VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Shares of this company have returned +0.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The Zacks Mining - Iron industry, to which VALE belongs, has lost 5.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
VALE is expected to post earnings of $0.39 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -22%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -10.2%.
The consensus earnings estimate of $1.98 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +8.8%. This estimate has changed -7.8% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.14 indicates a change of +8% from what VALE is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -4%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, VALE is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For VALE, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.18 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +15.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $40.71 billion and $41 billion estimates indicate +6% and +0.7% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVALE reported revenues of $9.26 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.35 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.38%. The EPS surprise was -6.38%.
Over the last four quarters, VALE surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
VALE is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about VALE. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
Key Takeaways Vale reports Q2 results on July 30, with sales seen up 15.6% and EPS expected to decline 22% year over year.VALE posted higher iron ore, copper and nickel production, sales and realized prices during the quarter.Vale's higher volumes and pricing may lift revenues, while elevated operating costs could weigh on earnings. Vale S.A. (VALE - Free Report) is set to release its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, after market close.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vale’s sales is pegged at $10.18 billion, indicating a 15.6% increase from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings has moved down 18.7% over the past 60 days to 39 cents per share. The figure indicates a 22% year-over-year decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
VALE’s Earnings Surprise HistoryVale’s earnings performance has been mixed in recent quarters. Earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and beat the mark in the other two, delivering an average surprise of 7.23%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What the Zacks Model Unveils for VALE StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Vale this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, but that is not the case here.
Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Vale is 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Vale currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped Vale's Q2 PerformanceVale recently released its second-quarter production and sales update, offering an insight into its expected quarterly performance.
Iron ore production was 84.3 Mt, a 0.8% year-over-year increase. This performance was driven by record output at the S11D mine as well as the ramp-up of the Capanema and VGR1 projects. Pellet production was down 7% year over year to 7.3 Mt, owing to the temporary suspension of production at the Oman pellet plants amid the Middle East conflict and the associated logistical constraints.
Iron ore fines sales grew 3.4% from the year-ago quarter to 69.9 Mt. Pellet sales increased 3.5% to 7.7 Mt. Total iron ore sales rose 3% year over year to 79.7 Mt, reflecting the sale of inventories from previous periods and higher production.
Average realized iron ore fines prices were $95 per ton in the quarter, up 11.6% year over year. Realized prices for iron ore pellets were up 2% to $137 per ton.
Copper production was up 6.3% year over year to 98.4 kt. Record production at Salobo and improved performance at Sossego and Voisey’s Bay led to the year-over-year improvement. Vale sold 97.6 kt of copper in the second quarter, which was 9.7% higher than the prior-year quarter, in line with the production increase.
The average realized price for copper operations only (Salobo and Sossego) was $14,062 per ton, marking a 56.5% year-over-year surge. The average realized copper price for all operations (including copper sales originating from nickel operations) was $14,095 per ton.
Nickel production for the quarter was 42 kt, up 4.2% year over year. Higher output from Onça Puma as well as record production at Long Harbour helped offset the impact of the biennial planned maintenance at Sudbury downstream facilities.
Nickel sales were recorded at 44.4 kt, up 7.2% from the year-ago quarter. The average realized nickel price was $18,061 per ton, up 14.3% from the year-ago quarter.
Revenues for the Iron Solutions segment are expected to have benefited from higher iron ore volumes and improved pricing. Higher volumes and prices for both copper and nickel are also expected to have boosted the Base Metals segment’s revenues.
While Vale’s top-line results are expected to reflect higher sales volumes and prices, elevated operating costs are likely to have weighed on its earnings. Vale’s ongoing cost-control initiatives are expected to have cushioned some of the impact.
VALE Stock’s Price Performance & ValuationIn a year, shares of Vale have gained 45.2% compared with the industry’s 38.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks Likely to Deliver Earnings BeatHere are some Basic Material stocks with the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.
Ternium (TX - Free Report) , scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4, has an Earnings ESP of +21.40% and a Zacks Rank of 1 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for Ternium for the second quarter of 2026 is pegged at $1.29 per share, suggesting an 0.8% year-over-year increase. TX has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 3.51%.
Avient (AVNT - Free Report) , scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 6, has an Earnings ESP of +70.87% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for Avient for the second quarter of 2026 is 89 cents per share, indicating an 11.2% year-over-year increase. Avient has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 2.1%.
Element Solutions (ESI - Free Report) , scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 27, has an Earnings ESP of +1.54% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Element Solutions’ earnings for the second quarter of 2026 is pegged at 73 cents per share, indicating 16% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. Element Solutions has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 4.6%.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $14.25, demonstrating a +1.06% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.89% for the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.74%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 1.29%.
Heading into today, shares of the company had lost 10.25% over the past month, lagging the Basic Materials sector's loss of 8.24% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.63%.
The upcoming earnings release of VALE S.A. will be of great interest to investors. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.39, marking a 22% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $10.18 billion, up 15.6% from the prior-year quarter.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $1.98 per share and revenue of $40.71 billion. These totals would mark changes of +8.79% and +6%, respectively, from last year.
Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for VALE S.A. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 7.82% downward. Right now, VALE S.A. possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Investors should also note VALE S.A.'s current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 7.12. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 7.9.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 28, finds itself in the top 12% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $14.22 in the latest trading session, marking a -3.07% move from the prior day. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.51%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.2%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 1.47%.
Coming into today, shares of the company had lost 5.54% in the past month. In that same time, the Basic Materials sector lost 8.52%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.53%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of VALE S.A. in its upcoming release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.39, down 22% from the prior-year quarter. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $10.18 billion, indicating a 15.6% upward movement from the same quarter last year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $1.98 per share and a revenue of $40.71 billion, demonstrating changes of +8.79% and +6%, respectively, from the preceding year.
