, applying modern geophysics and targeted fieldwork to build a clearer picture of a large, underexplored mineral system.

Orion Minerals (South Africa) – Orion Minerals is a listed exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and zinc assets in South Africa’s Northern Cape. Through Xplor, Orion is applying modern data analytics and mineral systems thinking across its large tenement package to identify new discovery opportunities beyond known deposits.

Otrera Resources (South America) – Otrera Resources is an early-stage exploration company focused on sediment-hosted copper systems. Its Xplor project is centred on advancing new copper targets drawing on the team’s deep regional experience and modern geochemical and geological approaches.

PT GeoFix (Indonesia) – PT GeoFix Indonesia is a multidisciplinary geoscience consultancy supporting mineral exploration across Southeast Asia. Through Xplor, GeoFix is applying its proprietary prospectivity tools and regional expertise to test new porphyry copper-gold exploration concepts in underexplored parts of the Sunda-Banda Arc.

Utah Geological Survey (USA) – Utah Geological Survey is the State of Utah’s primary geoscience organisation, providing authoritative geological data and scientific insight to support resource management and exploration. Through Xplor, UGS is leading a regional mineral systems analysis across the eastern Great Basin, integrating new datasets and targeted fieldwork to improve understanding of mineral potential and make high-quality geoscience data publicly available.

Technology Companies

RadiXplore (Australia) – RadiXplore is a technology company using artificial intelligence to analyse historical exploration records alongside modern geological and corporate data. Through Xplor, RadiXplore is applying its AI platform to copper exploration, testing how legacy data can be re-interpreted to surface overlooked opportunities and support earlier, more informed discovery decisions.

Mineural (Canada) – Mineural is a Canadian deep-tech company using artificial intelligence to help exploration teams identify and prioritise mineral targets more efficiently. Through Xplor, Mineural is applying its AI platform, IRIS, to copper exploration, combining machine learning with BHP’s geological expertise to test how AI can support earlier, more responsible discovery decisions.

VectOres Science (USA) – VectOres Science is a US-based mining technology company developing non-invasive hydrogeochemical and isotopic tools to support mineral exploration. Through Xplor, the company is applying its water and isotope chemistry platform to test how real-time primary data can help identify and prioritise mineral systems earlier, without reliance on initial drilling.

Discovery Genomics (Canada) – Discovery Genomics is a Vancouver-based technology company developing DNA sequencing as a new tool for mineral exploration. Through Xplor, the company is advancing its genomics platform for copper exploration, testing how microbial DNA signatures can help identify buried mineral systems in covered and complex terrains.

www.bhp.com/xplor

Josie Brophy: Media.relations@bhp.com

Friday, January 30, 2026

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) and Amphenol Corp. (APH), as well as a micro-cap stock, National Research Corp. (NRC). These research reports have been hand-picked from roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>

Ahead of Wall Street

The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.

You can read today's AWS here >>> PPI Higher, Warsh in as Fed Chair, Q4 Earnings Continue

Today's Featured Research Reports

Meta Platforms’ shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet – Software industry over the past year (+7.1% vs. -6.9%). The Zacks analyst believes the company is benefiting from steady global user growth, especially in Asia Pacific. Strong engagement across Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook, improved AI-driven recommendations, and rising advertiser appeal strengthen its competitive position.

However, Meta’s heavy focus on building advanced AI models and large-scale services brings uncertainty. Monetizing these AI offerings will take time, posing execution and payoff risks.

(You can read the full research report on Meta Platforms here >>>)

Palantir’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet – Software industry over the past year (+84.1% vs. -6.9%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company’s AI strategy, led by Foundry, Gotham and AIP, serves government and commercial clients with real-time insights. Defense projects like Open DAGIR and AIP boot camps support customer acquisition and strengthen its position in applied AI.

Yet, Palantir faces intense competition from major tech players. Rapid AI evolution and rising operating complexity pose challenges, while its limited focus on shareholder payouts may deter income-focused investors.

(You can read the full research report on Palantir here >>>)

Amphenol’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Electronics – Connectors industry over the past six months (+40.4% vs. +37.1%). The Zacks analyst believes that the company benefits from a diversified business model that reduces end-market and geographic volatility. Its strong portfolio of high-technology interconnect solutions supports demand across defense, commercial air, industrial, and IT datacom markets, with next-generation systems driving long-term growth.

However, macroeconomic uncertainty and stiff competition across electronics and connectivity markets pose risks, potentially pressuring demand visibility and margins over time.

(You can read the full research report on Amphenol here >>>)

National Research’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Business – Information Services industry over the past two years (-49.1% vs. -9.0%). The Zacks analyst believes revenue softness from legacy client attrition remains a concern from the company. Rising SG&A and depreciation pressured operating margins, while higher debt and interest costs increase financial risk. Ongoing competitive pricing pressure and retention challenges threaten core revenue stability.

Yet, NRC Health’s TRCV growth points to demand recovery. Partnerships validate its platform, cost savings aid margins, and strong liquidity supports growth and returns.

(You can read the full research report on National Research here >>>)

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include BHP Group Ltd. (BHP), HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV).Mark VickerySenior EditorNote: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>

Today's Must Read

Expanding AI Usage Drives Meta Platforms' (META) Prospects

Palantir's (PLTR) AIP is at the Core of Its Expanding AI Strategy

End-Market Strength and Diversification Aids Amphenol (APH)

Featured Reports

Cologuard Uptake Aids Exact Sciences (EXAS) Despite Rising CostsThe Zacks Analyst is impressed by Exact Sciences' more than 12,000 Cologuard test orders – the greatest number in over five years. Yet, rising costs are pressuring profitability.

Favorable Solar Demand Across the Globe Aid First Solar (FSLR)Per the Zacks analyst, First Solar benefits from rising solar demand across the globe. The company is also making major investments to expand its manufacturing capacity.

Liberty Energy (LBRT) Benefits from Surging Data Center DemandThe Zacks analyst believes that surging data center demand established Liberty Energy's strong foothold in distributed power infrastructure but expected near term revenue decline raises concern.

Investments, Permian Assets Aid Plains All American (PAA)Per the Zacks analyst Plains All American Pipelines will gain from systematic investments to expand its operation and its wide presence in Permian Basin through organic projects and JVs.

Strong Renewal Rate Change, Retention Aid Travelers (TRV)Per the Zacks analyst, Travelers is set to gain from continued strong renewal rate change and retention and increase in new business. Yet, exposure to cat loss inducing underwriting volatility ails.

Life-Science Assets Demand Aid Alexandria (ARE) Amid Interest ExpensesPer the Zacks Analyst, improving demand for top-quality life-science assets and strategic asset dispositions will likely drive Alexandria's growth, though high interest expenses are concerning.

Improving Top Line, Acquisitions Aid HCA Healthcare (HCA)Per the Zacks analyst, its growing revenues driven by increasing admissions have led to significant growth. Strategic acquisitions have helped it expand and remains a driving factor.

New Upgrades

High Metal Prices, Operation Efficiency Aid BHP Group (BHP)The Zacks analyst believes rising iron and copper prices along with BHP's strong cash flow, focus on lowering debt and efforts to make operations more efficient will drive growth.

Alkermes (ALKS) Rides on Robust Sales Performance of Proprietary DrugsPer the Zacks analyst, Alkermes' top line is being driven by the sales of its proprietary drugs, Vivitrol, Aristada and Lybalvi. The company is also making good progress with its pipeline development.

