BHP (ASX, LON, NYSE: BHP) by rewarding investors with a record $5.1 billion first-half dividend and forecasting a 鈥渧ery constructive鈥� outlook for the commodities market fundamentals, as the global economy begins to rebound from covid-19.
The world鈥檚 largest miner said first-half profit jumped by 16%, hitting a seven-year high, as demand from top metals consumer China helped boosting iron ore prices by 70% in 2020, to a recent nine-year high of $176.90 a tonne.
That is well above the cost of roughly $10 to $20 a tonne most global miners spend in extracting the steel-making commodity, according to .
As most top miners, BHP is choosing to return cash to investors rather than spending it on risky new projects or takeovers
Iron ore takes the lion鈥檚 share of BHP鈥檚 earnings and the group said in January its realized ore price for the December half had jumped by 33% compared to the same period the previous year.
As most top miners, BHP is choosing to return cash to investors rather than spending it on risky new projects or takeovers. The company said it will pay a record interim dividend of $1.01, up from 65 cents last year.
If iron ore and copper 鈥� BHP鈥檚 other top commodity, which climbed to its聽highest聽level since 2012 on Monday 鈥� maintain current levels, analysts believe the company would be able to slash its net debt. They estimate BHP could reduce it by the end of its financial year in June below its $12 billion-$17 billion target, paving the way for another mega divvy.
鈥淏HP鈥檚 solid results and H1 dividend, which beat our estimate by 36%,聽may well move expectations higher for some of its peers reporting this week,鈥� BMO metals and mining expert, David Gagliano, wrote in a note to investors.
The company is the first of its Australian peers to report this week, with all expected to cash in on iron ore booming prices. Rio Tinto (ASX, LON, NYSE: RIO) reports on Wednesday and Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) on Thursday.
Welcome rally or supercycle?
Driven by China鈥檚 sustained recovery and supply disruptions in several markets, including copper and iron ore, the mining industry is enjoying the most benign conditions in more than a decade.
Escalating commodities鈥� prices have driven top banks and several analysts, including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, to call it the beginning of a new聽supercycle. According to Bloomberg, 鈥� the longest stretch since 2009 鈥� as investors take comfort in progress on the covid-19 vaccine rollout.
While some economists refuse to call the commodities rally a supercycle, others say the event always looks obvious with hindsight, but is far harder to see at the time
鈥淭he deployment of vaccines in key economies, albeit with some uncertainty as to timing and efficacy, removes a material amount of downside risk to the short term demand and price outlook for our portfolio commodities,鈥� .
Some economists refuse to call it a supercycle. They say the term doesn鈥檛 quite match what it is happening right now 鈥斅� a forecast two-year bull market that could still be derailed by covid-19.
鈥淲ith things as volatile and uncertain as they are right now, saying a blanket 鈥榗ommodities supercycle鈥� is a little premature,鈥� Rory Johnston, a Toronto-based managing director and market economist, .
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the thing with supercycles. They look obvious with hindsight but are far harder to see at the time,鈥� Andy Home, a columnist for Reuters, wrote in January.
Beyond the immediate picture to the medium鈥搕erm, BHP sees continued need for additional supply, both new and replacement, across most of the sectors in which it operates.
鈥淟ooking even further out, long term demand from traditional end鈥搖ses is expected to be solid, while broad exposure to the electrification mega鈥搕rend offers attractive upside,鈥� BHP Vice President, Market Analysis & Economics, .
BHP was not the only top miner to inject further optimism into the sector on Tuesday. Glencore (LON: GLEN) said it is resuming payouts with a聽$1.6 billion聽return after scrapping its annual dividend in August.