FQVLF (First Quantum Minerals) Beneish M-Score: -2.62 (As of Jul. 01, 2026)


FQVLF First Quantum Minerals Ltd FQVLF
73 GF Score
Price $27.16
GF Value $15.71
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 3 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is First Quantum Minerals Beneish M-Score?

First Quantum Minerals FQVLF -0.46% 73 Beneish M-Score is -2.62 as of Jul. 01, 2026. GuruFocus rates FQVLF with a GF Score™ of 73/100 and a GF Value™ of $15.71 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 683 Metals & Mining companies, First Quantum Minerals ranks better than 66.62% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -2.62 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for First Quantum Minerals's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

FQVLF' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.2   Med: -2.64   Max: -1.43
Current: -2.62

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of First Quantum Minerals was -1.43. The lowest was -3.20. And the median was -2.64.


First Quantum Minerals Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for First Quantum Minerals's Beneish M-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

First Quantum Minerals Beneish M-Score Chart

First Quantum Minerals Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.99 -2.21 -2.94 -2.88 -1.43

First Quantum Minerals Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.62 -2.66 -2.67 -1.43 -2.62

FQVLF vs SCCO, FCX: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Copper subindustry, First Quantum Minerals's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


First Quantum Minerals Beneish M-Score vs Metals & Mining Industry

For the Metals & Mining industry and Basic Materials sector, First Quantum Minerals's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where First Quantum Minerals's Beneish M-Score falls into.


FQVLF
73GF Score
First Quantum Minerals Ltd FQVLF
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

First Quantum Minerals Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of First Quantum Minerals for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.2862+0.528 * 1.1938+0.404 * 0.8709+0.892 * 1.0999+0.115 * 0.8627
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1.0273+4.679 * -0.100304-0.327 * 0.9912
=-2.56

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Mar26) TTM:Last Year (Mar25) TTM:
Total Receivables was $1,020 Mil.
Revenue was 1404 + 1475 + 1346 + 1226 = $5,451 Mil.
Gross Profit was 278 + 416 + 360 + 351 = $1,405 Mil.
Total Current Assets was $3,706 Mil.
Total Assets was $25,014 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was $19,799 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was $759 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was $174 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was $2,105 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $5,691 Mil.
Net Income was -196 + 25 + -48 + 18 = $-201 Mil.
Non Operating Income was -98 + 126 + -57 + -22 = $-51 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was 420 + -36 + 1195 + 780 = $2,359 Mil.
Total Receivables was $721 Mil.
Revenue was 1190 + 1256 + 1279 + 1231 = $4,956 Mil.
Gross Profit was 331 + 405 + 456 + 333 = $1,525 Mil.
Total Current Assets was $3,203 Mil.
Total Assets was $24,180 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was $19,302 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was $635 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was $154 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was $1,715 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $5,888 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(1020 / 5451) / (721 / 4956)
=0.187122 / 0.14548
=1.2862

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(1525 / 4956) / (1405 / 5451)
=0.307708 / 0.257751
=1.1938

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (3706 + 19799) / 25014) / (1 - (3203 + 19302) / 24180)
=0.060326 / 0.069272
=0.8709

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=5451 / 4956
=1.0999

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(635 / (635 + 19302)) / (759 / (759 + 19799))
=0.03185 / 0.03692
=0.8627

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(174 / 5451) / (154 / 4956)
=0.031921 / 0.031073
=1.0273

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((5691 + 2105) / 25014) / ((5888 + 1715) / 24180)
=0.311665 / 0.314433
=0.9912

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(-201 - -51 - 2359) / 25014
=-0.100304

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

First Quantum Minerals has a M-score of -2.56 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -2.62 mean?
First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.62 as of Jul. 01, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on First Quantum Minerals and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, First Quantum Minerals ranks #228 out of 683 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, placing it in the top 33.4%.
Is First Quantum Minerals' Beneish M-Score too high?
First Quantum Minerals' current Beneish M-Score is -2.62. Based on the distribution chart, First Quantum Minerals ranks #228 out of 683 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, First Quantum Minerals has a GF Score™ of 73/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does First Quantum Minerals' Beneish M-Score compare to SCCO and FCX?
According to the Metals & Mining industry distribution chart, First Quantum Minerals ranks #228 out of 683 companies for Beneish M-Score. This puts First Quantum Minerals in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Metals & Mining company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Metals & Mining industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on First Quantum Minerals and its competitors. First Quantum Minerals's current Beneish M-Score is -2.62. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is First Quantum Minerals stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $15.71, compared to a current price of $27.16 — trading 72.9% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.62. First Quantum Minerals' overall GF Score™ is 73/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.62 as of Jul. 01, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, First Quantum Minerals stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $27.16 is trading 72.9% above its estimated GF Value™ of $15.71. GuruFocus considers First Quantum Minerals to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for FQVLF:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.62
  • GF Value™: $15.71 vs. price of $27.16 (72.9% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 73/100 with 3 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the FQVLF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


First Quantum Minerals Business Description

Other Exchanges IZ1:GermanyFM:Canada
Address 330 Bay Street, Suite 1101, Toronto, ON, CAN, M5H 2S8
First Quantum Minerals Ltd is a diversified mining company. The company's principal activities include mineral exploration, mine engineering and construction, and development and mining operations. The firm produces copper in concentrate, copper anode, copper cathode, nickel, gold, zinc, silver, acid, and pyrite. It has operating mines located in Zambia, Panama, Turkey, Spain, Australia, and Mauritania. The company's reportable operating segments are Cobre Panama, Kansanshi, and Trident.
73GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FQVLF

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$27.16
Price
$15.71
GF Value