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Investing in mining stocks
From gold to gravel, there’s room for profit — but geopolitical shifts are a major risk.
There’s no shortage of options for those who want to invest in mining companies. But investors will need to pay close attention to the price history and location of the material being mined before they buy in, as shifting political tides have the potential to sideline operations.
What are mining stocks?
Mining stocks are stocks from companies that extract minerals and materials from the earth. Mined materials vary in composition and can be divided into the following major categories:
- Energy materials. Bitumen, coal and uranium.
- Fertilizers. Boron, rock phosphate, potash and sulfur.
- Industrial metals. Aluminum, cobalt, copper, iron ore, lithium, nickel and zinc.
- Industrial minerals. Asbestos, bentonite, graphite, gravel, gypsum, limestone, mica, potash, pumice, salt, sand, silica and talc.
- Precious metals. Diamond, gold, iridium, mercury, osmium, palladium, platinum and silver.
There are two major categories of mining stocks: majors and juniors. Majors refer to well-established companies with international operations and a history of steady profits — they share the same status as blue-chip stocks in the general stock market.
Juniors are small mining companies with less working capital and shorter histories than their major counterparts — think of them as a type of growth stock specific to the mining industry.
How to invest in mining stocks
- Choose a platform. If you’re a beginner, our share-dealing table below can help you choose.
- Open your account. You’ll need your ID, bank details and national insurance number.
- Confirm your payment details. You’ll need to fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
- Search the platform for mining stock codes.
- Research the shares you want to buy. The platform should provide the latest information available.
- Buy your shares. It’s that simple.
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Why invest in mining stocks?
Thanks to its long history, economic viability and global demand, the mining industry holds great potential for profit.
Many industries rely on mining efforts to produce the materials needed to manufacture their wares and services. Without cobalt, electric vehicle manufacturers would flounder. Without uranium, we wouldn’t have nuclear energy.
Mining is a time- and energy-intensive process. But mining companies continue to expand their reach thanks to the international demand for what they source and produce. This type of global reliance on mined materials makes this industry among the more powerful and viable investment categories.
Major mining companies offer the opportunity for steady returns and dividends. Junior mining companies hold the potential for rapid growth. Investors should research the mining company of interest to them and what materials it yields to determine potential benefits specific to the product.
Mining stocks
Mining stocks include both domestic and international companies that produce all sorts of minerals and precious metals. If you’re interested in a specific material or commodity, take some time to research the company, its history and its financials before you buy in.
Take a deeper dive into mining stocks
If you're interested in investing in the mining industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.1. Albemarle (ALB)
Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals worldwide. It operates through three segments: Lithium, Bromine, and Catalysts. The Lithium segment offers lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, and lithium specialties and reagents, such as butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride for use in lithium batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, high performance greases, thermoplastic elastomers for car tires, rubber soles, plastic bottles, catalysts for chemical reactions, organic synthesis processes in the areas of steroid chemistry and vitamins, life sciences, pharmaceutical industry, and other markets.
Albemarle stock opened the day at $119.72 after a previous close of $121.27. The latest price was $126.16 (25-minute delay). Albemarle is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD9.9 billion and employs 7,400 staff.
- Market capitalization: $15,123,280,896
- P/E ratio: 4.5682
- PEG ratio: 0.3163
2. B2Gold (BTG)
B2Gold Corp. operates as a gold producer with three operating mines in Mali, the Philippines, and Namibia. It operates the Fekola Mine in Mali, the Masbate Mine in the Philippines, and the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia.
B2Gold stock opened the day at $3.35 after a previous close of $3.34. The latest price was $3.39 (25-minute delay). B2Gold is listed on the NYSE MKT and has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2 billion.
- Market capitalization: $4,057,622,016
- P/E ratio: 12.48
- PEG ratio: 4.71
3. Barrick Gold (GOLD)
Barrick Gold Corporation engages in the exploration, mine development, production, and sale of gold and copper properties. It has ownership interests in producing gold mines that are located in Argentina, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, Mali, Tanzania, and the United States. The company also has ownership interests in producing copper mines located in Chile, Saudi Arabia, and Zambia; and various other projects located throughout the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
Barrick Gold stock opened the day at $17.56 after a previous close of $17.59. The latest price was $17.73 (25-minute delay). Barrick Gold is listed on the NYSE and has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$11.1 billion.
- Market capitalization: $28,492,089,344
- P/E ratio: 541
- PEG ratio: 10.07
4. BHP Group (BHP)
BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, iron ore, and metallurgical and energy coal.
BHP Group stock opened the day at $61.96 after a previous close of $60.96. The latest price was $62.94 (25-minute delay). BHP Group is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$54.2 billion and employs 49,089 staff.
- Market capitalization: $157,021,716,480
- P/E ratio: 12.1827
- PEG ratio: 0
5. Freeport-McMoran Copper-and-Gold (FCX)
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals, as well as oil and gas.
Freeport-McMoran Copper-and-Gold stock opened the day at $37.84 after a previous close of $37.32. The latest price was $39.24 (25-minute delay). Freeport-McMoran Copper-and-Gold is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$22.7 billion and employs 25,600 staff.
- Market capitalization: $52,827,824,128
- P/E ratio: 24.56
- PEG ratio: 0.2
6. Newmont Goldcorp (NEM)
Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana.
