Wheaton Precious Metals Acquires BHP's Silver Stream at Antamina Mine
Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wheaton Precious Metals International has entered into a definitive Precious Metals Purchase Agreement. the Silver Stream, with a wholly-owned subsidiary of BHP Group (BHP) for their 33.75% portion of the silver produced at the Antamina Mine located in Peru. Upon closing, Wheaton will receive a combined 67.5% of all the silver produced from Antamina, up from the 33.75% currently delivered under the existing Glencore silver stream. "Wheaton has grown into the company we are today by entering into stream agreements on world class operations and adding exceptional assets to our portfolio, and Antamina has long stood as one of our true cornerstones," said Haytham Hodaly, President of Wheaton Precious Metals. "Deepening our exposure to an asset of this scale, quality and longevity is a unique and transformative opportunity for Wheaton, made even more meaningful through our collaboration with BHP. Antamina is a proven, long-life, low-cost operation that will deliver immediate production and operating cash flow, and we are confident it will continue to create lasting value for our stakeholders well into the future."
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- Production Exceeds Guidance: Wheaton Precious Metals reported a 2025 production estimate of approximately 692,000 gold equivalent ounces, surpassing the upper end of its guidance of 670,000 ounces, indicating strong performance in the basic materials sector and boosting market confidence in its future growth.
- Future Production Guidance: The company provided a 2026 production guidance of 860,000 to 940,000 gold equivalent ounces, with an anticipated growth of about 50% to 1.20 million ounces by 2030, reflecting a positive outlook on resource development and market demand.
- Earnings Release Schedule: Wheaton plans to release its fourth quarter and full year results for 2025 on March 12, 2026, after market close, with investors keenly awaiting insights into its financial performance and future strategies.
- Stock Price Movement: As of February 13, WPM's stock closed at $145.90, reflecting a gain of $6.73 or 4.84%, although it eased to $145.20 in after-hours trading on February 16, indicating a cautious market sentiment regarding its short-term performance.
- Record Transaction Size: BHP's $4.3 billion silver streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals marks the most valuable precious metals streaming transaction to date, showcasing the company's strong influence in the silver market.
- Optimized Revenue Structure: Under the agreement, Wheaton will pay an upfront consideration of $4.3 billion and ongoing payments equal to 20% of the spot silver price for each ounce delivered, allowing BHP to effectively monetize silver byproduct from the Antamina mine while retaining rights to its core copper, zinc, and lead production.
- Rising Demand for Strategic Metal: Silver's importance has surged due to strong demand from solar panels, electronics, and electrification technologies, while mine supply has struggled to keep pace, leading to multiple years of production deficits and unprecedented price volatility.
- Future Outlook: The transaction is set to take effect on April 1, 2026, pending regulatory approvals, and is expected to further enhance BHP's competitive position in the global mining market.
- Silver Streaming Agreement: BHP has signed a long-term silver streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals, securing an upfront payment of $4.3 billion, which is expected to significantly enhance the company's cash flow and market competitiveness.
- Increased Silver Production: BHP will deliver silver from its Antamina mine in Peru, with Wheaton receiving 67.5% of the silver produced, a substantial increase from the current 33.75%, reflecting BHP's strategic resource allocation adjustments.
- Strong Earnings Performance: BHP reported a 22% year-over-year increase in underlying attributable profit to $6.2 billion for the six months ending December, surpassing market expectations, indicating the successful diversification of revenue sources as copper profitability exceeds that of iron ore for the first time.
- Dividend Growth Reflects Confidence: BHP declared an interim dividend of $0.73 per share, exceeding market expectations of $0.63, which reflects the company's strong operational performance and confidence in its outlook, while also demonstrating prudent and effective capital allocation.
- Surge in Silver Prices: The iShares Silver Trust has surged 160% over the past year, driven by geopolitical tensions and industrial demand, attracting investors to the silver market, with expectations of this trend continuing into 2026.
- First Majestic Silver: This company operates mines in Mexico and the U.S., and last year acquired Gatos Silver, gaining a 70% interest in the high-grade Los Gatos mine, with 57% of its revenue from silver, positioning it as a top pure-play silver miner, where rising silver prices will directly enhance its profits.
- Wheaton Precious Metals: Acting as a financier, Wheaton uses a streaming model to provide upfront capital to mining companies, securing the right to purchase metals at a discount; its average cash cost of silver was $6.35 per ounce in Q3, ensuring cost predictability and protection against inflationary pressures.
- Investment Choices: Investing in First Majestic indicates confidence in its cost management and silver price upside, while Wheaton offers conservative investors a way to gain mining profits through a diversified portfolio without direct operational costs.
- Surge in Silver Prices: Over the past year, the iShares Silver Trust has surged by 160%, driven by geopolitical tensions and industrial demand, attracting a significant influx of investors into the silver market, with this trend expected to persist until 2026.
- Supply-Demand Imbalance: For the past five years, demand for silver has consistently outpaced supply, leading to a multi-year shortage, which is likely to further drive up silver prices and create investment opportunities for silver mining stocks.
- First Majestic Silver: First Majestic Silver acquired a 70% interest in the Los Gatos mine in Mexico through its acquisition of Gatos Silver, with 57% of its revenue derived from silver, positioning it as a top pure-play silver miner; however, its profitability is highly dependent on silver price fluctuations, and any drop in silver prices or rise in mining costs could quickly erode profit margins.
- Wheaton Precious Metals Model: Wheaton Precious Metals operates under a financing model, providing upfront payments to mining companies for building or expanding mines, with an average cash cost of silver at $6.35 per ounce in Q3, offering cost predictability and protection against inflationary pressures, making it suitable for conservative investors seeking low-risk exposure.









