The answer varies depending on the strategy used. But by taking the right steps, an investor starting fresh today could potentially have up to £16,000 coming in without having to do any work for it.

Here’s how.

Exploring income strategies

The easiest and fastest way to start investing money in the stock market is with a FTSE 100 tracker fund. Historically, the UK’s flagship index has delivered close to 8% on average per year. So, how much money can an investor realistically expect to make?

Investing £500 each month at an 8% annualised rate compounds into a portfolio worth £91,473. However, at today’s yield of only 3.1%, that only translates into a £2,836 passive income, if the investor keeps the money in an index tracker.

Suppose it was instead reallocated to quality higher-yielding FTSE shares? In that case, a portfolio could go on to earn closer to a 6% payout without taking on too much excessive risk. And at this rate, the passive income jumps to a chunkier £5,488.

But investors can do even better…

Accelerating compounding

Instead of initially relying on an index fund to build up capital, investors can start picking top-notch stocks from day one, opening the door to potentially vastly superior results.

Atalaya Mining Copper (LSE:ATYM) is a perfect example of this in action over the last decade. Since March 2016, the FTSE stock has delivered a jaw-dropping 859% total return.

That’s the equivalent of 25.3% per year. And anyone whose been buying shares with £500 each month over the last decade now has close to £266,268 in the bank!

If that money were now reallocated to a high-quality 6% yielding portfolio, it would generate a far more impactful £15,976 passive income.

More growth to come?

Over the last 10 years, Atalaya has been steadily ramping up its copper production volumes through mine refurbishments and expansions, all the while prices of the red metal steadily climbed upward.

Yet today, the growth story is far from over.

Structural demand for copper continues to grow, driving the price of the red metal higher.

At the same time, the firm’s development stage Proyecto Touro project is only a few short years away from entering commercial production, adding another roughly 30 kilotonnes (kt) of copper volumes per year on top of the group’s existing roughly 50kt capacity.

Of course, success isn’t guaranteed. Proyecto Touro is still awaiting its final environmental permits. Even if they are issued in 2026 without delay, a realistic construction timeline for a mine of this size suggests production won’t realistically begin until 2029 at the earliest.

Until then, it remains entirely dependent on its flagship Cerro Colorado project, creating single asset concentration risk. As such, any unexpected disruptions to production could have a severe impact on its cash flow and financials – a risk investors need to consider carefully.

Nevertheless, given the growing importance of copper and Atalaya’s track record of solid execution, investors looking to invest in FTSE shares may want to take a closer look at this enterprise.

The post Investing £500 a month in FTSE shares for 10 years unlocks a passive income of… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

In exactly 12 months, the red metal producer’s risen an impressive 160% in value. Earlier today (14 January), it reached new record peaks of 925p per share after releasing forecast-beating production numbers for 2025.

All this means a £20,000 investment in Atalaya a year ago would now be worth £52,000. And I think the miner can keep on delivering brilliant returns.

Want to know why?

Copper boom

Strong operational performance has helped Atalaya shares rally over the last year (more of this later). But the chief driver of its rise since last year has been a surging copper price.

At $13,160 per tonne, the base metal’s risen 46% since mid-January 2025. It’s been swept higher by fears of supply shortages following production issues in key regions.

But why has Atalaya’s share price outperformed copper over the period? It’s comes down to the leverage effect, where miners’ profits can rise more sharply, as their costs remain relatively fixed even as revenues balloon.

But the leverage factor isn’t always a good thing for holders of copper stocks. When metal values fall, profits (and by extension share prices) can unravel just as quickly.

This is a risk for Atalaya investors looking ahead. The company could fall, for instance, if economic indicators worsen and copper reverses. The good news is that things are looking good for industrial metals on enduring supply problems and strong demand from the green energy and tech sectors.

Operational strength

A rising copper price has limited benefit if a company’s struggling to pull the metal out the ground. Fortunately Atalaya has been making great progress operationally, as Wednesday’s latest update revealed.

This showed Q4 production of 11,500 tonnes, beating City forecasts by mid-single-digit percentages. As a consequence, full-year output was 51,139 tonnes, up from 46,227 in 2024.

Despite lower-than-expected ore grades, a combination of strong ore processing and better recoveries drove another strong performance from Atalaya. The company has tipped full-year production of between 51,000 and 54,000 tonnes from its Spanish assets in 2026.

