We recently published a list of 7 Best Metal Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) stands against other best metal stocks to buy according to analysts.
The metals industry, which supplies vital materials for manufacturing, renewable energy, and construction, is a major contributor to the expansion of the world economy. This market has grown remarkably in the last several years. The Business Research Company projects that the worldwide metals market will increase by 5.9%, from $4,392.33 billion in 2024 to $4,651.03 billion in 2025. Growing demand for industrial and precious metals, particularly in the construction, automotive, and renewable energy industries, is driving this growth.
Since copper is still one of the most sought-after metals, the growing demand for the metal is a major factor in this development. The copper market is projected to increase by 7.8% during the period 2024-2025, reaching $190.72 billion, according to The Business Research Company. This increase is mostly attributable to the growth of infrastructure worldwide and the extensive use of copper in electrification projects.
At the same time, there is a high demand for metals like copper, aluminum, and steel, especially from the expanding construction sector. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the value of monthly construction activities in the United States increased by 4.3% on a YoY basis in December 2024. Thus, the global acceleration of infrastructure projects is anticipated to support the metals market for the foreseeable future due to this increasing demand.
Along with industrial metals, precious metals have done noticeably better than the overall market, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets and inflationary fears. For example, gold ETFs had their greatest gain since 2010 in 2024, rising a whopping 26%. It is anticipated that this trend will continue into 2025 if inflationary pressures continue to drive demand for gold as a protective investment. Similarly, as of February 26, 2025, silver futures experienced a 40.34% year-over-year rise while gold futures produced an impressive 43.64% return, as reported by S&P Global. These figures highlight the rising demand for gold and silver as investments against an unstable economic landscape.
Simultaneously, the metals sector is undergoing a surge in sustainability efforts and technological breakthroughs. Metal production is being revolutionized by innovations such as generative AI in additive manufacturing, which is making it more sustainable and efficient. On the other hand, the global market for recycled scrap metal is expected to rise at a robust 6.4% annual growth rate from $70.5 billion in 2024 to $75.5 billion in 2025. By 2035, the recycling industry is predicted to account for 72.5% of the market value as environmental restrictions and sustainability drive companies to use recycled metals, especially ferrous metals.
Beyond technological innovations, metals like lithium, copper, and zinc are at the center of industry transformation as a result of the move toward cleaner energy and electrification. Lithium is becoming more affordable and widely available because of new extraction techniques, which are enhancing its use in energy storage applications. For instance, the lithium market is expected to expand by 16.3%, from $7.75 billion in 2024 to $9.01 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, as reported by Zinc.org, the demand for zinc in solar power is predicted to reach 568,000 tons by 2030, demonstrating the rising significance of zinc in renewable energy.
Therefore, the overall metal market is experiencing strong demand, technological breakthroughs, and increased focus on sustainability and clean energy initiatives. Therefore, experts are enticed to pick the best metal stocks with the potential for rapid growth to capitalize on bright future prospects of the market.
Our Methodology
To curate our list of the 7 Best Metal Stocks to Buy According to Analysts, we picked the top companies having a substantial exposure to extraction, processing, and manufacturing of metals. Furthermore, we made sure that we pick companies with strong market capitalization. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on the upside potential predicted by a healthy number of analysts, as of writing this article.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A large open-pit copper mine with heavy machinery extracting minerals from the earth.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)
Average Upside Potential: 28.56%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is a prominent producer of copper, gold, and molybdenum, with a significant presence in both North and South America, as well as Indonesia. Being a significant participant in the copper market, the company stands to gain from growing demand, which is mostly being driven by infrastructure and green energy projects.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) recorded outstanding earnings for the Q4 ended December 31, 2024. With copper prices averaging $4.21 per pound, EBITDA increased 14% year over year to $10 billion. Increased production levels and higher realized prices resulted in a 35% increase in the company’s operational cash flows, which reached $7 billion. By redeeming $730 million in senior notes and maintaining net debt at about $1 billion, this expansion allowed the company to further solidify its financial position. Accordingly, $4.7 billion was paid through dividends and share repurchases.
Furthermore, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is expanding its copper leach operations in parallel with its strategic development, which helped it achieve a noteworthy 50% increase in additional copper output in 2024. The company’s goal is to further optimize its manufacturing capacity by achieving a run rate of 300 million pounds by the end of 2025.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is prioritizing cost effectiveness by implementing innovative technology, such as autonomous haulage at its Bagdad mine, which is expected to be in service in 2025. However, there have been certain challenges in its operations in Indonesia, including a 7.5% export tax and delays in export permits. Looking ahead, copper, which could soon be regarded as a “critical mineral,” might be eligible for a 10% tax credit, which could lead to benefits of up to $500 million.
Thus, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is one of the best metal stocks to watch because of its ongoing investments in efficiency, automation, and organic growth.
Overall, FCX ranks 3rd on our list of best metal stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of FCX, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than FCX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.