BHP Share Price Rises on 30% Volume Surge to 420th Market Rank Despite 26% Profit Drop

BHP Group (BHP.AX) shares edged up 0.51% on August 19, with a trading volume of $230 million, marking a 30.18% increase from the previous day and ranking 420th in market activity. The mining giant reported FY25 underlying profit of $10.16 billion, a 26% decline from FY24 and below consensus estimates. The results were pressured by weak iron ore prices driven by subdued Chinese demand, though copper prices provided partial offset. BHP maintained a final dividend of $0.60 per share, resulting in a total annual payout of $1.10 per share—the lowest since 2017 but exceeding market expectations.

Chief Executive Mike Henry emphasized resilience in commodity demand despite global economic uncertainties, including shifting trade policies and tariff pressures. The company raised its net debt target range to $10-20 billion, citing technical analysis rather than increased M&A appetite. Strategic priorities include $11 billion in growth and exploration spending over the next two years, with a planned slowdown to $10 billion annually by 2028-2030. BHP also outlined a focus on high-quality, reasonably priced acquisitions in copper and potash, though Henry noted limited overlap between these criteria.

The 1-day return for the strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume from 2022 to present was 0.98%, with a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. This reflects moderate momentum capture but underscores market volatility and timing risks inherent in short-term trading approaches.