It’s also been making strong progress in reducing costs in recent months. These dropped 13% between January and September, latest data showed. Averaging roughly $6,260 per tonne, this was subtantially below what copper was changing hands at over the period.

What next for Atalaya shares?

Given its operational record and strong copper price outlook, City analysts expect Atalaya shares to continue rising. Their 12-month price target is 960p per share, up 4% from current levels.

I think forecasts could be rapidly upgraded over the year, helped by the meeting of key operational milestones. These include permitting and feasibility progress at Touro, and resource expansion and plant upgrades at Riotinto (that is, the Spanish region, not the London-listed miner).

Despite its strong price gains, Atalaya shares still look dirt cheap to me, trading on a forward price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.4. I think the FTSE 250 company’s worth serious consideration as copper values continue to climb.

The post £20k spent on this rocketing FTSE 250 share a year ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

But some UK mid-cap shares smashed the returns delivered by the broader index. Take Atalaya Mining (LSE:ATYM), Lion Finance (LSE:BGEO) and Applied Nutrition (LSE:APN). They delivered share price gains of 80% and beyond over the course of last year.

However, can they repeat the stunning returns of last year? Can they provide even greater gains? Let’s take a look.

Copper boom

A bumper year for copper prices helped Atalaya Mining shares rise 124% last year. The red metal struck new peaks above $12,000 a tonne towards the end of December, and further gains look likely as supply issues linger.

Looking longer term, I’m expecting metal values to keep rising as demand from the tech sector increases. The US’s decision to categorise copper as a ‘critical mineral’ underlines its growing importance.

Yet Atalaya’s recent success isn’t just down to a strong copper price. It’s also performed heroically in pulling the valuable metal out of the ground. Between January and September 2025, production from its Spanish projects rose 16%, while all-in sustaining costs (AISCs) dropped 13%, lighting a fire under profits.

The miner looks well set up for further gains in the New Year. Remember though that unexpected production setbacks could scupper any share price progress.

Another strong year

Lion Finance’s share price almost doubled in 2025, rising 95% over the year. Political uncertainty, which remains a threat in the country, hasn’t so far derailed its impressive profits story.

Low product penetration and rapid economic growth are supercharging earnings here. The stock — which until last year was known as Bank of Georgia — recorded loan book and deposit growth of 21.7% and 18% between January and September 2025.

Don’t think that Lion Finance has been sitting on its hands though. Significant investment in digital banking has helped it capitalise on the favourable trading environment, and it’s investing in other emerging markets like Armenia to drive future growth.

The World Bank expects Georgia’s economy to grow 5.5% in 2026. This suggests another strong year of profits growth for Lion Finance.

Stunning first year

Applied Nutrition’s share price exploded during its first full year on the London stock market. They leapt 82% in 2025, driven by the company’s habit of beating market expectations.

The business — which manufactures protein shakes and other nutritional products — was at it again in December, which bodes well moving into the New Year. Last month it said results for the full year “are likely to exceed current market consensus estimates by approximately 10%.“

The nutritional products market is huge and rapidly growing. And Applied Nutrition’s strong brand recognition and deals with major supermarkets is helping it seize this opportunity. In December, it inked a deal with Morrisons to let the supermarket produce and sell Applied Nutrition-branded meals and other products.

Sales could slow when economic conditions worsen and consumers feel the pinch. But the FTSE 250 company’s presence in 85 countries helps spread this risk.

The post Up 80%+ last year, will these FTSE 250 shares do it all again in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Gold star

Gold prices are surging as worries over the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape intensify. Bullion touched new all-time peaks near $3,677 per ounce on 9 September on weak US jobs data and rising expectations of inflation-fuelling Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Gold prices are now up 45% in the year to date, pushing mining shares sharply higher in the process. Serabi Gold‘s (LSE:SRB) a London-listed gold stock whose shares have more than doubled as a result.

Its outperformance is thanks to two factors. Production at the Brazilian company is booming, giving it extra exposure to the resurgent gold price. Ramp-ups at its Coringa assets meant it dug out 20,245 ounces of the yellow metal in the first half, up 14% year on year.

Serabi’s supersized price gains also reflect miners’ ability to grow earnings faster when metal prices rise. This is because while their costs remain relatively fixed, their turnover typically rises in line with the commodity they produce, driving profits sharply higher.

