Are mining stocks a good investment?

Investors in mining stocks should be keenly aware of both the mining industry's cyclicality and its capital-intensive nature. The best mining companies have proven their ability to generate profits regardless of economic conditions. If you are comfortable with some volatility and dividends are a priority, adding high-quality mining stocks to your portfolio might be the right move.

What are the best mining stocks to invest in?

The best mining stocks to invest in are Barrick, BHP Group, and Rio Tinto. These mining giants have low-cost operations, focus on precious or industrial metals, and have strong balance sheets. That puts them in the best position to create long-term shareholder value.

What are the mining stocks with the highest dividends?

Mining stock dividend yields tend to be very volatile. They rise and fall with mining company share prices (which can be very volatile) and with dividend payments (which can vary from period to period for many mining companies). In early July 2026, the three highest dividend yields among U.S.-listed mining stocks were:Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ: ARLP): 10.1%Vale (NYSE: VALE): 6.8%Rio Tinto: 4.3%

Are mining stocks considered growth or value stocks?

Many investors would consider most mining stocks to be value stocks. Most mining companies operate mature businesses that generate lots of cash flow, which they use to expand their mining operations and return cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Further, given the sector's maturity and the volatility of metal prices, many mining companies trade at valuations below the market average.

Does Warren Buffett invest in mining?

Warren Buffett and the company he built, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB), don't typically invest in mining. Berkshire Hathaway bought over $550 million in shares of gold and copper miner Barrick (NYSE: B) in early 2020, though it sold its entire stake later that year.

What are the top five mining companies?

The top mining companies by market cap are:BHP Group: $211.7 billionRio Tinto: $153.6 billionSouthern Copper (NYSE: SCCO): $143.5 billonChina Shenhua Energy: $130.4 billionZijin Mining: $109.3 billion

5 Best Mining Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Jul 5, 2026 at 12:36 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Invest in mining stocks like Barrick, BHP Group, and Rio Tinto, due to their low operating costs and strong financial profiles.
Mining stocks move with the economic cycle, making it crucial to choose companies that can sustain downturns.
Diversify your portfolio with mining stocks, which can help hedge against inflation and boost your returns.

Mining stocks are publicly traded companies that find, extract, and process the raw materials that power the global economy. These materials range from precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium to industrial metals such as copper, iron ore, aluminum, and nickel. The mining industry also produces construction materials, energy resources (coal, bitumen, and uranium), and key agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers (potash).

Because these resources are essential for building products, infrastructure, and technology, demand tends to rise as the economy grows, pushing prices higher. But mining is a cyclical business. When economic activity slows, demand for raw materials often falls, and mining stocks can decline sharply.

That cyclicality makes stock selection especially important. Investors need to focus on mining companies with the financial strength and asset quality to weather downturns and benefit from long-term demand. Here’s a closer look at how mining stocks work and which ones stand out today.

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People in a coal mine. — Image source: Getty Images.

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5 top mining stocks for 2026

There are several different types of mining stocks, including:

Major diversified mining companies: Large-scale miners with diversified mining portfolios.
Precious metals miners: These mining companies primarily focus on producing gold and silver.
Industrial metals miners: These miners primarily focus on producing one of the three leading industrial metals (iron ore, copper, and aluminum).
Energy metals and materials miners: These miners focus on metals crucial to the energy sector (e.g., uranium, coal, and oil sands), as well as on the transition to lower-carbon energy (battery metals such as lithium and cobalt).

The best mining stocks have some commonalities. They're low-cost producers in their sector, with ample resources to continue growing and have strong financial profiles. Here's a look at some of the top mining companies to buy this year.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield	Industry
Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO)	$111.4 billion	4.53%	Metals and Mining
BHP Group (NYSE:BHP)	$198.9 billion	3.40%	Metals and Mining
Barrick Mining (NYSE:B)	$59.9 billion	2.57%	Metals and Mining
Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX)	$82.7 billion	0.52%	Metals and Mining
MP Materials (NYSE:MP)	$9.4 billion	0.00%	Metals and Mining

Data as of Jul 9, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

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Here's a closer look at these top mining companies.

1. Barrick Mining

NYSE: B

Barrick Mining

Today's Change

(-3.04%) $-1.12

Current Price

$35.74

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$60B

Day's Range

$34.87 - $36.38

52wk Range

$20.52 - $54.69

Volume

33.1K

Avg Vol

12M

Gross Margin

52.26%

Dividend Yield

2.57%

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Barrick Mining (B -3.04%) is one of the largest gold miners in the world, with operations in 17 countries. It's also a leading copper producer.

One thing that sets Barrick apart from other mining companies is its focus on Tier One mining assets. It defines a Tier One mine as one that:

Produces more than 500,000 ounces per year.
Has at least 10 years of productive life remaining.
Delivers total cash costs per ounce in the lower half of the industry cost curve.

Tier One mines produce a relatively steady supply of low-cost gold and copper, enabling Barrick to continue generating profits even when prices are low.