It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 6.87% lower. As of now, VALE S.A. holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In terms of valuation, VALE S.A. is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 7.41. This denotes a discount relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 8.18.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 32, positioning it in the top 14% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow VALE in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
On July 16, 2026, Vale SA (VALE) shares fell 3.1% today, closing at $14.22. Over the past month, the stock has decreased by 11.0%, while year-to-date, it has ga
In the latest trading session, VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $14.22, marking a +1.21% move from the previous day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.81%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.27%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.3%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the company had lost 5.89% lagged the Basic Materials sector's loss of 4.72% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.13%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of VALE S.A. in its upcoming release. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $0.51, reflecting a 2% increase from the same quarter last year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $10.65 billion, reflecting a 21% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $2.15 per share and revenue of $41.73 billion. These totals would mark changes of +18.13% and +8.65%, respectively, from last year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.09% higher. VALE S.A. presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, VALE S.A. is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 6.54. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 7.47, which means VALE S.A. is trading at a discount to the group.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 32, putting it in the top 14% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Shares of this company have returned -5.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.1% change. The Zacks Mining - Iron industry, to which VALE belongs, has lost 6.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
VALE is expected to post earnings of $0.51 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -4.1%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.15 points to a change of +18.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.1%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.23 indicates a change of +3.6% from what VALE is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.8%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for VALE.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For VALE, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.65 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +21%. For the current and next fiscal years, $41.73 billion and $41.41 billion estimates indicate +8.7% and -0.8% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVALE reported revenues of $9.26 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.35 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.38%. The EPS surprise was -6.38%.
Over the last four quarters, VALE surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
VALE is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about VALE. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $14.69 in the latest trading session, marking a -2.65% move from the prior day. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.45%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.25%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 1.16%.
Shares of the company have appreciated by 0.67% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Basic Materials sector's loss of 0.89%, and lagging the S&P 500's gain of 2.14%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of VALE S.A. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.51, indicating a 2% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $10.65 billion, reflecting a 21% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $2.15 per share and revenue of $41.73 billion, indicating changes of +18.13% and +8.65%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for VALE S.A. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.09% higher. Right now, VALE S.A. possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, VALE S.A. is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 7.03. This denotes a discount relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 8.07.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 32, positioning it in the top 14% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow VALE in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -10.1%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Mining - Iron industry, which VALE falls in, has lost 9.9%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
VALE is expected to post earnings of $0.51 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +7.4%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.15 points to a change of +18.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +1.5%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.23 indicates a change of +3.6% from what VALE is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.5%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for VALE.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For VALE, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.65 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +21%. For the current and next fiscal years, $41.73 billion and $41.41 billion estimates indicate +8.7% and -0.8% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVALE reported revenues of $9.26 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.35 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.38%. The EPS surprise was -6.38%.
Over the last four quarters, VALE surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
VALE is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about VALE. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $14.84 in the latest trading session, marking a -3.07% move from the prior day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.1% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.35%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.43%.
Coming into today, shares of the company had lost 7.21% in the past month. In that same time, the Basic Materials sector lost 3.56%, while the S&P 500 lost 1.34%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of VALE S.A. in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.51, indicating a 2% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $10.65 billion, indicating a 21% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.15 per share and revenue of $41.73 billion, which would represent changes of +18.13% and +8.65%, respectively, from the prior year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 1.51% increase. VALE S.A. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, VALE S.A. currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 7.13. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 8.16.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 31, which puts it in the top 13% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $15.31, moving -2.55% from the previous trading session. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 1.44%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.09%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 2.22%.
Shares of the company witnessed a loss of 4.67% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Basic Materials sector with its loss of 0.5%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.08%.
The upcoming earnings release of VALE S.A. will be of great interest to investors. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.51, up 2% from the prior-year quarter. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $10.65 billion, reflecting a 21% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $2.15 per share and a revenue of $41.73 billion, indicating changes of +18.13% and +8.65%, respectively, from the former year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 1.51% increase. At present, VALE S.A. boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at its valuation, VALE S.A. is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 7.31. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 8.29.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 28, positioning it in the top 12% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $15.53, demonstrating a -2.82% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.98%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.35%.
The stock of company has fallen by 0.19% in the past month, lagging the Basic Materials sector's gain of 3.65% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.56%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of VALE S.A. in its upcoming release. In that report, analysts expect VALE S.A. to post earnings of $0.51 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 2%. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $10.65 billion, up 21% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.13 per share and revenue of $41.73 billion, which would represent changes of +17.03% and +8.65%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for VALE S.A. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.28% upward. Right now, VALE S.A. possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that VALE S.A. has a Forward P/E ratio of 7.52 right now. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 8.94, so one might conclude that VALE S.A. is trading at a discount comparatively.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 27, putting it in the top 12% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
Vale VALE board members have voted against Previ's proposal to remove Daniel André Stieler as chairman, setting up a possible governance battle at the world's top iron ore producer. The decision could influence proxy advisory firms and institutional investors ahead of Vale's extraordinary shareholder meeting on July 22.
Previ, which owns 7% of Vale, is pushing to remove Stieler before his mandate expires in April 2027. The pension fund is backing independent director Manuel Lino Oliveira as chairman, while also appointing former Previ CEO José Mauricio Pereira Coelho to take a vacant board seat.
Vale's board majority is preparing its own slate, with current vice chairman Marcelo Gasparino expected to compete as an alternative chairman candidate and former BP BP executive Ieda Gomes Yell set to run for the vacant seat, according to people familiar with the matter. The vote could become a key test of Vale's governance direction, with major shareholders including Mitsui, BlackRock and Capital World Investors watching the contest.
The logo of the Brucutu mine owned by Brazilian mining company Vale SA is seen in Sao Goncalo do Rio Abaixo, Brazil February 4, 2019. REUTERS/Washington Alves Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesRIO DE JANEIRO, June 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale (VALE3.SA), opens new tab plans to invest up to 13 billion reais ($2.56 billion) in decarbonization initiatives to meet its voluntary emissions reduction targets and mitigate climate-related risks, a sustainability report showed on Monday.