Serabi’s own earnings rose 102% in the first half. By contrast, gold prices rose by a lower (though still impressive) 26%. Be mindful though, that this ‘leverage’ effect can work to miners’ detriment during bear markets when profits can topple.

I think this particular miner could be a great long-term share to consider as it continues to steadily grow production. It expects to produce 100,000 ounces of gold in 2028, up significantly from the 37,520 ounces reported last year.

Copper hero

Precious metals aren’t the only rapidly rising commodities right now. The copper price is also storming higher, breaching $10,000 per tonne in recent days as supply concerns mount.

The red metal’s up 14% in the year to date, and warnings from Codelco that Chilean production could stabilise at around 5.5m tonnes a year suggest strength could be sustained. This could make Atalaya Mining (LSE:ATYM) — which has risen 47% in value so far in 2025 — another great way to consider leveraging rising metal prices.

As with Serabi Gold, operational issues are an ever-present danger for the copper miner. But right now it’s assets are firing on all cylinders, providing an extra boost to the company’s share price.

Atalaya’s first-half output leapt 23% thanks to improved ore grades and strong plant performance, to 27,466 tonnes. This in turn prompted the Spanish miner to raise full-year production forecasts. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) are also toppling, down 13% between January and June to $2.78 a pound.

I think Atalaya’s profits could soar over the long term as themes like the green economy and increasing digitalisation drive copper demand. The company also has a strong balance sheet it can utilise to fund its exploration and development projects. It recorded net cash of €70.1m as of June.

But be aware that earnings could experience turbulence should economic conditions worsen and industrial metal consumption weaken.

The post 2 soaring UK shares to consider buying for the rest of 2025 (and beyond)! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

One sector in particular is the UK mining industry, which appears to be entering a fresh phase of growth.

After years of volatility, demand for key industrial metals seems to be rising again. This is likely due to increased infrastructure investment, the global energy transition, and resilient Chinese consumption. This renewed appetite for raw materials has sparked gains across mining shares, from blue chips to mid-caps.

Investors keen to capitalise on this trend may want to consider two mid-cap FTSE 250 mining companies that are helping fuel the resurgence: Ferrexpo (LSE: FXPO) and Atalaya Mining (LSE: ATYM).

An undervalued miner with strong fundamentals

Ferrexpo has delivered a 15.6% gain over the past month, more than any other major miner in the UK. With a market capitalisation of £391.2m, the iron ore pellet producer remains modestly sized, yet its valuation appears attractive. Its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of just 0.53 suggests the stock is trading well below what investors are willing to pay for similar stocks.

Currently, it’s unprofitable, with an earnings per share (EPS) of -7p. Yet the company’s balance sheet remains a solid indication of promising performance. It holds £737m in equity, £84.5m in cash, and only £4m in debt — a remarkably low gearing level for a resource firm. This financial position provides it with the flexibility to weather commodity price fluctuations and potentially return to profitability should market conditions continue to improve.

As is common in mining, geopolitical risks are a key concern. Ferrexpo operates in Ukraine, and while recent operations have continued, the ongoing conflict in the region poses a persistent threat. Still, for risk-tolerant investors, the current share price could hold significant growth potential if iron ore prices remain firm.

Copping a copper comeback

Atalaya Mining is another FTSE 250 miner gaining traction, having seen its share price rise 14.6% in the past month. With a market cap of £585.5m, the Spanish-based copper producer is benefiting from renewed optimism around copper demand, particularly due to its role in electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure.

Atalaya has a moderate price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.71 — reasonable given its growth potential. Its balance sheet is also in good shape, with £428.7m in equity, £43.7m in cash, and just £17.8m in debt, allowing it to fund development projects and navigate market volatility.

While its valuation reflects some optimism, copper prices are notoriously cyclical and could be derailed by a global slowdown. Nonetheless, Atalaya appears well-positioned to benefit from the current demand and has strong operational leverage if prices rise further.

A growth driver in 2025?

The FTSE 250 is not the only index benefiting from this trend. A similar situation is mirrored in the FTSE 100, where larger miners like Antofagasta and Anglo American have also rallied over 10% in the past month. The broader mining sector is once again asserting itself as a pillar of UK market performance.

