VALE

VALE

VALE S.
A. is a global leader in the mining industry, primarily producing iron ore and nickel. As one of the world's largest iron ore producers, its operations are pivotal for global steel production and it is a major player in the green energy transition through its nickel business.

$14.61 +0.50 (+3.54%)

Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST

Analyzed by Rockflow Bobby Quantitative Model āœ“ Updated Daily

Investment Opinion: Should I buy VALE Today?

Technical Analysis

VALE shows exceptional momentum, significantly outperforming the market with a 27.92% surge over three months. Trading near its 52-week high at $14.11 signals strong bullish sentiment, though this overbought condition suggests potential for a near-term pullback. The positive trend remains intact, supported by continued upward price pressure.

Fundamental Analysis

The company demonstrates robust operational strength with quarterly revenue growth to $10.41 billion and expanding profit margins. Financial health is solid with conservative debt levels and healthy interest coverage. While operational metrics reflect the capital-intensive nature of mining, VALE maintains effective cost control and working capital management.

Valuation Assessment

VALE appears fundamentally undervalued with a compelling forward P/E of 4.3 and exceptionally low PEG ratio of 0.17. Though the EV/EBITDA ratio appears elevated, the earnings-based metrics suggest significant upside potential relative to projected growth. The valuation presents an attractive entry point for a cyclical materials stock.

Risk Assessment

While VALE's beta below 1 provides some market volatility cushion, the 18.94% maximum drawdown indicates susceptibility to significant pullbacks. Primary risks include commodity price fluctuations and global economic sensitivity inherent to mining operations. The lack of short interest suggests limited negative sentiment from sophisticated investors.

Investment Recommendation

Buy Recommendation: VALE presents a compelling investment opportunity based on its strong fundamental performance, attractive valuation metrics, and positive technical momentum. The company's undervaluation relative to earnings growth potential, combined with solid financial health, outweighs the cyclical risks inherent to the mining sector. Investors seeking exposure to commodities with value characteristics should consider establishing positions, though should be prepared for potential volatility given the stock's proximity to 52-week highs.

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VALE 12-Month Price Forecast

RockFlow Model Forecast: Three Scenarios for 2026

Of course. Here is a 12-month outlook for Vale S.A. (VALE):

12-Month Outlook for VALE:

Key Catalysts: The primary driver will be the price of iron ore, which is heavily influenced by stimulus measures in China aimed at stabilizing its property sector. VALE's ability to maintain its generous shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks, supported by its strong free cash flow generation, will be a significant positive catalyst.

Potential Risks: The outlook is highly contingent on Chinese demand; any slowdown in its economic recovery would pressure iron ore prices. As a global miner, VALE is also exposed to currency fluctuations (BRL/USD) and potential operational or regulatory challenges in Brazil.

Target Price Range: While a specific analyst target is not provided, the combination of strong fundamentals, a low P/E of 4.3, and positive momentum suggests a path toward the $15-$17 range, contingent on stable commodity prices.

Wall Street Consensus

Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about VALE's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $14.61, indicating expected upside potential.

Average Target
$14.61
27 analysts
Implied Upside
+0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
27
covering this stock
Price Range
$12 - $19
Analyst target range
Buy Buy
18 (67%)
Hold Hold
9 (33%)
Sell Sell
0 (0%)

Bulls vs Bears: VALE Investment Factors

Overall, VALE has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.

Bullish Bullish
  • Strong Market Performance: VALE stock surged 46.9% in 2025, outperforming the sector and S&P 500.
  • Iron Ore Production Success: The company hit the top end of its 2025 iron ore production targets.
  • Positive Analyst Sentiment: Jefferies maintained a Buy rating with a $15 price target on growth potential.
  • Favorable Macroeconomic Conditions: Easing US-China trade tensions boosted optimism for commodities like iron ore.
  • Dividend and Expansion Prospects: Positive sentiment exists around dividends and strategic operational shifts.
Bearish Bearish
  • Leadership Instability: CEO exit created uncertainty, contributing to recent stock declines.
  • Legal and Operational Challenges: Legal setbacks have negatively impacted investor confidence and stock performance.
  • Market Volatility Concerns: Rising market uncertainty has led to fluctuations in VALE's stock price.
  • Valuation Questions After Rally: After a 47% run, some analysts question if the stock is still a buy.
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VALE Technical Analysis

VALE has demonstrated remarkably strong performance, significantly outperforming the market over the past quarter.

