Freeport-McMoRan is a compelling buy, due to strong copper demand, limited new supply, and a leading market position supporting a long-term bull thesis. Financial performance is robust, with rising margins, solid profitability, and shares trading at a discount to peers, despite superior scale and asset quality. My DCF and comparative analysis indicate a fair value of $50 per share, offering 11-12% upside, supported by conservative guidance and potential outperformance.
Freeport-McMoRan delivered a strong Q2 earnings beat, but results fell short of the blowout I expected, given extremely bullish copper and gold fundamentals. Despite favorable catalysts like 50% copper tariffs and a big increase in sequential gold sales, FCX remains stuck in the $30-$50 trading range it's been in for four years. Sales guidance for Q3 is flat on copper and significantly weaker on gold and moly, raising concerns about near-term growth.
Shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. NYSE: FCX are down over 1.3% after the mining company delivered a double beat in its second-quarter earnings report. This is a reversal after FCX had bounced 1.3% higher at the market open.
Copper Industry | Basic Materials Sector | Kathleen Lynne Quirk CEO | XMIL Exchange | US35671D8570 ISIN |
US Country | 28,500 Employees | - Last Dividend | 2 Feb 2011 Last Split | 10 Jul 1995 IPO Date |
Freeport-McMoRan Inc., a leading international mining company, operates across North America, South America, and Indonesia. Founded in 1987 and initially known as Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the company underwent a name change in July 2014 to better reflect its expanded portfolio of mined materials beyond just copper and gold. With its headquarters situated in Phoenix, Arizona, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. specializes in the exploration and production of a wide range of minerals. It has built a robust presence across several strategic locations, including the renowned Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia and numerous significant mining operations across Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado in North America, as well as in Peru and Chile in South America.
As a cornerstone product, copper stands at the forefront of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.'s mining operations. This essential metal, known for its excellent electrical conductivity, is widely used in electrical equipment, construction, and various industrial machinery.
Alongside copper, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. maintains significant gold mining efforts, particularly noted in the Grasberg minerals district. Gold is not only a critical asset for the company but also a key player in the global jewelry market and as an investment commodity.
Molybdenum is another valuable mineral in the company’s portfolio, primarily used as an alloying agent in steel to enhance strength, resistance to corrosion, and temperature stability.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. also explores for silver, a precious metal known for its use in jewelry, silverware, and as an industrial material in photovoltaic cells and electrical contacts due to its high electrical and thermal conductivity.
Expanding beyond these core products, the company is engaged in the extraction and production of various other metals, catering to a wide spectrum of industries and applications, demonstrating Freeport-McMoRan Inc.’s versatility and adaptability in the mining sector.