March 17, 2026 - Core Natural Resources (CNR) is flashing a few signs of strength as it approaches a buy point in a base. Shares have jumped 19% month-to-date amid the U.S.-Iran war, but the outlook for longer-term demand is strong amid the ongoing AI data-center boom. The coal stock is Tuesday's selection for IBD 50 Growth Stocks To Watch.

Shares have formed a cup base with a buy point of 103.50. The stock is in an early-stage base that can net higher gains than later ones after a breakout.

On the stock's weekly chart on IBD MarketSurge, the blue dot shows the relative strength line is at a new high. However, the base-on-base pattern suggests resistance near 103 that goes back to October.

Core Natural Resources produces metallurgical and thermal coal for the steel, infrastructure and energy industries. Its assets include longwall, or underground, mines and surface mines. The stock has surged after the U.S.-Iran war fueled an energy crisis, presenting coal as an alternative with the disruption in natural gas supply.

In 2025, utility coal consumption increased by an estimated 45 million tons, or roughly 12%, bolstered by robust growth in power demand, Core Natural said in February. "U.S. grid operators are preparing for that demand trajectory to continue through the remainder of the decade, spurred by the AI-driven data center build-out," the company said in its fourth-quarter report.

However, the company has been reporting declining profits or outright losses over the past five quarters. It swung to a loss of $1.54 per share in its fourth quarter from a year earlier. That was wider than the loss of 50 cents per share analysts polled by FactSet had expected.

But sales growth accelerated by 82% to $1.04 billion. Revenue crossed the $1 billion mark for a fourth consecutive quarter and was ahead of the $1.02 billion consensus estimate.

Core Natural Resources wrapped up the year with a loss of $2.98 per share. But analysts see triple-digit profit growth in 2026 and 2027. For the current year, estimates call for $3.64 per share, or 222% growth, according to MarketSurge data. Wall Street foresees a 102% increase to $7.36 per share in 2027.

Core Natural Resources Stock Under Accumulation

The stock's performance, per metrics tracked by Investor's Business Daily, shows an all-around score of 70. IBD recommends ratings of at least 80 on a 1-99 scale. The Earnings Per Share Rating is a mere 6. However, the stock's price performance places it among the top 13% of stocks in the IBD database over the past 52 weeks.

The Accumulation/Distribution Rating of B+ suggests that funds have been loading up on the coal miner's shares over the last 13 weeks. Funds own a total of 75% of outstanding shares.

In an indication of positive demand over the past 50 days, the stock's Up/Down Volume Ratio is 1.3.

In the IBD mutual fund index, the Kinetics Market Opportunities Fund (KMKNX) holds shares of Core Natural Resources.