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Pilbara Minerals Limited (AU:PLS)
:PLS
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Pilbara Minerals (PLS) AI Stock Analysis

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AU:PLS

Pilbara Minerals

(OTC:PLS)

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Neutral 57 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
AU$2.00
▼(-13.42% Downside)
Pilbara Minerals' overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges, particularly in revenue and cash flow, despite a strong balance sheet. The earnings call provided positive guidance and operational achievements, which are offset by valuation concerns and market volatility.

Pilbara Minerals (PLS) vs. iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA)

Pilbara Minerals Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPilbara Minerals Limited explores for, develops, and operates mineral resources in Australia. The company primarily holds a 100% interest in the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in West Perth, Australia.
How the Company Makes MoneyPilbara Minerals generates revenue primarily through the mining and sale of lithium concentrate and, to a lesser extent, tantalum concentrate. The company's key revenue streams include contracts with major global lithium converters and battery manufacturers who purchase lithium spodumene concentrate for processing into lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate. Strategic partnerships and off-take agreements with these industry leaders ensure steady demand for its products. Additionally, Pilbara Minerals' involvement in joint ventures and collaborations to expand its processing capabilities and enhance its product offerings contributes to its earnings. The company benefits from the increasing global demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, which drives the need for lithium-ion batteries and, consequently, lithium supply.

Pilbara Minerals Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 24, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a strong operational performance with record production and cost improvements. However, challenges such as declining prices and cash flow concerns were noted. The company's strong financial position and strategic investments position it well for future growth, but market volatility remains a concern.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Production Volume
Achieved record production of 221,000 tonnes, up 77% compared to the previous quarter, demonstrating operational leverage of the optimized Pilgan Plant.
Strong Financial Position
Maintained a strong balance sheet with approximately $1 billion in cash and $655 million in undrawn credit facilities, providing financial strength and flexibility.
Cost Leadership Achieved
Unit costs reduced by 10% to $619 per tonne, demonstrating tangible cost leadership despite a low-priced environment.
Operational Excellence
Exceeded all FY '25 guidance metrics, affirming execution discipline and team capability.
Successful Completion of Expansion Projects
Completion of P680 and P1000 projects added 420,000 tonnes of production capacity and improved operational flexibility.
Safety Performance Improvement
The 12-month rolling TRIFR improved to 2.79, reflecting ongoing safety culture improvements.
Negative Updates
Decline in Average Realized Prices
Despite the increase in production, the average realized price dropped by 20% to USD 599 per tonne for SC5.1 product grade.
Cash Flow Reduction
Cash balance declined by $88 million during the June quarter, primarily due to capital expenditure and equity contribution to the P-PLS joint venture.
POSCO JV Financial Loss
Recorded a net loss of approximately $20 million from the POSCO JV, with expectations for a similar loss in the second half.
Pricing Volatility and Long-Term Concerns
Despite recent price rallies, spodumene pricing remains below levels required for new investment, indicating ongoing market instability.
Company Guidance
In the call, PLS provided significant guidance for FY '26, emphasizing operational excellence, disciplined cost control, and capital efficiency. The company reported record production of 221,000 tonnes for the June quarter, a 77% increase, with unit costs reduced by 10% to $619 per tonne. For FY '25, PLS exceeded all guidance metrics with production volumes reaching 755,000 tonnes and unit operating costs at $627 per tonne. The company's balance sheet remains robust, closing the quarter with $1 billion in cash. FY '26 guidance includes production of 820,000 to 870,000 tonnes and unit costs FOB of AUD 560 to AUD 600 per tonne. Additionally, PLS plans a capital expenditure of AUD 300 million to AUD 330 million. The company highlighted ongoing projects like the POSCO JV in Korea and emphasized its strong market position amidst recent pricing volatility, supported by a comprehensive strategic growth plan.

Pilbara Minerals Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Pilbara Minerals Limited exhibits mixed financial health. The company shows profitability with a positive net profit margin and gross profit margin. However, there are significant concerns due to a drastic revenue decline and a negative cash flow position in 2024, highlighting challenges in financial resilience and cash flow management.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Pilbara Minerals Limited has shown a volatile revenue trend with significant fluctuations over the years. The recent decline in total revenue from $4.06 billion in 2023 to $1.25 billion in 2024 is concerning. Despite this, the company has maintained a positive gross profit margin of 38.1% in 2024. The net profit margin also remains positive at 20.5%, indicating profitability, but the sharp revenue drop poses a risk to stability.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The company maintains a strong equity base with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, signaling low leverage risk. The equity ratio stands at 75.3%, reflecting financial stability and significant shareholder equity compared to total assets. However, the decrease in total assets from the previous year suggests a contraction that should be monitored.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Pilbara Minerals Limited experienced a substantial decline in free cash flow, from $3.04 billion in 2023 to negative $1.25 billion in 2024. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, highlighting cash flow challenges despite reported profits. This raises concerns about cash flow sustainability and operational efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue922.57M890.21M1.25B4.06B1.19B175.82M
Gross Profit147.42M331.56M477.81M3.27B794.07M12.58M
EBITDA98.43M75.31M593.86M3.51B783.52M21.28M
Net Income-32.64M-195.77M256.88M2.39B561.83M-51.45M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.18B4.67B4.31B5.20B1.98B949.72M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.17B974.54M1.63B3.34B591.74M99.71M
Total Debt634.42M682.21M555.74M471.95M291.96M166.97M
Total Liabilities1.01B1.14B1.07B1.81B686.36M375.48M
Stockholders Equity3.18B3.53B3.24B3.39B1.29B574.25M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-916.52M-508.13M-1.25B3.04B506.40M-20.36M
Operating Cash Flow-80.98M146.22M-440.22M3.43B634.72M130.00K
Investing Cash Flow-774.22M-698.11M-827.51M-407.96M-204.53M-230.79M
Financing Cash Flow-136.35M-98.06M-392.74M-284.19M58.42M251.33M