The company did not specify the timeframe for the investment. The amount includes up to 4 billion reais for decarbonizing operations, with 24% invested in the medium term and 76% in the long term.
The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.
Another 8 billion reais is linked to building industrial complexes focused on low-carbon technologies, which includes steelmaking transition technologies and iron ore briquette development.
The remaining 1 billion reais would go for research and development, the firm said.
Vale invested 9 billion reais in decarbonization initiatives from 2020 to 2025.
Through these initiatives, Vale sees potential for financial and environmental returns for its business, Grazielle Parenti, executive vice president of sustainability, said in an interview with Reuters.
"Within Vale's governance framework, all projects and decisions of this caliber are evaluated using an environmental, social, and governance matrix that identifies potential risks and opportunities for each one," she said.
The company also warned on Monday it could face carbon costs of up to 22 billion reais at present value from carbon pricing mechanisms, with substantial impacts expected from 2030 onwards.
($1 = 5.0686 reais)
Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Aurora Ellis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $17.43 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.08% move from the prior day. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.26%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.24%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.36%.
Coming into today, shares of the company had gained 19.95% in the past month. In that same time, the Basic Materials sector gained 5.76%, while the S&P 500 gained 5.98%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of VALE S.A. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.47, indicating a 34.29% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $9.23 billion, up 13.74% from the prior-year quarter.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $2.11 per share and a revenue of $40.56 billion, demonstrating changes of +15.93% and +5.63%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.86% higher. As of now, VALE S.A. holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In terms of valuation, VALE S.A. is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 8.33. This represents no noticeable deviation compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 8.33.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 93, positioning it in the top 39% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow VALE in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE – Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 69,513 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $906,000.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Vale by 4.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 79,400 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $792,000 after purchasing an additional 3,704 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in shares of Vale by 46.6% in the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 37,613 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $375,000 after purchasing an additional 11,964 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC bought a new stake in Vale during the 1st quarter worth approximately $171,000. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in Vale during the 1st quarter worth approximately $117,000. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Vale during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $123,000. 21.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Insider Buying and Selling In other Vale news, VP Sobrinho Sami Arap acquired 12,990 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $209,268.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 12,990 shares in the company, valued at approximately $209,268.90. This represents a ∞ increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Parenti Grazielle Tallia bought 10,464 shares of Vale stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $168,575.04. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider directly owned 10,464 shares in the company, valued at $168,575.04. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth VALE has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Vale from $15.50 to $17.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Vale in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Vale from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Bank of America raised shares of Vale from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $18.00 to $19.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Vale from $13.80 to $18.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vale currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $16.02.
Get Our Latest Research Report on VALE
Vale Stock Performance Shares of VALE opened at $17.82 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $16.14 and a 200-day moving average of $14.19. Vale S.A. has a one year low of $8.97 and a one year high of $17.94. The company has a market cap of $80.86 billion, a PE ratio of 31.81 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.78.
Vale (NYSE:VALE – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 13th. The basic materials company reported ($0.90) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by ($1.42). Vale had a net margin of 6.12% and a return on equity of 20.16%. The firm had revenue of $11.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.86 billion. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Vale S.A. will post 2.11 earnings per share for the current year.
Vale Profile (Free Report)
Vale SA is a Brazilian multinational mining company and one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore and iron ore pellets. In addition to iron ore, the company produces and sells a range of bulk commodities and metals, including nickel, copper, coal, manganese, ferroalloys and cobalt, and it participates in the fertilizer inputs market. Vale also operates extensive logistics assets — including rail, port and maritime logistics — that support its mining and export activities and provide services to third parties in some regions.
Headquartered in Brazil, Vale maintains a global operational footprint with mining, processing and shipping activities across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Vale Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VALE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE – Free Report).
Receive News & Ratings for Vale Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vale and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
« PREVIOUS HEADLINEEvergreen Capital Management LLC Decreases Stake in Ovintiv Inc. $OVV
NEXT HEADLINE »Evergreen Capital Management LLC Has $11.30 Million Holdings in The Charles Schwab Corporation $SCHW
Vale has surged to new highs despite iron ore prices remaining below 2023–2024 levels, prompting a shift from a neutral to a bearish outlook. Recent operational results were strong, with 1Q26 production and sales tracking ahead of annual guidance, particularly in copper and nickel. Current valuation disconnects from iron ore price trends, with VALE trading at a forward P/E of 7.8x, well above its three-year average.
Key Takeaways Vale is expected to report 13.7% y/y growth in Q1 revenues to $9.23B, with EPS rising 34.3%.VALE saw higher iron ore, copper and nickel production, supported by strong output and project ramp-ups.Higher metal prices and volumes lifted revenues, while cost controls helped offset cost pressure on margins. Vale S.A. (VALE - Free Report) is expected to post year-over-year growth in revenues and earnings when it reports first-quarter 2026 results on April 28, after market close.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vale’s sales is pegged at $9.23 billion, indicating a 13.7% increase from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings has moved up 14.6% over the past 60 days to 47 cents per share. The figure indicates solid 34.3% year-over-year growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
VALE’s Earnings Surprise HistoryVale’s earnings performance has been mixed in recent quarters. Earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and beat the mark in the other two, delivering a positive average surprise of 7.47%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What the Zacks Model Unveils for VALE StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Vale this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, but that is not the case here.
Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Vale is 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Vale currently has a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped Vale's Q1 PerformanceVale recently released its first-quarter production and sales update, offering an insight into its expected quarterly performance.
Iron ore production was 69.7 Mt, a 3% year-over-year increase. This performance was driven by record output at the S11D and Brucutu plant, as well as the ramp-up of the Capanema and VGR1 projects. Pellet production was up 13.7% year over year to 8.2 Mt, driven by improved performance at the Tubarão pelletizing plants.
