POSCO and Molten Join Forces to Develop Graphite Anode Material

POSCO Holdings Inc. PKX is advancing its battery materials strategy through its subsidiary POSCO Future M. The company is developing natural graphite anode materials using methane gas as an alternative carbon source.  POSCO Future M recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S.-based Molten for jointly developing key raw materials for natural graphite anode material. The company is specifically leveraging Molten’s methane-based graphite production technology, where methane is thermally decomposed at high temperatures into hydrogen and solid carbon. This solid carbon can then be engineered into high-purity graphite suitable for lithium-ion battery anodes. This initiative aims to replace conventional coal and petroleum-based feedstocks with methane, enabling a cleaner and potentially more cost-efficient production process for lithium-ion battery anodes. The process reduces reliance on carbon-intensive inputs and avoids many of the emissions associated with traditional graphite production methods. The use of methane is expected to significantly lower the carbon intensity of graphite production while improving scalability, aligning with the rising demand for sustainable EV battery supply chains. The approach could also enhance cost competitiveness given methane’s relative abundance and stable supply compared with traditional raw materials. It supports efforts to diversify supply chains away from China-dominated graphite markets. The project aligns with POSCO’s ambition to build a fully integrated battery materials ecosystem spanning raw material sourcing, refining and advanced material manufacturing. Innovations such as methane-based graphite production position POSCO Future M to strengthen its role in next-generation anode technology.  Shares of PKX are up 12.5% over the past year against the industry’s 4.1% fall. Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchPKX Zacks Rank & Key PicksPKX currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are DuPont de Nemours, Inc. DD, Compass Minerals International, Inc. CMP and Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS. DD and CMP sport a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while CRS carries a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DD’s current fiscal-year earnings stands at $2.28 per share, reflecting a 36% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 6.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMP’s current fiscal-year earnings is pegged at 89 cents per share, indicating a 285.42% year-over-year rise. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average earnings surprise being 35%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’s current fiscal-year earnings is pegged at $10.28 per share, indicating a 37.43% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 9.23%. Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge GainsQuantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report POSCO Holdings Inc. (PKX): Free Stock Analysis Report DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD): Free Stock Analysis Report Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS): Free Stock Analysis Report Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks