Picture this: Five years ago, Freeport-McMoRan $FCX stock was trading around $34 a share. Fast forward to today in February 2026, and it's sitting at $64.34—that's a solid +89.74% jump, or about +$30 from its level back then. The chart shows a clear upward trend overall, with ups and downs tied to copper prices, but strong gains in recent years as demand for metals stays high.

The 52-week high stands at $69.44, marking the peak the stock hit in the last year and showing it has room to push higher during good cycles.

To break down that growth simply: The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over those five years is about 13.7% based on price alone (total returns including dividends come in closer to 15-16% from broader data). In plain words, that's the average yearly lift that turned a decent start into meaningful performance over time.

Now, imagine jumping in with dollar-cost averaging (DCA)—the straightforward plan of putting $500 in every month, no matter the price swings, for the next five years. You put in a total of $30,000 out of pocket across 60 months. This method lets you buy more shares on dips and fewer on highs, averaging out your cost nicely.

If FCX keeps growing at a pace similar to its historical 13.7% annual CAGR (or slightly higher with dividends factored in), your regular investments would compound steadily. Each $500 adds to the pile and grows over the remaining months. After five years, your total could reach around $42,000 to $45,000 (depending on exact timing and if we lean toward the higher total return figure). That works out to a gain of about $12,000 to $15,000 on your $30,000 invested—a nice 40-50% overall return.

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Of course, past growth doesn't promise the same going forward—copper prices, global demand, mining costs, and economic shifts can change things. But FCX's role as a major copper producer, with exposure to electrification and energy transition trends, keeps the outlook interesting for patient investors. Your monthly $500 stays simple and manageable, while time and compounding handle the rest.

The metals sector often benefits from big-picture needs like renewables and infrastructure. Staying consistent, even through any pullbacks, is what usually leads to solid long-term results.

Ready to let this steady strategy work for you?