The analysis focuses on the anomalous surge in copper prices in 2025, which saw a 42% increase compared to a 16% growth in the broader stock market. Traditionally, rising copper prices, known as 'Dr. Copper' by Wall Street, signal a healthy economy. However, the current surge is attributed to three non-traditional factors, leading to a re-evaluation of economic health and investment opportunities for 2026. First, 'Niche Demand' is identified, driven by the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centers. AI infrastructure reportedly consumes significantly more copper than conventional cloud usage, necessitating millions of tons of copper by 2030. This demand is concentrated among the 'Mag 7' tech giants (Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, Apple), which represent one-third of the S&P 500 and are projected to have 17% earnings growth in 2025, contrasting with a 9% growth for the remaining 493 S&P companies. This concentration creates a diversification risk. Second, 'China's strategic buying' is highlighted. Despite China's economic slowdown, including property market contraction and manufacturing decline, the government is aggressively purchasing copper. This is driven by a national strategy to become a global leader in green energy technologies, including electric vehicles, batteries, and solar panels, necessitating substantial copper stockpiling. Third, 'Supply Chain and Tariffs' have artificially inflated demand. In 2025, the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs on imported copper, primarily from China, citing national security concerns and aiming to rebuild domestic supply chains. This led US companies to rapidly stockpile copper before tariffs took effect, creating a surge in demand and a subsequent supply shortage, thereby pushing prices higher. The confluence of these factors suggests potential for continued high copper prices or even further increases in 2026, which could lead to broader inflation. Investment opportunities are identified in ETFs exposed to copper mining (COPX, SCCO), Chinese clean technology (KGRN), and data center energy, particularly nuclear energy (NUKZ, NLR), which is being pushed by the US administration to power AI infrastructure.