FC
FCX
Sep 30, 2023
Quarter ended Sep 30, 2023 · FY2023 Q3

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. stock research

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2023

Free cash flow turned positive year-over-year but weakened sharply from the prior quarter. The improvement from a year ago was driven by higher operating cash flow, while the sequential decline reflected lower cash generation despite stable revenue.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

Free cash flow turned positive year-over-year but weakened sharply from the prior quarter. The improvement from a year ago was driven by higher operating cash flow, while the sequential decline reflected lower cash generation despite stable revenue.

  • Revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter, but operating cash flow decreased, leading to a lower free cash flow and margin. Capital expenditure remained unchanged.
  • Sequentially, free cash flow and margin weakened significantly. Year-over-year, free cash flow improved from negative to positive, and margin turned positive.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$519.0M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$58.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$1.2B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$1.2B

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

1.0%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2022-12-31$5.4B$1.1B$1.0B$22.0M0.4%
2023-03-31$5.1B$1.1B$1.1B-$71.0M-1.4%
2023-06-30$5.9B$1.7B$1.2B$510.0M8.6%
2023-09-30$5.9B$1.2B$1.2B$58.0M1.0%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income6.0%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue20.1%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$3.7BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Watch

Operating Cash Flow Decline

Operating cash flow decreased sequentially while revenue held steady, compressing free cash flow.

The lower operating cash flow reduced free cash flow to near break-even levels.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter, but operating cash flow decreased, leading to a lower free cash flow and margin. Capital expenditure remained unchanged.

Sequentially, free cash flow and margin weakened significantly. Year-over-year, free cash flow improved from negative to positive, and margin turned positive.

Monitor operating cash flow trends as they are the primary driver of free cash flow changes.

FCX Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2023