What is the best metal stock to buy?

Wheaton Precious Metals is the best metal stock to buy. It provides investors with low-risk exposure to several key metals, including gold and silver.

Are metal stocks a good investment?

Metal stocks can be a good investment. During periods of rising demand, metal prices tend to rise, benefiting metal stocks.

What is the largest metal company?

The largest metal company in mid-2026 was BHP Group, with a market capitalization approaching $225 billion.

What metal is best to invest in right now?

You could make a solid long-term investment case for most metals. However, copper looks like one of the best metals to invest in right now. Demand could grow by almost 70% by 2050, driven by catalysts such as electric vehicles and increased electrification. Meanwhile, there's a potential supply challenge ahead as legacy copper mines deplete. These catalysts could drive up copper prices, potentially making copper stocks a very rewarding long-term investment opportunity.

Will metal stocks rise?

Metal stocks could rise in the future. As long as the economy is growing, demand for metals (and metals prices) should rise. That should boost the value of metals stocks. However, if the economy slows, demand for metals would likely decline. That would likely weigh on the value of metals stocks.

Do metal stocks offer regular dividends?

Yes, many metals stocks offer regular dividends. Some metal companies have long records of paying a fixed quarterly dividend that they increase every year. Others pay more variable dividends that rise and fall with their profitability.

Are metal stocks cyclical?

Many metals stocks are cyclical. Companies that produce industrial metals (e.g., copper, iron ore, steel, and aluminum) tend to be cyclical because demand for those metals rises and falls with the economy. Precious metals producers, on the other hand, tend to be less cyclical, often seeing rising demand during economic downturns as investors flock to safe-haven metals.

Are metal stocks volatile?

Yes, metal stocks can be volatile because metal prices are volatile.

5 Best Metals Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Jun 12, 2026 at 9:19 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Rio Tinto focuses on iron, aluminum, and copper, and recently expanded into the lithium sector.
Nucor uses cost-efficient mini-mills and has a long record of paying a growing dividend.
Wheaton Precious Metals profits from low-cost gold and silver streaming contracts.

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Silver metal rods stacked atop one another — Image source: Getty Images.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Dividend yield	Industry
Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM)	$52.6 billion	0.62%	Metals and Mining
Nucor (NYSE:NUE)	$50.3 billion	1.01%	Metals and Mining
Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO)	$118.5 billion	4.26%	Metals and Mining
BHP Group (NYSE:BHP)	$211.7 billion	3.19%	Metals and Mining
MP Materials (NYSE:MP)	$9.5 billion	0.00%	Metals and Mining

Data as of Jul 6, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

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NYSE: RIO

Rio Tinto Group

Today's Change

(1.15%) $1.07

Current Price

$94.42

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$118B

Day's Range

$93.41 - $95.31

52wk Range

$57.66 - $112.58

Volume

2.1M

Avg Vol

2.6M

Gross Margin

25.17%

Dividend Yield

4.26%

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Rio Tinto is a diversified global mining company. It primarily focuses on producing industrial metals, including the three most widely used ones -- iron ore, aluminum, and copper. It also has a growing lithium business.

Rio Tinto is a global leader in producing aluminum. The company operates large-scale, high-quality bauxite mines, alumina refineries, and aluminum smelters. It’s a leader in efforts to use low-cost, carbon-free hydroelectricity to power aluminum operations. In early 2026, the company teamed up with China's Chinalco to acquire a controlling stake in Brazilian aluminum maker CBA in a deal valued at more than $900 million.

Rio Tinto is also a top producer of iron ore, a key ingredient in steel, the most widely used metal alloy in the world. The company’s iron ore operations in Australia comprise an integrated network of world-class mining assets, processing hubs, rail lines, and port terminals that help keep costs low. Rio Tinto and its partner Hancock Prospecting approved the Hope Downs 2 iron ore project in Australia to expand its iron ore business in 2025.

It also has a large-scale copper business. It controls the massive Oyu Tolgoi mining project in Mongolia. The company also owns the Winu copper-gold project in Australia, which it's seeking to develop.

Finally, Rio Tinto approved the $2.5 billion Rincon project in Argentina in late 2024, its first commercial-scale lithium operation. It also acquired Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion in early 2025 to create a world-class lithium business to complement its leading iron ore, aluminum, and copper operations.

