Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) Trading Up 2.7% Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) were up 2.7% during mid-day trading on Friday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as high as $60.81 and last traded at $60.4590. Approximately 24,461,953 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 10% from the average daily volume of 22,243,217 shares. The stock had previously closed at $58.85.

The natural resource company reported $0.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.28 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $5.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.42 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.50% and a return on equity of 8.50%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.31 earnings per share.

Freeport-McMoRan Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 15th will be issued a $0.075 dividend. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 15th. Freeport-McMoRan’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.87%.

Key Freeport-McMoRan News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat consensus: FCX reported Q4 EPS above estimates and revenue topped expectations, driven by higher realized copper and gold prices which offset lower volumes. The company reiterated financial materials and hosted a conference call. MarketBeat Earnings Summary
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades and price targets lifted sentiment: recent upgrades and bullish targets helped push FCX to a new 12‑month high, supporting momentum in the stock. Analyst Upgrade/12‑Month High
• Positive Sentiment: Commodity tailwinds: rising copper and gold prices materially boosted profits in Q4 and underpin revenue upside potential for 2026, a key reason investors are favoring FCX as a leveraged way to play the metals rally. Reuters: Profit Beat, Commodity Impact
• Neutral Sentiment: Grasberg mine restart timeline: management said the Grasberg mine (Indonesia) is on track for a Q2 restart after the deadly mudslide — a positive operational milestone but still contains execution and permitting risks. MSN: Grasberg Restart
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks/style coverage and valuation notes: Zacks flagged FCX as a top‑ranked value stock for certain investor styles, increasing visibility among value-focused funds. That can attract inflows but doesn’t change fundamentals. Zacks: Value Stock Callout
• Negative Sentiment: Volumes and guidance caveats: management trimmed 2026 copper sales volume guidance after Q4, and production was hurt in the quarter by the Grasberg suspension — factors that limit upside unless volumes recover. Investor’s Business Daily: Sales Outlook Trimmed
• Negative Sentiment: Operational and cash-flow pressures: while net income rose, gross and operating profit declined and operating cash flow fell year‑over‑year in Q4, highlighting cost and volume headwinds that could constrain margins if metal prices weaken. Yahoo Finance: Q4 Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor interest/longer-term performance: pieces on long‑term returns and valuation (e.g., Benzinga/MarketBeat articles) increase retail attention but are less likely to move the stock than fresh earnings/operational news. Benzinga: 5‑Year Returns

Analyst Ratings Changes

FCX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Freeport-McMoRan from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $54.00 to $48.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Scotiabank raised their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $47.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Freeport-McMoRan from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $53.50 to $54.00 in a research report on Friday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $56.20.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Stephen T. Higgins sold 28,423 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.99, for a total transaction of $1,364,019.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 105,294 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,053,059.06. This represents a 21.26% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Ellie L. Mikes sold 9,572 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.66, for a total value of $456,201.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 38,761 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,847,349.26. The trade was a 19.80% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.75% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Freeport-McMoRan

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FCX. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. acquired a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its stake in Freeport-McMoRan by 1,962.9% during the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 722 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 687 shares in the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, YANKCOM Partnership lifted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 83.3% in the fourth quarter. YANKCOM Partnership now owns 869 shares of the natural resource company’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.77% of the company’s stock.

Freeport-McMoRan Stock Up 2.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The company has a market cap of $86.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.04, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.45. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $49.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.00.

About Freeport-McMoRan

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.