FCX vs. SQM: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but FCX is classified in Metals & Mining while SQM is classified in Chemicals.

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

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is heavily traded at around 12.34M shares per day, whereas Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) sees a more moderate 953.31K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.72% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 13.03%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 35.26% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 16.92% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.02 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.31 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.04% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SQM the richer one.

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 25.21% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 24.97 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

On P/S ratio, both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.23 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 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.

Valuation Metrics