Hudbay Minerals Inc. stock declines amid market weakness
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 18 2024
0mins
Should l Buy HBM?
Hudbay Minerals Inc. shares fell sharply today, crossing below the 5-day SMA as investors reacted to broader market trends.
The decline in Hudbay's stock price is attributed to sector rotation, as the mining sector faced headwinds while the overall market showed slight weakness with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.02% and the S&P 500 down 0.24%.
This movement suggests that investors are reallocating their portfolios away from mining stocks, which may impact Hudbay's performance in the near term.
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Analyst Views on HBM
Wall Street analysts forecast HBM stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 24.350
Low
17.24
Averages
20.63
High
24.79
Current: 24.350
Low
17.24
Averages
20.63
High
24.79
About HBM
Hudbay Minerals Inc. is a Canada-based copper-focused critical minerals company with three operations and a pipeline of copper growth projects in tier-one mining jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States. The Company's operating portfolio includes the Constancia mine in Cusco (Peru), the Snow Lake operations in Manitoba (Canada) and the Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia (Canada). The Company's growth pipeline includes the Copper World project in Arizona (United States), the Mason project in Nevada (United States), the Llaguen project in La Libertad (Peru) and several expansion and exploration opportunities near its existing operations. The Copper Mountain Mine, located south of Princeton, British Columbia, is a conventional open pit, truck and shovel operation. The Constancia mine is located in the province of Chumbivilcas in southern Peru. Its primary production is copper, complemented by gold production and by-products, such as zinc, silver, and molybdenum.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Record Copper Prices: The International Energy Agency confirmed that copper prices have surpassed $13,000 per metric ton, leading to smelter processing fees dropping to zero, indicating a tight market where smelters are operating for free to maintain operations.
- Widening Supply Deficit: ING Group projects a refined copper deficit of 600,000 tons in 2026, the largest in two decades, driven by mine disruptions and tariff-induced stockpiling, prompting capital to flow towards producers capable of delivering in a constrained market.
- Monja Project Advancements: Salazar Resources identified a high-priority copper-gold porphyry target at its Monja project in Ecuador, with rock chip samples showing grades up to 4.77% copper, highlighting the company's exploration strength and potential in the region.
- Multiple Projects in Progress: Salazar recently acquired four copper-gold exploration properties and holds a 25% interest in the El Domo copper-gold mine, which is expected to commence production in July 2027, demonstrating the company's proactive strategy across various key projects.
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- Debt Repayment Completed: Hudbay Minerals has fully repaid its 4.50% senior unsecured notes due 2026, originally issued in an aggregate principal amount of $600 million, demonstrating the company's financial management strength.
- Diverse Funding Sources: The company repaid $472.5 million of the notes at maturity on April 1, 2026, primarily using a combination of available cash and a $272 million draw from its low-cost revolving credit facilities, thereby reducing financial risk.
- New Dividend Announcement: Hudbay Minerals introduced a new quarterly dividend of CAD 0.01, aimed at attracting investors and enhancing shareholder returns, reflecting the company's confidence in future cash flows.
- Performance Outlook Adjustment: Although the company missed top-line and bottom-line estimates, it still provided a fiscal year outlook, indicating management's positive attitude towards market prospects, which may influence investor confidence.
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- Proximity Advantage: The Copper Dome Project directly adjoins Hudbay Minerals' Copper Mountain Mine, which boasts proven and probable reserves of 347 million tons at a copper grade of 0.25%, providing strong support for potential development and enhancing the company's competitive position in the region.
- Significant Exploration Results: Historical rock sampling at the Friday Creek Zone has returned values up to 10.65% Cu and 4.89 g/t Au, indicating promising mineralization potential that is expected to attract further investment and drive subsequent exploration efforts.
- Expanded Land Package: The company has expanded its land position by acquiring the 4,836-hectare Copper Dome North area, bringing the total land area to 12,833 hectares, which not only enhances control over mineralization trends but also provides more opportunities for future exploration.
- Drilling Permit Secured: With a five-year drilling permit now in place, the Copper Dome Project allows the company to conduct in-depth exploration across multiple priority target areas, accelerating project advancement and improving resource assessment accuracy.
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- Copper Production Growth: Hudbay anticipates copper production to reach 147,000 tonnes in 2026, a 24% increase from 2025, with further growth to 159,000 tonnes in 2027 and 2028, reflecting the effectiveness of optimization projects across its stable operations in the Americas.
- Gold Production Outlook: The company expects gold production to average 243,000 ounces over the next three years, a 9% decrease from 2025, but the anticipated contributions from the New Ingerbelle project starting in 2028 will enhance its gold production capabilities.
- Mine Life Extension: The expected mine life of the Constancia mine has been extended to 2040, with average annual copper production projected to reach 90,000 tonnes in 2027 and 2028, benefiting from higher mill throughput and optimization initiatives, thereby reinforcing Hudbay's resource base.
- Strategic Partnership: The $600 million joint venture transaction with Mitsubishi secures a 30% stake in the Copper World project, marking a significant step in the company's strategic positioning and financial stability in copper development.
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- Position Exit Overview: On February 17, 2026, Orion Resource Partners disclosed to the SEC that it sold its entire position of 167,225 shares in Hudbay Minerals for an estimated value of $2.53 million, resulting in a net position value of zero, indicating a complete exit from the stock.
- Impact of Holdings Change: This sale led to a net value change of $2.53 million in Orion's portfolio, highlighting the decision to lock in gains after Hudbay's remarkable 200% increase over the past year, despite the company's strong fundamentals.
- Company Performance Highlights: Hudbay Minerals reported record annual revenue of $2.2 billion and over $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA in its latest earnings release, demonstrating that robust metal market performance driven by electrification and infrastructure demand has significantly enhanced the company's financial flexibility.
- Portfolio Concentration: The decision to exit Hudbay Minerals underscores the concentration of Orion's remaining holdings in resource and mining sectors, suggesting a strategy focused on locking in some gains while continuing to explore investment opportunities in other precious metals and minerals.
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- Complete Exit: Orion Resource Partners sold 167,225 shares of Hudbay Minerals in Q4, resulting in a $2.53 million decrease in position value, marking a full exit from Hudbay, which previously accounted for 0.92% of the fund's AUM.
- Significant Financial Impact: The estimated transaction value of $2.53 million reflects a net position value change to zero, indicating a strategic adjustment in Orion's resource investment approach.
- Strong Market Performance: Hudbay Minerals' stock surged approximately 200% over the past year, driven by robust metal market performance and investor interest in electrification and infrastructure demand, showcasing the company's competitive advantage in the global mining sector.
- Investor Decision Challenges: With Hudbay's stock price soaring, investors face tough decisions on locking in gains, and Orion's exit appears to be a move to realize some profits rather than a broader strategic shift.
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