Top 4 ASX mining stocks to buy and hold

The following are among the top ASX mining stocks to buy and hold for investors who want exposure to the long-term commodities bull run which is being supported by multiple growth drivers and tailwinds.

Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) 

Rio Tinto Limited is one of the best ASX mining stocks to buy and hold because the company owns world class assets which will benefit from solid long-term demand.

The company in Q1 2026 reported strong operational performance as copper equivalent production rose 9% year-on-year while copper production increased 9% YoY to 229kt and Pilbara iron ore production climbed 13% YoY to 78.8Mt despite cyclone related shipment disruptions during the quarter.

Major projects such as Simandou, Resolution Copper and several lithium developments continue to support Rio Tinto’s future growth pipeline while management stated that the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine is on track to ramp up towards 500kt of annual copper production from 2028 onward.

Rio Tinto has a market capitalisation of $70.18 billion and a fully franked annual dividend yield of 3.12% while its diversified Tier 1 assets and major exposure to copper and lithium growth leave the company well placed for future growth.

Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) 

Northern Star Resources Limited has a current market capitalisation of $28.25 billion and a dividend yield of 2.78% which supports its position as one of the leading ASX mining stocks to buy and hold.
The company during the March 2026 quarter sold 381koz of gold at an average realised gold price of $5,283/oz which generated gold revenue of $2.01 billion while underlying free cash flow reached $301 million and net mine cash flow totalled $426 million despite high growth expenditure.

NST has a highly attractive long-term outlook because the transformational KCGM Mill Expansion Project is on track for commissioning in early FY27 and is expected to increase throughput capacity.

Its balance sheet is very strong with net cash of $320 million along with total cash and bullion of $1.18 billion and an undrawn $1.75 billion bank facility while management also showed confidence through a share buy-back program of up to $500 million.

Sandfire Resources Limited (ASX: SFR) 

Sandfire Resources Limited is one of the best ASX mining stocks to buy and hold because the company has consistently delivered great performance over the years.
The company in the March 2026 quarter generated record unaudited revenue of $408 million and underlying EBITDA of $220 million.

Sandfire also has a strong long-term growth outlook as the company progresses the Kalkaroo Copper-Gold project in South Australia and increases exposure to higher-grade production zones that are expected to improve ore grades and recoveries over time.

The current market capitalisation is $8.92 billion and the company also offers investors exposure to structurally important copper markets that are benefiting from rising electrification and renewable energy demand alongside improving operational scale.

Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) 

Alcoa Corporation  has a market capitalisation of $26.67 billion and is one of the most attractive ASX mining stocks to buy and hold because the global aluminum producer continues to report strong profitability alongside a healthy balance sheet.

The company in the March 2026 quarter generated revenue of US$3.19 billion and reported net income attributable to shareholders of US$425 million.
Alcoa’s balance sheet also remained strong as total equity increased to US$6.83 billion from US$6.12 billion at the end of 2025 while the company still held US$1.35 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

The Aluminum segment delivered particularly strong results with Segment Adjusted EBITDA rising to US$694 million from US$134 million in the prior corresponding period.

(Source: Company Reports)