Precious metals aren't the only commodities heating up recently. Investors' appetite for base metals has returned with a vengeance on renewed hope that Chinese demand could drive prices even higher. Copper is trading near all-time highs, while zinc and iron are at multiyear highs.
Despite the inflationary effect that rising base metal prices can have on the products we buy, we can use these rising prices to help find potential investments that could beef up your portfolio. If you're considering allocating a portion of your portfolio to base metals, then you should consider these stocks.
Copper
Just because you can melt down a penny for more than it's currently worth doesn't mean you can legally do it. Instead, consider taking a position in Southern Copper (Nasdaq: SCCO), which has mines in Peru, Mexico, and Chile. With copper hitting all-time highs, Southern Copper looks particularly inexpensive next to competitor Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX). Southern Copper's trailing-12-month operating margins eclipse Freeport's by 3%. It also has significantly less net debt and a higher five-year expected growth rate compared with Freeport. At just under 11 times forward earnings, it could be the boost your portfolio needs.
Iron
Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF) cleared the final hurdle with Consolidated Thompson shareholders on Friday in order to complete its $5 billion takeover. Cliffs has made it no secret, as fellow Fool Christopher Barker points out, that it wants to become an iron ore juggernaut and profit off the expected growth in Chinese demand. Though financed predominantly through debt, this deal will add to Cliffs' already impressive $1 billion in yearly cash flow from operations.
You might be wondering: Why Cliffs and not Vale (Nasdaq: VALE) or BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP)? In this case I feel that size does matter, and Cliffs has a better chance to grow revenues faster than its rivals. I also feel the market has vastly underestimated the growth potential of Cliffs' coal business, which saw a 24% uptick in its most recent quarter.
Zinc
Zinc is most commonly applied in thin layers to iron and steel products to prevent rusting. As long as Chinese demand for iron and steel products remains strong, Horsehead Holding (Nasdaq: ZINC) may be a company worth considering.
Horsehead reported fourth-quarter results on Friday, which easily surpassed expectations. The company cited higher zinc prices and increased demand as the fuel behind its explosion in growth. Unlike considerably larger rival Teck Resources (NYSE: TCK), which found itself under a mountain of debt after purchasing Fording Canadian Coal Trust in 2008, Horsehead has more than $2 in net cash per share. With a market cap of only $705 million, Horsehead is still relatively small and could garner the attention of a larger rival if it continues to grow as quickly as it has been.
What's your take on base metals? Do they deserve a spot in your portfolio, or are they due for a pullback? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and consider adding these stocks to My Watchlist.
Add Southern Copper, Freeport-McMoRan, Cliffs Natural Resources, Vale, BHP Billiton, Horsehead Holding, or Teck Resources to My Watchlist.
