In this article, we look at the 10 Best Copper Stocks to Buy for the AI and Electrification Boom.
Copper has moved from a traditional industrial-cycle commodity to one of the key materials behind the AI and electrification buildout. The metal sits inside the same physical bottleneck that is now shaping data centers, power grids, electric vehicles, renewable energy, transmission equipment, and industrial electrification. S&P Global expects copper demand from data centers to rise from 1.1 million metric tons in 2025 to 2.5 million metric tons by 2040, with AI training data centers accounting for 58% of total data-center copper demand by 2030. The International Energy Agency has also highlighted the scale of the power challenge, noting in April 2026 that electricity demand from data centers rose 17% in 2025, while AI-focused data centers grew even faster.
The broader electrification picture adds another layer to the copper case. In its Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025, the IEA projected copper demand to grow 30% by 2040 and warned that expected mined supply from announced projects could fall 30% short of demand by 2035 under stated policies. For investors, that makes copper stocks a way to track both the AI infrastructure cycle and the longer-term expansion of global electrical systems.
Methodology
For this article, we selected copper-focused stocks with exposure to the AI and electrification boom through copper production, copper growth projects, or copper supply chains tied to grid expansion, data centers, EVs, and industrial electrification. The stocks were ranked in descending order of short interest as a percentage of float.
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10. Ero Copper Corp. (NYSE:ERO)
Short Percentage of Float: 3.15
Ero Copper Corp. (NYSE:ERO) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. On June 10, 2026, the company reported new assay results from an additional 24,000 meters of drilling at its Furnas Copper-Gold Project in Brazil. Ero said it had completed more than 75,000 meters of drilling through the end of May, with 10 drill rigs operating at the project and the deposit still open to depth and along strike.
The update strengthens Ero’s long-term copper growth case at a time when electrification, grid investment, and AI-related power demand are keeping copper supply in focus. Furnas is still a development-stage asset, but Ero said permitting, engineering, metallurgical, geotechnical, hydrogeological, and environmental workstreams are advancing toward a pre-feasibility study expected in 2027. That gives the stock a copper expansion angle rather than direct data-center exposure.
Ero Copper Corp. is a Vancouver-based copper and gold mining company focused on operations and development projects in Brazil.
9. Hudbay Minerals Inc. (NYSE:HBM)
Short Percentage of Float: 3.04
Hudbay Minerals Inc. (NYSE:HBM) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s latest investor-relevant update came on May 28, 2026, when the Toronto Stock Exchange approved Hudbay’s normal course issuer bid. Under the program, Hudbay can repurchase up to 19.9 million shares, representing 5% of its issued and outstanding shares as of May 21, 2026, over a 12-month period beginning June 1.
The buyback approval followed a strong quarterly update earlier in May, giving investors both a capital-return signal and a clearer operating base for the copper story. On May 1, 2026, Hudbay reported Q1 revenue of $757.3 million, adjusted EBITDA of $421.9 million, and consolidated copper production of 27,929 tonnes. The company also reaffirmed 2026 consolidated copper production guidance of 110,000 to 138,000 tonnes. Hudbay is not a direct data-center supplier, but its copper output and U.S. growth pipeline, including Copper World and Cactus in Arizona, make it relevant to the broader AI power infrastructure and electrification demand theme.
Hudbay Minerals Inc. is a Toronto-based mining company focused on copper, gold, silver, zinc, and molybdenum assets across the Americas.
8. Capstone Copper Corp. (OTC:CSCCF)
Short Percentage of Float: 2.42
Capstone Copper Corp. (OTC:CSCCF) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. Capstone Copper’s June analyst sentiment remained broadly constructive, with Jefferies, RBC Capital, and CIBC all updating their views on the stock. On June 9, Jefferies maintained a Buy rating and raised its price target to C$22, the highest among the recent calls. RBC Capital also stayed bullish on June 3 with a Buy rating and C$18 target, while CIBC took a more measured stance on June 1, lifting its target to C$16 from C$15.50 but keeping a Neutral rating.
The mixed but generally positive read followed a strong first quarter. On April 29, Capstone reported record adjusted EBITDA of $329.1 million, its sixth straight quarterly record, as higher realized copper prices helped offset lower production. Net income attributable to shareholders reached $102.5 million, compared with a year-earlier loss, while 2026 guidance remained unchanged at 200,000 to 230,000 tonnes of copper production, keeping the near-term growth case intact despite operating noise.
Capstone Copper Corp. is a copper mining company with operations and development assets across the Americas, including projects in Chile, Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
7. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)
Short Percentage of Float: 1.99
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s most recent investor-relevant update came on May 8, 2026, when Reuters reported that Freeport Indonesia had pushed back the full recovery timeline for the Grasberg Block Cave mine to early 2028. The update followed repairs and infrastructure changes after a mudflow incident, with production in undamaged areas running at about 40% to 50% of capacity.
The delay highlights the execution risk attached to one of Freeport’s most important copper assets, but it also keeps the stock central to the copper supply story. Freeport remains one of the world’s largest publicly traded copper producers, with major assets including Grasberg in Indonesia, Morenci in Arizona, and Cerro Verde in Peru. For investors tracking AI power infrastructure and electrification, FCX offers direct copper-price and copper-supply exposure rather than a direct data-center customer angle.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. is a Phoenix-based mining company focused on copper, gold, and molybdenum across North America, South America, and Indonesia.
