18 February 2025
If you are covering BHP's results, please see the following comment from Maurizio Carulli, energy and materials analyst at Quilter Cheviot:
"Australian miner BHP’s interim results came in in line with consensus. Its operating cash flow proved better than had been expected, but this was largely due to a working capital movement, and its underlying operating cash flow was in line too.
"Having changed its dual listed structure in 2022, BHP now holds its primary listing in Australia and only a secondary (standard) listing on the LSE. BHP is a well-run mining company with attractive assets and exposure to iron ore, copper, metallurgical coal, nickel and potash. The company has set out its ambitions to grow further in copper, primarily to counterbalance its significant exposure to iron ore which has suffered weak pricing of late. As such, it is pursuing organic growth of copper mining assets in Australia and South America, including Chile and Argentina.
"While attractive from a value accretion basis, organic production growth in copper will take a decade to come through given the long-term nature of copper mine developments. BHP’s recent bid for Anglo American was an attempt to increase its copper exposure immediately rather than in 10-15 years’ time.
"BHP’s CEO Mike Henry stressed during today’s conference call that due to current market valuations, it is difficult to pursue mergers and acquisitions and therefore the current focus is on organic growth. However, it is possible that BHP would consider M&A opportunities in the future and given the company’s size, it would likely be a predator rather than prey."
