In this article, we will discuss: 11 Best Copper Stocks to Buy Now.
Copper stocks are businesses that invest in the exploration, mining, smelting, and refining of copper ores and related products.
In its Global Trade Update (May 2025), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) cautioned that a lack of copper could impede the world’s transition to sustainable energy and digitalization. Copper demand is expected to increase by more than 40% by 2040, but the existing supply is limited since mine development is risky, expensive, and slow, often taking up to 25 years. According to UNCTAD Director Luz María de la Mora, “copper is no longer just a commodity.” It might take $250 billion in investment and more than 80 new mining projects to meet the 2030 targets.
Although more than half of the world’s reserves are held by five different countries, including Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Peru, China dominates value-added processing, importing 60% of the world’s ore and producing 45% of its refined copper. Tariff escalation further deters refining in underdeveloped countries. Recycling accounted for 20% of refined copper in 2023 (4.5 million tonnes), and UNCTAD encourages copper-rich countries to engage in recycling, processing, and industrial policy to advance up the value chain.
With that said, here are the 11 Best Copper Stocks to Buy Now.
An aerial view of the 1,840 mineral claims spread out over a 274 square mile area for the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum-Silver-Rhenium project.
Our Methodology
For this article, we sifted through online rankings to form an initial list of the 20 Best Copper Stocks. From the resultant dataset, we chose 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkey’s database of 1000 hedge funds in Q1 2025 to gauge hedge fund sentiment for stocks. We have used the stock’s revenue growth year-over-year as a tie-breaker in case two or more stocks have the same number of hedge funds invested.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
11. Ero Copper Corp. (NYSE:ERO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
Ero Copper Corp. (NYSE:ERO) renewed its Precious Metals Purchase Agreement with Royal Gold with a $50 million Stream Supplement, bringing total proceeds to $160 million since 2021.
Ero Copper Corp. (NYSE:ERO) has extended Stage II gold delivery milestones at its Xavantina Operations in Brazil and broadened the stream’s sphere of effect in return. It is anticipated that additional gold delivery under the Stream Supplement will start in 2028.
Royal Gold will continue to receive 25% of the gold produced at 20% of the spot price under the revised terms, which apply to the first 49,000 ounces (Stage I), of which 45,177 ounces had been delivered by December 31, 2024.
Royal Gold will get 25% of the gold at 40% of the spot price under stage II terms, which are in effect until 160,000 cumulative ounces are delivered. Stage III will generate 10% of production at 40% of the spot price for the life of the mine. Royal Gold’s allocation is increased by 40,200 ounces by the Stream Supplement. The proceeds help Xavantina’s long-term growth and 2025 capital expenditure plans.
10. Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE) has obtained a Letter of Interest from the US Export-Import Bank, confirming potential debt financing of up to $825 million for the development of its Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona. The loan would be given out for 15 years as part of EXIM’s Make More in America campaign, which seeks to fortify key domestic mineral supply chains.
Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE) owns all of the Santa Cruz Copper Project, which is situated on private property and supports American strategic objectives to safeguard domestic copper supplies. Initial construction is anticipated in H1 2026, and the corporation is progressing engineering and permitting efforts. On-site production of pure copper cathodes will enable the project to serve the energy, defense, and infrastructure sectors in the United States.
Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE) is also looking into additional sources of assistance, such as Section 45X tax credits and EXIM’s Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. The project is being led by Fluor Inc., and a preliminary feasibility study is scheduled for June 2025. Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE) is one of the best copper stocks.