FCX vs. NUE: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Nucor Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though FCX is classified under Copper while NUE falls under Steel.

Company profile comparison for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Profile Item	FCX	NUE
Name	Freeport-McMoRan Inc.	Nucor Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Copper	Steel
Market Capitalization	85.33 billion USD	55.58 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	July 10, 1995	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FCX

NUE

GSPC

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Nucor (NUE), 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 Nucor (NUE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
Total Return (1Y)	58.58%	74.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.99%	19.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.32%	18.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FCX

NUE

GSPC

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Nucor (NUE), 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 Nucor (NUE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	48.40%	32.37%
Beta (5Y)	1.37	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.26%	-47.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)	12.34M	1.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FCX and NUE 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 Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.12	2.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.61	3.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.72% and Nucor (NUE) at 17.58% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

FCX

Materials industry group

15.72%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
FCX: 15.72%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

NUE

Materials industry group

17.58%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
NUE: 17.58%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 13.03% and Nucor (NUE) at 9.26% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

13.03%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
FCX: 13.03%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

NUE

Materials industry group

9.26%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
NUE: 9.26%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Nucor (NUE): 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 Nucor (NUE) at 16.73%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FCX

Materials industry group

35.26%

Max: 66.70%
FCX: 35.26%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

NUE

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
NUE: 16.73%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
ROE (TTM)	15.72%	17.58%
ROA (TTM)	7.99%	8.82%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.03%	9.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)	35.26%	16.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.86%	17.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% and Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% 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. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 16.92% and Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% 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. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.81%	5.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.39%	-7.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)	16.92%	-11.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-14.00%	-36.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.02 and Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

2.02

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
FCX: 2.02
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

NUE

Materials industry group

2.46

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
NUE: 2.46
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.31 and Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FCX

Materials industry group

0.31

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
FCX: 0.31
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

NUE

Materials industry group

0.29

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
NUE: 0.29
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Nucor (NUE): 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 Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.02	2.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.31	0.29
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.60	0.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.04% and Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FCX

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
FCX: 1.04%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NUE

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
NUE: 0.91%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 25.21% and Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

FCX

Materials industry group

25.21%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
FCX: 25.21%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NUE

Materials industry group

17.78%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
NUE: 17.78%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.04%	0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.21%	17.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 24.97 and Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

24.97

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
FCX: 24.97
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

NUE

Materials industry group

15.60

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
NUE: 15.60
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.23 and Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FCX

Materials industry group

3.23

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
FCX: 3.23
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

NUE

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
NUE: 1.43
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.97 carries an above-peer premium to book — FCX is pricier on assets.

FCX

Materials industry group

3.97

Max: 6.59
FCX: 3.97
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

NUE

Materials industry group

2.43

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
NUE: 2.43
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Nucor (NUE)
Metric	FCX	NUE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	24.97	15.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.23	1.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.97	2.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.19%	2.77%