Seek Returns

CX vs. FCX: CEMEX vs. Freeport-McMoRan Stock Comparison

How do CEMEX (CX) 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

CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but CX is classified in Construction Materials while FCX is classified in Metals & Mining.

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

Company profile comparison for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
Profile ItemCXFCX
NameCemex S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADRFreeport-McMoRan Inc.
Country/RegionMexicoUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryConstruction MaterialsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction MaterialsCopper
Market Capitalization15.47 billion USD85.33 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 15, 1999July 10, 1995
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CX
FCX
GSPC
Loading price history…
CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
Total Return (1Y)7.57%58.58%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.84%24.99%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)10.81%11.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CX
FCX
GSPC
Loading price history…
CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.82%48.40%
Beta (5Y)1.571.37
Max Drawdown (5Y)-53.08%-51.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.01M12.34M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CX 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 CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.091.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.141.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 5.17% and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.72% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

CX

Materials industry group

5.17%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
CX
5.17%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

FCX

Materials industry group

15.72%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
FCX
15.72%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 3.60% and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 13.03% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CX

Materials industry group

3.60%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
CX
3.60%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

FCX

Materials industry group

13.03%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
FCX
13.03%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 35.26% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CEMEX (CX) at 14.77%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CX

Materials industry group

14.77%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
CX
14.77%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

FCX

Materials industry group

35.26%

Max
66.70%
FCX
35.26%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
ROE (TTM)5.17%15.72%
ROA (TTM)5.07%7.99%
Net Margin (TTM)3.60%13.03%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.77%35.26%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.48%38.86%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CEMEX (CX) at 0.43% 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…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CEMEX (CX) at 2.35% 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…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.43%1.81%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.13%4.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.35%16.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.14%-14.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.02 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CEMEX (CX) at 0.95 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CX.

CX

Materials industry group

0.95

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
CX
0.95
Min
0.16

FCX

Materials industry group

2.02

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
FCX
2.02
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 0.46 and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CX

Materials industry group

0.46

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
CX
0.46
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

FCX

Materials industry group

0.31

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
FCX
0.31
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.952.02
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.460.31
Net Debt / EBITDA1.600.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CEMEX (CX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) reports a yield of 1.04%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
CX
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FCX

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
FCX
1.04%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 25.21% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CEMEX (CX) at 67.86% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CX

Materials industry group

67.86%

Max
83.62%
CX
67.86%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FCX

Materials industry group

25.21%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
FCX
25.21%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.04%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)67.86%25.21%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 24.97 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CEMEX (CX) at 67.00 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for CX’s trailing earnings.

CX

Materials industry group

67.00

CX
67.00
Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93

FCX

Materials industry group

24.97

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
FCX
24.97
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) at 0.89 and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.23 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CX

Materials industry group

0.89

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
CX
0.89
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

FCX

Materials industry group

3.23

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
FCX
3.23
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CEMEX (CX) at 1.20 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.97 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

CX

Materials industry group

1.20

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
CX
1.20
Min
-0.17

FCX

Materials industry group

3.97

Max
6.59
FCX
3.97
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
Loading chart…
CEMEX (CX) vs. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
MetricCXFCX
P/E Ratio (TTM)67.0024.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.893.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.203.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.86%2.19%