11 Best Coal Stocks To Buy Now

Published November 19, 2022 at 3:18 pm EST Updated August 31, 2026 at 8:40 pm EDT

In this piece, we will take a look at the eleven best coal stocks to buy now.

Coal is among the most hated fuels in the fossil fuel segment. While it is credited with having spurred the industrial revolution, as engines, locomotives, and machinery were powered by steam before internal combustion machinery became popular, this power had a terrible cost. Coal is one of the dirtiest burning fuels in the world, as it produces vast amounts of soot and carbon that are injected into the atmosphere.

However, despite these drawbacks, it continues to be relied upon by the developing world for energy needs. Coal is also cheaper, and is available in vast amounts. These two factors make it quite attractive if carbon emissions limits are not imposed. In fact, due to the severity of the ongoing energy crisis, even the United Kingdom was forced to keep its coal power plants open this year, after the British government announced that it was looking into keeping coal power plants open to meet the island’s energy needs for the winter months for two gigawatts of backup power supply.

These factors have ensured that the global coal market continues to grow. According to research firm The Business Research Company, this market was worth $595 billion in 2021 and it will grow to $618 billion by the end of this year through a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%. From the end of this year to 2026, the research firm expects the sector to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% and sit at $715 billion by the end of the forecast period. Like other industries, coal companies are also starting to rely heavily on technology, as they have started to use three dimensional visualization, among other technology, to gain a better picture of their mines, which then lets them improve productivity.

The largest coal producer is Asia Pacific, and as you will find out when you scroll through today’s list, some of the largest companies in our collection are Chinese and Asian firms. Overall, the global coal market is worth a massive $1.5 trillion right now, and it will grow at a CAGR of 8.6 % between 2022 and 2027 to be worth $2.3 trillion. This places its value right alongside crude oil, which is estimated to be worth $1.5 trillion in 2026.

Today’s list will focus on the top coal companies right now, with some of them being CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX), China Shenhua Energy Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CSUAY), and Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP).

Photo by Stephen Philpott on Unsplash

Our Methodology

We dug through the coal industry to identify the relevant players. Following this, some of their financial metrics and other factors were studied. The companies are ranked through their price to earnings (P/E) ratio, which is crucial since healthy earnings are important in an industry with heavy operating costs. Hedge fund investments courtesy of Insider Monkey’s Q3 2022 survey covering 920 funds is also provided.

Best Coal Stocks To Buy Now

11. Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 2.98

Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) is an American coal mining company that has operations in the U.S., Taiwan, Australia, India, and several other countries. Cumulatively, it has 17 mines and roughly 2.5 billion tons of proven and provable coal reserves. The firm is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the United States.

Peabody Energy Corporation owns the largest coal mine in the world. This mine is located in Wyoming, and it enables the company to produce a whopping 88.4 million tons of coal from its River Basin operations. The company has also grown its year to date operating income by 3x annually, with the latest reading sitting at $1.3 billion. Peabody Energy Corporation also has a fortress balance sheet in the form of $485 million of excess cash over debt.

Peabody Energy Corporation’s price to earnings ratio is 2.98, and 38 out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey during this year’s third quarter had held a stake in the company.

Paul Singer’s Elliott Management is Peabody Energy Corporation’s largest shareholder, through a $641 million stake that comes courtesy of 25 million shares.

Along with China Shenhua Energy Company Limited, CONSOL Energy Inc., and Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., Peabody Energy Corporation is one of the largest coal companies in the world.

10. Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited (OTCMKTS:YZCHF)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 3.24

Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited (OTCMKTS:YZCHF) is a Chinese company that was set up in 1973 and is headquartered in Zoucheng, the People’s Republic of China. The firm sells thermal, PCI, and coking coal to a variety of industries such as the energy and chemicals sector.

Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited is the fourth largest state owned enterprise in China – a fact that shows the importance of coal in the modern day Chinese economy. Additionally, for the first half of this year, the company’s net profit nearly tripled from 2021’s first half. However, the third quarter was not so favorable, as Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited’s net profit dropped by 14% annually. This was not due to any operational or other weakness; instead, it came as Australian coal consumption slowed down.

9. PT Bukit Asam Tbk (OTCMKTS:TBNGY)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 3.27

PT Bukit Asam Tbk (OTCMKTS:TBNGY) is an Indonesian company that is headquartered in Tanjung Enim Selatan, Indonesia. The firm’s operations are focused in Asia, with its mines located in its home country, India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and other countries.

PT Bukit Asam Tbk is actively looking to improve its environmental footprint. The firm announced in November 2022 that it is partnering with a university to research methods for reducing carbon emissions through technologies such as carbon capture. Additionally, PT Bukit Asam Tbk also partnered up with a Chinese firm in the same month to explore the development of a 1,300 megawatt wind power farm in South China. It also inaugurated a 400 kilowatt solar power plant in September 2022.

8. Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 3.42

Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP) is an American company that is headquartered in Houston, Texas. It mines for several resources such as coal, soda ash, and trona. All of the firm’s mining assets are located in the U.S., with the coal reserves being present in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. had $666 million worth of coal properties by the end of September 2022. The firm also grew its revenue to $190 million during its third fiscal quarter, for a $55 million growth. Additionally, Natural Resource Partners L.P. drives the bulk of its sales from coal, with the latest figures showing that $248 million out of its $291 million in operating revenue came through it.

Insider Monkey’s Q3 2022 survey of 920 funds showed that four had invested in Natural Resource Partners L.P.. The firm has a 3.42x P/E ratio.

Natural Resource Partners L.P.’s largest shareholder is Steven Tananbaum’s GoldenTree Asset Management which owns 543,469 shares that are worth $24 million.

