Ivanhoe Electric (IE) just locked in a $200 million senior secured multi draw bridge facility to push its Santa Cruz Copper Project toward construction, giving the miner a clearer funding path into 2026.

That funding news lands at a time when sentiment is already improving, with a 30 day share price return of 16.94 percent and a year to date share price return of 88.60 percent. The 1 year total shareholder return of 95.20 percent and 3 year total shareholder return of 17.49 percent suggest momentum is building from a still early stage story.

If this kind of early stage growth story interests you, it is also worth seeing what else is moving by exploring fast growing stocks with high insider ownership.

Yet with Ivanhoe Electric still loss making but trading at a sizable discount to analyst targets, investors face a crucial question: is this a genuine buying opportunity, or is the market already pricing in future growth?

Price-to-Book of 7.8x: Is It Justified?

Ivanhoe Electric last closed at $15.05, and based on a price to book ratio of 7.8 times, the stock is trading at a rich premium to both peers and the broader US metals and mining space.

The price to book multiple compares the company’s market value to its net assets. This is particularly relevant for an early stage resources business whose current earnings are negative and whose value is tied heavily to its project portfolio. For Ivanhoe Electric, investors are effectively paying several times the accounting value of its assets, even though the company is still loss making and does not yet have meaningful revenue.

This high price to book ratio looks demanding in context, because IE is unprofitable today, earnings are forecast to remain negative over the next three years, and losses have been widening over the past five years. With a negative return on equity and no clear path to near term profitability, such a premium suggests the market is already baking in substantial future copper project success rather than current financial performance.

Compared to its peer group, the gap is stark. IE’s 7.8 times price to book sits well above the 2.5 times average for comparable companies and more than three times the 2.1 times average across the broader US metals and mining industry. That kind of multiple signals investors are placing a much higher value on Ivanhoe Electric’s assets and growth prospects than on those of typical sector names.

Result: Price-to-book of 7.8x (OVERVALUED)

However, investors should note execution and permitting risks at Santa Cruz, as well as the possibility of further losses if copper prices weaken or timelines slip.

Build Your Own Ivanhoe Electric Narrative

If you see things differently or want to dig into the numbers yourself, you can build a custom view in minutes: Do it your way.

A great starting point for your Ivanhoe Electric research is our analysis highlighting 1 key reward and 4 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.