BTU Investors Face Aug. 24 Deadline in Centurion Mine Lawsuit

Peabody Energy (BTU) investors have until August 24 to seek lead plaintiff status in a securities class action tied to delays at the company's Centurion metallurgical coal mine.

The lawsuit, filed by Faruqi & Faruqi, covers anyone who bought BTU stock between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026. It alleges that Peabody executives made false statements about the Centurion ramp-up while knowing about persistent operational problems.

The first concrete disclosure came on March 30, 2026. Peabody said Centurion would deliver about 250,000 tons in the first quarter, down from an earlier estimate of roughly 700,000 tons. The company blamed "greater-than-anticipated mine commissioning challenges." BTU fell $3.82, or 9.7%, to $35.68 that day.

The second hit came on May 5, 2026. Peabody admitted it had missed the March 2026 deadline for full longwall production and cut its full-year Centurion sales outlook to 2.5 million tons from 3.5 million tons. The stock dropped another $1.52, or 5.7%, to $25.00.

The complaint argues that Peabody's earlier upbeat statements about Centurion inflated the stock price, and that the two disclosures corrected that inflation. The class period ends on the second disclosure date.

Investors who want to serve as lead plaintiff must file a motion by August 24. The court will appoint the investor with the largest financial interest who meets legal requirements. Class members who do not seek lead plaintiff status can still share in any settlement.

Peabody operates the Centurion mine in the Illinois Basin. The mine was supposed to ramp up to full longwall production by March 2026. The delays have hit the company's met coal output and raised questions about its cost guidance.