Peabody Energy Corporation research snapshot

BTU AI Stock Analysis

BTU AI stock analysis currently reads Peabody Energy as a coal producer with quality metallurgical and thermal coal assets, negative TTM earnings, declining revenue, and material operational and legal headwinds. The July 13, 2026 setup carries elevated risk because the stock depends on coal prices, Centurion mine ramp-up success, liquidity management, litigation outcomes, and global steel and energy demand. The BTU AI stock forecast uses scenario ranges, not a guaranteed price prediction.

Current price

$23.37

Market cap

$2.85 billion verified market cap

AI score

44 / 100

Rating

Coal producer with valuable metallurgical and thermal assets, negative TTM earnings, Centurion mine startup issues, class action litigation, and heavy commodity-price sensitivity

Trend status

Bearish, well below both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages

Data cutoff (updated weekly)

July 13, 2026

Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.

Research quality check

information Richness
B-level information richness. Peabody has SEC filings, Q1 2026 earnings, analyst coverage from 8 firms, and active news flow including a securities class action lawsuit. Some operational details about the Centurion mine issues are still emerging.
bias Check
The main AI research bias is treating BTU either as a simple coal-price proxy or as a distressed asset. The counter-check is to separate long-lived reserve quality, metallurgical coal premiums, cost structure, liquidity, and Centurion mine resolution from the headline litigation and earnings miss story.
ai Confidence
Medium for current price, shares, market-cap math, revenue, debt, cash, and valuation ratios. Lower for forward earnings and technical levels because coal prices, legal outcomes, and Centurion mine ramp-up are unpredictable.
investment Certainty
Low to medium. BTU is well documented but actual investment certainty is limited by commodity cyclicality, negative TTM earnings, Centurion execution risk, the securities class action, and coal demand uncertainty.

Quick verdict table

DimensionConclusionConfidence
Business qualityPeabody sells metallurgical coal to steelmakers and thermal coal to power utilities. Demand depends on global steel production and electricity generation, and realized prices drive earnings.Medium
MoatThe moat comes from high-quality Australian met coal reserves, Powder River Basin thermal coal scale, and long-lived mining assets. Commodity pricing and lack of brand loyalty create a narrow moat.Low to medium
ManagementManagement is navigating Centurion mine startup issues, declining revenue, and a securities class action. Key tests are operational execution, cost control, and liquidity management.Medium
Financial trendTTM revenue is about $3.9 billion, TTM net income is negative at about -$120 million, and Q1 2026 showed a loss. Free cash flow is negative. The balance sheet holds $492.5 million cash with low debt.High
ValuationAt $23.37, financial_rigor.py verifies negative TTM P/E due to -$0.82 EPS, 0.81x book value, 8.59x free cash flow per share, and a 1.28% dividend yield. Forward P/E is about 24.69x.High
Technical trendThe stock is well below both moving averages after falling from the 52-week high of $41.14, with Barchart technical opinion at Strong Sell.Medium
Risk levelRisk is elevated because lower coal prices, Centurion mine delays, securities litigation, global steel demand weakness, energy transition pressure, and regulatory changes can all affect equity value.Medium-high
AI confidenceData confidence is medium because key facts are source-backed and cross-checked. Return confidence is lower given the operational, legal, and commodity uncertainties.Medium data confidence
Investment certaintyThe investment case needs stronger proof that Centurion mine issues are resolved, earnings recover, and cash flow turns positive before the stock offers a reliable margin of safety.Low to medium

BTU AI stock forecast

BTU AI Stock Forecast Scenarios

The BTU AI stock forecast is scenario-based because the equity is sensitive to coal prices, Centurion mine performance, global steel demand, legal outcomes, and market multiples. Using the $23.37 price reference, forward EPS estimate of $0.95, and the audited three-year scenario model, the mechanical outputs are about $33 in a bullish case, $15 in a base case, and $7 in a bearish case before dividends.

Bullish case

$28 to $35 before dividends

More likely if met and thermal coal prices stabilize or rise, Centurion mine ramps up to full production, legal liabilities are contained, earnings recover to support a mid-teens multiple, and global steel demand holds up.

Base case

$13 to $18 before dividends

More likely if coal prices normalize, Centurion mine improvements are gradual, litigation creates some liability but does not threaten solvency, and the market values BTU near a low double-digit earnings multiple.

Bearish case

$5 to $9 before dividends

More likely if coal prices fall sharply, Centurion issues persist, litigation results in material damages, cash burn continues, or energy transition policies reduce long-term coal demand visibility.

BTU AI technical analysis

BTU AI Technical Analysis

BTU AI technical analysis is bearish as of the July 13, 2026 data cutoff. Barchart showed a Strong Sell technical opinion with the stock trading at $23.37, down from a 52-week high of $41.14 and holding above the 52-week low of $13.60. Key resistance Fibonacci levels lie at $24.44 (38.2%), $27.62 (50%), and $30.81 (61.8%).