Pilbara Minerals Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price2.31
Price Trends
50DMA
2.03
Positive
100DMA
1.71
Positive
200DMA
1.85
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.05
Positive
RSI
56.44
Neutral
STOCH
62.77
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AU:PLS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 2.31 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.26, above the 50-day MA of 2.03, and above the 200-day MA of 1.85, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.05 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 56.44 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 62.77 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for AU:PLS.

Pilbara Minerals Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
2.18B14.06124.90%5.33%6.54%0.48%
58
Neutral
7.62B-8.400.00%-15.27%-817.26%
57
Neutral
AU$7.44B23.42-5.63%-38.69%-174.12%
52
Neutral
3.04B-12.24-7.97%5.71%-2.30%-234.27%
47
Neutral
3.69B-3.86-45.62%5.42%-37.23%-32433.33%
61
Neutral
$10.43B7.12-0.05%2.87%2.86%-36.73%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AU:PLS
Pilbara Minerals
2.31
-0.47
-16.91%
ADMLF
Adriatic Metals Shs Chess Deposit Interests Repr 1 Sh
4.15
1.76
73.64%
IPGDF
IGO
3.24
-0.22
-6.36%
MALRF
Mineral Resources Limited
22.31
-2.73
-10.90%
AU:NIC
Nickel Mines Ltd.
0.70
-0.12
-14.63%
AU:DRR
Deterra Royalties Ltd
4.13
0.64
18.34%

Pilbara Minerals Corporate Events

Pilbara Minerals Announces Cessation of Performance Rights
Sep 16, 2025

Pilbara Minerals Limited announced the cessation of several performance rights due to unmet conditions, impacting a total of 285,581 securities. This development may affect the company’s operational strategies and stakeholder interests, as it reflects challenges in meeting performance targets or changing market conditions.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:PLS) stock is a Buy with a A$2.30 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pilbara Minerals stock, see the AU:PLS Stock Forecast page.

Pilbara Minerals Expands Capital with New ASX Securities Quotation
Sep 16, 2025

Pilbara Minerals Limited has announced the quotation of new securities on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with a total of 65,120 ordinary fully paid shares being issued on two separate dates in September 2025. This move is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance its capital structure, potentially strengthening its financial position and market presence in the lithium mining sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:PLS) stock is a Buy with a A$2.30 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pilbara Minerals stock, see the AU:PLS Stock Forecast page.

Pilbara Minerals Announces 2025 AGM Date
Sep 15, 2025

Pilbara Minerals Limited has announced that its Annual General Meeting will be held on November 25, 2025, with the deadline for director nominations set for September 22, 2025. This meeting is a significant event for stakeholders as it may influence the company’s strategic direction and leadership, impacting its operations and market positioning in the lithium industry.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:PLS) stock is a Buy with a A$2.30 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pilbara Minerals stock, see the AU:PLS Stock Forecast page.

Pilbara Minerals Expands Capital with New Securities Quotation
Sep 9, 2025

Pilbara Minerals Limited announced the quotation of new securities on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with a total of 580,275 ordinary fully paid securities issued on September 3 and 4, 2025. This move is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance its capital structure, potentially strengthening its market position and providing additional resources for future growth initiatives.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:PLS) stock is a Hold with a A$2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pilbara Minerals stock, see the AU:PLS Stock Forecast page.

Pilbara Minerals Issues New Performance Rights Under Employee Incentive Scheme
Sep 3, 2025

Pilbara Minerals Limited has announced the issuance of 947,254 performance rights set to expire on July 31, 2026, as part of an employee incentive scheme. This move is likely aimed at retaining talent and aligning employee interests with company performance, potentially impacting the company’s operational efficiency and market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:PLS) stock is a Buy with a A$2.30 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pilbara Minerals stock, see the AU:PLS Stock Forecast page.

Pilbara Minerals Announces Quotation of New Securities on ASX
Aug 28, 2025

Pilbara Minerals Limited has announced the quotation of 456,696 ordinary fully paid securities on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), effective from August 26, 2025. This move is part of previously announced transactions and is likely to impact the company’s financial standing and market presence, potentially influencing stakeholder interests and the broader lithium market.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:PLS) stock is a Hold with a A$2.30 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pilbara Minerals stock, see the AU:PLS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 16, 2025