About the Author
Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BHP Group and Linde. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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BHP Group is a mining company based in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on copper, iron ore, nickel, metallurgical coal, and potash. It operates in more than 90 locations worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, and Chile.
BHP has set several sustainability targets for 2030, including a 30% reduction in operational greenhouse gas emissions. However, it reportedly eliminated some renewable energy projects in 2024 due to budget cuts.
TTM = trailing 12 months.
Linde is a chemicals company founded by German scientist Carl von Linde. It operates in more than 80 countries, and its two main business segments are gases and engineering. Linde manufactures industrial and medical gases and builds large-scale chemical plants.
This company is investing heavily in clean energy projects. In 2023, Linde announced plans to invest as much as $50 billion in clean energy projects over the next decade. It's also expanding, completing its acquisition of Airtec in September 2025, one of the largest industrial gas companies in the Middle East.
When the Spanish government decided to sell the Rio Tinto mines, investors made the best offer and formed the Rio Tinto Company. Now trading as the Rio Tinto Group, it's the second-largest metals and mining company in the world.
Rio Tinto Group operates across 34 countries, primarily mining iron ore, copper, aluminum, and lithium. Major projects include iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Australia and copper at its Kennecott mine outside Salt Lake City, Utah.
*Converted from Chinese yuan.
*Converted from euros.
The top of the materials sector consists of mining and chemicals companies, which present unique challenges. Many of these companies have faced legal issues, and some are also based outside the U.S. and may be unfamiliar to the typical investor.
Investing in international companies can be challenging, as it requires learning not only about the company but also the business climate in another part of the world. The Trump administration's import tariffs can also heavily affect the materials sector, though they often change.
Still, whether you venture into international stocks or stick to U.S. companies, the materials sector presents plenty of quality investment opportunities. Top materials companies have excellent financials with consistent profits and reasonable debt levels. They perform best in a growing economy, but even during downturns, well-positioned materials companies can continue to make money.
Southern Copper (SCCO +0.04%) is a mining company that produces copper and other metal byproducts. It ranks first for copper production in Mexico and Peru, third in the U.S., and fourth worldwide. It also has the world's largest copper reserves. In 2024, the company resumed development of its Tia Maria mine in Peru despite significant opposition to the project due to environmental concerns.
Newmont (NEM -1.50%) is the world's leading gold mining company. It also produces copper, silver, zinc, and lead. For its 2025 fiscal year, Newmont reported attributable gold production of 5.89 million ounces. Newmont has made multiple major acquisitions in recent years. It acquired Goldcorp for $10 billion in 2019 and Newcrest Mining for $16.8 billion in 2023.
Headquartered in China, Zijin Mining Group (ZIJMF +2.26%) was originally a local mineral company called Shanghang Mineral Company. It entered the gold mining business in 1993 with the development of the Zijinshan Gold Mine, which was recognized as the largest gold mine in China in 2005. In addition to gold, Zijin Mining Group also extracts copper, zinc, lithium, silver, and molybdenum.
Based in France, L'Air Liquide (AIQUF +1.60%) is the world's second-largest producer of industrial gases for the industrial and healthcare sectors. It has a market presence in 59 countries and serves more than 4 million customers and patients.
In August 2025, L'Air Liquide announced an agreement to acquire DIG Airgas, a South Korean company, for $3.3 billion. South Korea is one of the major industrial gas markets and manufacturing hubs, and the acquisition, which was completed in January 2026, strengthens L'Air Liquide's position in this market.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX -1.12%), also known as FCX, is an international mining company that focuses on copper. It also produces gold and is the world's largest producer of molybdenum. It has mines in North America, South America, and Indonesia.
This company has received criticism for alleged safety issues, human rights abuses, and the amount of waste its mines produce. Its Grasberg Mine in Indonesia, while one of the richest mining operations in the world, has also caused environmental damage and floods in the area.
Agnico Eagle (AEM -1.38%) is a Canadian-based company that mines precious metals. It's Canada's largest mining company and the world's second-largest gold producer. In addition to Canada, Agnico Eagle also operates in Australia, Finland, and Mexico.
Gold production for Agnico Eagle is normally between 3.3 million and 3.5 million ounces annually. Silver production has been around 2.5 million ounces per year in 2024 and 2025.
Grupo MéxicoB. De C.v. (GMBXF -0.32%), also known as Grupo México, is a mining, freight transportation, and freight infrastructure company. It has activities in Mexico, several other countries throughout Latin America, and the U.S. This is the largest copper mining company in Mexico and the fifth-largest in the world.









| 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. | Current price | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHP Group (NYSE:BHP) | $215.6 billion | $84.84 | Metals and Mining |
| Linde (NASDAQ:LIN) | $218.8 billion | $474.65 | Chemicals |
| Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) | $118.1 billion | $94.17 | Metals and Mining |
| Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO) | $171.1 billion | $202.64 | Metals and Mining |
| Newmont (NYSE:NEM) | $121.5 billion | $115.34 | Metals and Mining |
| Zijin Mining Group (OTC:ZIJMF) | $107.9 billion | $4.08 | Metals and Mining |
| L'Air Liquide (OTC:AIQUF) | $122.7 billion | $192.77 | Chemicals |
| Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) | $100.5 billion | $70.00 | Metals and Mining |
| Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) | $93.4 billion | $183.27 | Metals and Mining |
| Grupo MéxicoB. De C.v. (OTC:GMBXF) | $97.4 billion | $12.45 | Metals and Mining |

BHP Group (BHP +0.02%) is the world's largest materials company, followed by Linde (LIN +0.27%) and Rio Tinto Group (RIO +0.01%). Most of the companies at the top of this market sector are based outside the U.S. Read on to see the 10 most valuable companies as of September 2026.
Editor's note: Rankings and financial metrics are as of Sept. 4, 2026; live quote cards update automatically and are the most current data available.