Shares of mining giant Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) dipped 5.8% over the past month on investors’ concerns about the company’s current plan not to proceed with a new copper smelter building project. While accelerating demand for copper has boosted FCX’s sales volume, the volatility in copper and gold prices could cause its shares to decline further. So, read more to find out more.Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) in Phoenix, Ariz., explores for and mines minerals in North America, South America, and Indonesia. As a leading producer of copper, the company has been capitalizing on the accelerating demand due to its critical role in infrastructure building and clean energy transition. As a result, FCX’s share price has surged 26.6% year-to-date and 145.4% over the past year.
However, FCX’s shares have retreated 5.8% over the past months and 8.2% over the past three months. The recent cancellation of FCX’s plans to build a new copper smelter worth $2.8 billion with Tsingshan Holding Group in Indonesia has made investors nervous about the stock’s prospects.
Although higher copper prices and a substantial surge in sales volume helped the company generate strong topline growth, volatility in both gold and copper prices could make things uncertain for the company. Since FCX’s revenues come mainly from gold and copper, a decline in commodity prices could cause its shares to retreat further.