Barrick’s Tier One mines can generate significant cash flow, enabling it to pay an attractive dividend. Barrick announced a new dividend policy in 2026, targeting a payout of 50% of its annual free cash flow. It does that through a base dividend, which it boosted by 40% in 2026. The company will also pay a performance top-off dividend each year. Its dividend could be higher or lower than its 50% target, depending on the strength of its cash flow, capital needs, balance sheet, and other factors. Barrick also returns cash to investors through share repurchases, with it authorizing a new $3 billion program in May 2026.

It also invests in exploring and developing new mines and expanding existing ones to increase production. Those projects have Barrick on track to grow its gold production from nearly 3.3 million ounces in 2025 to 3.4 million-3.75 million ounces by 2029. Additionally, Barrick expects to expand its copper output from 220,000 tons in 2025 to between 255,000 and 285,000 tons by 2028.

Barrick also plans to complete an initial public offering of its North American gold assets by the end of 2026 to highlight the value of this portfolio.

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2. BHP Group

NYSE: BHP

BHP Group

Today's Change

(-2.41%) $-1.93

Current Price

$78.30

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$199B

Day's Range

$76.81 - $78.67

52wk Range

$49.68 - $93.83

Volume

14.1K

Avg Vol

2.7M

Gross Margin

40.96%

Dividend Yield

3.40%

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BHP Group (BHP -2.41%) is a diversified resources company. It operates fully integrated mining assets that extract and process copper, iron ore, metallurgical coal, zinc, and potash. Its mining assets span the globe.

The large-scale global mining company combines its low-cost operations with a strong balance sheet, which it strengthens by routinely selling non-core assets. It has unlocked $6.3 billion in value through monetization transactions over the past year, putting it on track to reach $10 billion in the near term. In July 2026, BHP Group transferred its San Manuel property in Arizona to Faraday Copper (CPPKF -2.89%) for a 30% stake in the miner, which is working to develop a copper hub around its nearby Copper Creek Project.

BHP Group also seeks to acquire rival miners to increase its scale and growth prospects. In 2025, the company partnered with Lundin Mining (LUNMF -3.04%) to acquire Filo for its Filo del Sol copper project. BHP Group invested $2 billion in the 50/50 joint venture. BHP Group also tried to acquire Anglo American in late 2025 to further bolster its copper business, but walked away after the two companies couldn't reach an agreement.

The mining company is investing heavily to grow its production. BHP plans to grow its copper-equivalent production at a 3% to 4% compound annual rate through 2035. Notable projects include Vicuna, a potential top-five global copper and gold project. Stage one would cost $8 billion and come online by 2030.

Although its cash flow ebbs and flows with commodity prices, BHP’s low costs enable it to generate free cash flow to pay dividends and repurchase stock. The company set a target to pay out at least 50% of its profits each reporting period in dividends, so its dividend outlay will rise or fall with its cash flow.

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3. Rio Tinto

NYSE: RIO

Rio Tinto Group

Today's Change

(-2.50%) $-2.28

Current Price

$88.97

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$111B

Day's Range

$86.73 - $89.09

52wk Range

$58.16 - $112.58

Volume

286.8K

Avg Vol

2.6M

Gross Margin

25.17%

Dividend Yield

4.53%

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Rio Tinto (RIO -2.69%) is a diversified mining company. It's a leading producer of the three most consumed industrial metals -- iron ore, aluminum, and copper. Rio Tinto is also building a world-class lithium operation.

Like BHP Group, Rio Tinto aims to be a low-cost producer of metals and minerals. It's able to keep costs down by operating integrated, large-scale mining assets. Rio Tinto's investments in new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), and renewable energy, reduce costs and increase productivity.

Rio Tinto has proven its ability to make money even during weak market conditions. It has a strong balance sheet and routinely sells noncore mines to reallocate cash to better opportunities. The company also regularly invests in expanding its best assets. For example, it commissioned its $1.5 billion AP60 smelter expansion in Canada in May 2026, supporting its deployment of state-of-the-art, low-carbon aluminum smelting technology.

Rio Tinto is another mining company that pays dividends to shareholders and repurchases its own shares throughout the economic cycle. It pays 40% to 60% of its cash flow in dividends, with payments varying each period based on its earnings.

Like BHP Group, Rio Tinto has pursued a major acquisition in the past year (Glencore), but the two sides failed to reach an agreement. However, the companies could re-engage in merger talks again in the future.

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4. Freeport-McMoRan

NYSE: FCX

Freeport-McMoRan

Today's Change

(-3.08%) $-1.83

Current Price

$57.50

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$83B

Day's Range

$56.00 - $58.87

52wk Range

$35.01 - $72.28

Volume

5.9K

Avg Vol

14.9M

Gross Margin

25.84%

Dividend Yield

0.52%

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Freeport-McMoRan is one of the world's leading copper producers. It has mines in Indonesia, South America, and the U.S. Its mines also produce gold and molybdenum, a mineral primarily used to strengthen steel.

The company is investing heavily to expand its copper business. It's spending more than $1 billion to develop and implement new leaching technologies to maximize the recoveries at its existing mines. Freeport is also working towards a potential $3.5 billion project to expand its Bagdad mine in Arizona. Those investments could boost its U.S. copper production 60% by 2030. The company is also evaluating potential large-scale expansions of its Lone Star (Arizona), El Abra (Chile), and Grasberg (Indonesia) mines.

