How the Fortescue share price defied the bears and jumped 32% in November

The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price was in fine form in November.

After hitting a 52-week low late in October, the iron ore giant’s shares are now closing in on a 52-week high.

This led to the Fortescue share price recording an impressive ~32% gain for the month.

As a comparison, the ASX 200 index posted a solid 6.1% gain over the same period.

Why did the Fortescue share price storm higher?

While there’s a lot of hype (and scepticism) around the company’s green ambitions, there’s no hiding from the fact that it is still very much an iron ore business.

This means that the performance of Fortescue’s shares will invariably correlate with the iron ore price. When that rises, its shares will rise. And vice versa when the steel making ingredient falls.

In light of this, it will come as no surprise to learn that the iron ore price had a particularly strong month. After starting the period around US$80 per tonne, the benchmark iron ore price rose beyond US$100 a tonne late in the month.

This was driven by a combination of a softer US dollar and optimism that Chinese demand could increase thanks to the potential easing of COVID restrictions and the government ramping up support for struggling property developers.

Bearish brokers

Impressively, the Fortescue share price recorded its strong gain in November despite a large number of brokers continuing to rate the miner as a sell.

In fact, analysts at Bell Potter, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley, Morgans, and UBS all have the equivalent of sell ratings with price targets implying potential downside ranging from 16% to 30% over the next 12 months.

It is also worth noting that this bearish sentiment hasn’t put off investors in December. They have continued to buy the miner’s shares today, driving the Fortescue share price a further 3% higher.

The post How the Fortescue share price defied the bears and jumped 32% in November appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• What’s boosting the Fortescue share price on Wednesday?
• The 10 ASX 200 shares responsible for 60% of all Aussie dividends last quarter
• Here’s what’s boosting these ASX 200 mining giants today
• Did Fortescue just lose out on this multi-billion dollar green hydrogen project?
• Up 30% in a month, why the Fortescue share price could have further to run: fundie

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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