Core Insights - Gold and silver experienced significant price increases in 2025, with gold rising over 60% and silver surging over 150%, continuing into 2026 as geopolitical tensions drive investors towards safe-haven assets [1] - Copper is emerging as a key investment opportunity, having risen around 40% in 2025, with expectations for further price increases due to new demand drivers [2][10] Copper Market Dynamics - The demand for copper is being fueled by its essential role in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and the AI economy, with massive data centers requiring substantial amounts of copper [5] - China, as the largest copper consumer, is actively securing long-term supplies, contributing to a lasting shortage in the market as demand outpaces supply [6] Investment Opportunities in Copper Stocks - Ero Copper Corp. is positioned well with record production of 16,664 tonnes of copper concentrate at a low cash cost of $2 per pound, and is advancing the Furnas Copper-Gold Project [7][8] - BHP Group Limited is targeting around 2 million tons of copper production per year by the 2030s, with significant investments in expanding operations [11][12] - Rio Tinto is developing major projects like Resolution Copper and Oyu Tolgoi, which is set to be one of the largest copper mines globally by 2030 [14][15] - Southern Copper Corporation holds the largest copper reserves in the industry and has a $15 billion capital investment plan, focusing on major projects in Peru [16][17] Financial Projections - Ero Copper's 2026 sales and EPS are expected to grow by 38% and 100% year-over-year, respectively, with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [9] - BHP's fiscal 2026 EPS is projected to grow by 23%, also holding a Zacks Rank of 1 [13] - Rio Tinto's 2026 sales and EPS are estimated to grow by 6% each, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [16] - Southern Copper's 2026 sales and EPS are expected to grow by 10% and 18%, respectively, with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [18]

Core Viewpoint - Ero Copper Corp. (ERO) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Revisions - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ero Copper indicates expected earnings of $2.00 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, showing no year-over-year change [8]. - Over the past three months, analysts have increased their earnings estimates for Ero Copper by 33% [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks rating system is based solely on changes in a company's earnings picture, making it a reliable tool for investors to gauge stock performance [2][3]. - The system classifies stocks into five groups, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. Market Implications - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 positions Ero Copper among the top 5% of stocks, suggesting potential for higher stock prices in the near term due to improved earnings outlook [10].

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: Ero Copper Corp. (ERO) - Ero Copper Corp. currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating a positive outlook based on its price change and earnings estimate revisions [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), which is associated with strong historical performance [3] Price Performance - ERO shares have increased by 3.82% over the past week, outperforming the Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry, which rose by 0.33% during the same period [5] - Over the last month, ERO's price change is 24.77%, significantly higher than the industry's 14.86% [5] - In the last quarter, ERO shares rose by 33.73%, and over the past year, they have increased by 112.38%, while the S&P 500 only moved 3.09% and 17.53% respectively [6] Trading Volume - ERO's average 20-day trading volume is 1,068,841 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, three earnings estimates for ERO have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $1.85 to $2.00 [9] - For the next fiscal year, three estimates have also moved upwards without any downward revisions [9] Conclusion - Given the positive momentum indicators and earnings outlook, Ero Copper Corp. is positioned as a strong buy candidate with a Momentum Score of B [11]

Upgrades - Argus upgraded BHP Group (BHP) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $68, citing firming prices for iron ore, copper, and coal as the global economy improves [1] Downgrades - Jefferies downgraded Mereo BioPharma (MREO) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $0.50, down from $7, due to Setrusumab missing primary endpoints in trials [2] - RBC Capital downgraded DigitalBridge (DBRG) to Sector Perform from Outperform with a price target of $16, down from $23, following SoftBank's acquisition announcement at $16 per share [3] Initiations - Stephens initiated coverage of Commvault (CVLT) with an Overweight rating and a $162 price target, highlighting its evolution in data protection and transition to Software-as-a-Service [4] - Stephens initiated coverage of Rubrik (RBRK) with an Overweight rating and a $105 price target, noting its attractive growth outlook in data protection and data security [4] - Stephens initiated coverage of Varonis (VRNS) with an Equal Weight rating and a $40 price target, emphasizing its growth potential in data security as a Software-as-a-Service platform [4] - Freedom Capital initiated coverage of Ero Copper (ERO) with a Buy rating and a $32 price target, citing its high-grade, low-cost asset portfolio in Brazil [4] - H.C. Wainwright initiated coverage of Terra Innovatum (NKLR) with a Buy rating and a $25 price target, believing its use of off-the-shelf components will reduce regulatory barriers [4]