Iron ore fines sales grew 4.7% from the year-ago quarter to 59.4 Mt. Pellet sales increased 2.7% to 7.7 Mt. Total iron ore sales rose 3.9% year over year to 68.7 Mt.
Average realized iron ore fines prices were $95.8 per ton in the quarter, up 5.5% year over year. Realized prices for iron ore pellets declined 5% to $133.8 per ton.
Copper production was up 12.5% year over year to 102 kt. Record output at Salobo and Sossego, as well as improved performance at Voisey's Bay polymetallic mines, led to the year-over-year improvement. Vale sold 91.2 kt of copper in the first quarter, which was 11.4% higher than the prior-year quarter.
The average realized price for copper operations only (Salobo and Sossego) was $13,143 per ton, marking a 47.8% year over year surge. The average realized copper price for all operations (including copper sales originating from nickel operations) was $13,305 per ton.
Nickel production for the quarter was 49.3 kt, up 12.3% year over year. This reflected the full quarter contribution of Onça Puma's second furnace and stable output at Voisey's Bay underground mines ramp-up. Nickel sales were recorded at 44.8 kt, up 15.2% from the year-ago quarter. The average realized nickel price was $17,105 per ton, up 5.6% from the year-ago quarter.
Revenues for the Iron Solutions segment are expected to have benefited from higher iron ore volumes and improved pricing, partially offset by weaker pellet revenues (due to lower prices). Higher volumes and prices for both copper and nickel are expected to have boosted the Base Metals segment’s revenues.
While elevated input costs are likely to have weighed on margins, Vale’s ongoing cost-control initiatives are expected to have cushioned the impacts.
VALE Stock’s Price Performance & ValuationIn a year, shares of Vale have surged 84.8% compared with the industry’s 84.1% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks Likely to Deliver Earnings BeatHere are some Basic Material stocks with the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.
Teck Resources (TECK - Free Report) , scheduled to release first-quarter 2026 earnings on April 23, has an Earnings ESP of +3.21% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for Teck Resources for the first quarter of 2026 is pegged at 74 cents per share, suggesting an 76% year-over-year increase. Teck Resources has a positive trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 54.3%.
CF Industries (CF - Free Report) , scheduled to release first-quarter 2026 earnings on May 6, has an Earnings ESP of +7.21% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for CF Industries for the first quarter of 2026 is $2.22 per share, indicating a 20% year-over-year increase. CF Industries has a positive trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 13.15%.
Carpenter Technology (CRS - Free Report) , scheduled to release first-quarter 2026 earnings on April 29, has an Earnings ESP of +1.94% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carpenter Technology earnings for the first quarter of 2026 is pegged at $2.59 per share, indicating 38% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. Carpenter Technology has a positive trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 9.23%.
Key Takeaways Vale outperforms BHP in price gains, valuation and ROE, giving it a current edge among mining peers.BHP boosts iron ore output and invests heavily in copper and potash for long-term growth.Vale expands iron ore and base metals production, targeting higher copper and nickel output by 2030 . BHP Group Limited (BHP - Free Report) and Vale S.A. (VALE - Free Report) are among the world’s largest iron ore producers and diversified miners, making them competitors in the global metals and mining sector. Both companies are positioned to benefit as infrastructure investment picks up worldwide and long-term demand grows for steel, copper, lithium, nickel and other minerals essential for clean energy technologies. BHP has a market capitalization of around $203 billion, while VALE has a market capitalization of $73 billion.
For investors interested in this space, let's analyze which stock is better positioned for upside, BHP or Vale. A closer look at their fundamentals, growth drivers and key risks can offer clarity.
The Case for BHPBHP produced 62.8 Mt of iron ore in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended March 31, 2026), up 2% year over year. Production at Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) was a record 60.9 Mt (69.8 Mt on a 100% basis). For fiscal 2026, BHP continues to expect iron ore production of 258-269 Mt. WAIO’s output is likely to be 251-262 Mt (284-296 Mt on a 100% basis).
WAIO has been the lowest-cost iron ore producer globally for more than four years. Over the medium term, WAIO production is expected to exceed 305 Mt annually, supported by expanded rail operation capacity unlocked by RTP1 and the Western Ridge Crusher Project. BHP is investing in a sixth car dumper and related infrastructure at Port Hedland. Going forward, growth in world steel production spurred by urbanization will fuel demand for iron ore and help sustain prices, which bodes well for BHP.
Copper production was 476.8 kt in the quarter, a 7% decline year over year as lower output at Escondida, Pampa Norte and Carajás offset improved results at Copper South Australia and Antamina. BHP guides copper output in fiscal 2026 to be at the upper half of its prior stated range of 1,900-2,000 kt.
BHP has been reshaping its portfolio toward commodities such as copper and potash, allocating nearly 70% of its medium-term capital expenditure to these areas. This strategy positions the company to benefit from decarbonization, electrification, population growth and rising living standards in emerging markets.
In March, the company submitted the Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA) permit for the Escondida New Concentrator to replace the aging Los Colorados plant. Resolution Copper, a joint venture between Rio Tinto (55% and operator) and BHP (45%), completed a land exchange in Arizona, United States. They can now advance further resource data collection and initiate early underground development at the Resolution Copper project, one of the largest untapped, high-grade copper resources in the world. The company has copper projects under execution and a pipeline that could deliver around 2 Mtpa of attributable copper production by the 2030s.
BHP is also advancing the Jansen Stage 1 potash project, a large-scale, low-cost, high-grade resource with a mine life exceeding 100 years. It is expected to produce 4.15 million tons of potash annually, starting mid-2027. Stage 2 of the project is expected to deliver its first production in fiscal 2031 and add 4.36 million tons annually. These investments will position BHP as a major global producer of potash by the end of the decade.
The Case for ValeVale’s iron ore production for the first quarter of 2026 (ended March 31, 2026) was 69.7 Mt, a 3% year-over-year increase. This performance was driven by record output at the S11D and Brucutu plant, as well as the ramp-up of the Capanema and VGR1 projects. Pellet production was up 13.7% year over year to 8.2 Mt, driven by improved performance at the Tubarão pelletizing plants.
