BHP(BHP) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's underlying EBITDA grew by 25%, with an increased margin of 58% [10] - Underlying attributable profit reached $6.2 billion, and return on capital employed was 24%, both significantly up from the previous year [10] - An interim dividend of $0.73 per share was declared, representing a 46% increase half-on-half, with a total half-year dividend of $3.7 billion and a payout ratio of 60% [4][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Copper business generated a record $8 billion of EBITDA, accounting for over half of the group total, with a margin of 66% [11] - Production in copper increased by 2%, while gold production rose by 12% in Copper South Australia, leading to a more than 50% reduction in unit costs [12] - Western Australia Iron Ore achieved record first-half production and shipments, with C1 costs up only 1% to $17.66 per ton, maintaining its position as the lowest-cost major iron ore producer globally [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global demand for copper is projected to grow by around 70% between 2021 and 2050, driven by traditional economic growth, energy transition, and increased data center needs [22] - The company expects to generate around $60 billion in attributable free cash flow over the next five years, even in a prolonged low-price environment [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company's strategy focuses on investing in highly attractive commodities, operating world-class assets, and maintaining disciplined capital allocation [4][8] - Plans to grow copper production by around 40% by 2035, with a capital-efficient, predominantly brownfield growth approach [21] - The company aims to unlock up to $10 billion in capital for reinvestment into higher-returning opportunities and increased shareholder returns [4][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed confidence in the business's ability to thrive amid favorable commodity demand and supportive policy environments, particularly in China and India [18][19] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from tight supply and strong fundamentals in the commodities market [19] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress in its capital allocation framework, including a valuable silver streaming agreement related to Antamina's future silver production, unlocking $4.3 billion in cash [14][15] - The company is advancing its plans for the Jansen Potash asset, expected to deliver around $1 billion of EBITDA per year per stage, with margins above 60% [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for copper production growth? - The company has raised production guidance for financial year 2026 and 2027, expecting to deliver over 500,000 more tons over the next five years compared to previous estimates, which could result in an additional $5 billion of EBITDA [23][24] Question: How does the company plan to manage costs amid increasing competition? - The company has maintained its position as the world's lowest-cost major iron ore producer and aims to reduce costs further while increasing production volumes [20]