Upgrades - Argus upgraded BHP Group (BHP) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $68, citing firming prices for iron ore, copper, and coal as the global economy improves [2] Downgrades - Jefferies downgraded Mereo BioPharma (MREO) to Hold from Buy with a price target of 50 cents, down from $7, due to Setrusumab missing primary endpoints in trials, impacting Mereo's future strategy [3] - RBC Capital downgraded DigitalBridge (DBRG) to Sector Perform from Outperform with a price target of $16, down from $23, following SoftBank's acquisition announcement at $16 per share, totaling a $4 billion enterprise value [4] Initiations - Stephens initiated coverage of Commvault (CVLT) with an Overweight rating and a $162 price target, highlighting its leadership in data protection and transition to Software-as-a-Service [5] - Stephens initiated coverage of Rubrik (RBRK) with an Overweight rating and a $105 price target, noting its strong growth outlook in data protection and expected margin expansion [5] - Stephens initiated coverage of Varonis (VRNS) with an Equal Weight rating and a $40 price target, emphasizing its growth potential in data security as a Software-as-a-Service platform [5] - Freedom Capital initiated coverage of Ero Copper (ERO) with a Buy rating and a $32 price target, pointing out its high-grade, low-cost assets in Brazil [5] - H.C. Wainwright initiated coverage of Terra Innovatum (NKLR) with a Buy rating and a $25 price target, believing its use of off-the-shelf components will lower regulatory and technological barriers [5]

Group 1 - Zijin Mining (02899) rose nearly 3% after announcing the completion of the main construction and core equipment installation for the second phase of the Xizang Julong Copper Mine, marking a key step before production [1] - Asia Pacific Satellite (01045) increased over 5.4%, with a cumulative rise of nearly 30% over the past five trading days, as it operates multiple satellites under China Satcom [1] - Zhaoyan New Drug (06127) fell over 6% following an announcement that its actual controller plans to reduce holdings by up to 14.98 million shares, representing 20.0466% of his holdings and 1.99873% of the company's total share capital [1] - Zhongwei New Materials (02579) surged nearly 7% after signing a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Xinwanda for solid-state batteries [1] Group 2 - Dongyue Group (00189) rose nearly 5% as the long-term contract prices for refrigerants were confirmed, with R32 priced at 61,200 yuan/ton (+1,000 yuan) and R410A at 55,100 yuan/ton (+1,900 yuan) [2] - MicroPort Scientific Corporation (02252) increased over 1.2%, reporting that its core products' cumulative order volume exceeded 230 units [2] - Oil stocks saw gains, with CNOOC (00883) up 4.17%, PetroChina (00857) up 2.91%, and Sinopec (00386) up 1.31%, driven by a rise in international crude oil prices due to geopolitical tensions [2] - Baidu Group (09888) rose nearly 7% after announcing a partnership with Uber and Lyft to launch a robotaxi pilot project in the UK by 2026 [2] Group 3 - NIO (09866) rose over 2.4% after announcing that it successfully delivered over 40,000 units of its new ES8 model within 100 days of the official delivery start [3] - Damai Entertainment (01060) increased nearly 5%, with the total box office for the 2025 New Year’s season reaching 5.245 billion yuan as of December 28 [3] Group 4 - Copper mining stocks collectively declined, with Hudbay Minerals (HBM.US) down 4.01%, Taseko Mines (TGB.US) down 3.1%, and Ero Copper (ERO.US) down 1.64%, as international copper futures fell over 4% [5] - Some cryptocurrency-related stocks fell, with IREN Ltd (IREN.US) down 2.21% and Circle (CRCL.US) down 0.94% [5] - NIO (NIO.US) rose 4.71% in the US market, echoing its performance in Hong Kong [6] - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon Index fell nearly 1%, with major Chinese concept stocks declining, including Alibaba (BABA.US) down 2.46% and Xpeng Motors (XPEV.US) down 1.35% [6]

Core Viewpoint - Ero Copper Corp. has filed a Technical Report for its Xavantina Operations, updating its mineral reserve and resource estimate in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 [1][2]. Company Overview - Ero Copper Corp. is a Brazil-focused mining company with a diversified portfolio of copper and gold assets, operating two copper mines and a producing gold mine [3]. - The company is headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., and is advancing the Furnas Copper-Gold Project through a definitive earn-in agreement with Vale Base Metals to acquire a 60% interest [3]. Operations and Assets - Ero operates the Caraíba Operations in Bahia State, the Tucumã Operation in Pará State, and the Xavantina Operations in Mato Grosso State [3]. - The company emphasizes safety, operational excellence, and responsible mineral production [4]. Reporting and Compliance - The Technical Report is prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrator's National Instrument 43-101 and is available on the company's website and SEDAR+ [2].