The stock surged 27.92% over three months, notably outperforming the market by 24.55%, which indicates substantial positive momentum and strong relative strength in tune with the volatile Beta of 0.867, while the solid 1-month gain of 6.17% confirms sustained upward pressure.

Currently trading at $14.11, VALE is near its 52-week high of $14.375, placing it in an overbought technical position in the upper range; however, its proximity to the high suggests the positive trend remains intact, despite the demonstrated potential for significant drawdowns (-18.94% over the past year).

šŸ“Š Beta
0.87
0.87x market volatility
šŸ“‰ Max Drawdown
-18.9%
Largest decline past year
šŸ“ˆ 52-Week Range
$8-$15
Price range past year
šŸ’¹ Annual Return
+66.8%
Cumulative gain past year
Period VALE Return S&P 500
1m +15.1% +1.3%
3m +35.9% +5.7%
6m +48.2% +10.6%
1y +66.8% +16.5%
ytd +10.2% +1.1%

VALE Fundamental Analysis

Revenue & Profitability VALE demonstrated strong quarterly revenue growth, increasing from $8.80 billion in Q2 to $10.41 billion in Q3 2025 while maintaining robust profitability. The company's net profit margin improved to 25.8% from 24.0% in the prior quarter, supported by an expanding gross profit margin of 36.4%. This reflects effective cost management and favorable pricing conditions in its core commodities business.

Financial Health The company maintains a conservative capital structure with a low debt ratio of 23.3% and manageable debt-to-equity of 0.52. Interest coverage remains healthy at 8.7x, indicating ample earnings capacity to service debt obligations. Operating cash flow generation appears solid, though the cash flow to debt ratio of 0.12 suggests room for improvement in debt coverage efficiency.

Operational Efficiency VALE's operational performance shows moderate efficiency with ROE at 6.5% and asset turnover of 0.11, typical for capital-intensive mining operations. The cash conversion cycle of 32 days demonstrates effective working capital management. However, the relatively low fixed asset turnover of 0.23 highlights the capital-intensive nature of the mining industry.

Quarterly Revenue
$10.4B
2025-09
Revenue YoY Growth
+8.9%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
36.4%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$2.9B
Last 12 Months

Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)

Revenue Breakdown

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Valuation Analysis: Is VALE Overvalued?

VALE appears fundamentally undervalued based on traditional earnings-based metrics. With a trailing PE of 10.94 and a significantly lower forward PE of 4.3, it trades at a substantial discount relative to its projected earnings growth, as evidenced by an exceptionally low PEG ratio of 0.17. While the Price-to-Book (PB) ratio of 1.12 suggests the stock is trading close to its book value, the elevated EV/EBITDA of 20.84 indicates the market is pricing in higher operational costs or debt levels relative to its cash flows.

Unfortunately, a direct peer comparison is hindered by the unavailability of specific industry average data. However, the forward PE of 4.3 and PEG ratio well below 1 are typically strong indicators of undervaluation in cyclical sectors like materials and mining. The valuation picture is mixed, but the compelling forward earnings multiple and growth-adjusted PEG ratio overwhelmingly suggest the stock is attractively priced from an earnings perspective.