Newmont Goldcorp stock opened the day at $40.25 after a previous close of $40.19. The latest price was $41.20 (25-minute delay). Newmont Goldcorp is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$11.1 billion and employs 14,600 staff.
- Market capitalization: $44,002,066,432
- PEG ratio: 0.7872
7. Pretium Resources (PVG)
Pretium Resources Inc. acquires, explores for, and develops precious metal resource properties in the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits.
Pretium Resources is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$611.1 million and employs 831 staff.
- Market capitalization: $2,872,729,088
- PEG ratio: 0
8. Rio Tinto ADR (RIO)
Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium.
Rio Tinto ADR stock opened the day at $70.41 after a previous close of $69.09. The latest price was $71.16 (25-minute delay). Rio Tinto ADR is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$52.4 billion and employs 54,000 staff.
- Market capitalization: $113,115,815,936
- P/E ratio: 13.2296
- PEG ratio: 0
9. Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO)
Southern Copper Corporation engages in mining, exploring, smelting, and refining copper and other minerals in Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile. The company is involved in the mining, milling, and flotation of copper ore to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates; smelting of copper concentrates to produce blister and anode copper; refining of anode copper to produce copper cathodes; production of molybdenum concentrate and sulfuric acid; production of refined silver, gold, and other materials; and mining and processing of zinc, copper, molybdenum, silver, gold, and lead. It operates the Toquepala and Cuajone open-pit mines, and a smelter and refinery in Peru; and La Caridad, an open-pit copper mine, as well as a copper ore concentrator, a SX-EW plant, a smelter, refinery, and a rod plant in Mexico.
Southern Copper Corporation stock opened the day at $72.76 after a previous close of $71.93. The latest price was $76.74 (25-minute delay). Southern Copper Corporation is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$10.4 billion and employs 15,018 staff.
- Market capitalization: $54,898,544,640
- P/E ratio: 19.0887
- PEG ratio: 1.2
10. Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM)
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. primarily sells precious metals in North America, Europe, and South America. It produces and sells gold, silver, palladium, and cobalt deposits.
Wheaton Precious Metals stock opened the day at $49.00 after a previous close of $48.90. The latest price was $49.55 (25-minute delay). Wheaton Precious Metals is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$938.6 million and employs 42 staff.
- Market capitalization: $21,499,189,248
- P/E ratio: 40.2203
- PEG ratio: 2.4
11. Vale SA ADR (VALE)
Vale S. A. , together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials segments.
Vale SA ADR stock opened the day at $15.12 after a previous close of $15.00. The latest price was $15.37 (25-minute delay). Vale SA ADR is listed on the NYSE and has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$42.2 billion.
- Market capitalization: $65,202,421,760
- P/E ratio: 7.1714
- PEG ratio: 10.6376
Risks of investing in mining stocks
The mining industry isn’t immune to risk and faces several unique challenges — chief among them: economic and geopolitical shifts.
The mining industry tends to do well in an up market because the profitability of this sector is largely tied to the health of the global economy. When demand for mined metals and materials is high, mining companies are well-positioned for strong and consistent cash flow. But when demand is low in response to a down market, mining companies may suffer.
Mining companies are also vulnerable to political regulations depending on where their mines are located. Many mining stocks on the market are international companies with mine locations across the globe. A mine’s location can have a big impact on a mining company’s profitability, as the political environment of the country, the mine is located in can impact mining processes and material prices.
Mining market projections
In 2019, the combined revenue of the top 40 mining companies worldwide amounted to $692 billion. But 2019 wasn’t a good year for net profit margins — a figure that’s been on the decline for the past decade. Net profits for the industry dropped from 35% in 2010 to 9% in 2019, according to Statista.
That said, employment and total mining gross output for the US have been steadily growing. In the year 2000, gross output sat at $218 billion and approximately 521,000 people were employed within the industry. By 2019, Statista reports that gross output for the US mining industry had more than doubled to $579 billion and employment had increased to 672,000.
What ETFs track the mining category?
Mining ETFs invest in companies that generate revenue from mining natural resources. The following ETFs track companies in the mining sector:
- Amplify Advanced Battery Metals and Materials ETF (BATT)
- iShares Global Energy ETF (IXC)
- iShares MSCI Global Select Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK)
- SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME)
- VanEck Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (REMX)
Compare trading platforms
You’ll need to open a trading account to invest in mining stocks. Compare options by features and fees to find the account that best meets your needs.
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All 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.
Bottom line
Major mining stocks represent a potential long-term investment with the opportunity for steady gains. Junior mining stocks may have more growth potential but are typically riskier investments. Before you purchase either, review your platform options to find the brokerage account that’s ideal for your investment goals.
Frequently asked questions
Browse all mining stock guides
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- Adriatic Metals
- Affinity Gold
- Aim Exploration
- Alamos Gold
- Alba Mineral Resources
- Alcoa Corporation
- Alien Metals
- All American Gold
- Altyn
- Aluminum of China
- American Battery Metals
- American Graphite Technologies
- American Resources
- Amur Minerals
- Andes Gold
- Andina Gold
- Anglo American
- Anglo Pacific Group
- Antofagasta
- ARC Minerals
- Arch Resources
- Ariana Resources
- Armadale Capital
- Atacama Resources International
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