Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) Stock Price Up 4% – Here’s Why

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)’s stock price rose 4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $70.49 and last traded at $70.2620. Approximately 14,198,031 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 19,764,914 shares. The stock had previously closed at $67.57.

More Freeport-McMoRan News

Here are the key news stories impacting Freeport-McMoRan this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank and other outlets highlighted FCX as a buy/appealing pick for retail investors; Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $72 (from $58) and kept a Buy rating, citing a recovery trajectory into Q1 — a likely catalyst for buying interest. Is Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) the Best Beginner Stock to Buy Right Now?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary and lists naming FCX among “best beginner” or buy candidates increase visibility and can attract retail flows, helping push the stock higher ahead of earnings. Is Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) the Best Beginner Stock to Buy Right Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Comparisons with BHP note both miners are benefiting from firm copper prices and progressing growth projects; this frames FCX as a high‑leverage copper play but reminds investors of peer competition and project execution risk. FCX vs. BHP: Which Copper Mining Giant Should You Invest in Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks and others note Q1 results are expected to show benefits from higher realized copper prices but warn of cost and volume pressures — this keeps near‑term earnings sensitivity to metal prices and production trends top of mind for investors. Should You Buy, Sell or Hold FCX Stock Ahead of Q1 Earnings?
• Neutral Sentiment: General company profile pages and coverage (e.g., Barron’s) increase accessibility of info but don’t add new fundamental catalysts. Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
• Negative Sentiment: Scotiabank trimmed FY2026 and FY2027 EPS estimates slightly (e.g., FY2027 to $2.44 from $2.48) and keeps a Sector Perform rating with a $71 target — this is a modest headwind that may limit upside if other analysts follow suit. Scotiabank Cuts FCX EPS Estimates

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on FCX. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $52.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. CICC Research raised their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $50.40 to $64.40 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Argus raised shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, HSBC upped their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Freeport-McMoRan presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $66.26.

Freeport-McMoRan Price Performance

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $62.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $100.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 2.29.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The natural resource company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.28 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $5.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.42 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 8.50% and a net margin of 8.50%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.31 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be paid a $0.075 dividend. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 15th. Freeport-McMoRan’s payout ratio is currently 19.87%.

Insider Transactions at Freeport-McMoRan

In other news, CFO Maree E. Robertson sold 48,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.55, for a total transaction of $2,985,175.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 79,894 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,917,475.70. This trade represents a 37.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Stephen T. Higgins sold 29,654 shares of Freeport-McMoRan stock in a transaction on Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.00, for a total transaction of $1,868,202.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 76,445 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,816,035. This represents a 27.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 565,145 shares of company stock worth $35,839,918. Company insiders own 0.79% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Freeport-McMoRan

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FCX. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 190.9% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 36,494,793 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $1,431,326,000 after acquiring an additional 23,950,557 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 98.8% in the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 19,973,108 shares of the natural resource company’s stock valued at $1,014,434,000 after acquiring an additional 9,924,573 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 31.2% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 37,353,852 shares of the natural resource company’s stock valued at $1,897,202,000 after buying an additional 8,891,743 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 102.5% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 14,211,579 shares of the natural resource company’s stock valued at $721,806,000 after acquiring an additional 7,192,955 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PointState Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 4th quarter worth approximately $198,523,000. Institutional investors own 80.77% of the company’s stock.

Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile

Freeport-McMoRan Inc is a U.S.-based natural resources company primarily engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of copper, gold and molybdenum. Its operations encompass large-scale open-pit and underground mining as well as associated concentrator and milling facilities. The company produces copper in the form of concentrates and cathodes, and also recovers gold and molybdenum as co-products; its business model includes exploration, development, mining, beneficiation and the sale of bulk commodities to smelters and industrial customers.

Freeport-McMoRan conducts operations and development activities across multiple geographies, with substantial assets in the Americas and Indonesia.