Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): analysis in plain words
Is Freeport-McMoRan cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in materials and chemicals. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Freeport-McMoRan according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $62.60 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.3x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +8.2% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 13.0% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.6x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.97% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $89.9 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Freeport-McMoRan figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any FCX figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Freeport-McMoRan makes money
Freeport-McMoRan mines copper, its main product, along with gold and molybdenum. Its major operations include Grasberg in Indonesia, Cerro Verde in Peru and several mines in North America, and it reports results by mine or region. It sells copper concentrate and cathode to smelters and manufacturers worldwide.
Over the last 12 months, Freeport-McMoRan brought in revenue of $26.4 billion. For every 100 it sells, Freeport-McMoRan keeps 38.9 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 35.3 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 29,000 full-time employees, that is about $912,000 of revenue per employee.
Freeport-McMoRan against its sector
To know whether a Freeport-McMoRan figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Freeport-McMoRan with the median of the 10 materials and chemicals companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Freeport-McMoRan | materials and chemicals median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 26.3x | 28.5x (10) |
| Revenue growth | +8.2% | +9.2% (11) |
| Net margin | 13.0% | 10.7% (11) |
| Dividend yield | 0.97% | 0.99% (11) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.6x | 2.0x (11) |
In short, against the typical materials and chemicals company, Freeport-McMoRan earns a wider margin and carries less debt. By size, Freeport-McMoRan ranks number 3 of 7 materials and chemicals companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Freeport-McMoRan
These are the strengths in the Freeport-McMoRan figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Analysts expect Freeport-McMoRan earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 14.6x, below the current 26.3x.
- Freeport-McMoRan earns 15.7% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Its debt is low: Freeport-McMoRan would need 0.6x its annual operating profit (EBITDA) to repay its net debt.
The main risk for Freeport-McMoRan
The Freeport-McMoRan figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: the price of what it sells (metals, chemicals), which depends on the world economy and is out of its control.
Frequently asked questions about Freeport-McMoRan
Is it a good time to buy Freeport-McMoRan stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Freeport-McMoRan, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Freeport-McMoRan stock trades at $62.60, 22% below its 52-week high ($80.24) and 62% above its low ($38.54). Its P/E is 26.3x against a materials and chemicals median of 28.5x, and 14.6x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Freeport-McMoRan, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Freeport-McMoRan pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Freeport-McMoRan pays $0.60 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 0.97%. It uses 30% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 1.22%. The materials and chemicals median on Fintols is 0.99%.
Is Freeport-McMoRan stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Freeport-McMoRan trades at 26.3x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the materials and chemicals median (28.5x). Including its debt, Freeport-McMoRan is valued at 10.6x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Freeport-McMoRan expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Freeport-McMoRan's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Freeport-McMoRan with Newmont, Nucor and Linde, which are also in materials and chemicals. As of November 4, 2026, Newmont is worth $122.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 13.7; Nucor is worth $60.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 17.1; Linde is worth $240.9 billion and trades on a P/E of 34.8. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Freeport-McMoRan below.
Freeport-McMoRan competitors
- Newmont (NEM) analysis · Freeport-McMoRan vs Newmont comparison
- Nucor (NUE) analysis · Freeport-McMoRan vs Nucor comparison
- Linde (LIN) analysis · Freeport-McMoRan vs Linde comparison
To understand Freeport-McMoRan better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Freeport-McMoRan: materials and chemicals stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full FCX analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Freeport-McMoRan, not investment advice.