Core Insights - Ero Copper Corp. is a mining company focused on copper production in Brazil, known for its efficient operations and competitive positioning in the market [1] - The company has received mixed ratings from analysts, with some upgrades and downgrades affecting its stock performance [4] Stock Performance - Ero Copper recently reached a new 52-week high, with shares trading as high as C$34.50 and closing at C$34.36, a significant increase from the previous close of C$33.97 [3] - The stock is currently trading on the NYSE at $25.31, reflecting a 0.72% increase, with a trading volume of 515,930 shares [5][6] - Over the past year, Ero Copper has fluctuated between a high of $26.77 and a low of $9.30 [5] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - CIBC adjusted its rating for Ero Copper to Neutral and raised the price target from C$37 to C$42, indicating a positive outlook for the company's future performance [2][6] - Scotiabank upgraded Ero Copper from a "hold" to an "outperform" rating, raising their price target from C$33.00 to C$36.00 [3] - National Bankshares increased their price objective from C$27.00 to C$35.00, while Desjardins lowered their target price from C$25.00 to C$23.00 [4]

Group 1 - Nasdaq leads the market as stocks open higher, with gold and silver prices rising, benefiting mining and gold stocks [1] - Enova International (ENVA) and Ero Copper (ERO) reached record highs, identified by IBD's Screen Of The Day for their strong relative strength [1] - Ero Copper reported a significant 156% increase in profits last quarter, leading to a key rating upgrade and an improvement in its relative strength rating to 79 [4] Group 2 - Enova International achieved a composite rating improvement to 96, meeting over 80 relative strength rating benchmarks [4] - The stock market is showing multifaceted strength with new highs, raising questions about which sectors can outperform industry leaders [4]

Core Insights - Ero Copper has seen significant changes in institutional ownership, with several large investors increasing their stakes in the company, indicating growing confidence in its prospects [1][7] - Analysts have mixed ratings on Ero Copper, with some upgrading their ratings while others have downgraded, reflecting differing views on the company's future performance [2] - The company's recent quarterly earnings report showed a miss on both earnings per share and revenue compared to analyst expectations, which may raise concerns among investors [4] Institutional Ownership - GMT Capital Corp increased its stake by 22.9%, owning 6,931,025 shares valued at $83.94 million after acquiring 1,292,100 shares [1] - Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its position by 119.3%, now holding 1,628,030 shares worth $27.52 million after buying 885,630 shares [1] - TD Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake by 56.2%, owning 1,460,342 shares valued at $24.62 million after acquiring 525,252 shares [1] - Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake worth approximately $6.69 million [1] - Sprott Inc. increased its holdings by 64.3%, now owning 748,185 shares valued at $9.07 million after acquiring 292,896 shares [1] - Hedge funds and institutional investors collectively own 71.30% of Ero Copper's stock [1] Analyst Ratings - Weiss Ratings maintained a "hold (c)" rating on Ero Copper [2] - Wall Street Zen upgraded Ero Copper from "hold" to "buy" [2] - Goldman Sachs raised the price target from $18.50 to $25.00 and assigned a "buy" rating [2] - Stifel Canada downgraded Ero Copper from "strong-buy" to "hold" [2] - Zacks Research downgraded the stock from "strong-buy" to "hold" [2] - The average rating is "Hold" with a consensus target price of $25.00 [2] Stock Performance - Ero Copper shares opened at $25.25, with a market cap of $2.62 billion [3] - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.80, and a current ratio of 1.05 [3] - The stock has a one-year low of $9.30 and a high of $25.78, with a 50-day moving average of $21.47 and a 200-day moving average of $17.18 [3] - The P/E ratio stands at 18.43, and the stock has a beta of 1.25 [3] Earnings Report - Ero Copper reported earnings of $0.27 per share, missing the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.09 [4] - The company generated revenue of $177.10 million, significantly below the analyst estimates of $309.30 million [4] - Ero Copper had a return on equity of 17.96% and a net margin of 26.63% [4] - Analysts predict an EPS of 0.71 for the current year [4] Company Overview - Ero Copper Corp. is engaged in the exploration, development, and production of mining projects in Brazil, focusing on copper concentrate production from the Caraíba operations [5]