Down 29% so far in 2026: What do brokers tip next for Fortescue shares?

The ASX mining shares are climbing higher again today. Can they keep going?

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are rebounding in Monday afternoon trade.

At the time of writing, the iron ore shares are up around 2% and changing hands at $15.62 a piece.

It's been headwind after headwind for the shares this year, and they've fallen mostly consistently throughout 2026 so far, off the back of iron ore price pressure. For the year to date, the shares are down around 29% and 18% lower than this time last year.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up around 1% today and up around 1% year to date.

Two mining workers on a laptop at a mine site.

Image source: Getty Images

Why are the shares climbing higher today?

There isn't any price-sensitive news out of the iron ore miner today to explain today's increase.

But ASX mining shares are trending higher today, driven by an overnight bounce in commodity prices.

The prices of major metals, including Chinese iron ore, copper, and gold, are climbing again. 

Iron ore futures dropped toward CNY 680 per ton late last week, which is the lowest level since October 2022, as Chinese markets reopened after a week-long holiday.

Elsewhere, Copper futures in the US have risen close to a record high of US$6.80 per pound, thanks to threats around global supply and continued speculative demand. 

Gold prices have also climbed as falling oil prices helped alleviate some concerns about rising inflation.

Fortescue is a major global iron ore producer and is also actively expanding its portfolio into copper and green energy. So its share price is heavily influenced by changing commodity prices.

Where to next for Fortescue shares?

Sentiment about the outlook for the ASX miner is pretty neutral

Market Index data shows brokers have a hold rating on Fortescue shares. The $17.88 average target price implies around a 14% upside, at the time of writing.

On TradingView, again, the majority of analysts (9 out of 16) have a hold stance on Fortescue shares. Another three rate the shares as a sell/strong sell, and two rate them as a strong buy.

The average $16.88 target price implies an 8% upside, but some think the shares could climb another 41% to $22.01 over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

The team at Bell Potter have a hold rating on the shares and recently reduced their price target to $15.80. The broker noted that Fortescue's latest quarterly update showed lower shipments, impacts from port maintenance, and shipment-to-sales gaps.

Late last week, UBS also confirmed its hold rating on the shares, with a $16.40 target price, following the miner's latest quarterly update.

Fortescue reported its first-quarter FY27 iron ore shipments were 46.8 million tonnes (Mt), 6% lower than FY26 Q1. 

Cash was US$3.2 billion and net debt was US$2.8 billion on the 30th of September 2026, compared with net debt of US$0.9 billion on the 30th of June 2026.

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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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