Hershey's (HSY) Pricing Strategy Drives Organic GrowthPer the Zacks analyst, Hershey has been benefiting from disciplined pricing actions. Net price realization contributed approximately 6 points to organic growth during the third quarter.

New Downgrades

High Costs, Weak Demand in Few Markets Ail AptarGroup (ATR)The Zacks analyst is concerned that higher raw material and transportation costs and weak demand in few of its markets will weigh on AptarGroup's results.

Weaker Bookings and Stiff Competition Weigh on Itron (ITRI)Per the Zacks analyst, Itron's weaker third-quarter bookings, with macro challenges likely to keep year-end and 2025 booking levels below target. High debt burden and stiff rivalry remain concerns.

Schneider (SNDR) is Hurt by Operational Issues and High CostsPer the Zacks Analyst, Schneider is weighed down by an increase in third-party carrier capacity costs, unplanned auto production shutdowns, and raised healthcare costs.

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BHP Group (ASX:BHP) has converted its Escondida Norte pit into a fully autonomous mining operation, reaching a major operational milestone.
The company reports improvements in safety and productivity from autonomy at Escondida Norte, supporting its long term copper plans.
At the same time, BHP is dealing with China's ongoing ban on Jimblebar iron ore, which is affecting sales into that market.
The restriction on Jimblebar ore is prompting BHP to redirect volumes to other buyers, with potential commercial and pricing implications.

BHP Group, listed as ASX:BHP, is one of the largest diversified miners, with core exposure to iron ore, copper and other commodities. The move to fully autonomous operations at Escondida Norte fits with a broader industry push toward technology, automation and safety gains in large scale mining. For copper in particular, efficient long life assets are a key focus area for many global miners.

For you as an investor, these developments highlight how BHP is adjusting both on the production side and in its customer mix. The company is expanding its use of automation to support its copper operations, while recalibrating iron ore flows in response to China's restrictions on Jimblebar material.

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

ASX:BHP Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Jan 2026

How BHP Group stacks up against its biggest competitors

The fully autonomous Escondida Norte pit fits directly into BHP Group's push to run long life, low cost copper assets more efficiently, which matters when copper prices are volatile and supply is tight. At the same time, redirecting Jimblebar iron ore away from China and offering discounts to stimulate sales shows how dependent BHP still is on iron ore cash flow, even as it focuses on copper and potash projects.

How This Fits The BHP Group Narrative

These developments align with existing BHP Group narratives that emphasize copper and potash as long term pillars and iron ore concentration as a key sensitivity. Automation at Escondida Norte and progress on Jansen sit within the “long life, low cost assets” theme. In contrast, the Jimblebar restrictions and cost increases at Jansen highlight execution and customer concentration risks that analysts have already discussed.

Risks And Rewards To Keep In Mind

Automation at Escondida Norte supports BHP's goal of efficient, large scale copper production, an area many investors monitor closely given electrification and AI related demand.
A growing copper and potash pipeline provides BHP with another potential driver of growth alongside peers such as Rio Tinto and Glencore, which are also active in these commodities.
China's restrictions on Jimblebar iron ore and the need to discount cargoes introduce pricing and contract risk for a commodity that still represents a large share of BHP's business.
Higher capital costs and longer payback periods at Jansen highlight project execution risk and the possibility that large growth projects may not deliver returns as quickly as some investors might anticipate.

What To Watch Next

From here, you may want to monitor how quickly BHP rolls out autonomy to other pits, how iron ore contract discussions with Chinese buyers develop, and whether Jansen remains within its revised cost and schedule guidance. If you want to see how different investors are thinking about these factors, you can review the community narratives for BHP Group and compare them with your own expectations.

Companies discussed in this article include BHP.AX.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

(0:30) – Back To The Basics: Finding Stocks Hitting New 52-Week Highs
(3:15) – How To Use A Stock Screener To Find These Strong Investments
(19:00) – Breaking Down 3 Stocks You Should Consider For Your Portfolio
(35:10) – Episode Roundup: ITUB, AAUC, ARMN, BHP
Podcast@Zacks.com

Welcome to Episode #473 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.

Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds, and ETFs and how it impacts your life.

This week, Tracey went solo to screen for Zacks Strong Buy stocks that were also trading at 52-week highs. It’s the best of both worlds. The top Zacks Rank and the stock is already breaking out.

Screening for Hot Top Stocks

At the time Tracey ran this screen, there were 212 Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks. Zacks ranks over 4,000 stocks so it’s a small group that can make the strong buy list.

Tracey also added stocks trading at their 52-week high and this screen, with just two criteria returned just 32 stocks.

Three industries dominated the list of stocks: gold miners, metal miners and foreign banks.

Here is one stock from each industry.

3 Strong Buy Stocks That Are Breaking Out in 2026

1. Aris Mining Corp. (ARMN)

With gold soaring above $5,000 an ounce in 2026, shares of Aris Mining have been hitting new highs as well. It’s up 25% year-to-date. Yet the shares remain cheap, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.

Aris Mining is a Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) stock.

Is there more upside to come in the gold miners like Aris Mining?

2. BHP Group Ltd. (BHP)

Shares of BHP are up 26% over the last year. It’s still attractively priced with a forward P/E of 15.2. A P/E ratio of 15 or less is considered a value.

BHP Group is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Should investors consider a copper producer like BHP Group in 2026?

3. Itaú Unibanco Holding (ITUB)

Itaú Unibanco is a regional bank headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Itaú Unibanco calls itself Brazil’s largest private bank in market value and the most valuable brand in Latin America.

Shares have jumped 77.6% over the last year. Itaú Unibanco pays a dividend, which is currently yielding 0.5%.

It’s a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Is it time for investors to consider emerging market stocks like Itaú Unibanco?

What Else Should You Know About Strong Buy Stocks to Start 2026?

Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.

[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of ARMN in the Zacks Value Investor portfolio as well as her personal portfolio.]

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It's not just silver (SI=F) and gold (GC=F) surging to record highs — copper is also ripping to a record as the metals complex continues to be the defining trade of 2026.

Copper futures (HG=F) were up as much as 10%, topping $13,000 per ton as supply chain disruptions, trade policy, and quickly growing demand have pushed prices higher. Priced per pound, copper is currently trading near $6.30; a year ago, prices were closer to $4.25.

Copper is essential for data centers and the other technologies underpinning the AI revolution, as well as for worldwide electrification efforts spanning electric vehicles to power-grid expansion.

Global demand for copper is now expected to surge from 28 million tons in 2025 to 42 million tons by 2040, but without meaningful supply expansions, the market will run up against a 10 million-ton shortfall, according to S&P Global. Even so, copper at its all-time high prices may not reflect reality, analysts say.

Instead, speculation and preemptive trading may have made the intense price action ungrounded.

"We see speculative positioning as overdone and unrelated to the realities in the market," wrote StoneX senior metals demand analyst Natalie Scott-Gray. The metal looks "unsustainable with downward pressure likely to come."

'The linchpin of electrification, digitalization, and security'

In late June, copper was trading on the London Metals Exchange below $10,000 per ton. Then, on July 8, President Trump announced he would impose a 50% tariff on imports of the metal, a move aimed at reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthening the domestic supply chain.

