Seek Returns

BHP vs. FCX: BHP vs. Freeport-McMoRan Stock Comparison

How do BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though BHP is classified under Diversified Metals & Mining while FCX falls under Copper.

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) trades as ordinary local shares, while BHP (BHP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
Profile ItemBHPFCX
NameBHP Group Ltd. Sponsored ADRFreeport-McMoRan Inc.
Country/RegionAustraliaUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Metals & MiningCopper
Market Capitalization221.49 billion USD102.06 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980July 10, 1995
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BHP
FCX
GSPC
Loading price history…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
Total Return (1Y)67.51%56.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.00%22.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.28%16.50%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BHP
FCX
GSPC
Loading price history…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.19%51.36%
Beta (5Y)0.751.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.21%-51.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.63M14.68M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
BHP and FCX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.851.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.791.41

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 24.00% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 14.76% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BHP.

BHP

Materials industry group

24.00%

Max
58.68%
BHP
24.00%
Q3
19.97%
Median
7.25%
Q1
-6.14%
Min
-41.32%

FCX

Materials industry group

14.76%

Max
58.68%
Q3
19.97%
FCX
14.76%
Median
7.25%
Q1
-6.14%
Min
-41.32%
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 16.73% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 11.39%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BHP

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max
38.18%
BHP
16.73%
Q3
15.31%
Median
4.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-19.34%

FCX

Materials industry group

11.39%

Max
38.18%
Q3
15.31%
FCX
11.39%
Median
4.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-19.34%
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both BHP (BHP) at 43.34% and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 33.40% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

BHP

Materials industry group

43.34%

Max
66.54%
BHP
43.34%
Q3
29.91%
Median
12.48%
Q1
1.85%
Min
-29.20%

FCX

Materials industry group

33.40%

Max
66.54%
FCX
33.40%
Q3
29.91%
Median
12.48%
Q1
1.85%
Min
-29.20%
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
ROE (TTM)24.00%14.76%
ROA (TTM)13.43%7.59%
Net Margin (TTM)16.73%11.39%
Operating Margin (TTM)43.34%33.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)85.92%38.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both BHP (BHP) at 14.63% and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both BHP (BHP) at 8.91% and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 16.92% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
Revenue Growth (YoY)14.63%1.81%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.97%4.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)8.91%16.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.80%-14.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both BHP (BHP) at 1.89 and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.07 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BHP

Materials industry group

1.89

Max
6.33
Q3
3.46
Median
2.25
BHP
1.89
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

FCX

Materials industry group

2.07

Max
6.33
Q3
3.46
Median
2.25
FCX
2.07
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both BHP (BHP) at 0.50 and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.32 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

BHP

Materials industry group

0.50

Max
2.03
Q3
0.93
BHP
0.50
Median
0.45
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

FCX

Materials industry group

0.32

Max
2.03
Q3
0.93
Median
0.45
FCX
0.32
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.892.07
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.500.32
Net Debt / EBITDA0.330.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 1.97% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.84% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BHP the richer one.

BHP

Materials industry group

1.97%

Max
4.74%
BHP
1.97%
Q3
1.90%
Median
0.36%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FCX

Materials industry group

0.84%

Max
4.74%
Q3
1.90%
FCX
0.84%
Median
0.36%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 29.41% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while BHP (BHP) at 68.84% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BHP

Materials industry group

68.84%

Max
84.09%
BHP
68.84%
Q3
34.59%
Median
7.64%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FCX

Materials industry group

29.41%

Max
84.09%
Q3
34.59%
FCX
29.41%
Median
7.64%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.97%0.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)68.84%29.41%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 22.58 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 34.84 sits in the richer quartile — FCX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BHP

Materials industry group

22.58

Max
58.12
Q3
32.25
BHP
22.58
Median
20.96
Q1
14.60
Min
5.82

FCX

Materials industry group

34.84

Max
58.12
FCX
34.84
Q3
32.25
Median
20.96
Q1
14.60
Min
5.82
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both BHP (BHP) at 3.77 and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.95 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BHP

Materials industry group

3.77

Max
10.35
Q3
4.84
BHP
3.77
Median
2.00
Q1
0.71
Min
0.00

FCX

Materials industry group

3.95

Max
10.35
Q3
4.84
FCX
3.95
Median
2.00
Q1
0.71
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both BHP (BHP) at 4.35 and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 5.08 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

BHP

Materials industry group

4.35

Max
8.22
BHP
4.35
Q3
4.17
Median
2.46
Q1
1.44
Min
-0.34

FCX

Materials industry group

5.08

Max
8.22
FCX
5.08
Q3
4.17
Median
2.46
Q1
1.44
Min
-0.34
Loading chart…
BHP (BHP) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BHP (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricBHPFCX
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.5834.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.773.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.355.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.33%2.12%