FCX vs. SCCO: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Southern Copper Stock Comparison
How do Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO) 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 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.
| 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 | 90.03 billion USD | 143.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 10, 1995 | January 5, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 57.31% | 106.17% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.40% | 34.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.99% | 29.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 49.46% | 50.94% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.39 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -51.26% | -43.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 14.55M | 1.31M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.08 | 2.00 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.47 | 3.03 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 49.90% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 14.76% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SCCO.
FCX
Materials industry group
14.76%
- Max
- 53.09%
- Q3
- 18.39%
- FCX
- 14.76%
- Median
- 6.48%
- Q1
- -7.69%
- Min
- -44.78%
SCCO
Materials industry group
49.90%
- Max
- 53.09%
- SCCO
- 49.90%
- Q3
- 18.39%
- Median
- 6.48%
- Q1
- -7.69%
- Min
- -44.78%
Net Margin (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 35.87% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 11.39%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
FCX
Materials industry group
11.39%
- Max
- 36.74%
- Q3
- 14.76%
- FCX
- 11.39%
- Median
- 3.99%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.48%
SCCO
Materials industry group
35.87%
- Max
- 36.74%
- SCCO
- 35.87%
- Q3
- 14.76%
- Median
- 3.99%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.48%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 33.40% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 61.16% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
FCX
Materials industry group
33.40%
- Max
- 66.92%
- FCX
- 33.40%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -41.65%
SCCO
Materials industry group
61.16%
- Max
- 66.92%
- SCCO
- 61.16%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -41.65%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 14.76% | 49.90% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.59% | 25.71% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.39% | 35.87% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 33.40% | 61.16% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.28% | 64.50% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 17.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 16.92% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 25.41% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.81% | 17.38% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.39% | 10.13% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.92% | 25.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -14.00% | 17.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.07 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 5.06 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
FCX
Materials industry group
2.07
- Max
- 6.31
- Q3
- 3.41
- Median
- 2.21
- FCX
- 2.07
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.12
SCCO
Materials industry group
5.06
- Max
- 6.31
- SCCO
- 5.06
- Q3
- 3.41
- Median
- 2.21
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.32 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.67 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
FCX
Materials industry group
0.32
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.46
- FCX
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
SCCO
Materials industry group
0.67
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 0.91
- SCCO
- 0.67
- Median
- 0.46
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.07 | 5.06 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.32 | 0.67 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.66 | 0.12 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 1.96% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SCCO the richer one.
FCX
Materials industry group
0.95%
- Max
- 4.48%
- Q3
- 1.82%
- FCX
- 0.95%
- Median
- 0.42%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCCO
Materials industry group
1.96%
- Max
- 4.48%
- SCCO
- 1.96%
- Q3
- 1.82%
- Median
- 0.42%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 29.41% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 53.94% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
FCX
Materials industry group
29.41%
- Max
- 94.29%
- Q3
- 38.12%
- FCX
- 29.41%
- Median
- 8.75%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCCO
Materials industry group
53.94%
- Max
- 94.29%
- SCCO
- 53.94%
- Q3
- 38.12%
- Median
- 8.75%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.95% | 1.96% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.41% | 53.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 30.70 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 26.95 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
30.70
- Max
- 57.76
- Q3
- 31.80
- FCX
- 30.70
- Median
- 21.97
- Q1
- 13.12
- Min
- 4.76
SCCO
Materials industry group
26.95
- Max
- 57.76
- Q3
- 31.80
- SCCO
- 26.95
- Median
- 21.97
- Q1
- 13.12
- Min
- 4.76
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.48 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 9.07 clears its benchmark range — SCCO looks notably rich on sales.
FCX
Materials industry group
3.48
- Max
- 8.40
- Q3
- 3.98
- FCX
- 3.48
- Median
- 1.75
- Q1
- 0.76
- Min
- 0.00
SCCO
Materials industry group
9.07
- SCCO
- 9.07
- Max
- 8.40
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 1.75
- Q1
- 0.76
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 4.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 12.07 prices even higher, above its industry range.
FCX
Materials industry group
4.36
- Max
- 7.25
- FCX
- 4.36
- Q3
- 3.84
- Median
- 2.25
- Q1
- 1.36
- Min
- -0.30
SCCO
Materials industry group
12.07
- SCCO
- 12.07
- Max
- 7.25
- Q3
- 3.84
- Median
- 2.25
- Q1
- 1.36
- Min
- -0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.70 | 26.95 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.48 | 9.07 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.36 | 12.07 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.40% | 3.56% |