As US tariff risk pushed traders to move copper into American channels to avoid these duties, buyers in Europe and Asia turned to LME warehouses to secure supply, draining visible stocks in London and signaling tight markets outside the US.

When the administration announced later in the month that the proposed tariffs would apply only to semi-finished copper products and copper-intensive derivatives — not to raw or refined copper — prices cooled, but not for long.

Portable Conveyor Belt Machinery At A Copper Mine In ChileEyeEm Mobile GmbH via Getty Images

The copper market has also been reeling from a series of real-world shocks, both on the supply and demand side.

In May 2025, Ivanhoe Mines' (IVPAF) Kakula mine was crippled by earthquakes and flooding. Only four months later, major mudflows collapsed mines at Freeport-McMoRan's (FCX) Grasberg mine in Indonesia, one of the largest supply sites in the world for copper, forcing the company to declare force majeure on deliveries.

As a result, analysts cut down their 2025 predictions for total copper output even as demand has exploded, powered by the AI boom and growing electrification.

EVs take nearly three times more copper to construct than gasoline-powered cars, and solar and wind electricity generation equipment, which accounted for roughly 90% of the new generation capacity installed, also require large amounts of copper, according to S&P Global.

"The intersection of accelerating demand, constrained supply, and concentrated processing capacity creates systemic risks that require responses from policymakers, regulators, industry, and investors," S&P researchers wrote.

Demand for the metal from data centers alone could reach 475,000 tons in 2026, up from 2025's 110,000 tons, said Gregory Shearer, head of base and precious metals strategy at JPMorgan.

“Data centers create inelastic demand in the market,” said Peter Schmitz, director of global copper markets research at Wood Mackenzie. “When developers require copper for the expansion of data centers, it is used with little concern for the copper price."

And supply isn't keeping pace. The International Copper Study Group has estimated that, despite a small amount of demand growth at 2.1% next year, the copper market is set to enter a deficit after two years in a row of surplus.

But that doesn't mean today's copper prices properly reflect the market's imbalance.

Given the White House's swings on trade policy, there is a "very real potential that no tariffs are imposed on refined copper from the US," said StoneX's Scott-Gray.

Steel's much more muted reaction to potential tariffs, for instance, also signals a potential speculation-driven mispricing on copper, Panmure Liberum analyst Tom Price noted.

"The fact that global/US steel markets quickly factored in his 25-50% import tariffs last year, without prompting an investor frenzy, revealed that they’re different," Price wrote in a client note. "These physically dominated markets are not so easily overwhelmed by the speculative flows that have distorted those of their Precious/Base metal cousins."

At the same time, a litany of expansions and new mining projects is starting to operate. Countries including Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, and Iran are expected to push global output up by 2.3% for 2026 against 2025's growth of 1.2%.

Demand in China, the world's largest consumer of copper, for the refined version of the metal is expected to have fallen by 8% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, as the world's second-largest economy faces a potential slowdown in 2026, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.

Meanwhile, China's CMOC Group, the world's largest producer of copper, plans to increase its copper output by as much as 11% in 2026 compared with last year, the company said in a filing on Thursday.

That's not to say copper prices won't remain strong and above historical levels.

Copper is likely to be a key beneficiary of what's shaping up to be a supercycle in metals, noted HSBC metals analyst Jonathan Brandt. But major copper mining-focused companies are currently pricing in a spot price of $5.49 per pound against the current $6.50 per pound, according to Jefferies analysts.

And in a sign that traders are unsure of how to read the copper market, the spread between the LME copper cash contract and the three-month forward price collapsed from more than $100 per ton to a roughly $26.50-per-ton discount in the week up to Jan. 28.

"While we have copper in a deeper deficit market year on year in 2026, we still do not see the market as historically out of balance," Scott-Gray said. "Although supply risks do outweigh demand slowdown … fundamentals certainly do not support copper at the current levels."

Jake Conley is a breaking news reporter covering US equities for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on X at @byjakeconley or email him at jake.co nley@yahooinc.com.

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The world’s biggest mining companies have added close to half a trillion dollars to their valuations this year, fuelled by a surge in the prices of precious and base metals triggered by heightened geopolitical tensions.

The top 50 listed mining companies have added $476bn to their combined market capitalisations over the past month, a rise of about 20 per cent, according to S&P Capital IQ data.

Some of the biggest winners include the diversified miners Rio Tinto and Glencore, which are again discussing a potential $260bn megamerger, as well as Sydney-listed BHP and the Chinese group Zijin Mining.

Gold broke through $5,300 per troy ounce on Wednesday, while silver breached $100 for the first time last week. Copper and tin have also hit record highs this month.

The influx of money into mining equities and physical metal such as gold bars comes as investors look for reliable stores of value amid global upheaval set off by US President Donald Trump’s military and tariff threats, as well as his campaign against Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell.

The rush for safe havens has come amid investor concern about a weakening dollar, which this week hit its lowest level in four years against a basket of currencies.

“People are scared,” said Tom Price, analyst at Panmure Liberum, adding that investors were “replacing their US dollar exposure with commodity exposure. I’ve never seen anything like this before, not on this scale.”

Gold has hit a series of record highs in recent weeks, propelled by Trump’s military and tariff threats against European allies over Greenland and the launch by the Department of Justice of a criminal probe into Powell.

Copper prices have been boosted by a wave of relentless demand for the grid infrastructure and data centres needed to power the AI boom.

The share prices of more than 100 separate metals and mining companies have more than doubled since the start of January, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Of MSCI’s 156 sector equities indices, the top three performers this year are all in the metals sector.

The surge follows a strong 2025 for mining stocks, with the combined market capitalisation for a group of almost 2,400 companies rising more than 80 per cent in December compared with the same month a year before, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

James Hayter, chief investment officer at Orion Resource Equities, said a growing expectation among investors that metals prices would continue to rise over the medium to long term was driving “equity outperformance”.

He added that the dynamic was likely to continue even if precious and base metals prices pulled back from their recent record peaks.

“It doesn’t take much of a rotation from global asset managers into our sector to have a really outsized impact” given that mining had been “unloved and underinvested in” for years, he said.

John Meyer, an analyst at SP Angel, said mining equities were still “lagging” behind the “extraordinary and unprecedented” rise in gold, silver, copper and other metals this month.

He added that many miners were still not “being particularly well valued. There’s still a lot more catching up to do.”

Analysts warned that the sector still required significant capital. They also noted that mining companies’ share prices were influenced by uncertainty over their ability to open and operate sites amid geopolitical upheaval.

Enrique Dans, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said global tensions had increased the “volatility premium across the sector”, adding that the share prices of some miners that were years away from production were experiencing “very sharp moves”.

Price of Panmure Liberum said speculators were entering the sector who were “motivated to exit quickly” if spooked, adding that such moves could risk triggering “massive corrections after this massive rally”.

Even experienced commodity investors were now asking about “exit plans” and “life beyond the [price] spike”, he said.