LevelValueWhy it matters
Current price$23.37Barchart listed the last close near $23.37 on July 10, 2026, with the stock well off the 52-week high.
Immediate support$21.96 to $22.77This area brackets the recent 1-month low near $21.96 and the second support level near $22.77 per Barchart turning points.
Deeper support$14.11 to $17.00The 52-week low is $14.11. A break below recent lows would open a test of this area.
Near resistance$24.44 to $24.50The 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the 52-week range is near $24.44, marking the first resistance.
Upper resistance$30.81 to $34.33The 61.8% Fibonacci level near $30.81 and the 1-year analyst target near $34.33 form the upper resistance zone.
Moving averagesTrend is below key averagesThe stock is well below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages after falling from the $41.14 high, indicating a sustained downtrend.
MomentumOverbought/oversold mixedBarchart technical opinion rates BTU as Strong Sell with extended short-term oversold conditions that could produce a counter-trend bounce.
VolumeAverage volume near 3.4 million sharesVolume has been active during the decline, suggesting distribution, with news-driven spikes around litigation and Centurion announcements.
VolatilityOptions implied volatility near 54%The elevated IV suggests the options market expects above-average price moves around earnings on July 30, 2026 and legal developments.
InvalidationClose below $21.96, then below $14.11A sustained break below the recent 1-month low of $21.96 would signal further downside. A break below $14.11 would invalidate the entire 52-week range.

BTU AI trading strategy

BTU AI Trading Strategy Framework

The BTU AI trading strategy below is a rules-based research framework, not personal advice. It connects chart levels with coal prices, Centurion mine progress, earnings, liquidity, litigation, and energy market monitoring.

Trend-following setup

Watch for BTU to reclaim the $24.44 level (38.2% Fibonacci) with improving coal prices, positive Centurion mine updates, and evidence that earnings are turning positive.

A failure to reclaim $24.44 followed by a close below $21.96 should reduce trend confidence, especially if litigation news or production guidance worsen.

Mean-reversion setup

If BTU retests the $14 to $17 area without permanent impairment to reserves, liquidity, or asset quality, compare the lower price with normalized met coal margins and asset value.

Do not treat a pullback as attractive if coal demand appears structurally impaired or if Centurion mine issues signal deeper operational problems.

Fundamental monitor

Track met and thermal coal benchmark prices, Centurion mine production and cost updates, quarterly earnings, cash position, debt, litigation developments, and global steel demand indicators.

Position sizing should reflect that BTU is a leveraged cyclical equity with operational and legal uncertainties, not a guaranteed AI price prediction or a stable income stock.

Investment research summary

Four-master Research Compression

Business essence

Customers and markets pay Peabody because steelmakers need metallurgical coal for blast furnaces and utilities need thermal coal for power generation. BTU converts mining assets, reserves, and operational know-how into cash flow across Australia and the United States.

Moat

The moat comes from quality met coal reserves in Australia, Powder River Basin thermal coal scale, and long-lived mining infrastructure. The moat is narrow because coal is a commodity priced in global markets with limited pricing power.

Munger risk inversion

The thesis fails if coal prices decline, Centurion mine fails to ramp up, litigation produces material damages, cash reserves dwindle, global steel demand weakens, or energy transition policies accelerate coal phase-out faster than expected.

Management

Management is focused on resolving Centurion mine startup issues, managing costs, preserving liquidity, and defending against the securities class action. The key test is whether they can restore operational reliability and profitability.

Industry trend

Coal benefits from ongoing global steel and electricity demand, but faces structural headwinds from decarbonization policies, renewable energy growth, and investor preference for lower-carbon assets. Met coal has a longer runway than thermal coal.

Valuation and margin of safety

At $23.37, BTU is priced below book value (0.81x) with negative TTM earnings. The forward P/E of 24.69x implies a recovery that has not yet materialized. Margin of safety only appears if Centurion ramps up and earnings turn positive.

Source-backed data

BTU Data Table

Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.

MetricValueSourceLast verified
BTU price reference$23.37 close near July 10, 2026Barchart BTU overviewJuly 13, 2026
Market capitalization verification$2.85 billion reported and $2.85 billion calculated from $23.37 x 121.8 million sharesPineify financial_rigor.py and Barchart BTU fundamentalsJuly 13, 2026
Shares outstanding121.8 million shares outstandingBarchart BTU fundamentalsJuly 13, 2026
TTM revenue$3.90 billion per Yahoo Finance TTM, cross-checked against Barchart annual revenue near $3.86 billionYahoo Finance BTU and Barchart BTUJuly 13, 2026
TTM net income-$119.6 million net income attributable to common per Yahoo FinanceYahoo Finance BTU key statisticsJuly 13, 2026
Q1 2026 results$973.3 million revenue and -$21.89 million net income in Q1 2026Yahoo Finance BTU earnings trendsJuly 13, 2026
Cash and debt$492.5 million total cash and 12.14% debt/equity ratioYahoo Finance BTU key statisticsJuly 13, 2026
Valuation ratiosNegative TTM P/E, 0.81x book value, 8.59x free cash flow per share, 1.28% dividend yield from financial_rigor.pyPineify financial_rigor.py using Barchart inputsJuly 13, 2026
Valuation ratios (Yahoo)Forward P/E 24.69x, Price/Sales 0.72x, EV/EBITDA 8.57xYahoo Finance BTU key statisticsJuly 13, 2026
Technical indicators52-week range $13.60 to $41.14, Fibonacci 38.2% at $24.44, 50% at $27.62, 61.8% at $30.81Yahoo Finance BTU and Barchart turning pointsJuly 13, 2026
Dividend$0.30 annual dividend ($0.075 quarterly), 1.28% forward yieldBarchart BTU fundamentalsJuly 13, 2026
Analyst consensusModerate Buy with 8 analysts, 1-year price target $34.33Yahoo Finance BTU and Barchart analyst ratingsJuly 13, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

This BTU AI stock analysis is an informational research tool only. It is not investment advice, a recommendation, or a promise of future returns. Forecast ranges are scenarios based on available public data as of July 13, 2026 and may be wrong if coal prices, company fundamentals, market multiples, litigation results, or macro conditions change.