The company maintains its iron ore guidance at 335-345 Mt for 2026. It is expected to reach 360 Mt by 2030. The Vargem Grande 1 (VGR1) project and the Capanema Maximization project are expected to play a key role in attaining these targets. Other approved projects are Compact Crushing at S11D and Serra Sul.
Vale is also investing heavily in the base metals business to benefit from the global energy transition. The company’s capex plans for the business are $1.6 billion in 2026 and $2 billion from 2027 onward.
Copper production was up 12.5% year over year to 102 kt in the first quarter of 2026. Record output at Salobo and Sossego, as well as improved performance at Voisey's Bay polymetallic mines, led to the year-over-year improvement. Nickel production for the quarter was 49.3 kt, up 12.3% year over year. This reflected the full-quarter contribution of Onça Puma's second furnace and stable output at Voisey's Bay underground mines ramp-up.
In 2026, Vale's copper production is expected to be between 350 kt and 380 kt, and reach 420-500 kt by 2030 and 700 kt by 2035. The Bacaba project will extend the life of the Sossego Mining Complex, contributing an average annual copper output of 50 ktpy over an eight-year mine life. Production is expected to start in the first half of 2028. Other projects, such as Salobo Coarse Particle Flotation (CPF), Alemão and Cristalino, will increase Vale’s copper production capacity.
Vale recently signed an agreement with Glencore Canada (Glencore) to jointly evaluate a potential brownfield copper development project at their adjacent properties in the Sudbury Basin, with an expected start-up in 2030. Vale plans to hit 700 kt levels by 2035, primarily through the accelerated development of assets in the North and South hubs in the Carajás region.
For 2026, Vale expects its nickel production to be between 175 kt and 200 kt, reflecting replenishment projects in Canada, exposure to Pomalaa and Morowali, and the start-up of the second furnace at Onça Puma. For 2030, nickel production is anticipated at 210-250 kt, with input from projects such as Thompson Ultramafics, Sorowako HPAL, partnership projects and offtake.
How do Estimates Compare for BHP & VALE?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHP’s fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a year-over-year rise of 32.7%. The estimate for earnings for fiscal 2027 reflects a 1% drop.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vale’s 2026 earnings of $2.08 per share indicates year-over-year growth of 14.3%. The consensus estimate for Vale’s 2027 earnings is $2.19 per share, which projects a 5.5% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Both the earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 for BHP have moved up over the past 60 days. While the EPS estimates for Vale for fiscal 2026 have been revised downward in the past 60 days, the same for fiscal 2027 has moved up.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BHP Group & Vale: Price Performance & ValuationIn a year, BHP stock has appreciated 64.9%, lagging Vale, which has gained 78.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BHP is trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 3.75X, while VALE’s forward sales multiple sits at 1.90X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
VALE’s return on equity of 20.16% is higher than BHP’s 17.72%. This reflects Vale’s efficient use of shareholder funds in generating profits.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BHP or VALE: Which is a Better Pick?BHP and Vale are both well-positioned for durable long-term growth, backed by resilient iron ore operations as well as a growing focus on future-facing materials. Both stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which makes choosing one difficult. Given its attractive valuation, a stronger price performance and positive earnings expectation for this year as well as the next, along with a higher ROE, Vale currently has the edge.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
For the quarter ended March 2026, VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) reported revenue of $9.26 billion, up 14% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.44, compared to $0.35 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, representing a surprise of -0.38%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -6.38%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.47.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how VALE performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Volume sold in tons - Pellets: 7,699.00 Kmt versus the two-analyst average estimate of 7,664.67 Kmt.Volume sold in tons - Nickel: 45.00 Kmt compared to the 46.65 Kmt average estimate based on two analysts.Volume sold in tons - Fins: 59,436.00 Kmt versus 59,188.46 Kmt estimated by two analysts on average.Volume sold in tons - ROM: 1,578.00 Kmt versus 1,510.59 Kmt estimated by two analysts on average.Volume sold in tons - Copper: 72.00 Kmt compared to the 91.99 Kmt average estimate based on two analysts.Average Price - Iron ore pellets realized price: $133.80 versus the two-analyst average estimate of $132.85.C1 cash cost - Iron ore fins - excluding third-party purchase costs: $23.60 compared to the $23.92 average estimate based on two analysts.Revenue- Vale Base Metals: $2.38 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $2.6 billion.Revenue- Iron ore solutions- fines: $5.69 billion versus $5.62 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +10.4% change.Revenue- Vale Base Metals- Copper: $1.41 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1.4 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +57.1%.Revenue- Vale Base Metals- Nickel: $1.18 billion compared to the $1.26 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +22.2% year over year.Revenue- Iron ore solution- Pellets: $1.03 billion versus $1 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -2.4% change.View all Key Company Metrics for VALE here>>>
Shares of VALE have returned +6.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report) Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
Click Here, It's Really Free
Published in earnings earnings-estimates-revisions earnings-surprise
Item 1 of 5 The Guaibamax-class vessel used by Brazilian miner Vale, part of a new ore-shipping fleet that uses spinning sails (cylindrical structures in background) to reduce fuel consumption, in Porto de Tubarao in Vitoria, Espirito Santo state, Brazil April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
[1/5]The Guaibamax-class vessel used by Brazilian miner Vale, part of a new ore-shipping fleet that uses spinning sails (cylindrical structures in background) to reduce fuel consumption, in Porto de... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
SummaryCompaniesVale to expand sail-equipped fleet to at least 20 vesselsSails help save in fuel costs, narrow gap to Australian rivalsTechnology has helped shield Vale from Iran war fuel price hikesVITORIA, Brazil, April 30 (Reuters) - Vale (VALE3.SA), opens new tab plans to more than double its fleet of sail-equipped iron ore carriers, with the cost-saving technology to expand to at least 20 vessels within the next three years, easing the Brazilian miner's exposure to marine fuel price volatility.
