BHP Profit Surpasses Forecasts as Copper Earnings Overtake Iron Ore for First Time
The global miner reported a 22 percent rise in half-year profit driven by surging copper prices. Investors cheered a higher than expected dividend payout.
Insights:
BHP Group Limited reported a half-year underlying attributable profit on February 16, 2026, that exceeded market expectations, driven primarily by the strong performance of its copper division. For the first time, copper accounted for a majority of the group's underlying operating earnings, contributing 51% of the total. This result marks a structural shift for the company as copper officially overtook iron ore as the largest contributor to its underlying operating earnings.