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – January 27, 2026) – Ridgeline Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RDG) (OTCQB: RDGMF) (FSE: 0GC0) ("Ridgeline" or the "Company") is pleased to welcome Mr. Ryan Walchuck to the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Duane Lo will resign as a director of the Company and remain in his position as Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Walchuck is a senior mining finance executive with global experience across complex mining projects, joint ventures, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. He is currently Senior Manager, Business Analysis at Rio Tinto, where he supports strategic investment decisions, capital allocation, and value optimization for projects. Ryan has held senior roles at Rio Tinto and BHP, contributing to major developments including Simandou and Oyu Tolgoi, with a strong focus on joint venture governance, partner alignment, and disciplined capital deployment. His experience spans Africa, Australia, Mongolia, and the Americas. Ryan is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator, bringing strong financial oversight, governance, and shareholder-focused decision-making experience to the Ridgeline Board.

Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President & CEO, commented, "Ryan joins the team at a pivotal time in Ridgeline's growth. With two highly prospective discoveries coming together at Swift and Selena, Ryan's unique skillset will help guide our strategic decision making as we focus on optimizing the value of our joint venture portfolio for our shareholders."

The Company further advises it has granted 150,000 stock options (the "Options") and 100,000 deferred share unites ("DSU's") to Mr. Walchuck in accordance with the Company's incentive stock option plan. The Options are exercisable at $0.24 per share for a period of five years and the DSUs are governed by the Company's DSU Plan and will be subject to applicable securities law hold periods.

About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.Ridgeline Minerals is a discovery focused precious and base metal explorer with a proven management team and a 200 km2 exploration portfolio across seven projects in Nevada, USA. The Company is a hybrid explorer with a mix of 100%-owned exploration assets (Big Blue, Atlas, Bell Creek & Coyote) as well as two earn-in exploration agreements with Nevada Gold Mines at its Swift and Black Ridge projects and a third earn-in with South32 at its Selena project totaling up to US $60 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures. More information about Ridgeline can be found at www.ridgelineminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board "Chad Peters" President & CEO

Further Information:Chad Peters, P.Geo. President, CEO & Director Ridgeline Minerals Corp.+1 775 304 9773cpeters@ridgelineminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service 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

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the assay results for core hole SW24-004 and the potential significance thereof. The words "potential", "anticipate", "meaningful", "significant", "pending", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "historical", "historic" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, Ridgeline has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that the current objectives concerning the Swift project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and that all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Ridgeline to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to dependence on key personnel; risks related to unforeseen delays; risks related to historical data that has not been verified by the Company; as well as those factors discussed in Ridgeline's public disclosure record. Although Ridgeline has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Ridgeline and may cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Ridgeline does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281756

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., January 23, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP), a leading global provider of essential minerals, will release its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, after the markets close. The company’s president and CEO, Edward C. Dowling Jr., and CFO, Peter Fjellman, will discuss these results on a conference call on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Access to the conference call will be available via webcast at investors.compassminerals.com or by dialing 1-800-715-9871. Callers must provide the conference ID number 7896827. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, callers may dial 1-646-307-1963. An audio replay of the conference call will be available on the company’s website.

About Compass Minerals

Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) is a leading global provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering where and when it matters to help solve nature’s challenges for customers and communities. The company’s salt products help keep roadways safe during winter weather and are used in numerous other consumer, industrial, chemical and agricultural applications. Its plant nutrition products help improve the quality and yield of crops while supporting sustainable agriculture. Compass Minerals operates 12 production and packaging facilities with more than 1,800 employees throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Visit compassminerals.com for more information about the company and its products.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260122825573/en/

Contacts

Investor Contact Brent CollinsVice President, Treasurer & Investor Relations+1.913.344.9111InvestorRelations@compassminerals.com

Media Contact Kevin GabrielSenior Director, Corporate Affairs+1.913.344.9265MediaRelations@compassminerals.com

Denison Mines Corp. DNN recently announced that its flagship Phoenix In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium project, located at the Wheeler River in Saskatchewan, is now fully prepared to advance into the construction phase, subject to final regulatory approval, expected in the first quarter of 2026. DNN expects to make a final investment decision (FID) following receipt of final regulatory approvals.

The company noted that major progress was achieved throughout 2025 across regulatory approvals, detailed engineering, procurement and construction planning, including the completion of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s public hearing process and prior provincial environmental clearance.

Denison reaffirmed that Phoenix is on track to become Canada’s first new large-scale uranium mine since Cigar Lake, with an expected 24-month construction period and first production targeted for mid-2028, assuming permits are finalized and a positive FID. The company updated the post-FID initial capital cost to approximately $600 million on a Class 2 budget basis, reflecting inflation and project refinements compared to the 2023 feasibility study, including roughly $65 million in contingency funds. No further revisions are anticipated before construction commencement.

Construction readiness is supported by largely completed detailed engineering, procurement of long-lead items, near-final construction contracts for 2026, and initial provincial approval for early site works.

Shares of DNN rallied 67.4% over the past six months compared with the industry’s 18.1% rise.

Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DNN Zacks Rank & Key Picks

DNN currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space areImpala Platinum Holdings Limited IMPUY, BHP Group Limited BHP and Paladin Energy Ltd. PALAF. IMPUY sports a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while BHP and PALAF carry a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IMPUY’s current fiscal-year earnings is pegged at $1.33 per share, indicating a 2,560% year-over-year increase. Shares of IMPUY have jumped 67.2% over the past six months.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHP’s current fiscal-year earnings stands at $4.51 per share, implying a 23.9% year-over-year increase. Shares of BHP have gained 25% over the past six months.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PALAF’s current fiscal-year earnings is pegged at 5 cents per share, indicating a 139% year-over-year increase. Shares of PALAF have soared 39.9% over the past six months.

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Southern Copper Corporation SCCO is laying the groundwork for a multi-year copper growth story, even as near-term production shows modest moderation. For 2025, the company guided copper output at 958,800 tons, implying a 2% dip from the 973,900 tons produced in 2024. Looking beyond 2025, SCCO expects production to steadily build toward 1,084,000 tons by the end of this decade.

Growth is projected to accelerate meaningfully from 2031 onward, with copper output envisioned to reach around 1,536,000 tons by 2034. This represents a 5% CAGR over 2024, underscoring SCCO’s confidence in its extensive project pipeline across Peru and Mexico.

The company’s capital investment program for this decade runs to more than $15 billion, with the major portion (around $10.3 billion) earmarked for Peru.The long-awaited 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. This project will use state-of-the-art SX-EW technology with the highest international environmental standards.

In Mexico, El Pilar, which is expected to start in 2028, will contribute around 36,000 tons of copper cathodes annually. This operation will use highly cost-efficient and environmentally friendly SX-EW technology.

By 2030, El Arco in Mexico is expected to become operational. It is a world-class copper deposit located in the central part of the Baja California peninsula with ore reserves of more than 1,230 million tons with an average ore grade of 0.40% and 141 million tons of leach material with an average ore grade of 0.27%. 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. This will be followed by Michiquillay in 2032 with an expected 225,000 tons of copper. Michiquillay is expected to become one of Peru's largest copper mines with an expected mine life of more than 25 years.

Taken together, SCCO’s diversified and phased project pipeline suggests that short-term production dips may be overshadowed by a powerful and sustained growth phase in the next decade.

Peer BHP Group BHP reported record copper output of 2,017 kt for fiscal 2025, up 8% year over year, crossing the 2,000 kt mark for the first time. BHP has delivered a 28% increase in copper output over the past three years, reflecting its ongoing investments to build its copper portfolio.

BHP expects copper production to range between 1,800 and 2,000 kt in fiscal 2026. The company has copper projects under execution and a pipeline that could deliver around two Mtpa of attributable copper production during this decade.

