On the stock market since 1980, it operates in the world of raw materials. It has 38,962 employees. Now — the numbers.
This is an established company with proven profits.
No real growth (-3% a year).
The gap is $12.3B. In times of high interest rates, a gap like that can squeeze a company.
The stock trades below its recent peak — about 12% off the top. A pullback, not a collapse.
The net profit margin is 18% — still a thick cushion, though costs have been eating into it lately.
It pays out $2.66 per share each year — regular cash for whoever holds the stock.
Over the last 3 years, sales fell about 8% a year on average. Profit is holding up, but a shrinking business is a risk worth watching.
The stock trades 13% above the average analyst price target.
On our five-subject report card, BHP sits in the middle of the class: some subjects shine, others don’t. The grade moves as the numbers move.
The takeaway: BHP is an established business that has proven its profits for years. The real debate isn’t the quality of the business — it’s whether the price paid for the stock is too high.