With global industrial demand picking up and investor sentiment shifting, mining could play a vital role in driving UK economic and stock market growth in 2025 and beyond.

The post These 2 mid-cap FTSE 250 miners are driving a UK stock market recovery appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Atalaya Mining

What it does: Atalaya is a copper miner operating in Spain. Its main asset is the historic Riotinto mine, where production restarted in 2014.

By Roland Head. I recently bought Atalaya Mining (LSE: ATYM) for my portfolio after the company’s stock pulled back from recent highs.

Broker consensus forecasts suggest earnings could rise by about 40% in 2024, leaving the stock on a forecast price-to-earnings multiple of less than 10 times. This valuation is paired with a prospective dividend yield of nearly 4%.

One recent setback is that 2023 production was slightly lower than expected. A repeat of this problem in 2024 could result in earnings dropping below forecasts. A fall in copper prices is another risk.

However, I’m encouraged by the company’s strong net cash position and its plans to move from the AIM market to a LSE Main Market listing. I reckon this could attract new institutional investors, supporting a higher valuation.

Atalaya is probably one of the riskier stocks in my portfolio, but I think this European mining business offers good value at current levels.

Roland Head owns shares in Atalaya Mining.

Dr. Martens

What it does: Dr. Martens is a boot-making company. It sells its products through wholesale and e-commerce outlets.

By Stephen Wright. The Dr. Martens (LSE:DOCS) share price has been falling since its IPO, and has carried on the same way in 2024. It’s reached a point now, though, where I see it as offering enough of a margin of safety to buy the stock for my portfolio.

This isn’t just stock market irrationality. The company has had operational failings in its shift to e-commerce and weak sales in North America have been weighing on revenues and profits.

Of course, there’s a danger that what I see as short-term headwinds could persist for longer than I’m expecting. But I think the company’s brand is genuinely valuable and this gives it decent long-term prospects.

The company announced at its last update that it was expecting revenues to decline this year, but I think that’s already priced into the stock at the moment. So I see it as a bargain and the more it falls, the more I like it.

Stephen Wright owns shares in Dr. Martens.

London Stock Exchange Group

What it does: London Stock Exchange Group is a diversified financial markets infrastructure and data business that operates through three divisions: Data & Analytics, Capital Markets, and Post Trade.

By Edward Sheldon, CFA. London Stock Exchange Group (LSE: LSEG) shares recently experienced a small pullback. And I took advantage of the share price weakness, buying more stock for my portfolio.

There’s a lot to like about this company from an investment perspective, in my view.

For starters, it now has plenty of recurring revenues thanks to its recent acquisition of Refinitiv. Companies with recurring revenues generally command higher valuations than those that have fluctuating revenues.

Secondly, it’s a play on artificial intelligence (AI). Recently, the company formed a partnership with tech giant Microsoft. And thanks to this partnership, it’s soon going to roll out a whole lot of AI-based features for its customers.

Third, the share price trend looks attractive. Not only is the stock in a strong uptrend but it has also recently broken out of a trading range it has been stuck in for several years.

It’s worth pointing out that London Stock Exchange Group does have an above-average valuation. Currently, the P/E ratio here is about 25.

I don’t think that valuation is crazy, however, given that the company is now a major player in the financial data space.

Analysts at Jefferies have a price target of 1,100p. That’s about 20% higher than the current share price.

Edward Sheldon owns shares in London Stock Exchange Group and Microsoft.

PayPal Holdings

What it does: PayPal is a global payment services company with a focus on digital transactions for customers and businesses.

By Oliver Rodzianko. I bought PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) stock because it’s down around 80% from its all-time high. While the firm arguably was overvalued at its peak, a fall of such magnitude seems unbalanced to me.

I looked into the financials of the company, and I was surprised. Revenue has been growing at 17% on average every year for the last three years.

Alex Chriss, the new CEO, will be leading an executive team focused on efficiency, profitability and customers.

The company’s earnings per share have already increased from below $2 in 2022 to $3.35 today, but the share price is yet to follow.

Of course, there’s a risk that new operational efforts won’t play out successfully over the long term. That’s why I’m only allocating a small amount of my total portfolio to the shares.

With a price-to-earnings ratio based on future earnings estimates of around 11, this is a steal to me.