Another peer, Teck Resources TECK, has entered into a merger agreement with Anglo American plc to form the Anglo Teck group. Anglo Teck will have more than 70% exposure to copper and is set to be among the top five global copper producers. The new company will boast an industry-leading portfolio, consisting 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 55.9% in the past year compared with the industry’s 42.4% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SCCO is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales multiple of 8.84X, a significant premium to the industry’s 3.93X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Southern Copper’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $5.27 per share, suggesting 21.7% year-over-year growth. The same for 2026 indicates growth of 17.3%.

Here is how the EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 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.

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Zacks Investment Research

Copper prices have surged to historic highs this year, with London Metal Exchange (“LME”) copper recently topping $12,000 per metric ton, reflecting a 42% year-to-date increase. This remarkable rise is driven by a structural market shift — explosive demand from artificial intelligence (AI) is colliding with constrained global supply, creating what analysts describe as a “very tight” market.

Indeed, while factors like U.S. tariffs, weak dollar, and inventory stockpiling triggered the initial price rally, the underlying fundamentals, particularly that of surging demand tied to electrification and digital infrastructure, suggest we are entering a long-term "supercycle."

For investors, this backdrop presents an opportune moment to make a grand entry into diversified copper exchange-traded funds (ETFs), rather than making concentrated bets on individual miners, as a profitable move for 2026.

Before suggesting a few copper ETFs to consider for your watchlist, it’s worth exploring the strong link between AI and copper demand, other key growth catalysts for the red metal, and its overall growth prospects. Understanding these factors can help investors make more informed decisions.

AI Boom and Copper Demand

The rapid build-out of AI data centers has lately emerged as a major new pillar of copper demand, thanks to the metal’s critical role in high capacity power lines, transformers and cooling infrastructure.

To this end, industry experts like Wood Mackenzie highlight that data center demand is highly "inelastic," meaning developers will pay whatever it costs to secure copper, which represents a tiny fraction of total project budgets. According to Wood Mackenzie’s Horizons report, published in October 2025, global copper demand is estimated to surge 24% by 2035, with AI playing a critical role as a growth catalyst.

Notably, Wood Mackenzie believes a sudden surge in data center construction can trigger price spikes of 15% or more for the red metal. With AI projected to consume an additional 2,200 TWh of electricity by 2035 (as per global data centre projects tracked by Wood Mackenzie's Power team), we may expect to witness more copper price inflation in the coming days.

AI Apart Demand Picture: 2026 & Beyond

AI is just one driver of the broader surge in copper demand, alongside the energy transition, grid modernization, and transport electrification. Beyond data centers, initiatives focused on national security and infrastructure resilience are also reshaping global copper demand.

Meeting this enormous demand will require around 8 million tons of new mine capacity plus 3.5 million tons of additional scrap (as per Wood Mackenzie). Surely, this creates a golden opportunity for a steady price hike amid an already scarce supply of the red metal, with major disruptions at mines like Grasberg in Indonesia and falling ore grades in Chile having led to a projected 330,000-ton deficit for 2026 (as estimated by JP Morgan).

Copper price prospects remain strong over the coming years, though 2026 forecasts vary. J.P. Morgan is particularly optimistic, projecting LME copper to average $12,500 per ton in second-quarter 2026 and $12,075 for the full year, citing supply disruptions and the AI-driven demand surge as key upside factors.

On the other hand, Goldman Sachs expects a near-term pullback from record highs to an average of $10,710 in the first half of 2026, while for the full year, it forecasts prices to remain in the range of $10,000-$11,000, with the expectation that the global surplus of supply will prevent copper prices from exceeding $11,000. However, by 2035, Goldman Sachs predicts the LME copper price to reach a solid $15,000 per ton.

Copper ETFs to Consider

Given the strong convergence of demand drivers and supportive institutional forecasts, investors looking to gain exposure may consider the following copper ETFs:

Global X Copper Miners ETF COPX

This fund, with assets worth $4.56 billion, provides exposure to 41 copper mining companies. COPX has surged a solid 95.3% year to date. Its net asset value (NAV) was $72.20 as of Dec. 30, 2025.

The fund charges 65 basis points (bps) as fees. It traded at a good volume of 3.77 million shares in the last trading session.

iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF ICOPThis fund, with net assets worth $171 million, provides exposure to 48 global copper and metal ore miners. ICOP has soared 79.8% year to date. Its top three holdings include Freeport McMoran FCX (8.18%), Anglo American NGLOY (7.91%), and BHP Group BHP (7.73%).

Its NAV was $44.42 as of Dec. 30, 2025. The fund charges 47 bps as fees. It traded at a volume of 0.18 million shares in the last trading session.

Sprott Copper Miners ETF COPPThis fund, with net assets worth $97.4 million, provides exposure to physical copper and 62 copper miners. COPP has rallied 71.7% year to date. Its NAV was $34.93 as of Dec. 30, 2025. The fund charges 65 bps as fees. It traded at a volume of 0.18 million shares in the last trading session.

United States Copper ETF CPERThis fund, with net assets worth $460.7 million, reflects the performance of the investment returns from a portfolio of copper futures contracts on the COMEX exchange. CPER has gained 40.1% year to date.

Its NAV was $35.44 as of Dec. 30, 2025. The fund charges 106 bps as fees. It traded at a volume of 1.39 million shares in the last trading session.

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

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Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX): ETF Research Reports

iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF (ICOP): ETF Research Reports

Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP): ETF Research Reports

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

Zacks Investment Research

Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:

Baytex Energy BTE: This conventional oil and gas income trust, which is focused on maintaining its production and asset base through internal property development and delivering consistent returns to its unitholders, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 33.3% over the last 60 days.

Baytex Energy Corp Price and ConsensusBaytex Energy Corp Price and Consensus

Baytex Energy Corp price-consensus-chart | Baytex Energy Corp Quote

BHP Group Limited BHP: This mining company, which is one of the world's largest with operations spanning Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, and the United States, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 13% over the last 60 day.

BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Price and ConsensusBHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus

BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR price-consensus-chart | BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Quote

Samsara Inc. IOT: This company, which provides solutions which connects physical operations data to its connected operations cloud principally in the United States and internationally, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.5% over the last 60 days.

Samsara Inc. Price and ConsensusSamsara Inc. Price and Consensus

Samsara Inc. price-consensus-chart | Samsara Inc. Quote

Gitlab GTLB: This company, which is a leading provider of a DevSecOps platform that brings together development teams, IT operations teams, and security teams to build better and more secure software at a faster rate, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 7.2% over the last 60 days.

GitLab Inc. Price and ConsensusGitLab Inc. Price and Consensus

GitLab Inc. price-consensus-chart | GitLab Inc. Quote

Cummins CMI: This company, which is a leading global designer, manufacturer and distributor of diesel and natural gas engines and powertrain-related component products, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 6.7% over the last 60 days.

Cummins Inc. Price and ConsensusCummins Inc. Price and Consensus

Cummins Inc. price-consensus-chart | Cummins Inc. Quote

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

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

Cummins Inc. (CMI) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Baytex Energy Corp (BTE) : Free Stock Analysis Report

GitLab Inc. (GTLB) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Samsara Inc. (IOT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research

Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, December 31st:

Alexander's ALX: This real estate investment trust which is engaged in leasing, managing, developing and redeveloping properties, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 7% over the last 60 days.

