ARIZONA SONORAN COPPER CO INC Stock Price, News & Analysis

Arizona Sonoran Copper (OTCQX:ASCUF) outlined a fully funded 2026 work plan to advance the brownfield Cactus Project toward a Final Investment Decision as early as Q4 2026 and first cathode production targeted in 2H 2029. The company starts 2026 with approximately $105 million cash and a 2026 budget of US$75 million covering early development, long‑lead procurement, permitting, drilling and completion of a Feasibility Study (FS) expected in 2H 2026. Key 2025 milestones highlighted: ~203,678 ft drilling, a 51% increase in Measured & Indicated resources to 11 billion lb Cu, a PFS mineral reserve of 5.3 billion lb Cu, and PFS economics showing after‑tax NPV8 of US$2.3B, IRR 22.8%, and initial capex of US$977M.

Arizona Sonoran (OTCQX:ASCUF) announced it was granted the Pinal County Dust Permit for the Cactus Project following its Pre-Feasibility Study (Nov 2025). The PFS outlined 113,000 short tons of copper cathode annual production in the first 10 years of a 22-year project life. The company is amending the Aquifer Protection Permit, Industrial Air Permit and Mined Land Reclamation Permit with regulators, targeting the APP and Industrial Air permits mid-2026 and the MLRP and a potential final investment decision late 2026.

Previous permits supported a smaller plan (28,000 tpa, 18-year life); the project scope has since expanded and requires amended approvals before a feasibility study and financing.

Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) announced that it and Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, have agreed to begin discussions in January about an amicable early termination of the option to joint venture agreement on the Cactus Project.

The company will advance Cactus on a standalone basis following a recently completed positive standalone Pre-Feasibility Study and will progress a standalone Definitive Feasibility Study targeted for completion in 2H 2026, with a view to a possible final investment decision as early as 4Q 2026. The company will not provide further updates on Nuton talks until a definitive outcome exists and notes there is no certainty on timing or results.

Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (OTCQX:ASCUF, TSX:ASCU) closed a C$10.4 million non‑brokered private placement with Hudbay Minerals, which exercised pre‑emptive rights to maintain a 9.99% ownership stake.

Hudbay subscribed for 3,111,089 common shares at C$3.35 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$10,422,148. The company reports a pro forma cash position of approximately US$100 million and 208,656,359 common shares outstanding as of market close December 11, 2025.

Pre‑emptive Right Shares are subject to a four‑month‑and‑one‑day Canadian statutory hold period and the Hudbay Placement is subject to final Toronto Stock Exchange approval.

Arizona Sonoran (OTCQX:ASCUF) closed a C$86.25 million “bought deal” private placement on December 2, 2025, issuing 25,746,300 common shares at C$3.35 per share (including 3,358,200 shares from the underwriters’ option).

Net proceeds will fund early development at the Cactus Project, working capital and general corporate purposes, supporting permit amendment work, the Definitive Feasibility Study, and project financing efforts. Shares are subject to a statutory hold period expiring April 3, 2026, and the placement remains subject to final TSX approval.

Arizona Sonoran Copper (OTCQX:ASCUF) filed the Cactus Project NI 43-101 PFS on Nov 19, 2025 reporting robust project economics for a 22-year open‑pit heap leach/SXEW copper cathode operation on private Arizona land.

Key metrics: after-tax NPV8 $2.301B and IRR 22.8% at $4.25/lb Cu; initial capex $977M; average annual EBITDA ~$574M; average annual cathode production ~113,000 tons (226M lbs) in years 1–10; cash cost (C1) $1.34/lb and AISC $1.62/lb. Final investment decision targeted as early as Q4 2026 with first cathodes aimed for 2029.

Arizona Sonoran Copper (OTCQX:ASCUF) published an NI 43-101 pre-feasibility study for the 100%‑owned Cactus Project on October 20, 2025, outlining a 22‑year open‑pit heap leach + SXEW operation on private Arizona land.

Key metrics at a $4.25/lb copper base case include after‑tax NPV8 $2.301B, IRR 22.8%, initial capex $977M, average annual EBITDA ~$574M, cash cost $1.34/lb, AISC $1.62/lb, and average production of ~103,000 tonnes (226M lbs) cathode annually in years 1–10. First cathodes targeted in 2H 2029; FID as early as Q4 2026.

Arizona Sonoran Copper (OTCQX:ASCUF) has announced a significant update to its Cactus Project Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), revealing 11 billion pounds of contained copper in the Measured and Indicated (M&I) category. The project, located 45 miles south of Phoenix, Arizona, now shows a 51% increase in M&I resources, with 75% being leachable material.

Key highlights include a conversion of 51% of Inferred material to M&I classification, though with a 15% grade reduction due to inclusion of lower-grade near-surface material. The updated total Cactus Project MRE reports 1,143 million short tons at 0.48% Total Copper in M&I category, and 233 million short tons at 0.37% Total Copper in the Inferred category.

The company is advancing toward a Pre-Feasibility Study expected in Q4 2025, with potential for a final investment decision as early as Q4 2026. The project benefits from existing infrastructure including direct road and rail access, power, and water, and is at an advanced permitting stage.

Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (OTCQX:ASCUF) has significantly expanded its Cactus Project footprint by acquiring 2,123 acres of private land for an average price of $49,200 per acre. The acquisition includes 2,043 acres from a consortium of landowners and an 80-acre parcel from a single owner.

The strategic land purchase provides essential space for the Cactus Project's development, including SX/EW plant infrastructure, leach pads, and waste rock stockpiles. The transaction structure includes favorable vendor financing with only ~6% paid at closing, ~16% over the next three years, and the remaining ~78% due by August 2029, carrying a 6% annual interest rate.

The acquisition consolidates ASCU's land package to 7,843 acres, reducing project risk and providing operational flexibility for future exploration. The company anticipates securing project financing as early as Q4/2026, potentially enabling early loan repayment.