Oliver Rodzianko owns shares in PayPal Holdings.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company

What it does: TSMC is the world’s largest semiconductor foundry. It manufactures a variety of advanced chips for third parties around the globe.  

By Ben McPoland. I invested in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM) in early January. On a company level, it was a bit of a no-brainer, as TSMC is the world’s largest contract chipmaker.

It produces the smallest and most powerful semiconductors for fabless chipmakers –  tech firms that outsource manufacturing – such as Apple, Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia. The fact TSMC never designs chips, only manufactures them, gives it an enduring competitive advantage because it doesn’t compete with its customers. 

The main risk with the stock – an invasion of Taiwan by China – is well-documented. But any interruption to TSMC’s factory output would have severe consequences for the whole global economy. And I’m not selling my portfolio just because there is geopolitical risk.

The stock was trading at just 15 times forward earnings when I invested, which I found too cheap to ignore. The company is projecting revenue growth of 20% this year, even as the smartphone and electric vehicle sectors remain weak. This growth is being driven by massive demand for artificial intelligence chips, which is likely to continue for some time.   

Ben McPoland owns shares of Apple, Nvidia, and TSMC.

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44% compound annual EPS growth rate

The Atalaya Mining (LSE:ATYM) share price has been volatile recently, having fallen 28.5% in the last month. Yet over the last year, it’s down by just 2.7%. At the time of writing, it’s trading at 294p.

Between 2017 and 2021, the company – a copper mining firm operating in Spain – exhibited strong earnings growth. During this time, earnings per share (EPS) rose from ¢15.5 to ¢96.7. By my calculations, this results in a compound annual EPS growth rate of 44.2%. 

While I’m aware that past performance is not necessarily indicative of the future, this earnings growth rate is fast by anyone’s standard. Over the same time period, pre-tax profits increased from €21.91m to €159m. 

While there are threats from cost inflation and rising energy prices, the business still achieved operating cash flow of €28.3m in the first three months of 2022. Furthermore, it had a healthy cash position of €86.8m in March.

Rapid profit growth

The share price of Keywords Studios (LSE:KWS) has been similarly volatile recently. While down 11% in the past year, it’s fallen 16% in the last six months. The shares currently trade at 2,300p.

Between 2017 and 2021, EPS rose from ¢31.18 to ¢89.24. This means that the company – which provides support services for the gaming industry – had a compound annual EPS growth rate of 23.4%. While this is slower than Atalaya Mining, it’s still a very solid rate.

During this period, pre-tax profits also increased from €12m to €48m.

In 2021, revenue increased by 37.1% and pre-tax profits grew by over 50%, year on year. These improving financial results enabled the business to reinstate its dividend, with a yield of 0.1%. While this may not seem much, it’s an improvement from 2020, when the company withdrew its dividend.

In any case, I’m attracted to the firm for its growth potential, not for an income stream.

What’s more, higher game player numbers and a slate of new game launches mean that the coming years may continue to be profitable for the company. However, there is the threat that the cost-of-living crisis leads to a decline in demand for games.  

Overall, both of these firms exhibit consistent and rapid earnings growth. While this is obviously not guaranteed to continue, it’s a good indication of well-run enterprises. In an effort to benefit from quality growth stocks, I’ll be adding both Atalaya Mining and Keyword Studios to my portfolio this month. 

The post 2 beaten-down growth stocks I’m buying this month! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Warren Buffett’s compounding growth

In 1999, a shareholder asked Buffett how he achieved such staggering wealth. He said, “Start early … I started building this little snowball at the top of a very long hill. The trick to have a very long hill is either starting very young or living to be very old.” For Warren Buffett, therefore, time is the greatest barrier to amassing a fortune. 

This is because we can usually only see the power of compounding growth over a relatively long period. It might be surprising, but Buffett acquired 99% of his $100bn after the age of 50 years old. 

So, how do we go about calculating compounding growth? It may be achieved through this formula: 

(V_final/V_begin)^1/t − 1, where V = value and t = time

Breaking this down, we may have a set of data like earnings per share (EPS), that begins in 2017 at 1.3p and ends in 2021 at 4.5p. The ‘final value’ is 4.5p and the ‘begin value’ in 1.3p. Dividing these gives us 3.46. The time period is five years, so t = 5. We therefore calculate 3.46^(1/5), which equals 1.28. Finally, 1.28 − 1 = 0.28, so our compounding annual growth rate of this set of EPS is 28%.

