BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have already enjoyed a strong run, which can make buying today feel less attractive.
But even at the current price, I think the mining giant still has plenty going for it.
Here are three reasons I would buy BHP shares today.
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The valuation still looks good
BHP shares are trading around $59.76.
According to CommSec consensus estimates, the company is expected to generate earnings per share of $3.51 in FY26 and $3.63 in FY27.
That puts the shares on a price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 17 times FY26 earnings and 16.5 times FY27 earnings.
BHP is no longer the bargain it was when commodity sentiment was weaker and the shares were trading much lower. At current levels, I still think investors are paying a fair price for a business with high-quality assets and a positive long-term outlook.
The dividend adds another reason to consider the shares.
CommSec forecasts dividends per share of $2.18 in FY26 and $1.95 in FY27. Based on the current price, that represents forward dividend yields of around 3.6% and 3.3%.
Those dividends will move with commodity prices and earnings, so I would not treat them as guaranteed. Even so, they could provide a solid income contribution while investors wait for BHP's growth investments to deliver.
The outlook is increasingly tied to copper
BHP's earnings mix is changing.
Copper contributed more than half of the company's underlying earnings during the first half of FY26, showing how important the commodity has already become to the group.
I think that exposure could become even more valuable over the next decade.
Copper is needed for electricity networks, renewable energy, data centres, transport, manufacturing, and the continued digitalisation of the global economy. Developing new mines can take many years, which gives established producers with large, low-cost operations a strong starting position.
BHP produced around 2 million tonnes of copper for the second consecutive year in FY26 and continues to progress growth options across Escondida, Spence, South Australia, and other regions.
Iron ore should remain a major source of cash flow, supported by BHP's large Western Australian operations. That cash can help fund future copper developments and the company's move into potash.
The Jansen project in Canada is expected to begin potash production in 2027. Costs and project execution will require close attention, although the commodity could eventually give BHP exposure to rising food demand and agricultural productivity.
BHP can improve portfolio diversification
I think owning some resources exposure can strengthen a long-term ASX portfolio.
Mining shares respond to commodity prices, global industrial activity, currency movements, and infrastructure investment. Those forces can produce returns that look very different from banks, supermarkets, healthcare companies, or technology shares.
That does not mean BHP will perform well during every market downturn. Commodity cycles can be brutal, and earnings can change quickly when prices fall.
However, a measured resources allocation can give a portfolio another source of growth and income.
If I were choosing one ASX mining share for that role, BHP would be my first choice. Its scale, asset quality, balance sheet, and growing copper exposure make it a stronger all-round option than relying on a smaller producer tied to one project or commodity.
Foolish takeaway
At $59.76, BHP shares are no longer priced like an overlooked bargain, although I still think the valuation provides room for attractive long-term returns.
The company's earnings base is gradually shifting towards copper, while iron ore continues generating cash and potash could open another substantial source of growth.
For investors wanting resources exposure as part of a diversified portfolio, I think BHP shares are worth buying today and holding through the commodity cycle.
