LIN vs. SCCO: Linde vs. Southern Copper Stock Comparison
How do Linde (LIN) 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
Linde (LIN) and Southern Copper (SCCO) both fall under the Materials industry group, but LIN is classified in Chemicals while SCCO is classified in Metals & Mining.
| Profile Item | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Linde plc | Southern Copper Corporation |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Gases | Copper |
| Market Capitalization | 249.91 billion USD | 145.06 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 17, 1992 | January 5, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.82% | 74.51% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.38% | 42.74% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.85% | 29.35% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 17.70% | 49.90% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.71 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -22.82% | -43.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.24M | 1.39M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.61 | 1.41 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.92 | 2.10 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Linde (LIN) at 18.23% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 46.34% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
LIN
Materials industry group
18.23%
- Max
- 51.93%
- LIN
- 18.23%
- Q3
- 17.83%
- Median
- 5.99%
- Q1
- -10.30%
- Min
- -50.42%
SCCO
Materials industry group
46.34%
- Max
- 51.93%
- SCCO
- 46.34%
- Q3
- 17.83%
- Median
- 5.99%
- Q1
- -10.30%
- Min
- -50.42%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Linde (LIN) at 20.44% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 34.13% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
LIN
Materials industry group
20.44%
- Max
- 35.99%
- LIN
- 20.44%
- Q3
- 14.91%
- Median
- 3.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -21.87%
SCCO
Materials industry group
34.13%
- Max
- 35.99%
- SCCO
- 34.13%
- Q3
- 14.91%
- Median
- 3.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -21.87%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Linde (LIN) at 28.47% 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.
LIN
Materials industry group
28.47%
- Max
- 66.92%
- LIN
- 28.47%
- Q3
- 27.44%
- Median
- 9.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -32.85%
SCCO
Materials industry group
58.34%
- Max
- 66.92%
- SCCO
- 58.34%
- Q3
- 27.44%
- Median
- 9.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -32.85%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.23% | 46.34% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.24% | 23.81% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.44% | 34.13% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.47% | 58.34% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.77% | 62.71% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.97% | 17.38% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.62% | 10.13% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 7.27% | 25.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 21.08% | 17.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 4.38 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Linde (LIN) at 0.83 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
LIN
Materials industry group
0.83
- Max
- 6.31
- Q3
- 3.53
- Median
- 2.27
- Q1
- 1.43
- LIN
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.12
SCCO
Materials industry group
4.38
- Max
- 6.31
- SCCO
- 4.38
- Q3
- 3.53
- Median
- 2.27
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Linde (LIN) at 0.66 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.62 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
LIN
Materials industry group
0.66
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.92
- LIN
- 0.66
- Median
- 0.44
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
SCCO
Materials industry group
0.62
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.92
- SCCO
- 0.62
- Median
- 0.44
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.83 | 4.38 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.66 | 0.62 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.65 | 0.23 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 1.92% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Linde (LIN) at 1.12% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SCCO the richer one.
LIN
Materials industry group
1.12%
- Max
- 4.43%
- Q3
- 1.84%
- LIN
- 1.12%
- Median
- 0.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCCO
Materials industry group
1.92%
- Max
- 4.43%
- SCCO
- 1.92%
- Q3
- 1.84%
- Median
- 0.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Linde (LIN) at 40.45% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 56.33% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
LIN
Materials industry group
40.45%
- Max
- 90.00%
- LIN
- 40.45%
- Q3
- 38.38%
- Median
- 9.04%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCCO
Materials industry group
56.33%
- Max
- 90.00%
- SCCO
- 56.33%
- Q3
- 38.38%
- Median
- 9.04%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.12% | 1.92% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 40.45% | 56.33% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 29.47 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Linde (LIN) at 35.82 sits in the richer quartile — LIN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
LIN
Materials industry group
35.82
- Max
- 60.47
- LIN
- 35.82
- Q3
- 33.41
- Median
- 21.58
- Q1
- 14.06
- Min
- 4.51
SCCO
Materials industry group
29.47
- Max
- 60.47
- Q3
- 33.41
- SCCO
- 29.47
- Median
- 21.58
- Q1
- 14.06
- Min
- 4.51
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Linde (LIN) at 7.21 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 9.97 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
LIN
Materials industry group
7.21
- Max
- 10.50
- LIN
- 7.21
- Q3
- 4.77
- Median
- 1.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.00
SCCO
Materials industry group
9.97
- Max
- 10.50
- SCCO
- 9.97
- Q3
- 4.77
- Median
- 1.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Linde (LIN) at 6.48 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 12.31 prices even higher, above its industry range.
LIN
Materials industry group
6.48
- Max
- 8.37
- LIN
- 6.48
- Q3
- 4.23
- Median
- 2.38
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- -0.31
SCCO
Materials industry group
12.31
- SCCO
- 12.31
- Max
- 8.37
- Q3
- 4.23
- Median
- 2.38
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- -0.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LIN | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 35.82 | 29.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.21 | 9.97 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.48 | 12.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.88% | 2.93% |