Copper Expansion And Water Efficiency Will Secure Future Production

Key Takeaways

• Expansion projects and technological advancements support higher copper output, resource security, and long-term operational stability.
  
• Prudent capital management and exposure to global electrification trends position the company for earnings resilience and margin improvement.
  
• Exposure to water scarcity, declining ore grades, strict regulations, copper price swings, and inflationary pressures threatens cost stability, margins, and long-term earnings.

Catalysts

Operates as a mining company.

• Antofagasta's ongoing brownfield expansions at Centinela and Los Pelambres (including new concentrator, water system upgrades, and pipeline replacements) are on track to increase copper production by approximately 30% upon completion, supporting higher future revenues and operating leverage.
  
• The successful renewal of the Zaldívar mine permit through 2051, combined with a technological pathway for mine-life extension (Cuprochlor), secures long-term resource monetization and enables sustained production, underpinning long-term earnings stability.
  
• Continued investment and progression in water efficiency solutions-with consideration of CapEx-light, third-party water supply options-could help mitigate cost inflation in water-scarce Chile, stabilizing or even improving future net margins.
  
• Underlying global trends-such as accelerating grid electrification, renewables deployment, and electric vehicle adoption-are expected to drive structural, multi-year copper demand growth, directly benefiting Antofagasta's top line and supporting stronger pricing.
  
• The company's prudent capital allocation (consistent dividend policy, positive cash flow, and reduced reliance on debt) positions it to weather short-term volatility and capitalize on long-term copper supply deficits, driving earnings resilience and potential upside for shareholder returns.

Antofagasta Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming Antofagasta's revenue will grow by 7.9% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will shrink from 14.6% today to 13.2% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach $1.2 billion (and earnings per share of $1.24) by about August 2028, up from $1.1 billion today. However, there is a considerable amount of disagreement amongst the analysts with the most bullish expecting $1.7 billion in earnings, and the most bearish expecting $824.5 million.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 27.4x on those 2028 earnings, up from 25.9x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the GB Metals and Mining industry at 10.4x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to remain consistent over the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 7.96%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Antofagasta Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• Ongoing water scarcity in Chile, particularly affecting arid regions where Antofagasta operates (such as Zaldívar), necessitates either significant capital expenditure on owned water solutions or dependence on external providers; both scenarios threaten higher operating costs and potential margin compression, impacting future net margins and earnings.
  
• The company faces declining ore grades at key assets, especially Los Pelambres, and while grade improvement is expected in the short term, sustaining production levels long-term will require higher capital and operational expenditure, eroding earnings and net margin stability over time.
  
• Accelerating environmental and ESG regulations in Chile and globally-combined with community opposition-could increase project development costs, lengthen permit timelines (as seen with water permits at Zaldívar), and pose risks to long-term revenue growth and profitability.
  
• Heavy reliance on copper, with limited diversification into other commodities, exposes Antofagasta to copper price volatility and sector swings; any downturn in the global copper market (whether due to substitution, cyclical weakness, or slower electrification/renewables adoption) would directly and significantly threaten revenues and cash flow stability.
  
• Persistent inflationary pressures in labor, materials, and energy-alongside chronic labor shortages in the mining sector-are likely to increase Antofagasta's cost base and reduce net margins, especially as new projects and expansions require ramped-up staffing and supply contracts.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of £20.359 for Antofagasta based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of £25.21, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just £12.95.
  
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be $9.4 billion, earnings will come to $1.2 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 27.4x, assuming you use a discount rate of 8.0%.
  
• Given the current share price of £21.38, the analyst price target of £20.36 is 5.0% lower. The relatively low difference between the current share price and the analyst consensus price target indicates that they believe on average, the company is fairly priced.
  
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.