Alexander's, Inc. Price and Consensus

Alexander's, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Alexander's, Inc. Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 8.2%, compared with the industry average of 4.8%.

Alexander's, Inc. Dividend Yield (TTM)

Alexander's, Inc. dividend-yield-ttm | Alexander's, Inc. Quote

Kforce KFRC: This company, which provide professional staffing services and solutions to clients on both a temporary and permanent basis through our Technology and Finance and Accounting segments, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 3.4% over the last 60 days.

Kforce, Inc. Price and Consensus

Kforce, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Kforce, Inc. Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 4.9%, compared with the industry average of 2.3%.

Kforce, Inc. Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kforce, Inc. dividend-yield-ttm | Kforce, Inc. Quote

BHP Group Limited BHP: This mining company, which is one of the world's largest with operations spanning Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, and the United States, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 13% over the last 60 days.

BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus

BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR price-consensus-chart | BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Quote

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 3.9%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.

BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Dividend Yield (TTM)

BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR dividend-yield-ttm | BHP Group Limited Sponsored ADR Quote

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens

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Kforce, Inc. (KFRC) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Alexander's, Inc. (ALX) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research

Below, we take a look at BHP (BHP), a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. BHP currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?

Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for BHP that show why this global miner shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For BHP, shares are up 4.33% over the past week while the Zacks Mining – Miscellaneous industry is up 3.88% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 9.46% compares favorably with the industry's 3.82% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Over the past quarter, shares of BHP have risen 7.9%, and are up 23.8% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 3.98% and 16.97%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of BHP's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now BHP is averaging 2,810,768 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings Outlook

Over the past two months, 3 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost BHP's consensus estimate, increasing from $3.99 to $4.51 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 3 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom Line

Taking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that BHP is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep BHP on your short list.

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

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

Zacks Investment Research

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Market participants are positioning for further potential upside in iron ore prices as a year-end rally across metals gathers momentum and attention turns to policy signals from Beijing. Iron ore futures have advanced for three consecutive sessions in Singapore, climbing nearly 1.8% intraday to as much as $106.55 a ton, putting prices on track for their highest close since late November. In China, contracts on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose for a second day, gaining as much as 2.6%, the largest intraday increase since Sept. 9. The move has unfolded alongside strength across the metals complex, with copper reaching an all-time high and silver pushing past $80 an ounce, reinforcing a constructive backdrop into the end of the year.

Sentiment has also been supported by fresh policy guidance from Chinese authorities. The National Development and Reform Commission said it would deepen supply-side reforms in steel, petrochemicals and related sectors as part of the 15th Five-Year Plan from 2026, including expanding high-end production, prohibiting unauthorized capacity additions, and using market mechanisms to encourage consolidation. In parallel, the Ministry of Finance said after a year-end policy meeting that China will expand government spending and improve how it deploys capital in 2026. Taken together, these signals are being interpreted by markets as potentially supportive for resource-based industries, even though the details remain medium-term in nature.

That optimism has emerged despite softer near-term fundamentals. Iron ore inventories at Chinese ports rose for a 10th time in 11 weeks to the highest level in more than a year, according to Shanghai SteelHome E-Commerce, underscoring that the latest price move is being driven more by futures sentiment than by a clear recovery in physical demand. Prices have nevertheless shown resilience in recent months, helped in part by restrictions on some supplies from BHP Group (NYSE:BHP) imposed by China's state-backed iron ore trader, even as steel demand in China has softened. By mid-afternoon in Singapore, iron ore futures were up 1.4% at $106.15 a ton, with yuan-priced contracts in Dalian and steel contracts in Shanghai also posting gains.

FEATURE

Copper

was back on the march Friday, pushing some of the world’s biggest miners’ stocks to their highest levels in more than a year.

Copper hit a record high of just under 100,000 yuan (about $14,270) a ton in overnight futures trading Friday in Shanghai. It was last marked at $5.857 a pound on the Commodity Exchange, or Comex—a 5% advance on the session that takes copper’s 2025 gain to around 45%.

The metal is on pace for its best annual percentage gain since 2009 across all markets, in fact. Tight global supplies, tariff uncertainty, and ongoing demand tied to the buildout of artificial-intelligence-powered technologies have driven this year’s rally.

Copper futures on Comex have surged nearly 82% since early July, when President Donald Trump floated the idea of a 50% tariff on U.S. copper imports—following a so-called Section 232 investigation into alleged national security concerns tied to the metal. Comex copper printed an all-time intraday high of $5.959 a pound on July 22.

In the equity market, shares of copper miner

Freeport-McMoRan

were last trading 3.4% higher Friday at $53.63 each, a level that would mark the highest close since May 2024. The stock is also on an 11-day run of consecutive gains, its longest winning streak since September 2024.

Southern Copper

the biggest U.S.-listed copper miner by market value, rose 2.3% to change hands at $151.52 each.

BHP Group

which operates the world’s biggest copper mine in Chile, added 1.6%.

David Oxley, chief climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics, however, says while tight supplies will keep prices elevated over the near term, fading China demand into 2026 could trigger a broader pullback.

“Copper supply will tighten next year and push the market balance into a deficit, and there has been a string of mine supply shocks this year that will weigh on refined supply,” he and his team wrote in a recent metals market outlook report.

“That said, given our downbeat view on China’s construction sector, we are comfortable with our view that copper prices will end 2026 lower than their current level,” he added.

Write to Martin Baccardax at martin.baccardax@barrons.com

European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were little changed late Friday morning, edging 0.07% higher to 1,689.69 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index, which has risen 2% for the week.

From continental Europe, the gainers were led by medical device maker EDAP TMS (EDAP) and biotech firm Evaxion (EVAX), which advanced 5.3% and 0.6% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Grifols (GRFS) and brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), which were up 0.4% each.

The decliners from continental Europe were led by biopharmaceutical company Cellectis (CLLS) and furniture manufacturer Natuzzi (NTZ), which fell 2.3% and 1.6% respectively. They were followed by pharmaceutical company Ascendis Pharma (ASND) and accommodations booking site trivago (TRVG), which were down 1.5% and 1.4% respectively.

From the UK and Ireland, the gainers were led by mining company BHP Group (BHP) and biopharmaceutical company Amarin (AMRN), which rose 1.5% and 0.8% respectively. They were followed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZN) and medical device maker Smith & Nephew (SNN), which increased 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.

The decliners from the UK and Ireland were led by biopharmaceutical companies Biodexa Pharmaceuticals (BDRX) and NuCana (NCNA), which dropped 5.3% and 4.2% respectively. They were followed by biopharmaceutical company Bicycle Therapeutics (BCYC) and cruise line operator Carnival (CUK), which lost 2.9% and 1.5% respectively.

Yahoo Finance anchor Josh Lipton tracks Tuesday’s top moving stocks and biggest market stories in this Market Minute.

Mining stocks, like Freeport (FCX), BHP Group (BHP), and Teck Resources (TECK), are rallying as copper (HG=F) reaches a record.

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that the US Department of Education will begin garnishing wages from defaulted student loan borrowers in January.

Stay up to date on the latest market action, minute-by-minute, with Yahoo Finance’s Market Minute.

Video Transcript

It’s time for Yahoo Finance’s Market Minute.

U.S. stocks aim for another day of gains after Notching a third consecutive win.