7. Exxaro Resources Limited (OTCMKTS:EXXAF)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 4.20

Exxaro Resources Limited (OTCMKTS:EXXAF) is a South African company that operates in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Asia. The firm produces thermal, metallurgical, and soft coking coal. It is headquartered in Centurion, South Africa.

Exxaro Resources Limited’s second quarter saw the firm marginally grow its production by 1%, but at the same time, it kept its costs well below the mining industry average inflation of 11.6%. The firm’s core operating income grew by 67% during the first half of this year, and its headline earnings per share of ZAR34.26 for H1 2022 were 75% higher. Exxaro Resources Limited also aims to grow its coal exports by 24% to 3.1 million tons by improving logistics.

6. Whitehaven Coal Limited (OTCMKTS:WHITF)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 4.23

Whitehaven Coal Limited (OTCMKTS:WHITF) is an Australian company that operates coal mines in New South Wales and Queensland. The firm has four mines in total and it also exports its products to Japan, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, and other countries. It is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

Whitehaven Coal Limited’s fiscal year 2022 results were the strongest in its history, as the firm reported AUD$3.1 billion – a new record. At the same time, it delivered AUD$1.95 billion in net profit, as it leveraged a strong pricing power to offset industry wide mining inflationary headwinds. Whitehaven Coal Limited also had a fortress of a balance sheet by the end of its fiscal year, with its net cash position growing to AUD$1 billion, over the previous year’s net debt of AUD$800 million. It aims to sell 17.5 – 18.5 million tons of coal during the current fiscal year, and produce between 20 million tons and 22 million tons.

Whitehaven Coal Limited has a 4.23 price to earnings ratio.

CONSOL Energy Inc., China Shenhua Energy Company Limited, and Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. join Whitehaven Coal Limited in our list of top coal stocks.

5. New Hope Corporation Limited (OTCMKTS:NHPEF)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 4.90

New Hope Corporation Limited (OTCMKTS:NHPEF) is an Australian company that was set up in 1952 and is headquartered in Brisbane. The firm has coal mining projects all over Australia.

New Hope Corporation Limited claims to export some of Australia’s cleanest coal, stating that its Trivoli brand produces low nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions, alongside a lower carbon emissions content as well. The firm has two open cut mines in Australia, in Darling Downs and in Hunter Valley. Additionally, New Hope Corporation Limited’s new mine in Queensland kicked off construction in November 2022, after being stuck in the regulatory process for fifteen long years.

4. NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 5.04

NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC) is an American company that was set up in 1913 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The firm operates coal mines for power generation and its mines are located in Texas, Mississippi, North Dakota, and New Mexico. It also leases its mineral rights to other firms.

NACCO Industries, Inc.’s third fiscal quarter saw the firm report a 54% operating income increase for its minerals management segment, driven by the prices of oil and gas this year. The company’s coal contracts are long term in nature, which insulates it against underlying industry variability. For its third quarter, NACCO Industries, Inc.’s coal mining revenues also grew annually since its price agreement with a power company changed to reflect higher prices.

Insider Monkey’s Q3 2022 survey of 920 hedge funds outlined that four had invested in NACCO Industries, Inc.. The firm has a 5.04 P/E ratio.

NACCO Industries, Inc.’s largest shareholder is Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies which owns 223,917 shares that are worth $10 million.

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3. CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 5.46

CONSOL Energy Inc. is an American company that is one of the oldest of its kind since it was set up in 1860 and is currently headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The firm primarily mines bituminous coal, and it sells it to power and metallurgical companies, among others.

CONSOL Energy Inc.’s coal is primarily used by power generation companies, with figures for the calendar year 2021 showing that 63% of all of its coal is used for this purpose. This is crucial, since the demand for power generation coal is higher due to global energy shortages. Additionally, CONSOL Energy Inc. has locked in 21.8 million tons of orders for 2023, and 8.8 million tons for 2024, providing the firm with stable demand even with a potential recession on the horizon.

CONSOL Energy Inc. pays a $1.05 dividend for a 6.95% yield. Its P/E ratio is 5.46 and 31 out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey during this year’s September quarter had invested in the firm.

CONSOL Energy Inc.’s largest investor is David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital which owns 1.7 million shares that are worth $110 million.

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2. China Shenhua Energy Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CSUAY)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 5.74

China Shenhua Energy Company Limited is a Chinese company that is headquartered in Beijing. The firm has some of the largest coal reserves in the world since its recoverable coal reserves sit at a whopping 14.15 billion tones.

China Shenhua Energy Company Limited raked in 355 billion Yuan in revenue in 2021, as a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic drove the firm’s revenues to grow by 44% annually. This also translated into a 44% growth in its bottom line profits, which stood at 2.5 billion Yuan. During the same time period, China Shenhua Energy Company Limited also sold an absolutely massive 310 billion tons of coal.

China Shenhua Energy Company Limited’s P/E ratio is 5.74x.

1. Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP)

Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) of November 17th, 2022: 7.08

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. is an American diversified natural resource company that is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The firm has mining operations in Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, and other American states.

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.’s third quarter saw the firm’s coal sales grow by 8.1% annually and 2.8% sequentially to sit at 9.2 million tons. Additionally, the firm has been slowly but steadily improving its balance sheet position, as its debt to assets ratio (which measures the firm’s leverage) dropped from 0.28 in 2020 to 0.21 in 2021 and further slid down to 0.18 by the end of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.’s third fiscal quarter in 2022.

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. has a 7.08 P/E ratio and six out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey for this year’s third quarter had bought a stake in the company.

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.’s largest shareholder is Adam Peterson’s Magnolia Capital Fund which owns 3 million shares that are worth $68 million.

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