Is Freeport-McMoRan's US-Based Footprint An Advantage? Analyst Upgrades Stock Amid Copper Import Tariff Risk

Core Viewpoint - J.P. Morgan analyst Bill Peterson upgraded Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. to an Overweight rating, raising the price forecast to $52 from$48, driven by tariff-related factors and long-term supply constraints supporting premium pricing for U.S. operations [1] Group 1: Tariff and Pricing Impact - Since the announcement regarding the assessment of U.S. copper imports as a national security risk, COMEX copper has maintained an average premium of approximately 10% over LME prices [2] - The ongoing review is expected to conclude by November 22, which may lead to protective measures for U.S. copper imports [3] Group 2: Financial Contributions and Positioning - Freeport-McMoRan's U.S. operations contribute around 10% of its operating profit for FY24 and 20% of post-tax earnings due to net operating loss benefits [3] - The company is well-positioned compared to peers to capitalize on near-term upside opportunities, even if protective policies do not materialize [4] Group 3: Long-term Outlook - The Commodities team projects widening supply deficits this year and into the next decade, reinforcing a favorable long-term outlook for copper pricing [5] - The expected resumption of concentrate exports and record gold prices are anticipated to boost by-product credits at the Grasberg mine [4]