The spinning cylindrical sails about as high as a 10-storey building harness wind power during transoceanic voyages saving up to 10% in fuel consumption depending on the vessel, Vale's general manager for shipping, Rafael Fischer, said on Tuesday.
The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.
Freight costs are significant for the mining sector and have climbed during the Iran war.
"Energy efficiency means we rely less and less on fuel, which reduces the impact of any variation in bunker fuel prices," Fischer told Reuters aboard one of the sail-equipped vessels, docked at the Tubarao port in Espirito Santo state.
Vale currently has eight sail-equipped vessels, the result of a decade-long strategy focused on lowering emissions and improving efficiency that has shielded the company somewhat as the Middle East conflict drives up oil product prices.
Saving on fuel is a major concern at Vale, as it mainly ships iron ore to China, where it faces competition from suppliers in Australia.
"We have a geographic disadvantage compared with our competitors, so we are using innovation as a lever to mitigate that effect," Fischer said.
ETHANOL-POWERED SHIPSBeyond adding sails, Vale is also making its vessels fuel-flexible, said Fischer.
Earlier this month, it announced a 25-year charter agreement with China's Shandong Shipping Corporation for the construction of two of the world's first ethanol-fueled transoceanic vessels equipped with sails.
The ships will also be able to run on methanol or conventional bunker fuel, with future conversion options for liquefied natural gas and ammonia.
"In the future, we will have the option of at least five fuels, which gives us the flexibility to adapt to different situations and market conditions," said Fischer.
Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Fabio Teixeira; Editing by Joe Bavier
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Marta Nogueira is a correspondent in Rio de Janeiro, covering Brazil’s oil and mining sectors and their impact on the economy, the environment, and people’s lives. She has been with Reuters since 2014, reporting on major developments in energy and natural resources, including Brazil’s energy policy, commodity markets, and environmental challenges tied to resource extraction. Previously, she worked at Brazilian newspapers Valor Economico and Jornal do Brasil.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.93% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) Brazil-based Vale S.A. is one of the world’s largest mining companies with a market capitalization of approximately $63 billion. It produces iron ore, iron ore pellets, copper, nickel. and also has operations in manganese, ferroalloys, gold, silver, and cobalt.
VALE is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. VALE has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 17% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $2.13 per share. VALE boasts an average earnings surprise of +7.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, VALE should be on investors' short list.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -1.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.5% change. During this period, the Zacks Mining - Iron industry, which VALE falls in, has lost 1.7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
VALE is expected to post earnings of $0.49 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.12 points to a change of +16.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -1.9%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.2 indicates a change of +4% from what VALE is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +2.8%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for VALE.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For VALE, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.29 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +16.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $41.27 billion and $41.13 billion estimates indicate +7.5% and -0.3% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVALE reported revenues of $9.26 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.35 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.38%. The EPS surprise was -6.38%.
Over the last four quarters, VALE surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
VALE is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about VALE. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:EWZ) has rallied alongside Brazilian equities, lifting shares roughly 48% over the past year. EWZ pays a variable semi-annual distribution funded by dividends from the largest Brazilian companies. After a powerful 2024 through 2025 commodity cycle, holders want to know whether the next checks will sustain or fade. EWZ’s distribution is structurally durable but mathematically unpredictable, and understanding that contradiction is what holders need.
How the distribution gets written EWZ tracks the MSCI Brazil 25/50 Index and holds roughly 50 large- and mid-cap Brazilian stocks, with iron-ore miner Vale, state oil company Petrobras, and the country’s big banks (Itaú Unibanco, Banco Bradesco, Banco do Brasil) typically commanding the largest weights. The fund collects whatever those companies pay in Brazilian reais, converts proceeds to dollars, deducts the 0.59% expense ratio, and passes the rest along twice a year. The distribution is whatever Brazilian corporate boards decide to send out, translated through the BRL/USD rate.
That mechanic explains the recent swings. The June 2025 distribution came in at $0.52, the December 2025 payment at $1.03, plus a January 2026 reconciliation of $0.11. What matters is whether the underlying companies still have the cash to pay.
Commodity cash flow drives payouts Petrobras and Vale dominate distribution capacity. WTI crude sits at almost $110 a barrel, in the 98th percentile of its 12-month range against a one-year average of $69. Petrobras is a dividend machine when oil holds above $80 and a dividend cutter when it sinks below $60, so current levels point to elevated payouts ahead. Iron ore has stayed firm enough to keep Vale’s variable dividend policy active.
The risk is exactly that dependency. Brazilian commodity producers do not smooth payouts the way US dividend aristocrats do. Petrobras moved to a free-cash-flow-linked formula in 2023, and Vale already pays based on a percentage of operating cash flow. When commodities turn, the dividend turns with them, often within one or two quarters.
Banks and currency volatility The Financials sleeve, the index’s largest, has been the steadier income contributor. Itaú and Banco do Brasil run healthy capital ratios and high-teens returns on equity, with interim dividend and interest-on-capital payments more predictable than commodity payouts.
Currency does the rest of the work. The real currently fetches roughly $0.20, well off its 2020 through 2021 lows. A weaker real shrinks every dollar distribution even when reais payouts grow. Political risk, BRICS realignment chatter, and fiscal noise out of Brasília routinely move the currency several percent in a quarter, and that volatility passes straight through to EWZ holders.
The performance reality EWZ is up roughly 48% over the past year and 22% year to date at $39 a share. The ten-year total return is just 133%, well behind the S&P 500 over the same stretch. The yield is real, but holders are not earning it on a calm asset. Owning EWZ for income means accepting commodity-cycle whiplash plus currency translation.
The verdict EWZ’s distribution will keep arriving twice a year and will continue to reflect whatever Brazilian dividends and exchange rates produce. Stability is a separate question. The payment will keep moving. Holders seeking smooth, growing income are better served by a US dividend-growth fund. Holders who want direct exposure to Brazilian commodity cash flows, with the currency and political risk that comes with it, own the right ticket. Just do not budget around the next check.
