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>Copper rebounded last week, rising 4% on the LME and 6% on the COMEX, led by improved sentiment but in line with most of its commodity complex peers.</li>
<li>Check out our initiation, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/copper-primer-what-we-like-about-copper-and-what-to-play" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:141017" rel="noopener">Copper Primer: What We Like About Copper and What to Play</a>, and our equity initiation, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/southern-copper-in-a-league-of-its-own" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:139839" rel="noopener">Southern Copper: In a League of Its Own</a>. </li>
<li>We provide updates on the long copper-short gold trade we explored last week and the iron condor in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freeport-mcmoran-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12491:1" rel="noopener">Freeport Mcmoran (FCX US)</a> </li>
</ul>


Copper rebounded last week, rising 4% on the LME and 6% on the COMEX, led by improved sentiment but in line with most of its commodity complex peers.
Check out our initiation, Copper Primer: What We Like About Copper and What to Play, and our equity initiation, Southern Copper: In a League of Its Own. 
We provide updates on the long copper-short gold trade we explored last week and the iron condor in Freeport Mcmoran (FCX US) 


Copper Tracker July 2024: Physical/​Equity Screens And Trades

<ul>
<li>
<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> in the equity space is the best way to play bullish copper long-term with its long-term (10-year) ROCE of &gt;22% </li>
<li>With low-cost production assets in Peru and Mexico, the company has managed EBITDA margins of&gt; 39% across the cycle (last 15 years) and averaging 50%.</li>
<li>A 100% payout results in a dividend yield of 3.5%. We believe there is a price for everything, and in the event of a 20% correction, it would be attractive.</li>
</ul>



Southern Copper (SCCO US) in the equity space is the best way to play bullish copper long-term with its long-term (10-year) ROCE of &gt;22% 
With low-cost production assets in Peru and Mexico, the company has managed EBITDA margins of&gt; 39% across the cycle (last 15 years) and averaging 50%.
A 100% payout results in a dividend yield of 3.5%. We believe there is a price for everything, and in the event of a 20% correction, it would be attractive.


<ul>
<li>Top miners like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhp-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:147:1" rel="noopener">BHP Group Ltd (BHP AU)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/teck-resources-ltd-36dbdad5-1430-4d7a-8578-31bc50086f72" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33343:1" rel="noopener">Teck Resources (TECK US)</a> are signaling their long-term bullish copper intent through their recent corporate actions. </li>
<li>Copper may experience short periods of oversupply, but its long-term outlook makes it one of the best commodities we cover in terms of return potential. </li>
<li>Our best plays in the copper space are <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/teck-resources-ltd-36dbdad5-1430-4d7a-8578-31bc50086f72" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33343:1" rel="noopener">Teck Resources (TECK US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freeport-mcmoran-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12491:1" rel="noopener">Freeport Mcmoran (FCX US)</a>
</li>
</ul>


Top miners like BHP Group Ltd (BHP AU) and Teck Resources (TECK US) are signaling their long-term bullish copper intent through their recent corporate actions. 
Copper may experience short periods of oversupply, but its long-term outlook makes it one of the best commodities we cover in terms of return potential. 
Our best plays in the copper space are Southern Copper (SCCO US), Teck Resources (TECK US) and Freeport Mcmoran (FCX US)



Copper Primer: What We Like About Copper And What to Play

<ul>
<li>Copper prices continue to remain above 13,000 USD/ton despite a small correction. Stocks have declined much more amid market weakness, resulting in better risk-reward on copper names.</li>
<li>Stocks that stand out are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">ERO Copper (ERO US)</a>, trading at 6.8x PE and 4.4x EV-EBITDA, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lundin Mining (LUN CN)</a>, 16.4x PE and 6.9x EV-EBITDA, for how cheap they are.</li>
<li>The bellwether copper pure plays are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/antofagasta-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21814:1" rel="noopener">Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)</a> at 7.8x EV-EBITDA and <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> at 13.5x EV-EBITDA. All numbers based on FY26e copper at 13,000 USD/ton.</li>
</ul>


Copper prices continue to remain above 13,000 USD/ton despite a small correction. Stocks have declined much more amid market weakness, resulting in better risk-reward on copper names.
Stocks that stand out are ERO Copper (ERO US), trading at 6.8x PE and 4.4x EV-EBITDA, and Lundin Mining (LUN CN), 16.4x PE and 6.9x EV-EBITDA, for how cheap they are.
The bellwether copper pure plays are Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN) at 7.8x EV-EBITDA and Southern Copper (SCCO US) at 13.5x EV-EBITDA. All numbers based on FY26e copper at 13,000 USD/ton.


