Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc logo

Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc(FCX)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
WEAK BUY
BUY for 28 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+1.76%
LAST CLOSE
$69.38
09/15/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FCX

09/15/2026: FCX (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Freeport-McMoRan is a major international mining firm and a significant global producer of copper and gold. The company benefits from high-grade assets and byproduct gold credits that help maintain competitiveness. The primary investment story is anchored in the long-term structural demand for copper as a essential metal for global electrification and the energy transition. Investors must monitor risks related to commodity price cyclicality, geopolitical developments in Indonesia, and the high capital requirements of mining. It may suit investors looking for commodity exposure, though it is less appropriate for those seeking low-volatility or consistent fixed income returns.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe growth narrative is dependent on global electrification and commodity cycles rather than consistent, predictable organic expansion.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often experiences significant price moves during commodity price rallies.
Value investorStrong fitThe stock is often priced based on current commodity spot prices, providing opportunities when the cycle troughs.
Dividend investorMixed fitVariable dividend policies mean income is not as reliable as established blue-chip dividend payers.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh exposure to commodity price volatility and geopolitical factors makes this stock unsuitable for conservative risk appetites.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighRevenue and earnings are tied to volatile copper and gold markets.
Valuation riskMediumMarket pricing can be irrational during shifts in commodity sentiment.
Competition risk (Commodity Supply)Medium / highIncreased global production capacity from rivals can pressure pricing.
Business qualityMediumThe company holds high-quality assets but faces recurring operational challenges.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are variable rather than fixed, impacting reliability.
Execution riskMediumManaging massive mining projects in diverse geographies presents operational hurdles.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -26.38%
Avg. Invested days 31
Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/15/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

FCX receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

FCX has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+17.0%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 4.3%), moderate revenue growth (+1.1%), soft profitability (net margin 8.6%).

Financial Health Rating

FCX's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.1B (4.3% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

Earnings growth is FCX's strongest growth driver at +17.0% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while free-cash-flow growth (-52.6%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

Institutional ownership is 89.4% and approximately 99.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.72%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 8.77%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.50%
Fisher Asset Management, LLC 4.66%
State Street Corp 4.47%
Bank of America Corp 2.95%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

FCX generates approximately $270 of gross profit, $244 of operating income, and $43 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

Effective Tax Rate: 34.86%

Quantitative Style Profile

FCX has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltHigh VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 99.63B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 34.01
1Y Target Price 72.05
Price to earnings Ratio 34.01
1Y Target Price 72.05
Volume (30-day avg) 13.8M shares
Beta 1.4
52 Weeks Range 34.78 - 80.24
Updated Date 09/15/2026
52 Weeks Range 34.78 - 80.24
Updated Date 09/15/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 0.87%
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.04

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Copper SegmentMining and processing of copper ore from North/South America and Indonesia.This is the primary source of revenue; as copper prices go up, this segment's profit usually expands.
Gold/MolybdenumByproduct sales from copper mining operations.These act as a natural hedge, effectively reducing the net cost of mining the primary copper.
GeographyOperations in Indonesia, USA, Chile, and Peru.The company is highly sensitive to the regulatory environments in these specific nations.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 34.01
Forward PE 17.33
Enterprise Value 105.85B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.85
Enterprise Value 105.85B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.85
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.09
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.47
Shares Outstanding 1.44B
Shares Floating 1.43B
Shares Outstanding 1.44B
Shares Floating 1.43B
Percent Insiders 0.72
Percent Institutions 89.41

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Phoenix, AZ, United States
IPO Launch date 1995-07-10
CEO, President & Director Ms. Kathleen Lynne Quirk
Sector Basic Materials
Industry Copper
Full time employees 29000
Full time employees 29000

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. Its assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The company was formerly known as Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. and changed its name to Freeport-McMoRan Inc. in July 2014. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.