FCX vs. SCCO: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Southern Copper Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

This page compares Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) with Southern Copper (SCCO) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

FCX

SCCO

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
1-Year Return	68.06%	110.18%

Risk

Drawdown

FCX

SCCO

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk at a Glance

Risk metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
1-Year Volatility	48.98%	49.76%
Beta	1.35	1.11
3-Month Avg. Volume	15.50M	1.52M

Company Profile

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO) are both classified in the Copper sub-industry within the broader Metals & Mining industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Profile Item	FCX	SCCO
Name	Freeport-McMoRan Inc.	Southern Copper 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	Copper
Market Capitalization	98.34 billion USD	158.35 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	July 10, 1995	January 5, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 32.17 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 36.20 sits in the richer quartile — FCX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

FCX

Materials industry group

36.20

Max: 60.17
FCX: 36.20
Q3: 33.90
Median: 22.02
Q1: 15.32
Min: 4.65

SCCO

Materials industry group

32.17

Max: 60.17
Q3: 33.90
SCCO: 32.17
Median: 22.02
Q1: 15.32
Min: 4.65

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

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.72 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 10.88 clears its benchmark range — SCCO looks notably rich on sales.

FCX

Materials industry group

3.72

Max: 9.93
Q3: 4.61
FCX: 3.72
Median: 2.05
Q1: 0.79
Min: 0.00

SCCO

Materials industry group

10.88

SCCO: 10.88
Max: 9.93
Q3: 4.61
Median: 2.05
Q1: 0.79
Min: 0.00

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

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 5.04 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 13.43 prices even higher, above its industry range.

FCX

Materials industry group

5.04

Max: 8.35
FCX: 5.04
Q3: 4.40
Median: 2.67
Q1: 1.45
Min: -0.48

SCCO

Materials industry group

13.43

SCCO: 13.43
Max: 8.35
Q3: 4.40
Median: 2.67
Q1: 1.45
Min: -0.48

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

Valuation at a Glance

Valuation metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	36.20	32.17
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	3.72	10.88
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	5.04	13.43
Free Cash Flow Yield	1.74%	2.69%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 46.34% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.63% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SCCO.

FCX

Materials industry group

15.63%

Max: 51.93%
Q3: 17.55%
FCX: 15.63%
Median: 5.92%
Q1: -10.29%
Min: -50.42%

SCCO

Materials industry group

46.34%

Max: 51.93%
SCCO: 46.34%
Q3: 17.55%
Median: 5.92%
Q1: -10.29%
Min: -50.42%

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

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 34.13% 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: 14.87%
FCX: 10.34%
Median: 3.80%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -21.87%

SCCO

Materials industry group

34.13%

Max: 35.99%
SCCO: 34.13%
Q3: 14.87%
Median: 3.80%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -21.87%

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

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.07% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 58.34% 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: 27.27%
Median: 9.63%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -32.85%

SCCO

Materials industry group

58.34%

Max: 66.92%
SCCO: 58.34%
Q3: 27.27%
Median: 9.63%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -32.85%

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

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
Return on Equity (TTM)	15.63%	46.34%
Return on Assets (TTM)	7.77%	23.81%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	10.34%	34.13%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	31.07%	58.34%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	38.64%	62.71%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
1-Year Revenue Growth	1.81%	17.38%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	4.39%	10.13%

EPS Growth

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
1-Year EPS Growth	16.92%	25.41%
3-Year EPS CAGR	-14.00%	17.64%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.39 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 4.38 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

2.39

Max: 6.31
Q3: 3.52
FCX: 2.39
Median: 2.28
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.12

SCCO

Materials industry group

4.38

Max: 6.31
SCCO: 4.38
Q3: 3.52
Median: 2.28
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.12

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

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.33 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.62 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: 0.14
Min: 0.00

SCCO

Materials industry group

0.62

Max: 2.02
Q3: 0.92
SCCO: 0.62
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.14
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.39	4.38
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.33	0.62
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.68	0.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 2.11% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.88% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SCCO the richer one.

FCX

Materials industry group

0.88%

Max: 4.47%
Q3: 1.89%
FCX: 0.88%
Median: 0.58%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SCCO

Materials industry group

2.11%

Max: 4.47%
SCCO: 2.11%
Q3: 1.89%
Median: 0.58%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): 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 Southern Copper (SCCO) at 56.33% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.75%

Max: 90.00%
Q3: 38.50%
FCX: 31.75%
Median: 8.90%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SCCO

Materials industry group

56.33%

Max: 90.00%
SCCO: 56.33%
Q3: 38.50%
Median: 8.90%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	FCX	SCCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.88%	2.11%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	31.75%	56.33%