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2. Nucor

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NYSE: NUE

Nucor

Today's Change

(0.79%) $1.73

Current Price

$220.75

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$50B

Day's Range

$216.88 - $222.00

52wk Range

$131.32 - $270.90

Volume

1.4M

Avg Vol

1.6M

Gross Margin

13.98%

Dividend Yield

1.01%

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Nucor is a diversified North American steel and steel products company. It produces steel bars, plates, beams, and other steel products, including fasteners, pipes, and wire. Nucor also operates a leading scrap metal business that recycles and transports ferrous (iron-containing) and nonferrous metals.

Nucor differs from most other steel manufacturers because it focuses on operating mini-mills, which use electric arc furnaces to melt scrap steel. The process is less expensive than traditional blast furnaces used to melt iron. It also powers its facilities primarily with natural gas rather than coal, which is cheaper. Nucor, which focuses on recycled metals, is one of the world's lowest-cost steel producers. Nucor is always looking to become more sustainable. It's partnering with Helion to develop a historic fusion power plant to provide zero-carbon electricity to one of its steelmaking plants.

The company’s relatively environmentally sustainable and lower-cost operations have enabled it to turn a profit across a range of economic conditions and to pay a steadily growing dividend. The steel producer delivered its 53rd consecutive year of dividend increases in late 2025. With more than 50 years of annual dividend increases, Nucor is a Dividend King. It may be an ideal stock for investors seeking a lower-risk steelmaker.

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3. Wheaton Precious Metals

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NYSE: WPM

Wheaton Precious Metals

Today's Change

(3.85%) $4.29

Current Price

$115.73

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$53B

Day's Range

$113.56 - $117.21

52wk Range

$85.59 - $165.76

Volume

Avg Vol

2.2M

Gross Margin

74.68%

Dividend Yield

0.62%

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NYSE: BHP

BHP Group

Today's Change

(1.35%) $1.11

Current Price

$83.33

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$212B

Day's Range

$82.20 - $84.57

52wk Range

$49.23 - $93.83

Volume

2.7M

Avg Vol

2.7M

Gross Margin

40.96%

Dividend Yield

3.19%

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BHP Group is a globally diversified metals producer. It focuses on producing metals and materials for the following three industries:

Steel: BHP Group produces iron ore and metallurgical coal, both key to the steel sector.
Electrification: It produces copper and nickel, important metals for electrification and electric vehicles.
Sustainable food production: BHP produces potash used in fertilizers.

The company has several near-term growth drivers, including the ramp-up of its Jansen potash mine in Canada, the expansion of its Western Australia iron ore business, and expansion projects supporting its metallurgical coal business in Australia. Additionally, the company has longer-term growth projects for its copper business in Chile and in Australia. BHP aims to grow its copper equivalent production at a 3% to 4% annual rate through 2035, while returning at least 50% of its cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

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5. MP Materials

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NYSE: MP

MP Materials

Today's Change

(-1.79%) $-0.97

Current Price

$53.31

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$9.5B

Day's Range

$52.97 - $57.46

52wk Range

$29.58 - $100.25

Volume

4.7M

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

8.12%

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MP Materials is a fully integrated producer of rare-earth magnets. It mines rare-earth from its Mountain Pass mine in California (the second-largest in the world), refines them at an on-site facility, and then combines them with other metals to produce powerful magnets at its manufacturing facility in Texas.

The rare-earth magnets produced by MP Materials are crucial to the transportation, energy, robotics, defense, and aerospace industries. In 2025, Apple (AAPL +4.88%) signed a $500 million partnership with MP Materials to supply magnets made from recycled rare-earth materials. Additionally, MP Materials received a $400 million investment from the U.S. Department of Defense to help fund the construction of a second U.S. magnet manufacturing facility. These deals will help support the continued growth of the company's metals business. It also partnered with the Department of Defense and Saudi Arabia to develop a rare-earth refinery joint venture in late 2025.

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Investing in metal stocks: FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has positions in Apple and BHP Group. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool recommends BHP Group and MP Materials. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

5 Best Metals Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

Key Data Points

2. Nucor

Key Data Points

3. Wheaton Precious Metals

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

5. MP Materials

Key Data Points

Related investing topics

5 Best Mining Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

4 Best Silver Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

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7 Best Materials Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Investing in metal stocks: FAQ

About the Author

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Investing in metal stocks: FAQ

What is the best metal stock to buy?

Are metal stocks a good investment?

What is the largest metal company?

What metal is best to invest in right now?

Will metal stocks rise?

Do metal stocks offer regular dividends?

Are metal stocks cyclical?

Are metal stocks volatile?

1. Rio Tinto

2. Nucor

3. Wheaton Precious Metals

4. BHP Group

5. MP Materials

How to invest in metal stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in metal stocks

Should you invest in metal stocks?

Related investing topics

FAQ

Five top metals stocks for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points