Material Increase in Adjusted EBITDA and Margins
Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $2.1 billion in Q1 2026, a 125% increase year-over-year, with margins expanding to 53% from 40% in Q1 2025.
Strong Operating Cash Generation and Liquidity
Cash flow from operations was $1.0 billion in Q1; net cash position increased by $338 million during the quarter to $488 million, with an additional $276 million generated into April and total liquidity of $9.8 billion as of the most recent update.
Record Copper Pricing and Sales Volumes
Copper prices averaged a record $5.83 US/lb in the quarter, supporting record quarterly copper sales volumes; company-wide copper production rose 32% year-over-year to 140,000 tonnes.
QB Operational and TMF Progress
QB delivered 56,000 tonnes of production (in line with Q4 2025) and record quarterly copper sales of 70,000 tonnes (drawing down inventory); mill availability was 92% and recoveries 83%. TMF development advanced with completion of Rock Bench 4 and plans to complete Rock Bench 5 by end of Q2, with steady-state targeted by year-end.
Significant Copper Segment Profit Improvement
Copper gross profit before depreciation and amortization increased 158% year-over-year to $1.8 billion and gross profit margin before D&A improved to 52% from 47%.
Trail and Zinc Segment Earnings Upside
Trail gross profit before depreciation and amortization improved to $258 million from $80 million a year earlier (≈+222%), and zinc segment gross profit before D&A rose 72% to $387 million with margins expanding to 37% from 29%.
Highland Valley Mine Life Extension Progress
Detailed engineering for the Highland Valley MLE is over 90% complete and procurement >95% complete; $188 million invested in Q1; 2026 capital guidance for the project unchanged at $900 million–$1.2 billion and total project guidance unchanged at $2.1–$2.4 billion.
Merger of Equals Progressing
Merger with Anglo American received regulatory approval in South Korea, China review advancing with normal information exchanges, and management continues to expect closing within 12–18 months from announcement; integration planning is underway.
Safety Performance
High potential incident frequency rate was low at 0.05 for the quarter, below the 2025 annual rate of 0.06 (which matched the company's best ever annual result).
Illustrative Upside Cash Flow Scenarios
Management provided illustrative run-rate scenarios: if copper averages $5.50/lb for the year, estimated EBITDA ~$6.6 billion and operating cash ~$5.5 billion; if copper remains near $6.00/lb, estimated EBITDA ~$7.1 billion and operating cash ~$5.9 billion.