Investors weighing bets on interest rate cuts as fresh data showed surprisingly strong US Economic growth.

Consumers, though, remain pessimistic about The current state of the economy.

Turning to mining companies, those stocks rally as copper breaches a record.

The metal crested 12,000 per ton for the first time.

Uh, the all-time high comes as President Trump’s tariff policies and a string of mines Accidents have roiled supply chains.

And lastly, The Education Department is reportedly set to start seizing pay of defaulted student loans Borrowers.

The department expects the first notices soon.

Sent the week of January 7th.

During that time, Notices are to be sent to about 1,000 borrowers.

And thats your Yahoo Finance Market Minute.

Scan the QR code below to track the best and worst-performing stocks of the trading day Session.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP), a leading global provider of essential minerals, today released the following notice:

A U.S. District Court authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

TO: ALL RECORD HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (“COMPASS” OR THE “COMPANY”) COMMON STOCK AS OF OCTOBER 24, 2025.

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS NOTICE RELATES TO A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE OF STOCKHOLDER DERIVATIVE LITIGATION AND CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS.

IF THE COURT APPROVES THE SETTLEMENT OF THE DERIVATIVE ACTIONS, PLAINTIFFS' RELEASING PARTIES WILL BE FOREVER BARRED FROM CONTESTING THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, AND FROM PURSUING RELEASED CLAIMS.

THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT “CLASS ACTIONS.” THUS, THERE IS NO COMMON FUND UPON WHICH YOU CAN MAKE A CLAIM FOR A MONETARY PAYMENT.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that these actions are being settled on the terms set forth in a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement dated October 24, 2025 (the “Stipulation”). The purpose of this Notice is to inform you of:

the existence of the above-captioned derivative actions pending in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (the “Court”), captioned Morelli v. Crutchfield, et al., Lead Case No. 2:24-cv-02496-EFM-ADM (D. Kan.) and Assad v. Crutchfield, et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-02186-EFM-ADM (D. Kan.) (the “Actions”);
the proposed settlement between Plaintiffs and Defendants (together, “Parties”) reached in the Actions (the “Settlement”),
the hearing to be held by the Court to consider the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the Settlement and dismissal of the Actions with prejudice,
Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s application to the Court for a Fee and Expense Amount to be paid by Compass’s insurers, and
Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s application to the Court for case Service Awards to the two Plaintiffs.

This Notice describes what steps you may take in relation to the Settlement. This Notice is not an expression of any opinion by the Court about the truth or merits of Plaintiffs’ claims or Defendants’ defenses. This Notice is solely to advise you of the proposed Settlement of the Actions and of your rights in connection with the proposed Settlement.

SummaryOn October 24, 2025, Compass, in its capacity as a nominal defendant, entered into the Stipulation to resolve the Actions, which Stipulation was filed in the Court. The Actions were brought derivatively on behalf of Compass against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company. Compass was named as a nominal defendant in the Actions. The Stipulation, and the settlement contemplated therein (the “Settlement”), subject to the approval of the Court, are intended by the Parties to fully, finally, and forever compromise, resolve, discharge, and settle the Released Claims and to result in the complete dismissal of the Actions with prejudice, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Stipulation. The proposed Settlement requires the Company to adopt and maintain certain corporate governance reforms and procedures, as outlined in Exhibit A to the Stipulation (the “Reforms”), subject to Court approval.

In recognition of the substantial benefits conferred upon Compass as a direct result of the Reforms achieved through the prosecution and Settlement of the Actions, the Parties agreed on September 12, 2025, that Compass’s insurers shall pay to Plaintiffs’ Counsel attorneys’ fees and expenses in the amount of eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($850,000.00) (the “Fee and Expense Amount”), subject to Court approval. Plaintiffs’ Counsel shall also apply to the Court for service awards to be paid to the two Plaintiffs in an amount of up to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) each (the “Service Awards”), to be paid out of the Fee and Expense Amount.

This notice is a summary only and does not describe all of the details of the Stipulation and its exhibits. For full details of the matters discussed in this summary, please see the full Stipulation and its exhibits posted on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website, https://‌investors.compassminerals.com/investors-relations/overview/default.aspx, contact Plaintiffs’ Counsel as set forth below, or inspect the full Stipulation and its exhibits filed with the Clerk of the Court.

What are the Lawsuits About?

The Actions are brought derivatively on behalf of nominal defendant Compass and allege that, inter alia, between February 8, 2023, and March 25, 2024, at least, the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by issuing and/or causing Compass to issue false and misleading statements and omissions and failing to disclose and/or causing the Company to fail to disclose to the investing public, among other things, that testing on the Company’s proprietary magnesium chloride-based aerial fire retardants did not confirm such fire retardants’ safety and, thus, overstating the prospects of the U.S. Forest Service awarding Compass a renewed contract for using its proprietary magnesium chloride-based aerial fire retardants for the 2024 fire season.

Why is there a Settlement of the Actions?

The Court has not decided in favor of Defendants or the Plaintiffs. Instead, the Parties agreed to the Settlement to avoid the distraction, costs, and risks of further litigation, and because the Parties agree, and the Company determined, that the Reforms that the Company will adopt, implement, and maintain as part of the Settlement provide substantial benefits to Compass and its stockholders.

Individual Defendants have denied and continue to deny each and all of the claims and contentions alleged by the Plaintiffs in the Actions. Individual Defendants have expressly denied and continue to deny all charges of wrongdoing or liability against them arising out of any of the conduct, statements, acts, or omissions alleged, or that could have been alleged, in the Actions. Nonetheless, Defendants have concluded that it is desirable for the Actions to be fully and finally settled in the matter and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Stipulation.

The Settlement Hearing, and Your Right to Object to the Settlement

The Court entered an order preliminarily approving the Stipulation and the Settlement contemplated therein (the “Preliminary Approval Order”) and providing for notice of the Settlement to be provided to current Compass stockholders who owned Compass stock as of October 24, 2025 (“Current Compass Stockholders”). The Preliminary Approval Order further provides that the Court will hold a hearing (the “Settlement Hearing”) on February 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. before the Honorable Eric F. Melgren at the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, 401 N. Market, Wichita, Kansas 67202 to among other things: (i) determine whether the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; (ii) consider any objections to the Settlement submitted in accordance with this Notice; (iii) determine whether a judgment should be entered dismissing all claims in the Actions with prejudice, and releasing the Released Claims against the Released Persons; (iv) determine whether the Court should approve the agreed-to Fee and Expense Amount; (v) determine whether the Court should approve the Service Awards to the two Plaintiffs, which shall be funded from the Fee and Expense Amount; and (vii) consider any other matters that may properly be brought before the Court in connection with the Settlement. Upon final approval of the Settlement, the Actions will be dismissed with prejudice.

The Court may, in its discretion, change the date and/or time of the Settlement Hearing without further notice to you. If you intend to attend the Settlement Hearing, please consult the Court’s calendar or the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website, https://investors.compassminerals.com/investors-relations/overview/default.aspx, for any change in the date, time, or format of the Settlement Hearing.