Some of Warren Buffett’s biggest holdings, like McDonald’s, exhibit consistent growth in this way. It is therefore a key part of his investing strategy.

2 FTSE AIM stocks that fit the bill

I’ve found two FTSE AIM shares that have consistent earnings growth based on Warren Buffett’s technique. The first, Atalaya Mining (LSE: ATYM), is a copper mining company operating in Spain. Using the formula above, I have calculated its earnings growth over the five calendar years from 2016 to 2020 as 14.4%. 

What’s more, the company is using the profits that it keeps, the ‘retained earnings’, for further expansion. For instance, it is building a new industrial plant to create more efficient mining of copper and reduce its carbon footprint. Just last month, however, it stated that the budget may need to be revised if gas prices stay as high as they are.

The second stock is dotDigital Group (LSE: DOTD), a software marketing automation platform. As per the calculation, for the period between the years ended 30 June 2017 and 2021, this company boasts a compounding annual growth rate of 10.8% for its EPS. Again, this is strong, consistent, and adheres to Warren Buffett’s principle.

Although Canaccord recently downgraded the shares based on apparent “slowing momentum”, retained earnings are being directed towards research and development. This has resulted in a 22% increase in revenue from better product functionality, as recorded in a trading update for the six months to 31 December 2021.

Strong earnings growth and the competent deployment of retained earnings are important to Warren Buffett. These techniques give me a good chance of obtaining consistent growth over the long term. I will be buying both Atalaya Mining and dotDigital now.   

The post I’m listening to Warren Buffett and buying these 2 growth stocks! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Novacyt

First up is former penny stock Novacyt (LSE: NCYT). Based on analyst projections, shares in the clinical diagnostics specialist trade on just five times earnings. That seems ludicrously cheap considering this month’s half-year numbers.

Total revenue jumped 50% to £94.7m in the first six months of 2021 compared to the same period last year. A little under £54m of this came from overseas orders and the private UK testing market. The latter includes buyers operating in, for example, the film and travel industries.

Looking ahead, Novacyt thinks there could be more growth ahead thanks to fresh contracts, a new PROmate Covid-19 test launch, travel routes reopening and the colder weather arriving. While this all sounds great, there’s a chance that the last two of these won’t happen as quickly as the company would like. An ongoing dispute with the Department of Health and Social Care isn’t ideal either. 

Taking into account how volatile the shares have been over the last year, Novacyt is still only a cautious buy for me.

Serica Energy

Another ‘cheap’ AIM stock is Serica Energy (LSE: SQZ). The North Sea-focused oil and gas company’s shares trade on just five times earnings. That might prove a bargain in time.  In July, SQZ announced promising flow test results from its 50%-owned Columbus development well. The stabilised rate was “at the upper end” of what Serica expected. Once up and running, it’s believed the well will produce roughly 7,000 boe/d (barrel of oil equivalent per day).     As someone with only mixed success in this sector, I’m hesitant to buy shares in Serica. That said, I like that the company began 2021 with no debt and £90m in cash. The fact that the AIM stock is already producing from its Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields (previously owned by BP) is another positive. 

However, the risks involved in future drilling campaigns (such as the North Eigg project), not to mention the opportunities available elsewhere, can’t be overlooked. So, Serica would be another cautious buy for me.

Atalaya Mining

For an even lower valuation, I’d check out Atalaya Mining (LSE: ATYM). It’s trading at just four times forecast earnings. 

Atalaya produces copper concentrates and silver by-product at its 100% Proyecto Riotinto site in Spain. It also has an agreement to own up to 80% of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the same country. And, based on recent numbers, this is another AIM stock that could prove to be a steal.

Benefiting from a strong copper price, EBITDA rose to just under €100m in the first half of 2021. Like Serica, Atalya also has a strong balance sheet with net cash of €37.8m at the end of June.

Of course, risks abound. Aside from setbacks that plague exploration, ATYM is never in complete control of its fate. Long-term demand for copper looks robust but commodity prices can be very hard to predict in the near term. That’s fine if I’m being paid to wait. However, there’s no dividend stream with Atalaya.

It goes on my watchlist for now. 

The post 3 dirt-cheap AIM stocks. Should I buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.