FCX vs. VMC: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison
How do Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but FCX is classified in Metals & Mining while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Freeport-McMoRan Inc. | Vulcan Materials Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Copper | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 85.33 billion USD | 36.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 10, 1995 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 58.58% | 2.25% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 24.99% | 12.53% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.32% | 8.08% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.40% | 30.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.37 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -51.26% | -32.50% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 12.34M | 1.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.12 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.61 | -0.09 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.72% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 12.88% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
12.88%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- VMC
- 12.88%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 13.03% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 13.78% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
13.78%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- VMC
- 13.78%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 35.26% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95%, 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
23.95%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- VMC
- 23.95%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.72% | 12.88% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.99% | 5.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.03% | 13.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 35.26% | 23.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.86% | 27.48% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% 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 | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.81% | 7.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.39% | 2.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.92% | 18.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -14.00% | 23.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.02 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 1.43 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VMC.
FCX
Materials industry group
2.02
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- FCX
- 2.02
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
VMC
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- VMC
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.31 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.63 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
VMC
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- VMC
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.02 | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.31 | 0.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.60 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.04% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
0.72%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- VMC
- 0.72%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 25.21% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 24.26% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
24.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- VMC
- 24.26%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.04% | 0.72% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.21% | 24.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 24.97 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 33.46 sits in the richer quartile — VMC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
FCX
Materials industry group
24.97
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- FCX
- 24.97
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
VMC
Materials industry group
33.46
- Max
- 59.00
- VMC
- 33.46
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.23 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 sits in the pricier quartile — VMC costs more per dollar of sales.
FCX
Materials industry group
3.23
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- FCX
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
4.53
- Max
- 9.62
- VMC
- 4.53
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.97 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
FCX
Materials industry group
3.97
- Max
- 6.59
- FCX
- 3.97
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
VMC
Materials industry group
4.31
- Max
- 6.59
- VMC
- 4.31
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FCX | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.97 | 33.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.23 | 4.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.97 | 4.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.19% | 1.96% |