Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price sinking 9% today?

This lithium share is under pressure on Friday…

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Key points

  • Pilbara Minerals shares are sinking on Friday
  • Broad market weakness has been weighing on the lithium share
  • The Pilbara Minerals share price is still up 120% over the last 12 months

The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is having a difficult day.

In early afternoon trade, the lithium miner's shares are down 9% to $2.58.

Why is the Pilbara Minerals share price sinking?

Investors have been selling down the Pilbara Minerals share price on Friday amid a broad market selloff.

The lithium industry has been hit particularly hard, with Pilbara Minerals just one of many lithium shares that are recording sizeable declines. This is being driven by a selloff on Wall Street overnight which saw risk assets hit incredibly hard.

Given how far up the risk curve lithium shares are, Friday's session was always going to be a difficult one for them.

Nevertheless, Pilbara Minerals' shares are still thumping the market on a 12-month basis. Since this time last year, booming lithium prices have helped drive the company's shares almost 120% higher.

Is this a buying opportunity?

One leading broker that is likely to see the weakness in Pilbara Minerals' shares today as a buying opportunity is Citi.

Last week the broker put a buy rating and $3.60 price target on the company's shares. This implies potential upside of approximately 38% over the next 12 months.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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