Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) Intrinsic Value & DCF Valuation

Copper · NYSE

Current Price

$59.99

Intrinsic Value

$109.45

+45.2% margin of safety

What Is Freeport-McMoRan Inc.'s Intrinsic Value?

As of 2026-07-29, the base-case DCF model estimates the intrinsic value of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) at $109.45 per share, compared with a market price of $59.99, a margin of safety of +45.2%. The base case assumes 8.8% annual free cash flow growth and a 10.0% discount rate.

Across the sensitivity grid the estimate spans $95.93 to $125.41. Intrinsic value is an estimate built on assumptions, not a fact. A higher discount rate or slower growth pushes the estimate down, while stronger cash flow growth lifts it.

How the DCF works · Recalculate with your own assumptions · What is intrinsic value?

Is Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) Undervalued?

At the current price of $59.99, FCX trades well below the base-case intrinsic value estimate, a margin of safety above 30%. By this model the stock looks undervalued, but verify the growth assumptions match your own view before acting.

Assessment by Charlie Wang, a former auditor

AI MOAT & RISK ANALYSIS
AI Generated · For Reference OnlyFCX

COMPETITIVE MOAT

World-Class Copper Assets

Freeport-McMoRan controls some of the world's largest and lowest-cost copper deposits, particularly the Grasberg mine. This provides a significant production advantage.

Long-Term Mine Life

The company possesses extensive reserves with decades of mine life remaining. This ensures a consistent supply of its primary commodity for the foreseeable future.

Economies of Scale

Operating large-scale mines allows for significant cost efficiencies in extraction and processing. This competitive cost structure is difficult for smaller players to replicate.

INVESTMENT RISKS

Environmental and Social Governance

Mining operations face increasing scrutiny regarding environmental impact and community relations. Negative ESG events can lead to operational disruptions and reputational damage.

Operational and Exploration Challenges

Large-scale mining is complex and prone to unforeseen operational issues or exploration failures. These can lead to production shortfalls and increased costs.

Labor Relations

FCX's operations rely on a significant workforce. Labor disputes or strikes can disrupt production and negatively impact financial performance.

Base case

FCX base case valuation

Intrinsic Value

$109.45

Margin of safety

+45.2%

Expected annual return

+12.8%

Base case assumptions: 8.8% annual growth, 10.0% discount rate, 15x exit multiple, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-07-29.

This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The intrinsic value changes significantly when the growth rate or discount rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.

Customize the FCX valuation

Adjust the growth rate, discount rate, and exit multiple to see how the intrinsic value and margin of safety for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. respond.

Open DCF Calculator for FCX

Or try PE Ratio Valuation for FCX

Company Overview

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. is a prominent mining enterprise conducting extensive operations across North America, South America, and Indonesia. The company primarily focuses on the exploration and extraction of key mineral resources such as copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver, alongside other valuable metals. Additionally, it maintains a significant presence in the oil and gas sector. Its diverse portfolio of assets features the notable Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; numerous sites in the United States including Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Tyrone and Chino in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado. In South America, its holdings include Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Beyond its mineral interests, Freeport-McMoRan operates a collection of oil and gas properties, predominantly situated off the coasts of California and in the Gulf of Mexico, managing approximately 135 wells as of December 31, 2021. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company adopted its current name, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., in July 2014, having previously operated as Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Financial Metrics — FCX Stock Valuation Data

Revenue/Share (TTM)

$17.93

FCF/Share (TTM)

$4.10

ROIC (TTM)

8.8%

ROE (TTM)

15.3%

P/FCF

14.6x

EV/EBITDA

10.3x

FCF Yield

6.86%

Debt/Equity

0.52x

On a trailing twelve-month basis, FCX generates free cash flow per share of $4.10 alongside a ROIC of 8.8%, both central inputs for a DCF valuation. Its P/FCF ratio of 14.6x and FCF yield of 6.86% then frame how FCX is priced against peers on a cash flow basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the intrinsic value of FCX?

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. currently generates $4.10 in free cash flow per share. At the current price of $59.99, a DCF model would discount these cash flows at an appropriate WACC and apply a terminal growth rate to arrive at an intrinsic value. The result depends heavily on your growth and discount rate assumptions — a 1% change in WACC typically shifts the fair value estimate by 10-15%. In MiniValuator the model uses a single discount rate that you can edit directly, 10% by default, rather than a computed WACC.

Is FCX undervalued?

FCX trades at a P/FCF ratio of 14.6x with a free cash flow yield of 6.86%. A low P/FCF means investors are paying less per dollar of free cash flow; whether that is cheap depends on the company's growth, cyclicality, and capital intensity. However, whether FCX is truly undervalued requires comparing the DCF intrinsic value to the current market price and evaluating whether the margin of safety is sufficient for your risk tolerance.

How do I value FCX stock using DCF?

To perform a DCF valuation on Freeport-McMoRan Inc.: (1) Start with the trailing free cash flow per share ($4.10) as the base, (2) project future FCF growth over 5-10 years based on Copper industry trends and company fundamentals, (3) apply a discount rate (WACC) reflecting FCX's risk profile — with a debt-to-equity of 0.52x, capital structure is an important factor, and (4) add a terminal value for cash flows beyond the projection period.

What is DCF valuation and how does it apply to FCX?

DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) estimates what a company is worth today based on its future cash generation. For Freeport-McMoRan Inc., this means projecting how much free cash flow the company will produce over the next 5-10 years, shaped by Copper trends, then discounting those amounts to today's dollars. FCX's ROIC of 8.8% shows moderate capital returns.

How does WACC affect FCX stock valuation?

WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) is the discount rate in a DCF model — it reflects the minimum return investors require. For FCX, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52x, the capital structure directly influences WACC. A 1% increase in WACC typically reduces the intrinsic value by 10-15%. At an EV/EBITDA of 10.3x, the market's implied discount rate can be reverse-engineered for comparison. In MiniValuator you set this discount rate yourself as a single editable number, 10% by default, instead of computing a formal WACC.

Learn More

DCF and P/E value FCX with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the P/E fair value.

Price as of 2026-07-29. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.

This is an estimate, not investment advice.