Sibanye Stillwater Limited (SBSW): A Bull Case Theory

We came across a bullish thesis on Sibanye Stillwater Limited on Valueinvestorsclub.com by walter99. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on SBSW. Sibanye Stillwater Limited's share was trading at $9.24 as of July 25^th. SBSW’s trailing and forward P/E were 4.67 and 10.94, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Sibanye-Stillwater (SBSW), a major producer of platinum group metals (PGMs)—platinum, palladium, and rhodium—offers a leveraged play on a sector where years of underinvestment and misjudged demand forecasts have created the setup for an extended upcycle. PGMs are essential for automotive catalysts and jewelry, with catalytic converters alone accounting for 43% of platinum and 84% of palladium demand.

Market pessimism has been fueled by overestimates of battery electric vehicle (BEV) penetration, but BEV sales growth in the U.S. and Europe flatlined in 2024, suggesting that internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicle demand—and thus PGM demand—will remain resilient. Supply is structurally constrained: South African PGM miners underspent by ~$18 billion over the last decade, 40% of global supply operates at or below cash costs, and production is forecast to decline through 2029.

With long lead times for new supply, a persistent deficit projected by the World Platinum Investment Council, and palladium in deficit until at least 2028, any uptick in demand can drive a sharp price response. Recycling, a secondary supply source, remains depressed post-COVID, adding to market tightness. SBSW’s profits, crushed by low PGM prices in 2024, have substantial torque to higher prices, as shown in 2020–2021 when the stock hit $20 on elevated metal prices.

Today, at $7, platinum’s rebound to $1,250 suggests early signs of a cyclical turn. Risks include economic weakness, faster BEV adoption, and rising recycling supply, but with constrained production, a decade of underinvestment, and platinum already rallying, SBSW presents asymmetric upside if PGM prices sustain an upcycle.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Sibanye Stillwater Limited (SBSW) by Hugo Navarro in February 2025, highlighting its diversified asset base in PGMs, gold, lithium, and recycling, with growth levers despite weak PGM prices. The stock has appreciated by about 130% as PGM prices rebounded. The thesis still stands, and Walter99 shares a similar view but emphasizes SBSW’s leverage to a sustained PGM upcycle.

Sibanye Stillwater Limited is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 20 hedge fund portfolios held SBSW at the end of the first quarter which was 18 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of SBSW as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

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Disclosure: None.