Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. (FCX)

Freeport-McMoRan's stock price was significantly impacted by a fatal mud rush at the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia in early September 2025, leading to a suspension of mining activities and a declaration of force majeure. The accident caused a sharp decline in FCX shares, but subsequent upgrades by Bank of America and UBS signaled renewed investor confidence.

Copper demand experiences dips during the summer in Europe and North America due to slower construction activity, while a fall buying season aligns with rising U.S. housing starts. Gold demand surges during the Indian wedding season, Chinese New Year, and the Western holiday shopping season. Molybdenum demand is tied to the steel industry, with less pronounced seasonal patterns but potential volatility due to factors like declining ore grades and environmental regulations.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. operates in the Basic Materials sector, focusing on the exploration, mining, and production of minerals like copper cathode, copper concentrate, molybdenum concentrate, gold, and silver, which are used in construction, electronics, transportation, and renewable energy.

Freeport-McMoRan has operations in North America, with seven open-pit copper mines in Arizona and New Mexico, and two molybdenum mines in Colorado; in South America, with copper operations in Peru and Chile; and in Indonesia, centered around the Grasberg minerals district, which produces copper, gold, and silver.

Freeport-McMoRan's brand reputation was negatively affected by the tragic mud rush incident at its Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia in early September 2025, which resulted in fatalities and a halt in operations. The incident brought negative attention to the company regarding safety and operational management.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a dispersed ownership structure, with a significant majority of its shares held by institutional investors, ranging from approximately 50.15% to 87%. Individual retail investors hold between 12.96% and 30.32% of the stock. Insiders own less than 2% of the company's shares.