Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) Shares Down 5.3% on Insider Selling

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)’s stock price traded down 5.3% during trading on Thursday following insider selling activity. The company traded as low as $61.25 and last traded at $62.0050. 23,437,402 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 1% from the average session volume of 23,766,377 shares. The stock had previously closed at $65.46.

Specifically, EVP Douglas N. Currault II sold 75,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.52, for a total value of $4,839,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 219,181 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,141,558.12. This represents a 25.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Chairman Richard C. Adkerson sold 152,960 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.65, for a total transaction of $9,888,864.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman directly owned 3,356,159 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $216,975,679.35. This represents a 4.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In other news, Chairman Richard C. Adkerson sold 248,031 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.80, for a total transaction of $15,576,346.80. Following the transaction, the chairman directly owned 3,509,119 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $220,372,673.20. This trade represents a 6.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on FCX shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $55.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $58.00 to $56.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 5th. CICC Research increased their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $50.40 to $64.40 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. HSBC lifted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $48.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $58.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $59.35.

Key Freeport-McMoRan News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target on FCX from $52 to $76 and maintained a “buy” rating, signaling broker confidence and providing upside pressure on the stock. Stifel target raise
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks reports that analysts’ earnings estimates for Freeport have been revised higher (“surging estimates”), which can support near-term share gains and justify current multiples. Surging Earnings Estimates Signal Upside
• Positive Sentiment: Momentum-focused coverage argues FCX remains a top long-term momentum stock after a strong rally — this narrative can attract trend-following and momentum flows. MSN momentum piece Zacks momentum analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: A Yahoo Finance piece asks whether it’s “too late” to buy after a roughly 75% one‑year rally — useful framing for valuation debate but not an immediate catalyst. Is It Too Late To Consider Freeport-McMoRan
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks coverage noting increased investor attention and sector comparisons raises visibility (can amplify moves) but is informational rather than a direct driver. FCX Attracting Investor Attention
• Negative Sentiment: Operational headwinds at Grasberg drove a sharp Q4 volume decline (lower copper/gold sales) despite higher realized prices — production risk is an immediate negative for revenue and near-term cash flow. Grasberg setbacks weigh on Q4 volumes
• Negative Sentiment: Significant insider selling: Chairman Richard Adkerson disclosed large share sales (Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 filings) and EVP Douglas Currault II sold 75,000 shares (~$4.8M). Large, clustered insider disposals can dent sentiment even if insiders retain large stakes. Adkerson SEC filing(s) Currault SEC filing

Freeport-McMoRan Trading Down 5.3%

The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 2.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $55.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.58. The firm has a market cap of $89.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.06, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.47.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The natural resource company reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.19. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.50% and a return on equity of 8.50%. The business had revenue of $5.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.42 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.31 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Freeport-McMoRan Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 15th were paid a $0.075 dividend. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 15th. Freeport-McMoRan’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.87%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Freeport-McMoRan

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. purchased a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its position 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 valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 687 shares during the period. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd bought a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the third quarter worth about $36,000. 80.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.