PKX vs. SCCO: POSCO vs. Southern Copper Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do POSCO (PKX) 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

POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though PKX is classified under Steel while SCCO falls under Copper.

Southern Copper (SCCO) trades as ordinary local shares, while POSCO (PKX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Profile Item	PKX	SCCO
Name	POSCO Holdings Inc. American Depositary Receipt	Southern Copper Corporation
Country/Region	South Korea	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Steel	Copper
Market Capitalization	14.79 billion USD	142.73 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 14, 1994	January 5, 1996
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PKX

SCCO

GSPC

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
Total Return (1Y)	-4.84%	38.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-15.65%	42.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.81%	30.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PKX

SCCO

GSPC

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	46.00%	52.64%
Beta (5Y)	1.71	1.15
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-68.71%	-43.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)	216.95K	1.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PKX and SCCO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.20	0.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	0.95

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 52.88% sits in the top ROE quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at 2.21% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SCCO.

PKX

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
PKX: 2.21%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

SCCO

Materials industry group

52.88%

SCCO: 52.88%
Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 37.16% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of POSCO (PKX) at 1.89%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.89%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
PKX: 1.89%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

SCCO

Materials industry group

37.16%

Max: 38.66%
SCCO: 37.16%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 59.94% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of POSCO (PKX) at 4.26%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PKX

Materials industry group

4.26%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
PKX: 4.26%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

SCCO

Materials industry group

59.94%

Max: 66.70%
SCCO: 59.94%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
ROE (TTM)	2.21%	52.88%
ROA (TTM)	1.31%	27.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.89%	37.16%
Operating Margin (TTM)	4.26%	59.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)	7.87%	65.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 17.38% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while POSCO (PKX) at -6.09% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both POSCO (PKX) at -29.00% 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.

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-6.09%	17.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-6.72%	10.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-29.00%	25.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-39.42%	17.64%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

POSCO (PKX) at 1.98 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 4.31 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.98

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
PKX: 1.98
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

SCCO

Materials industry group

4.31

Max: 5.96
SCCO: 4.31
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 0.50 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.63 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.50

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
PKX: 0.50
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

SCCO

Materials industry group

0.63

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
SCCO: 0.63
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.98	4.31
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.50	0.63
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.81	0.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 2.30% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; POSCO (PKX) at 18,518.52% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

PKX

Materials industry group

18,518.52%

PKX: 18,518.52%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SCCO

Materials industry group

2.30%

Max: 4.52%
SCCO: 2.30%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 51.60% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 52.43% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

PKX

Materials industry group

51.60%

Max: 83.62%
PKX: 51.60%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SCCO

Materials industry group

52.43%

Max: 83.62%
SCCO: 52.43%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	18,518.52%	2.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	51.60%	52.43%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 15.57 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 22.27 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

PKX

Materials industry group

15.57

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
PKX: 15.57
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

SCCO

Materials industry group

22.27

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
SCCO: 22.27
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

POSCO (PKX) at 0.00 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 8.34 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.00

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
PKX: 0.00
Min: 0.00

SCCO

Materials industry group

8.34

Max: 9.62
SCCO: 8.34
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

POSCO (PKX) at 1.36 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 10.89 prices above its benchmark range — SCCO looks rich relative to book.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.36

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
PKX: 1.36
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

SCCO

Materials industry group

10.89

SCCO: 10.89
Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

POSCO (PKX) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Southern Copper (SCCO)
Metric	PKX	SCCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	15.57	22.27
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.00	8.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	10.89
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-23,410.34%	3.91%