Zacks Research Predicts Weaker Earnings for Freeport-McMoRan

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) – Zacks Research dropped their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for Freeport-McMoRan in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, August 6th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the natural resource company will post earnings of $0.63 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.68. The consensus estimate for Freeport-McMoRan’s current full-year earnings is $2.75 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Freeport-McMoRan’s Q4 2026 earnings at $0.58 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $2.52 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.85 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.86 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.96 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.87 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $3.54 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $0.75 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $0.93 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $3.52 EPS.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The natural resource company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.12. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 11.39% and a return on equity of 10.63%. The company had revenue of $7.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.62 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.54 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year.

FCX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. BNP Paribas Exane increased their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $71.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Barclays upped their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Raymond James Financial dropped their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $72.00 to $68.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $53.50 to $58.50 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $70.27.

Freeport-McMoRan Trading Down 1.8%

Shares of Freeport-McMoRan stock opened at $68.17 on Friday. Freeport-McMoRan has a 1 year low of $35.15 and a 1 year high of $72.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $63.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $62.80. The company has a market capitalization of $98.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.58, a P/E/G ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.37.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of FCX. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. boosted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 2,011 shares of the natural resource company’s stock valued at $118,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Steph & Co. raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 43.7% in the 1st quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 493 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Essex Bank raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Essex Bank now owns 14,104 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $829,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fiduciary Financial Group LLC now owns 6,788 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $427,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Klein Pavlis & Peasley Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Klein Pavlis & Peasley Financial Inc. now owns 18,674 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $1,098,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. 80.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Ellie L. Mikes sold 4,773 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total value of $334,110.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 36,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,520,000. This represents a 11.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Stephen T. Higgins sold 14,277 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.50, for a total value of $992,251.50. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 54,618 shares in the company, valued at $3,795,951. This trade represents a 20.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 26,600 shares of company stock valued at $1,802,012. Company insiders own 0.73% of the company’s stock.

Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 15th were issued a dividend of $0.075 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 15th. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Freeport-McMoRan’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.78%.

Trending Headlines about Freeport-McMoRan

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to highlight FCX’s leverage to potential growth in copper demand from electric vehicles, power-grid upgrades and data-center infrastructure. Freeport-McMoRan in Focus as Copper Demand From EVs and Grids Builds
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage also points to expected increases in copper and gold sales during the second half of 2026 and into 2027, while the company’s ongoing share repurchases could support earnings per share by reducing its share count.
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually high options activity indicates elevated speculative interest in FCX, including roughly 75,145 call options purchased—about 30% above typical daily call volume.
• Positive Sentiment: Freeport-McMoRan recently paid a quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share, equivalent to $0.30 annually. Although the approximately 0.4% yield is modest, the payment reinforces the company’s shareholder-return program. Freeport-McMoRan Declares Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks listed FCX among non-ferrous mining stocks worth watching for long-term growth, but cautioned that the broader industry faces a weak near-term outlook. Zacks Industry Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s latest reported quarter exceeded expectations, with earnings per share of $0.74 versus a $0.62 consensus estimate and revenue of $7.03 billion versus expectations of $6.62 billion.
• Negative Sentiment: Chief Accounting Officer Ellie Mikes sold 4,773 shares for approximately $334,110, while another filing reported Stephen Higgins selling 14,277 shares for about $992,252. The insider selling may weigh on sentiment, although such transactions can reflect personal financial planning rather than weaker business prospects. FCX Insider Trading

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.