Copper Price Correction: Four Stocks To Look At

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/freeport-mcmoran-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12491:1" rel="noopener">Freeport McMoRan's (FCX US)</a> Grasberg mine, which was scheduled to return to full production in 2027, <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/freeport-indonesia-adjusts-grasberg-production-recovery-full-resumption-delayed-until-2028-6109926" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has now pushed its recovery to </a><a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/freeport-indonesia-adjusts-grasberg-production-recovery-full-resumption-delayed-until-2028-6109926" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2028</a>. The mine is running at 40-50% utilization.</li>
<li>Further pressure on the cost side as Indonesia proposed a step-up in royalties in gold, copper, and tin mining. We are already witnessing <a href="https://news.metal.com/newscontent/103887752-SMM-Copper-Flash-High-Diesel-Power-Generation-Costs-in-DRC-Put-SX-EW-Copper-Smelters-Under-Pressure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rising fuel prices</a>/<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/metals/041526-chinas-sulfuric-acid-restrictions-set-to-squeeze-miners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lower sulfuric acid supplies</a>. </li>
<li>We see that elevated copper prices are resulting in great Q1 results from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/antofagasta-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21814:1" rel="noopener">Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN)</a> / <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/lundin-mining-corp-92352503-3781-4fcb-a4db-62e6f6343783" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25356:1" rel="noopener">Lundin Mining (LUN CN)</a> </li>
</ul>



Freeport McMoRan's (FCX US) Grasberg mine, which was scheduled to return to full production in 2027, has now pushed its recovery to 2028. The mine is running at 40-50% utilization.
Further pressure on the cost side as Indonesia proposed a step-up in royalties in gold, copper, and tin mining. We are already witnessing rising fuel prices/lower sulfuric acid supplies. 
We see that elevated copper prices are resulting in great Q1 results from Antofagasta PLC (ANTO LN) / Southern Copper (SCCO US) and Lundin Mining (LUN CN) 


Grasberg Slips, Copper Rips: Sulfuric Acid Shortages and Diesel Costs Add Fuel

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)

Copper Tracker July 2024: Physical/Equity Screens And Trades

This brief insight summarizes Copper's performance and equities on our screens. We highlight our research and trades to explore for July

Sameer Taneja

Southern Copper: In a League of Its Own

We initiate on Southern Copper (SCCO US), a high-quality copper play with assets in Peru and Mexico. Its long term ROCE >22% makes its a very...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Primer: What We Like About Copper And What to Play

We initiate with a primer on the copper sector. We elaborate on our fundamental rationale for being bullish on the metal and discuss different ways...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Price Correction: Four Stocks To Look At

We look at four stocks post the correction in share prices, provide a sensitivity analysis for different copper prices, and present a base-case...

Sameer Taneja

Grasberg Slips, Copper Rips: Sulfuric Acid Shortages and Diesel Costs Add Fuel

Bullish on copper for 2026/2027: Grasberg delays, rising diesel costs, and sulfuric acid shortages tighten supply, widening the deficit.

Sameer Taneja

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Copper Tracker July 2024: Physical/​Equity Screens And Trades

This brief insight summarizes Copper's performance and equities on our screens. We highlight our research and trades to explore for July

Sameer Taneja

Southern Copper: In a League of Its Own

We initiate on Southern Copper (SCCO US), a high-quality copper play with assets in Peru and Mexico. Its long term ROCE >22% makes its a very...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Primer: What We Like About Copper And What to Play

We initiate with a primer on the copper sector. We elaborate on our fundamental rationale for being bullish on the metal and discuss different ways...

Sameer Taneja

Copper Price Correction: Four Stocks To Look At

We look at four stocks post the correction in share prices, provide a sensitivity analysis for different copper prices, and present a base-case...

Sameer Taneja

Grasberg Slips, Copper Rips: Sulfuric Acid Shortages and Diesel Costs Add Fuel

Bullish on copper for 2026/2027: Grasberg delays, rising diesel costs, and sulfuric acid shortages tighten supply, widening the deficit.

Sameer Taneja

Copper Tracker July 2024: Physical/Equity Screens And Trades