Freeport-McMoRan also aims to return about 50% of its cash flow to shareholders through its base dividend, share repurchases, and variable dividends.

5. MP Materials

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NYSE: MP

MP Materials

Today's Change

(4.97%) $2.51

Current Price

$53.00

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$9.4B

Day's Range

$49.81 - $53.38

52wk Range

$42.86 - $100.25

Volume

9.5K

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

8.12%

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MP Materials is the only fully integrated U.S. producer of rare-earth metals. It operates the world's second-largest rare-earth mine in Mountain Pass, Calif. It also has an advanced metallization and magnet manufacturing facility in Texas. Rare-earth metals are crucial to many industries, including the technology and defense sectors.

The company broke ground on its new 10X rare-earth magnet manufacturing campus in Texas in early 2026. It's investing nearly $1.3 billion into the facility, supported by a 10-year supply agreement with the Pentagon. MP Materials expects to commission the facility in 2028. That project will support its rapid growth. MP Materials' revenue surged 49% in the first quarter of 2026 to $90 million, driven by record sales and production.

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How to buy mining stocks

Here's a step-by-step guide to investing in mining stocks.:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of investing in mining stocks

Investing in mining stocks has its advantages and drawbacks. Some of the benefits include:

Growth potential: Demand for metals is growing, which should enable mining stocks to invest capital to expand their production.
Dividend income: Many mining companies pay dividends, enabling their investors to earn income.
Inflation hedge: Investing in a mining company can help hedge your portfolio from the impacts of inflation.

There are also several risks to investing in mining stocks, including:

Volatility: Mining company stock prices can be volatile because metals and materials prices can be volatile.
Underperformance: A mining stock investment can underperform the price gains of the commodity it produces due to cost overruns, operational issues, and mismanagement.
Limited pure-play options: Many mining companies mine more than one metal or mineral, limiting pure-play investment options.

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

There are many companies operating in the mining industry, ranging from large-scale, diversified global mining companies to junior miners focused on developing a single mining prospect. While junior miners have the most upside potential, they're also highly risky investments. This group of mining stocks stood out for their large-scale, low-cost operations, financial strength, and growth prospects. Those features position these mining companies to deliver the best risk-adjusted returns over the long term.

Should you invest in mining stocks?

Mined materials are the building blocks of the global economy. As a result, mining companies should benefit as the economy grows. Additionally, investment in metals can help hedge your portfolio against inflation and other risks. Given these factors, most investors should consider adding at least one mining stock to their portfolio.

One strategy to consider is building a mini-portfolio to capitalize on the growth and investment benefits of mining stocks. For example, you can:

Buy a large-scale, diversified mining company (e.g., Rio Tinto or BHP Group) to gain broad exposure to the mining sector, particularly to copper.
Add in a precious metals miner (e.g., Barrick) or precious metals ETF to help hedge your portfolio against inflation and geopolitical risks.
You can also consider investing in a mining company focused on battery metals (lithium, cobalt, or nickel) or rare-earth metals (e.g., MP Materials) to capitalize on growing demand for EVs and increased digitalization.

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FAQ

Investing in mining 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 and has the following options: short January 2026 $265 calls on Apple. 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 Mining Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

5 top mining stocks for 2026

1. Barrick Mining

Key Data Points

2. BHP Group

Key Data Points

3. Rio Tinto

Key Data Points

4. Freeport-McMoRan

Key Data Points

5. MP Materials

Key Data Points

How to buy mining stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in mining stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Should you invest in mining stocks?

Related investing topics

7 Best Materials Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Metals Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Industrial Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Recession-Proof Stocks: Industries That Thrive During Recessions

FAQ

Investing in mining stocks: FAQ

Are mining stocks a good investment?

Are mining stocks a good investment?

What are the best mining stocks to invest in?

What are the best mining stocks to invest in?

What are the mining stocks with the highest dividends?

What are the mining stocks with the highest dividends?

Are mining stocks considered growth or value stocks?

Are mining stocks considered growth or value stocks?

Does Warren Buffett invest in mining?

Does Warren Buffett invest in mining?

What are the top five mining companies?

What are the top five mining companies?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

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Premium Investing Services

5 top mining stocks for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

5. MP Materials

Key Data Points

How to buy mining stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in mining stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Should you invest in mining stocks?

7 Best Materials Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Metals Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Industrial Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Recession-Proof Stocks: Industries That Thrive During Recessions

Investing in mining stocks: FAQ

Are mining stocks a good investment?

Are mining stocks a good investment?

What are the best mining stocks to invest in?

What are the best mining stocks to invest in?

What are the mining stocks with the highest dividends?

What are the mining stocks with the highest dividends?

Are mining stocks considered growth or value stocks?

Are mining stocks considered growth or value stocks?

Does Warren Buffett invest in mining?

Does Warren Buffett invest in mining?

What are the top five mining companies?

What are the top five mining companies?