Any Current Compass Stockholder who wishes to object to the fairness, reasonableness, or adequacy of the Settlement as set forth in the Stipulation, or to the Fee and Expense Amount or Service Awards, may file with the Court a written objection. An objector must, at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the Settlement Hearing: (1) file with the Clerk of the Court and serve (either by hand delivery or by first-class mail) upon the below-listed counsel a written objection to the Settlement setting forth (i) a written notice of objection with the case names and numbers (Morelli v. Crutchfield, et al., Lead Case No. 2:24-cv-02496-EFM-ADM (D. Kan.); Assad v. Crutchfield, et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-02185-EFM-ADM (D. Kan.)); (ii) the Current Compass Stockholder’s name, legal address, and telephone number; (iii) notice of whether such Current Compass Stockholder intends to appear at the Settlement Hearing and the reasons such Current Compass Stockholder desires to appear and be heard, and whether such Current Compass Stockholder is represented by counsel and if so, contact information for counsel; (iv) competent evidence that such Current Compass Stockholder held shares of Compass common stock as of the date of the Stipulation and continues to hold such stock as of the date the objection is made, including the date(s) such shares were acquired; (v) a statement of objections to any matters before the Court, the grounds therefor, as well as all documents or writings such Current Compass Stockholder desires the Court to consider; and (vi) the identities of any witnesses such Current Compass Stockholder plans on calling at the Settlement Hearing, along with a summary description of their expected testimony. Any objector who does not timely file and serve a notice of intention to appear in accordance with this paragraph shall be foreclosed from raising any objection to the Settlement and shall not be permitted to appear at the Settlement Hearing, except for good cause shown.

IF YOU MAKE A WRITTEN OBJECTION, IT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK OF THE COURT NO LATER THAN January 30, 2026. The Clerk’s address is:

Clerk of the Court,U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas401 N. MarketWichita, KS 67202

YOU ALSO MUST DELIVER COPIES OF THE MATERIALS TO PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL AND DEFENDANTS’ COUNSEL SO THEY ARE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN January 30, 2026. Counsel’s addresses are:

Counsel for Plaintiffs:

THE BROWN LAW FIRM, P.C.	GLANCY PRONGAY & MURRAY LLP
Timothy Brown	Benjamin I. Sachs-Michaels
767 Third Avenue, Suite 2501	745 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor
New York, NY 10017	New York, NY 10151

Counsel for Defendants:

SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
Jay B. Kasner
Susan L. Saltzstein
One Manhattan West
New York, NY 10001

An objector may file an objection on his, her, or its own or through an attorney hired at his, her, or its own expense. If an objector hires an attorney to represent him, her, or it for the purposes of making such objection, the attorney must serve (either by hand delivery or by first-class mail) a notice of appearance on the counsel listed above and file such notice with the Court no later than twenty-one (21) days before the Settlement Hearing. Any Compass stockholder who does not timely file and serve a written objection complying with the above terms shall be deemed to have waived, and shall be foreclosed from raising, any objection to the Settlement, and any untimely objection shall be barred.

Any objector who files and serves a timely, written objection in accordance with the instructions above, may appear at the Settlement Hearing either in person or through counsel retained at the objector’s expense. Objectors need not attend the Settlement Hearing, however, in order to have their objections considered by the Court.

If you are a Current Compass Stockholder and do not take steps to appear in this action and object to the proposed Settlement, you will be bound by the Judgment of the Court and will forever be barred from raising an objection to the settlement in the Actions and from pursuing any of the Released Claims.

CURRENT COMPASS STOCKHOLDERS AS OF OCTOBER 24, 2025 WHO HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE SETTLEMENT DO NOT NEED TO APPEAR AT THE SETTLEMENT HEARING OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION.

Interim Stay and Injunction

Pending the Court’s determination as to final approval of the Settlement, Plaintiffs and Current Compass Stockholders are barred and enjoined from commencing, prosecuting, instigating, or in any way participating in the commencement or prosecution of any derivative action asserting any Released Claims against any of the Released Persons.

Scope of the Notice

This Notice is a summary description of the Actions, the complaints, the terms of the Settlement, and the Settlement Hearing. For full details of the matters discussed in this summary, please see the full Stipulation and its exhibits posted on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website, https://investors.compassminerals.com/investors-relations/overview/default.‌aspx, contact Plaintiffs’ Counsel as set forth below, or inspect the full Stipulation and its exhibits filed with the Clerk of the Court.

You may obtain further information by contacting Plaintiffs’ Counsel at: Timothy Brown, The Brown Law Firm, P.C., 767 Third Avenue, Suite 2501, New York, NY 10017, Telephone: (516) 922-5427, E-mail: tbrown@thebrownlawfirm.net; or Benjamin I. Sachs-Michaels, Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, 745 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10151 Telephone: (212) 935-7400, E-mail: bsachsmichaels@glancylaw.com. Please Do Not Call the Court or Defendants with Questions About the Settlement.

Use of Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, those regarding: (i) the Stipulation resolving the derivative actions; (ii) the ability to secure final approval of the proposed Settlement and to satisfy all conditions of the proposed Settlement; and (iii) other statements that are not historical facts, constitute forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: (a) the Stipulation not having the expected impact, including resolving the derivative actions; (b) the proposed settlement requiring more activity or expense than expected; (c) the defendants’ ability to overcome any objections or appeals regarding the proposed settlement; and (d) satisfactory resolution of any future litigation or other disagreements with others. Further information on potential factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are contained in the Company’s filings and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in such filings and reports, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended Sept. 30, 2025, and future filings and reports by the Company. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and the facts and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements may change. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future information, events or circumstances.

CONTACT: Investor Contact
InvestorRelations@compassminerals.com

Media Contact
MediaRelations@compassminerals.com

BHP Group Limited BHP announced that it inked a binding deal with Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”), which is part of BlackRock, Inc. BLK, for BHP’s stake in Western Australia Iron Ore's (“WAIO”) inland power network. This deal will help BHP Group with its funding, as well as retain operational control over WAIO’s infrastructure.

Details of BHP’s Deal With GIP

BHP Group has an 85% interest in WAIO that includes four main joint ventures in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The partnership between BHP and BlackRock’s GIP will establish a trust entity where BHP will hold a 51% stake in WAIO and GIP will own the remaining 49% for a funding of $2 billion.BHP will continue to operate WAIO, including its inland power infrastructure, per the agreement. The company will pay a tariff to the entity for 25 years, based on its WAIO inland power share. WAIO will continue to focus on its long-term strategy to increase iron ore production to 305 million tons per annum.The deal is expected to close toward the end of fiscal 2026, subject to closing conditions and approvals. BHP will incorporate the net proceeds from this deal and assess the same under the company’s capital allocation framework. The deal showcases the company’s disciplined approach to capital portfolio management, as well as supporting the company's balance sheet flexibility.

BHP Group Stock’s Price Performance

BHP shares have gained 13.8% in a year compared with the industry’s 22.7% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BHP’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are OR Royalties Inc. OR and Agnico Eagle Mines AEM. OR and AEM sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The consensus estimate for OR Royalties’ 2025 earnings is pegged at 82 cents per share. The estimate indicates year-over-year growth of 57.7%. OR Royalties’ shares have surged 80% in a year.

The consensus estimate for Agnico Eagle Mines’ 2025 earnings is pegged at $7.77 per share. The estimate indicates a year-over-year jump of 83.6%. It has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.6%. Agnico Eagle Mines’ shares have surged 107.6% in a year.

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BlackRock (BLK) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

OR Royalties Inc. (OR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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

Zacks Investment Research

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