Copper can be found in low concentrations in the earth’s crust. It has an abundance of uses — from our homes to industrial machinery. But it’s difficult and expensive to mine. Here’s what you should know about copper stocks.
Interested in copper stocks? In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, many copper stocks trade on international exchanges, such as the London and Toronto stock exchanges.
| Copper stock | Icon | 1-year performance (to Feb. '26) | 5-year performance (to Feb. '26) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) |  |
113.39% | 191.15% | Invest Capital at risk |
| Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold (FCX) |  |
68.01% | 106.27% | Invest Capital at risk |
| BHP Group Limited (BHP) |  |
39.84% | 14.91% | Invest Capital at risk |
| Glencore PLC (GLNCY) |  |
57.36% | 101.05% | Invest Capital at risk |
| Lundin Mining Corporation (LUNMF) |  |
219.93% | 172.17% | Invest Capital at risk |
| First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FQVLF) |  |
122.81% | 62.99% | Invest Capital at risk |
| Ero Copper Corp (ERO) |  |
150.07% | 122.44% | Invest Capital at risk |
These exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track the price of copper:
Copper has an expansive range of industrial and consumer applications — from factories and transmission lines to homes and electronics. And the recent push for electric vehicles is likely to increase demand for this essential metal.
Electric vehicles have five times more copper than traditional cars. And this new driving technology will also require large amounts of copper to support its electric charging infrastructure. Copper’s strong ties to many sectors of the economy likely mean that the demand isn’t going anywhere.
While copper is one of the most abundant metals on earth, only a small portion is economically viable to extract at today’s prices using current technologies. So mining companies are vulnerable to copper price fluctuations, which are easily impacted by geopolitics.
For example, global copper prices fell to its two-year all-time low in 2019. It was collateral damage amid the escalating trade war between the United States and China — a country consumes over 50% of the world’s metal.
An additional risk is that there are other practical substitutes for copper. For example, manufacturers can use aluminum instead of copper in automobile radiators, optical fiber in telecommunications equipment and plastics for pipes and plumbing fixtures. These substitutions can lower demand and cause copper and its stock prices to fall.
Copper is a reddish-orange metal that is corrosion-resistant and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. In its natural state, copper is soft, solid and can be molded into different shapes and thicknesses.
It is naturally found in ore deposits that are mined or leached. Mining crushes and grinds the ore into powder, where the unwanted materials and other impurities are removed. Leaching uses sulphuric acid to remove the copper from the other ore minerals.
Copper has a plethora of uses across five main markets:
Copper stocks generally refer to companies that explore, develop, produce and sell copper all over the world.
Copper is involved in a lot of economic sectors. While its consumer and industrial applications keep copper in demand, you’ll need to keep a pulse on global trade wars.
Consider a few different trading platforms that offer international brokerage accounts to add copper to your investment portfolio.
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseTo make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, features, ease and range of investments across 30+ platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform – simple.
Read the full methodologyAll investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
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