U.S. equity benchmarks remain richly valued, and a growing chorus of strategists is reminding retail investors that single-country exposure has historically been a portfolio risk. For investors scanning for non-U.S. revenue streams without paying up for crowded mega-caps, the under-$60 bucket is where some of the most globally diversified businesses currently trade. The opportunity is timely: a weaker dollar, shifting tariff regimes, and re-rated emerging-market commodity names have quietly pushed several international ADRs into more attractive territory.
With that in mind, here are three stocks trading under $60 that offer meaningful exposure outside the United States, with the fundamentals and analyst coverage to back the thesis.
Gerdau (NYSE: GGB) Gerdau (NYSE:GGB) is a Brazilian long-steel producer with significant operations across the Americas, including a substantial North American footprint. Shares closed at $4.63 on May 18, 2026, putting the stock well within reach for retail investors building a basket of ex-U.S. names. The shares are up 27.18% year to date and 70.63% over the past year.
Fundamentals support the thesis. Gerdau trades at a forward P/E of 7 with a 3.14% dividend yield and an analyst target price of $5.07. In Q1 2026, North America delivered 75% of consolidated adjusted EBITDA on revenue of $9.35 billion (+6.6% YoY), with margins benefiting from Section 232 tariff adjustments. JPMorgan and UBS raised price targets after the earnings report despite a headline EPS miss.
The bull case is straightforward: a hard-asset, Americas-wide steel franchise priced at less than one times book that throws off cash. The key risk is Brazilian import competition, with flat steel imports hitting 34% penetration in February and Brazil EBITDA compressed by 47.3% in the quarter. For investors looking beyond U.S.-only steel names, Gerdau remains a credible diversifier.
Unilever (NYSE: UL) Unilever (NYSE:UL | UL Price Prediction) is a London-headquartered consumer staples giant selling Dove, Hellmann’s, Knorr, and Vaseline across 190-plus countries. Shares finished at $57.30, comfortably under the $60 ceiling and down 10.87% year to date, which is exactly the kind of pullback long-term staples buyers tend to look for.
The setup is attractive. Unilever carries a forward P/E of 16, a 4.05% dividend yield, and an analyst target of $67.89. The company posted 2025 revenue of $50.50 billion with full-year operating margin of 20.0% (+60 bps) and FY25 net income of $6.21 billion. Management has guided 2026 underlying sales growth toward the bottom end of its 4-6% range and launched a new €1.5 billion buyback starting Q2 2026.
The bull case rests on geographic breadth: roughly half of revenue comes from emerging markets, providing FX and growth exposure unavailable in U.S.-centric staples peers. The risks are real, including 5.9% FX headwinds, a softer Latin American consumer, and ongoing China macro pressure. Even so, a 4% dividend yield on a defensive global franchise priced below $60 is a tangible diversification tool.
Vale (NYSE: VALE) Vale (NYSE:VALE) is a Brazilian mining major and one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore, copper, and nickel. Shares closed at $16.31, putting them 25.17% higher year to date and 75.23% above year-ago levels.
Vale trades at a forward P/E of 8, with a sub-1 PEG, a sizable trailing dividend yield of 33.5% reflecting elevated distributions, and an analyst target of $17.22. Q1 26 EPS of $0.44 missed the $0.50 consensus, but Vale Base Metals EBITDA doubled to $1.20 billion as copper realized prices climbed 48% YoY to $13,143 per tonne.
The bull case is copper- and nickel-driven optionality on top of a still-dominant iron ore franchise, with the Serra Sul +20 project at 86% progress and a $1.0 billion extraordinary dividend already paid in January 2026. Risks include BRL appreciation, net debt expanding to $17.8 billion, and $4.1 billion in remaining Brumadinho/Samarco reparations. For investors comfortable with commodity cyclicality, Vale offers direct exposure to non-U.S. resource demand.
The Bottom Line These three names are priced affordably while offering meaningful non-U.S. revenue, fundamentally distinct business mixes, and explicit analyst support. Investors should weigh currency exposure, commodity cycles, and country-specific tax and tariff regimes before committing capital, and run the numbers against their existing portfolio concentration.
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Shares of this company have returned -6.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.6% change. The Zacks Mining - Iron industry, to which VALE belongs, has lost 8.2% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
VALE is expected to post earnings of $0.49 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +6.6%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.12 points to a change of +16.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +2%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.2 indicates a change of +4% from what VALE is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.5%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for VALE.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For VALE, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.29 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +16.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $41.27 billion and $41.13 billion estimates indicate +7.5% and -0.3% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVALE reported revenues of $9.26 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.35 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.38%. The EPS surprise was -6.38%.
Over the last four quarters, VALE surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
VALE is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about VALE. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
June 01, 2026 16:25 ET | Source: United Steelworkers union
SUDBURY, Ontario, June 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500 have ratified a new collective agreement with Vale that delivers significant wage increases, enhanced workplace protections and improved benefits and for workers and their families.
The agreement includes a $4,000 ratification bonus and guaranteed wage increases ranging from 20.5% to 25.7% over the life of the agreement, reflecting both negotiated increases and annual cost-of-living adjustments. Members also secured paid sick days, a new health-care spending account and significant improvements to pensions, vision care, orthodontic coverage and short-term disability benefits.
“I have been involved with Local 6500 for 25 years, and I have never seen gains like these,” said Pascal Boucher, USW District 6 Area Co-ordinator for Sudbury. “Wage increases of more than 20% are unprecedented for this local. We raised the bar by introducing paid sick days and achieved these gains without a single concession. This agreement is a testament to the strength, solidarity and determination of our membership.”
Skilled trades workers secured significant wage progression improvements, while pension enhancements and benefits increases will provide additional security for current and future retirees.
