The Big Problem Haunting Top Iron-Ore Miner Isn’t So Easy to Fix

  • Miner’s environmental issues have been suppressing valuations
  • As more investors prioritize ESG principles, Vale may suffer
A pickup truck sits among shattered debris after a dam breach.Photographer: Victor Moriyama/Bloomberg
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In the weeks and months after Vale SA’s deadly dam disaster, some of Brazil’s biggest investors snatched up shares in a bet they’d bounce back and then keep rising.

A year later, the gamble paid off, but with a caveat: The stock rebounded, but Vale’s reputation hasn’t -- and that’s the problem. While the world’s largest iron ore producer, like all miners, has struggled with plenty of environmental issues in the past, there’s no denying that a company’s green credentials suddenly matter now more than ever.