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

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)’s share price was down 5.3% on Thursday after an insider sold shares in the company. The company traded as low as $61.25 and last traded at $62.0050. Approximately 23,437,402 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 1% from the average daily 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 firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.52, for a total transaction of $4,839,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 219,181 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,141,558.12. This trade represents a 25.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Chairman Richard C. Adkerson sold 152,960 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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. The trade was a 4.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In related news, Chairman Richard C. Adkerson sold 248,031 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the sale, 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 legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FCX has been the subject of several research reports. 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. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $48.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Freeport-McMoRan from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $53.50 to $54.00 in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane reduced their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $58.00 to $56.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. 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 Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $89.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.06, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.47. 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 company has a 50-day moving average price of $55.25 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $46.58.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The natural resource company reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 firm had revenue of $5.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.42 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.31 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Freeport-McMoRan Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 15th were given a dividend of $0.075 per share. 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 19.87%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Freeport-McMoRan

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FCX. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 1,962.9% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 722 shares of the natural resource company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 687 shares in the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd bought a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. 80.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.