Argus raised its rating on Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) from Hold to Buy on Friday and established a price target of $72, which represents about a 16% increase from the then-current share price of $62.04. The company carries a market capitalization of $89.09 billion and is listed as a "Prominent player in the Metals & Mining industry" in InvestingPro data.
The research note pointed to a firmer balance sheet following asset sales and to the advantages Freeport-McMoRan may realize from elevated prices for copper and other metals. Argus highlighted the company’s moderate leverage profile, noting a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55 as evidence of manageable debt levels.
Argus further cited U.S. and Chinese copper stockpiling efforts as signals of robust and potentially sustainable demand for copper, a dynamic it expects will support Freeport-McMoRan’s financial performance. The firm also projected that longer-term drivers - including accelerating electrification initiatives and the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure - should create additional demand for copper. Energy transition projects that depend on copper resources were also identified as a source of further growth potential for the company.
Technically, Argus observed that Freeport-McMoRan’s shares have traced a bullish pattern of higher highs and higher lows beginning in November 2025.
Recent company results reinforced the favorable backdrop. Freeport-McMoRan reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings that surpassed consensus forecasts, delivering earnings per share of $0.47 versus the expected $0.28. Revenue for the quarter reached $5.63 billion, topping the anticipated $5.28 billion.
Market participants have been adjusting their views alongside these developments. Morgan Stanley increased its price target for Freeport-McMoRan to $70.00 from $53.00 while keeping an Overweight rating, citing potential upside from Section 232 copper tariffs. At the same time, Bernstein SocGen Group lowered its rating on Freeport-McMoRan from Outperform to Market Perform despite the company’s ongoing recovery from a past incident and its plans to restart certain mines.
Macro and commodity moves have amplified interest in copper names. The metal surged to a record above $14,000 per metric ton, propelling shares of copper miners higher; Freeport-McMoRan’s stock rose roughly 5% amid that rally. In a related policy development, reports that the Trump administration is considering scaling back tariffs on steel and aluminum were associated with negative moves for companies such as Alcoa and Century Aluminum.
Taken together, these items illustrate a dynamic metals and mining landscape in which balance sheet improvements, commodity price action, policy considerations, and varying analyst opinions are all influencing sentiment toward Freeport-McMoRan.