5 Top Mining Stocks to Buy Now
The mining industry plays a vital role in supplying the global economy with the metals, materials, and energy sources it needs to thrive. Iron ore, copper, and aluminum, for example, are some of the most important basic building blocks for global infrastructure. Without them, we couldn't build the things our modern society needs to function at peak performance.
Because the global economy needs the metals and materials that the mining industry produces, the sector can make a lot of money. In 2018, for example, the world's 40 largest publicly traded mining companies hauled in $683 billion in revenue and generated $165 billion in earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Those numbers were up 8% and 4%, respectively, from 2017's level thanks to modest production growth and improved commodity prices.
Despite the sector's importance to the global economy, it has struggled to enrich investors over the years. In the 15 years from 2003-2018, the industry produced a total return of about 20% for its investors, which significantly underperformed the global stock market's more than 80% total return over that timeframe. 2018 was no different for the mining sector. While the world's 40 top mining stocks grew their earnings and paid a record $43 billion in dividends to their investors, their collective market value fell 18%.
Source Fool.com
