FCX vs. LIN: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Linde Stock Comparison

July 23, 2026

How do Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Profile Item	FCX	LIN
Name	Freeport-McMoRan Inc.	Linde plc
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Copper	Industrial Gases
Market Capitalization	89.93 billion USD	233.50 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	July 10, 1995	June 17, 1992
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FCX

LIN

GSPC

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN), 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

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Trailing total returns for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
Total Return (1Y)	39.93%	8.80%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	17.00%	10.92%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.11%	12.93%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FCX

LIN

GSPC

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN), 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

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	49.96%	17.93%
Beta (5Y)	1.37	0.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.26%	-22.82%
Avg. Volume (3M)	14.93M	2.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FCX and LIN 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.72	0.27
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.96	0.39

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Linde (LIN) at 18.23% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.63% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LIN.

FCX

Materials industry group

15.63%

Max: 51.93%
Q3: 18.20%
FCX: 15.63%
Median: 5.99%
Q1: -9.69%
Min: -50.42%

LIN

Materials industry group

18.23%

Max: 51.93%
LIN: 18.23%
Q3: 18.20%
Median: 5.99%
Q1: -9.69%
Min: -50.42%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Linde (LIN) at 20.44% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 10.34%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

FCX

Materials industry group

10.34%

Max: 35.99%
Q3: 14.91%
FCX: 10.34%
Median: 3.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -21.87%

LIN

Materials industry group

20.44%

Max: 35.99%
LIN: 20.44%
Q3: 14.91%
Median: 3.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -21.87%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.07% and Linde (LIN) at 28.47% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.07%

Max: 66.92%
FCX: 31.07%
Q3: 27.44%
Median: 10.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -32.85%

LIN

Materials industry group

28.47%

Max: 66.92%
LIN: 28.47%
Q3: 27.44%
Median: 10.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -32.85%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
ROE (TTM)	15.63%	18.23%
ROA (TTM)	7.77%	7.24%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.34%	20.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.07%	28.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.64%	48.77%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% and Linde (LIN) at 2.97% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 16.92% and Linde (LIN) at 7.27% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.81%	2.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.39%	0.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)	16.92%	7.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-14.00%	21.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.39 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Linde (LIN) at 0.83 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LIN.

FCX

Materials industry group

2.39

Max: 6.31
Q3: 3.49
FCX: 2.39
Median: 2.23
Q1: 1.42
Min: 0.12

LIN

Materials industry group

0.83

Max: 6.31
Q3: 3.49
Median: 2.23
Q1: 1.42
LIN: 0.83
Min: 0.12

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.33 and Linde (LIN) at 0.66 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FCX

Materials industry group

0.33

Max: 2.02
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.44
FCX: 0.33
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

LIN

Materials industry group

0.66

Max: 2.02
Q3: 0.92
LIN: 0.66
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.39	0.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.33	0.66
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.68	1.65

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.02% and Linde (LIN) at 1.19% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FCX

Materials industry group

1.02%

Max: 4.91%
Q3: 1.96%
FCX: 1.02%
Median: 0.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LIN

Materials industry group

1.19%

Max: 4.91%
Q3: 1.96%
LIN: 1.19%
Median: 0.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.75% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Linde (LIN) at 40.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.75%

Max: 97.44%
Q3: 40.00%
FCX: 31.75%
Median: 9.04%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LIN

Materials industry group

40.45%

Max: 97.44%
LIN: 40.45%
Q3: 40.00%
Median: 9.04%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.02%	1.19%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	31.75%	40.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.12 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Linde (LIN) at 33.89 sits in the richer quartile — LIN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.12

Max: 58.49
Q3: 31.23
FCX: 31.12
Median: 20.26
Q1: 12.90
Min: 4.66

LIN

Materials industry group

33.89

Max: 58.49
LIN: 33.89
Q3: 31.23
Median: 20.26
Q1: 12.90
Min: 4.66

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.40 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Linde (LIN) at 6.74 sits in the pricier quartile — LIN costs more per dollar of sales.

FCX

Materials industry group

3.40

Max: 8.72
Q3: 4.01
FCX: 3.40
Median: 1.86
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

LIN

Materials industry group

6.74

Max: 8.72
LIN: 6.74
Q3: 4.01
Median: 1.86
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 4.61 and Linde (LIN) at 6.06 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

FCX

Materials industry group

4.61

Max: 7.76
FCX: 4.61
Q3: 3.99
Median: 2.25
Q1: 1.38
Min: -0.30

LIN

Materials industry group

6.06

Max: 7.76
LIN: 6.06
Q3: 3.99
Median: 2.25
Q1: 1.38
Min: -0.30

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	FCX	LIN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.12	33.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.40	6.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.61	6.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.90%	2.01%