Below is a list of the most popular nickel stocks. Today, we will discuss nickel, not the 5¢ coin, but the metal used in various industries and applications.
Nickel is the 5th most common element, but its unique properties make it essential to make things around us work smoothly and efficiently. As we transition towards cleaner energy and EVs, the demand for nickel will grow, which might cause a supply shortage.
Nickel is available in many countries worldwide and is mined by various public companies trading on US stock exchanges. You must know everything about nickel and the companies mining this strategic metal.
Best Nickel Stocks 2026
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| NGLOY | Anglo American plc |
| BHP | BHP Group |
| CNIKF | Canada Nickel Company |
| GLNCY | Glencore plc |
| PNPNF | Power Nickel |
| VALE | Vale S.A. |
| NKL | Nickel 28 Capital |
| ERMAY | Eramet |
What Are Nickel Stocks? (Introduction)
Before we look at the companies involved in nickel and nickel stocks’ production and applications, let’s first understand this metal. Nickel is known for its ductility, malleability, and corrosion resistance, making it valuable in various applications.
The market has seen an oversupply for 18 consecutive months, and this trend may continue until at least 2028. The oversupply has led to a decline in prices and forced some miners to halt production or close operations.
Nickel Applications
As the list of nickel stocks continues, you’ll understand why there might be a shortage in the upcoming years and decades, making it a precious metal.
- Alloys and Stainless Steel: Nickel is in alloys, particularly stainless steel. Approximately 68% of global nickel production is in stainless steel manufacturing. The metal enhances the properties of alloys, improving their overall performance.
- Aerospace Industry: Nickel alloys are crucial in aerospace applications because of their high strength and heat resistance. Metal is used in aircraft components, engine parts, and aerospace equipment.
- Chemical Processing: The chemical industry relies heavily on nickel alloys for their corrosion resistance in chemical reactors, pipelines, and equipment that handle corrosive chemicals and acids.
- Petrochemical Industry: Nickel alloys are also essential in petrochemical applications (valves, heat exchangers, and piping systems).
- Marine Applications: The marine industry utilizes nickel alloys to resist seawater corrosion for shipbuilding, offshore platforms, and various equipment.
- Power Generation: Nickel alloys are essential in power plants for turbines, heat exchangers, and boiler components operating at high temperatures.
- Electronics and Electrical Applications: Nickel’s electrical properties make it valuable in electrical connectors, components, heating elements, resistors, and conductive wires.
- Medical Field: Medical applications use nickel alloys (implants, surgical instruments, and dental appliances) due to their biocompatibility and corrosion resistance.
There are countless other applications for food processing, textiles, construction, and more.
Where to Find Nickel
Nickel is found worldwide, making nickel stocks intriguing. Here are the countries with the largest reserves.
- Indonesia holds the world’s largest nickel reserves, estimated at 21 million tonnes, accounting for 22% of global reserves.
- Australia closely follows Indonesia in nickel reserves, with 20 million tonnes, representing 21% of the global share. The majority of the reserves are located in Western Australia.
- Brazil ranks third in global nickel reserves, with 16M tonnes. However, the country’s reserves have declined recently due to environmental and regulatory challenges in obtaining mining licenses.
- Russia possesses 6.9M tonnes of nickel reserves, accounting for 7% of the global total. The region above the Arctic Circle has some world-class resources, including copper and palladium deposits. I wouldn’t be surprised if more deposits were found in this vast country.
- Canada‘s global nickel production has decreased slightly in recent years. The country ranks as the sixth-largest nickel producer in the world, accounting for approximately 4.3%.
Nickel Stocks Breakdown
Now that we know how nickel is used and where it can be found, it’s time to monetize this knowledge with nickel stocks. Below are some of the most important players in this industry.
However, it’s important to note that Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) is the world’s largest nickel producer. Still, it is not currently traded on US exchanges due to sanctions following the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE)
We begin our nickel stocks list with Vale, the world’s largest producer. The company’s nickel operations include Canada, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Vale’s role in the nickel market extends beyond its production. They are involved in partnerships and investments to enhance their position in the industry.
Let’s hope these goals and partnerships will help its stock price, which has taken a massive hit in recent years (-40% YTD and -25% in the last five years). Thankfully, it still pays a generous dividend yield (10.70% annually).
BHP Group (NYSE: BHP)
Next on the nickel stocks list is BHP, which has been a significant player in the global nickel market thanks to its Nickel West operations in Western Australia.
The company’s operations are focused on producing high-quality nickel products for various industries (stainless steel manufacturing and the EV battery sector).
It plans to invest around $300M annually during the suspension period to maintain the option to restart operations.
Glencore plc (OTC: GLNCY)
We continue our nickel stocks list with Glencore, which has nickel operations (mining, processing, and marketing) across many continents (Canada, Australia, Norway, and New Caledonia).
They remain committed to nickel production, recognizing its importance in various industries.
Glencore is also involved in nickel marketing and recycling. Glencore also recycles nickel-containing materials, including batteries.
Anglo American plc (OTC: NGLOY)
Anglo American has been a significant player in the nickel industry but is selling its assets as part of a major restructuring strategy. The company operates nickel mines in Brazil (approximately 38,000 tons yearly) but is looking for a buyer.
Instead of focusing on nickel, the company will switch to copper, iron, and fertilizers. Its mines are high-quality, low-cost, and long-lived.
They expect to reach an agreement for its nickel assets by 2026, which should improve its financial position and stock price.
Canada Nickel Company (OTC: CNIKF)
Canada Nickel Company focuses on developing large-scale, low-carbon nickel projects to meet the growing demand for clean energy and EVs.
It looks to unlock the potential of the Timmins nickel district, which could become the world’s largest nickel sulfide district.
To support its plans, the company has secured significant funding and partnerships (USD 500M from Export Development Canada, $600M in tax credits, and $100M from Samsung).
Canada Nickel is also working on establishing a nickel processing and alloy production facility in North America. This may help the company rise from its penny stock status.
Power Nickel (OTC: PNPNF)
We conclude this nickel stocks section with Power Nickel, a Canadian junior exploration company that aims to establish Canada’s first carbon-neutral nickel mine.
Recently, it acquired a larger stake in the Nisk project and obtained positive drilling results, demonstrating the project’s potential for significant nickel resources and other valuable metals.
Power Nickel remains a penny stock but has steadily grown in the past few years. It is still too early to tell how successful the company will be, but hope exists.
NIKL ETF Performance (2026 YTD)
| Year | Performance | 2026 (YTD) | +3.4% |
|---|---|
| 2025 | +17.9% |
| 2024 | -11.6% |
| 2023 | -18.2% |
| 2022 | -7.5% |
Final Thoughts: Nickel Stocks
Nickel saw a huge price bump during the EV revolution. However, the metal price has dropped due to an oversupply from Indonesia and China. So keep an eye on nickel stocks. Many believe there will eventually be a shortage due to the metal’s unique properties in many applications. Some are slowing their operations while others invest more than ever, especially in carbon-neutral mines.
There’s no doubt that nickel is a very useful metal, but the extent to which mining companies can reward their shareholders with this metal is currently a wildcard. Please do not trade any of the securities on this Nickel stocks list unless you know how to trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nickel’s price reached an all-time high in 2022 during the EV boom but recently dropped. However, its price is bound to increase thanks to all its applications.
