We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Coal Stocks To Buy Now According to Short Sellers. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:METC) stands against the other coal stocks.

Coal is highly valued for its energy content and is widely used across the globe for electricity generation, as well as for the production of steel and cement. It is extracted using either the opencast or underground mining methods.

The thermal coal sector experienced a year-to-date (YTD) decline of 0.47%, in contrast to the broader market's 19.55% increase. The coal industry has been grappling with significant challenges, leading to its underperformance in recent years. One of the primary reasons is the sharp decline in coal usage for electricity generation in the U.S., as utility operators increasingly shift toward renewable energy sources and focus on decarbonization. The planned retirement of coal units and stricter emission regulations, aimed at achieving carbon-neutral electricity by 2030, have further accelerated this decline. With coal’s share in the U.S. power generation expected to drop to just 14% by 2025, the industry faces mounting pressure as demand continues to dwindle domestically, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration.

Despite these headwinds, there are potential signs of recovery, especially on the global front. U.S. coal exports are projected to grow as demand rises in European markets, partly driven by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, the expected rebound in global steel production, which heavily relies on coal, is likely to boost export volumes.

Coal Industry Outlook

Coal has long been valued for its role in reducing poverty by providing job opportunities in regions with few employment prospects. In addition, coal mining stimulates economic growth by attracting investment and generating local government revenue.

While "green companies" have advocated for wind and solar power as the cheapest forms of electricity, claiming that transitioning to renewables is key to achieving net-zero emissions, the reality has proven different. The transition to renewable energy has struggled to address the "Energy Trilemma," which emphasizes balancing energy security, affordability, and sustainability.

Nevertheless, Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2023 predicts that wind and solar energy will replace coal by 2030, contributing 41% to global electricity generation, a significant jump from 2021. This shift will require coal generation to decrease by 54% and gas generation to decrease by 24%. At the same time, global electricity demand is expected to rise, with an average annual increase of 3.7% from 2021 to 2030.

With 60% of its electricity powered by coal, China's share of global electricity consumption is expected to rise to one-third by 2025, up from one-quarter in 2015, according to the International Energy Agency. However, according to Sinopec, China’s coal power consumption is expected to halt its growth by 2025, with non-fossil fuel sources predicted to dominate the country’s power mix by 2045. Check out our article '25 Largest Coal Producing Countries in the World' on Insider Monkey. You'll find that China, India, and Indonesia are the top three coal producers, with China leading global coal production for decades and expected to continue dominating in the foreseeable future.

Coal Power Stays Important in the U.S. Energy Mix

The European Electricity Review of 2024 reported a record 19% drop in fossil fuel generation last year, with coal and gas generation experiencing an unprecedented decline. Coal generation declined by 26%, accounting for just 12% of the EU's electricity mix in 2023, while gas generation dropped by 15%, accounting for 17%.

Similarly, the U.S. coal-fired power generation reached its lowest level in four years during the first four months of 2024 but still accounted for 15.6% of the national power mix. While coal output continues to decline, renewable energy growth, particularly wind power, has been slower than anticipated. This has kept coal's share significant, even as the country moves toward cleaner energy sources.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 10 Best Coal Stocks to Buy Now According to Short Sellers, we ranked the holdings by the percentage of outstanding shares that were sold short. Stocks with the lowest short interest were then chosen. Additionally, we included the number of hedge funds that had invested in these stocks at the end of the second quarter of 2024, according to Insider Monkey's database. The stocks are ranked in descending order of short interest.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

A view of industrial facilities illuminated by the night sky, hinting at the manufacturing capabilities of the coking coal company.

Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:METC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Short % of Shares Outstanding: 6.73%

Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:METC) is a producer of high-quality metallurgical coal in Virginia and is expanding into rare earth and critical mineral production in Wyoming. The company supplies metallurgical coal to blast furnace steel mills and coke plants across the U.S., as well as to international markets.

In Q2 2024, Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:METC) reported revenue of $155.3 million, an increase of 13% from the previous year. Production rose by 7% due to improved productivity and labor availability. However, quarterly sales volumes declined, primarily due to transportation constraints. Realized prices fell by 8%, reflecting weaker market conditions and lower indexed pricing. Additionally, net income reached $5.5 million, more than doubling compared to the first quarter, largely driven by an 8% reduction in cash costs.

Ramaco Resources reported a total liquidity position of $71.3 million, which included $27.6 million in cash and an additional $43.7 million available under its revolving credit facility. Looking ahead, CapEx is expected to decline in the second half of 2024 as major projects, such as the Stonecoal Alma mine, progress toward completion.

In August 2024, Ramaco Resources advanced its Brook Mine rare earth project in Wyoming. The company partnered with Fluor Corporation and Hazen Research to support mineral testing and to design a demonstration plant, aiming to begin construction by mid-2025.

Despite a 16.20% dip in its stock over the past month and a 40.98% decline YTD, largely due to reduced U.S. coal demand and the energy sector's shift to renewables, Ramaco could see a recovery through rising global coal exports and a potential rebound in steel production.

As of Q2 2024, 18 hedge funds, with a combined investment of $40.5 million, remain bullish on the stock, according to Insider Monkey’s database.

Overall METC ranks 9th on our list of the best coal stocks to buy according to short sellers. While we acknowledge the potential of METC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than METC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.