“This agreement delivers historic gains for our members, including significant wage increases, improvements to benefits and important language changes addressing issues such as contracting out, technological change and shift scheduling,” said Ray Hammond, USW Local 6500 President. “We thank our members for their strong support throughout bargaining, their participation in surveys and their overwhelming strike mandate, which helped ensure the priorities of membership were reflected in this agreement.”
The new collective agreement provides stability and certainty for workers and their families during a period of economic upheaval while strengthening good union jobs in Northern Ontario’s mining sector.
“This agreement demonstrates what workers can achieve when they stand together and bargain collectively,” said Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director. “Local 6500 members remained united throughout this process and secured historic gains that will strengthen wages, benefits and workplace protection for years to come. These improvements will make a real difference in the lives of workers and their families while helping to support strong union jobs and communities across Northern Ontario.”
The ratification of this agreement represents one of the most significant bargaining achievements in the history of Local 6500 and demonstrates the power of solidarity in delivering meaningful gains for workers.
About the United Steelworkers union
The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union's strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
For more information:
Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director, 416-243-8792, [email protected]
Pascal Boucher, USW Area Co-ordinator Sudbury, 705-521-3414, [email protected]
Ray Hammond. USW Local 6500 President, 705-675-3381 ext. 232, [email protected]
Arushana Sunderaeson, USW Communications, 416-243-8792 ext. 1233, [email protected]
VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -2.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Mining - Iron industry, which VALE falls in, has lost 0.7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, VALE is expected to post earnings of $0.48 per share, indicating a change of -4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.1% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.15 points to a change of +18.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +1.2%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.19 indicates a change of +2.1% from what VALE is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.5%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for VALE.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For VALE, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $10.47 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +18.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $41.32 billion and $41.18 billion estimates indicate +7.6% and -0.3% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVALE reported revenues of $9.26 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of $0.44 for the same period compares with $0.35 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.38%. The EPS surprise was -6.38%.
Over the last four quarters, VALE surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
VALE is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about VALE. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
PORT COLBORNE, Ontario, June 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Major wage increases and the restoration of retiree health-care benefits are among the highlights of a new contract ratified by United Steelworkers (USW) union members working at the Vale Base Meals refinery in Port Colborne.
The five-year collective agreement, covering more than 100 members of USW Local 6200 at the Vale refinery, provides a $4,000 ratification bonus and guaranteed total wage increases ranging from 20.5% to 25.7%. Wage increases could be even higher, if inflation exceeds a newly negotiated cost-of-living-allowance minimum guarantee over the contract’s term.
Another key achievement is a restoration of retiree health-care benefits that were lost during negotiations of the previous collective agreement in 2021. That concession affected new employees hired following the implementation of the 2021 contract.
However, in the latest round of collective bargaining, USW Local 6200 negotiated new retiree health-care benefits for all employees hired since 2021. This is a huge victory for the membership, given that nearly half of current members were hired after June 2021.
Other gains in the new contract include pension enhancements, a new health-care spending account, significant improvements to pensions, vision care, orthodontic coverage and short-term disability benefits, a new paid sick day, improved wage progression for skilled trades workers, and key language changes on issues including contracting out, technological change and vacation scheduling.
“Thanks to the solidarity and determination within our membership throughout the bargaining process, we have achieved a remarkable collective agreement that addresses our priorities and improves our working conditions,” said Wayne Johnson, Local 6200 President.
Local 6200 negotiated its new contract simultaneously with its sister union, USW Local 6500, which represents workers at Vale’s operations in Sudbury. While the two unions have separate collective agreements, they have traditionally engaged in joint negotiations, presenting a united front in their talks with their mutual employer.
“Our two unions have long benefited from our commitment to support one another and co-operate in the interests of all our members, our families and our communities. This commitment was front and centre as we negotiated these strong collective agreements,” Johnson said.
“I congratulate Local 6200 and Local 6500 members who have achieved historic collective agreements that recognize their central contributions to Vale’s success,” said Kevon Stewart, Director of USW District 6 (Ontario and Atlantic Canda). “The incredible solidarity that has been built between these two unions will continue to benefit their members and their communities for many years to come.”
About the United Steelworkers union
The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union’s strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
In the latest trading session, VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $15.23, marking a -3.42% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 2.65% loss on the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 1.35%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 4.18%.
The company's shares have seen a decrease of 2.59% over the last month, not keeping up with the Basic Materials sector's gain of 4.79% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.47%.
The upcoming earnings release of VALE S.A. will be of great interest to investors. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $0.48, showcasing a 4% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $10.47 billion, indicating a 18.94% upward movement from the same quarter last year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $2.15 per share and a revenue of $41.32 billion, signifying shifts of +18.13% and +7.59%, respectively, from the last year.
It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 1.23% higher. VALE S.A. is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that VALE S.A. has a Forward P/E ratio of 7.35 right now. This signifies a discount in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 8.52 for its industry.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 32, this industry ranks in the top 14% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
Gustavo Pimenta, CEO of Vale, says that conflict with Iran has not impacted global demand for metals from the top iron ore producer. Pimenta also discussed the impact of the war on its sites in Oman, saying that he remains optimistic about the facility's future despite having to shut down production during the conflict.
In the latest trading session, VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) closed at $15.36, marking a +2.88% move from the previous day. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.75%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 1.86%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 2.54%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the company had lost 11.34% lagged the Basic Materials sector's loss of 8.25% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.63%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of VALE S.A. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $0.48, showcasing a 4% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $10.47 billion, indicating a 18.94% upward movement from the same quarter last year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $2.15 per share and a revenue of $41.32 billion, signifying shifts of +18.13% and +7.59%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for VALE S.A. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 1.23% upward. VALE S.A. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
From a valuation perspective, VALE S.A. is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 6.96. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 7.93, so one might conclude that VALE S.A. is trading at a discount comparatively.
The Mining - Iron industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 30, this industry ranks in the top 13% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow VALE in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