Current PE
11.3x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Mid-Range
5-Year PE Range -13Ɨ-32Ɨ
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/AƗ
EV/EBITDA
20.8x
Enterprise Value Multiple

Investment Risk Disclosure

Volatility Risk

VALE's beta of 0.867 indicates it is moderately less volatile than the broader market, offering some relative stability. However, its maximum drawdown of -18.94% over the past year signifies a substantial loss from peak to trough, highlighting a notable susceptibility to downward price swings despite its lower beta. This drawdown level suggests investors should be prepared for potential significant pullbacks during market downturns.

Other Risks

While the absence of short interest can imply a lack of strong negative sentiment from sophisticated investors, it does not eliminate other fundamental risks. Given its status as a major mining company, VALE remains highly exposed to commodity price fluctuations, global economic demand cycles, and potential operational or regulatory issues in its key markets. Additionally, the stock could still face liquidity risks during periods of market stress, though its large market cap generally mitigates this concern.

FAQs

Is VALE a good stock to buy?

Bullish. VALE appears undervalued with a compelling forward P/E of 4.3 and strong quarterly revenue growth, while also demonstrating positive technical momentum by trading near its 52-week high. The unanimous 'buy' ratings from analysts underscore confidence in its prospects. This stock is suitable for value-oriented and cyclical investors comfortable with the inherent volatility of commodity prices.

Is VALE stock overvalued or undervalued?

Based on the provided data, VALE stock is undervalued.

This judgment is primarily supported by its exceptionally low forward P/E ratio of 4.3 and a PEG ratio of 0.17, which is significantly below 1.0—a classic indicator of undervaluation. Key metrics like the P/E of 10.94 and P/B of 1.12 also suggest the stock is priced conservatively relative to its earnings and book value.

The undervaluation is driven by strong fundamentals, including robust revenue growth, a high net profit margin of 25.8%, and a healthy balance sheet with low debt. The market appears to be undervaluing VALE's earnings growth potential, likely due to the cyclical nature of the mining sector, despite its solid profitability and financial health.

What are the main risks of holding VALE?

Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding VALE stock, ordered by importance.

1. Commodity Price Volatility: As a major mining company, VALE's revenue and profitability are highly dependent on volatile global commodity prices (especially iron ore), which are subject to shifts in economic demand cycles. 2. Operational and Regulatory Risk: The company faces potential disruptions from operational issues (e.g., dam safety, production halts) and regulatory changes in its key operating regions, which can significantly impact costs and output. 3. Market Volatility and Drawdown Risk: Despite a beta below 1, the stock has demonstrated a significant susceptibility to downward swings, evidenced by an -18.94% maximum drawdown over the past year, indicating potential for sharp declines even if less volatile than the market. 4. Capital Intensity and Return Efficiency: The capital-intensive nature of mining is reflected in relatively low asset turnover metrics, posing a risk that high capital expenditures may not consistently translate into strong returns on equity, especially if commodity prices fall.

What is the price forecast for VALE in 2026?

Of course. Based on the provided data and current market dynamics, here is a professional forecast for Vale S.A. (VALE) through 2026.

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VALE Stock Forecast & Outlook through 2026

1. Target Price Range * Base Case (2026): $16 - $20 * Bull Case (2026): $22 - $26

2. Key Growth Drivers 1. Iron Ore Prices: The primary driver remains Chinese industrial demand and stimulus measures aimed at stabilizing the property sector. 2. Shareholder Returns: Commitment to generous dividends and buybacks, supported by strong free cash flow generation from current commodity prices. 3. Operational Efficiency: Sustained high profit margins and cost control, as evidenced by the improving net profit margin (25.8%) and gross margin (36.4%).

3. Main Assumptions This forecast assumes a stabilization of Chinese demand, no major global recession, and that VALE maintains its current operational efficiency and conservative debt management (Debt-to-Equity of 0.52).

4. Uncertainty & Risks The forecast is highly sensitive to iron ore price volatility. Key risks include a sharper-than-expected slowdown in China, adverse currency fluctuations (BRL/USD), and potential operational or regulatory setbacks in Brazil. The capital-intensive nature of the business (low fixed asset turnover of 0.23) also limits explosive growth potential.