Equity, Bottom-up Analyst, Investics Research

Sameer Taneja

Equity, Bottom-up Analyst

Investics Research

It is important to note that the information provided by Investics Research is based on publicly available data and own knowledge, which has been gathered and analyzed from a variety of sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, it is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. All forecasts and estimates are based on information that has been obtained from public sources that are considered to be reliable. The sources include but are not limited to, company announcements, exchange filings, presentations, etc. Investics does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the forecasts, estimates, and/or other information.

Equity Bottom-up Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/antofagasta-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21814:1" rel="noopener">Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)</a>  delivered robust 2024 results, showcasing an 11% EBITDA increase to $3.4 billion and significantly expanded margins to 52%, exceeding many industry peers.</li>
<li>Antofagasta's 2025 capital expenditure is projected to increase to $3.9 billion (from $2.4 billion in 2024), supporting production growth to 900,000 tons (vs current 660k tons) by 2029-30. </li>
<li>Antofagasta's valuation, at 27.2x P/E and 7.2x EV/EBITDA, appears elevated. Southern Copper (SCCO US), offering superior return on capital employed (ROCE), presents a more attractive investment profile.</li>
</ul>



Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)  delivered robust 2024 results, showcasing an 11% EBITDA increase to $3.4 billion and significantly expanded margins to 52%, exceeding many industry peers.
Antofagasta's 2025 capital expenditure is projected to increase to $3.9 billion (from $2.4 billion in 2024), supporting production growth to 900,000 tons (vs current 660k tons) by 2029-30. 
Antofagasta's valuation, at 27.2x P/E and 7.2x EV/EBITDA, appears elevated. Southern Copper (SCCO US), offering superior return on capital employed (ROCE), presents a more attractive investment profile.


Antofagasta (ANTO LN): Good Set of Results, Capex Acceleration of >50%

First Quantum Minerals / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Total copper production, excluding Cobre Panamá, was 431,000 tonnes—14% higher than the previous year and exceeding guidance of 420,000 tonnes. Gold production also surpassed guidance at 139,000 ounces.</li>
<li>Management believes the ICC's five-month arbitration delay for the Cobre Panama mine, now set for February 2026, is unlikely to affect the pace of negotiations.</li>
<li>The company trades at an EV-EBITDA of 9.4x, which is more expensive than some of its peers. However, Cobre Panama's option value materializing makes it attractive (4.7x EV-EBITDA).</li>
</ul>


Total copper production, excluding Cobre Panamá, was 431,000 tonnes—14% higher than the previous year and exceeding guidance of 420,000 tonnes. Gold production also surpassed guidance at 139,000 ounces.
Management believes the ICC's five-month arbitration delay for the Cobre Panama mine, now set for February 2026, is unlikely to affect the pace of negotiations.
The company trades at an EV-EBITDA of 9.4x, which is more expensive than some of its peers. However, Cobre Panama's option value materializing makes it attractive (4.7x EV-EBITDA).


First Quantum Minerals (FM CN): Better Than Expected Results, But Cobre Panama Arbitration Delayed

<ul>
<li>Copper prices closed above $9,000 per ton once more and are poised for short-term gains as the outlook on China's economic recovery becomes more favorable.</li>
<li>The COMEX spread has hit a 12-week high, nearly reaching $1,000 per ton, as traders expressed concerns about copper potentially being included in the Trump administration's blanket levies.</li>
<li>We favor <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/southern-copper-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16279:1" rel="noopener">Southern Copper (SCCO US)</a>  and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/antofagasta-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21814:1" rel="noopener">Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)</a>  due to their greater copper exposure, higher ROCEs, and robust long-term expansion strategies.</li>
</ul>


Copper prices closed above $9,000 per ton once more and are poised for short-term gains as the outlook on China's economic recovery becomes more favorable.
The COMEX spread has hit a 12-week high, nearly reaching $1,000 per ton, as traders expressed concerns about copper potentially being included in the Trump administration's blanket levies.
We favor Southern Copper (SCCO US)  and Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)  due to their greater copper exposure, higher ROCEs, and robust long-term expansion strategies.


Copper Tracker 10th Feb 2025: Comex Spreads Bullish, Commentary on China Improving

<ul>
<li>Copper prices finished up over 9000 USD/ton again this week after hovering around 3-5% of that level for close to a month. </li>
<li>The COMEX spread has reached a 10-week high, while the Yangshan premium shows signs of investor bullishness as it closes in on the 80 USD/ton. </li>
<li>With better TSF numbers from China and a slightly more optimistic picture of demand, we head into 2025 feeling better about copper pricing. </li>
</ul>


Copper prices finished up over 9000 USD/ton again this week after hovering around 3-5% of that level for close to a month. 
The COMEX spread has reached a 10-week high, while the Yangshan premium shows signs of investor bullishness as it closes in on the 80 USD/ton. 
With better TSF numbers from China and a slightly more optimistic picture of demand, we head into 2025 feeling better about copper pricing. 


Copper Tracker 20th Jan 2025: Encouraging China TSF Numbers To Boost Future Demand?

<ul>
<li>We expect copper demand to have ended FY24 at around 27.1 million tons (up 4% year over year). FY25 could be an interesting year in which copper demand outstrips supply. </li>
<li>We expect China to have about 15.3 million tons of demand (flattish year over year) in FY24. The stimulus will be crucial for growth in overall copper FY25 demand.</li>
<li>We continue to expand our coverage of pure copper play names, with our favorites being <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/southern-copper-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16279:1" rel="noopener">Southern Copper (SCCO US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/antofagasta-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21814:1" rel="noopener">Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)</a> </li>
</ul>


We expect copper demand to have ended FY24 at around 27.1 million tons (up 4% year over year). FY25 could be an interesting year in which copper demand outstrips supply. 
We expect China to have about 15.3 million tons of demand (flattish year over year) in FY24. The stimulus will be crucial for growth in overall copper FY25 demand.
We continue to expand our coverage of pure copper play names, with our favorites being Southern Copper (SCCO US) and Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN) 


Copper Tracker 6th Jan 2025: What Lies In Store For The Year

United States

Southern Copper Corporation conducts mining operations in Peru and Mexico.  The Company owns and operates open pit mines and metallurgical complexes that produce copper, molybdenum, zinc, and precious metals.

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Southern Copper (SCCO US)

Antofagasta (ANTO LN): Good Set of Results, Capex Acceleration of >50%

Antofagasta (ANTO LN) reported H1 an impressive set of H1 results. We summarize the presentation and our gleanings of the conference call with...

Sameer Taneja

First Quantum Minerals (FM CN): Better Than Expected Results, But Cobre Panama Arbitration Delayed

This summary highlights the key points from First Quantum Minerals' FY24 conference call and an analysis of the upside, status, and timeline...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Tracker 10th Feb 2025: Comex Spreads Bullish, Commentary on China Improving

The COMEX spread has risen to a 12-week high, approaching $1,000 per ton. With an improved outlook for China, short-term gains in copper prices are...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Tracker 20th Jan 2025: Encouraging China TSF Numbers To Boost Future Demand?

We highlight the expanding bullish spreads of COMEX and Yangshan for copper. We highlight the bullish narrative and provide updates on stocks in...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Tracker 6th Jan 2025: What Lies In Store For The Year

We summarize our estimates for copper demand for FY25. Market participants are increasingly bullish on copper, but China's demand must pick up for...

Sameer Taneja

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