6. Taseko Mines Limited (NYSE:TGB)
Short Percentage of Float: 1.77
Taseko Mines Limited (NYSE:TGB) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s freshest investor-relevant update came on May 6, 2026, when it said Florence Copper produced 1.5 million pounds of LME Grade A copper cathode in the first quarter, with sales of 619,000 pounds. Taseko also maintained its 2026 Florence Copper production outlook of 30 million to 35 million pounds, giving investors a clearer ramp-up story for one of the newer sources of U.S. copper supply.
Florence is central to the stock’s appeal because copper demand tied to electrification, grid expansion, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing increasingly depends on a secure domestic supply. Taseko’s earlier first-cathode announcement also linked Florence’s LME Grade A copper cathode to U.S. manufacturing sectors, including automotive, semiconductors, defense/aerospace, and AI data centers, making the project relevant to both electrification and AI infrastructure demand.
Taseko Mines Limited is a Canadian mining company focused on copper operations and development projects in North America, including Gibraltar in British Columbia and Florence Copper in Arizona.
5. Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK)
Short Percentage of Float: 1.76
Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s freshest relevant angle is tied to the planned Anglo-Teck merger. On May 18, 2026, Reuters reported that Anglo American agreed to sell its Australian steelmaking coal assets for up to $3.88 billion, a move aimed at simplifying the company and reducing debt ahead of its planned combination with Teck. The sale keeps investor attention on Anglo American’s portfolio reset before the merger closes.
For Teck investors, the update matters because the proposed combination would make copper the center of the future company’s investment case. Teck and Anglo American have said the combined Anglo Teck would become a top-five global copper producer and is expected to offer investors more than 70% exposure to copper. That gives Teck a cleaner link to electrification, grid expansion, and AI-related power demand, even without a direct data-center customer angle.
Teck Resources Limited is a Vancouver-based resource company with copper and zinc operations across North and South America and a copper growth pipeline.
4. Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO)
Short Percentage of Float: 1.45
Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s latest usable update came on May 18, 2026, when it published its 1Q26 production and capex guidance presentation. The update keeps Southern Copper’s scale at the center of the investment case, with the company expecting 2026 copper production of 915,400 tonnes, above its prior planned target of 911,400 tonnes.
That matters for a copper-themed list because Southern Copper is not just a price-taker riding metal momentum; it has one of the largest production bases among publicly traded copper miners. In its Q1 filing, the company said copper accounted for 70.2% of first-quarter revenue, while net sales rose 36.2% year over year to $4.25 billion. Copper mine production still declined 4.0% year over year due to lower grades at several operations, so the stock’s story is a mix of scale, pricing leverage, and execution risk rather than clean operational acceleration.
Southern Copper Corporation is a Phoenix-based mining company producing copper, molybdenum, silver, and zinc, with major operations in Peru and Mexico.
3. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO)
Short Percentage of Float: 0.98
Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s freshest copper-growth angle is tied to Los Azules, one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits. On May 11, 2026, Reuters reported that McEwen Copper had signed an agreement with an international financial institution to manage a $2.4 billion loan package for Los Azules, while talks continued with Rio Tinto and other industrial groups for the equity portion of the project’s financing.
Rio already holds a 17.2% stake in McEwen Copper through Nuton, and Reuters had reported days earlier that the company was evaluating whether to increase that position. The project is being assessed with Rio’s Nuton leaching technology, giving the company another possible copper growth path as demand from data centers, electrification, and clean energy infrastructure rises. Rio also has a direct AI infrastructure link through its January collaboration with Amazon Web Services to supply Nuton copper for AWS data-center components.
Rio Tinto Group is a global mining and materials company producing iron ore, copper, aluminum, lithium, and other minerals across major mining regions.
2. BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP)
Short Percentage of Float: 0.61
BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. On June 3, 2026, BHP said it was collaborating with Microsoft and Prescience Insilico to accelerate the discovery of advanced copper leaching solutions. The project uses Microsoft Discovery, high-performance computing, and AI agents to screen molecules that could improve copper extraction from ore. BHP said the team screened more than half a million molecules and used tens of thousands of quantum chemistry calculations and simulations before narrowing candidates for laboratory testing in Australia.
The update is relevant because BHP is trying to grow copper supply from existing operations as new deposits become harder and more expensive to develop. The company said it is the world’s largest copper producer and has increased copper production by around 30% since 2021. In its May 12 Bank of America conference update, BHP also said its copper business is expected to grow around 5% per year on average, with attributable copper production rising to about 2 million tonnes per year by 2035.
BHP Group Limited is a Melbourne-based global resources company producing copper, iron ore, metallurgical coal, potash, and other commodities.
1. Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY)
Short Percentage of Float: 0.01
Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY) is one of the best copper stocks to buy for the AI and electrification boom. The company’s freshest investor-relevant angle came on May 26, 2026, when Reuters Breakingviews argued that Rio Tinto could still have strategic reasons to revisit a merger with Glencore after earlier merger talks collapsed. The analysis pointed to Glencore’s copper assets and development pipeline as a major reason the company could remain attractive, especially as demand from AI, electric vehicles, and the energy transition continues to put pressure on future copper supply.
Glencore’s own production data gives the copper angle more weight. In its April 30 first-quarter production report, the company said own-sourced copper production rose 19% year over year to 199,600 tonnes, driven mainly by improved grades at its African copper operations and higher throughput and grades at Antamina. Glencore does not have a direct data-center supply story, but its copper production, trading scale, and longer-term copper growth ambitions make it relevant to the broader electrification and AI power infrastructure theme.
Glencore plc (OTC:GLNCY) is a Switzerland-based mining and commodities trading company with exposure to copper, cobalt, zinc, nickel, coal, and energy products.
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