Freeport-McMoRan's Earnings Match, Sales Beat Estimates in Q1

Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) reported a decline in net income and revenues for the first quarter of 2025, with earnings per share meeting expectations while operational performance showed significant decreases in copper and gold production [1][2]. Financial Performance - Net income attributable to common stock was $352 million, or 24 cents per share, down approximately 25.6% from $473 million, or 32 cents per share, in the same quarter last year [1]. - Revenues decreased roughly 9.4% year over year to $5,728 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,307.6 million [1]. Operational Highlights - Copper production fell around 20% year over year to 868 million pounds, missing the estimate of 872 million pounds [2]. - Consolidated sales of copper declined approximately 21.2% year over year to 872 million pounds, exceeding the estimate of 850 million pounds [2]. - Gold sales dropped around 77.5% year over year to 128,000 ounces, while molybdenum sales remained stable at 20 million pounds [2]. Cost and Pricing - Consolidated average unit net cash costs per pound of copper increased to $2.07 from $1.51 a year ago, beating the estimate of $2.05 [3]. - The average realized price for copper rose approximately 12.7% year over year to $4.44 per pound, surpassing the estimate of $4.40 [3]. - The average realized price per ounce for gold increased around 43.2% year over year to $3,072, exceeding the estimate of $2,700 [3]. Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter were $4,385 million, down around 15.8% year over year [4]. - Total debt was $9,404 million, declining about 0.2% year over year [4]. - Cash flows from operations were approximately $1.1 billion, down 42.1% year over year [4]. Guidance - FCX anticipates total operating cash flow for 2025 to be around $7 billion, including approximately $0.2 billion from working capital and other sources [5]. - Capital spending for 2025 is projected to be around $5 billion, with $2.8 billion allocated to major mining projects and $0.6 billion for new downstream processing facilities [5]. Sales Forecast - FCX expects consolidated sales of approximately 4 billion pounds of copper, 1.6 million ounces of gold, and 88 million pounds of molybdenum for 2025, including specific targets for the second quarter [6]. Stock Performance - Freeport's shares have declined 28.8% over the past year, compared to a 26.9% decline in the industry [7].