FCX
Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
Copper
Market Cap$82.93B
5Y Perf.+536.2%
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Stock Comparison
FCX vs AA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AA
Alcoa Corporation
Aluminum
Market Cap$16.33B
5Y Perf.+584.8%
FCX vs AA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FCX | AA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Copper | Aluminum |
| Market Cap | $82.93B | $16.33B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $26.42B | $12.74B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.73B | $1.15B |
| Gross Margin | 27.8% | 13.6% |
| Operating Margin | 27.8% | 7.6% |
| Forward P/E | 21.3x | 9.0x |
| Total Debt | $11.50B | $1M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.35B | $1.60B |
FCX vs AA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FCX
AA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeport-McMoRan In… (FCX) | 100 | 636.2 | +536.2% |
| Alcoa Corporation (AA) | 100 | 684.8 | +584.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FCX vs AA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AA leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FCX
Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
The Income Pick
FCX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.79, yield 1.0%
- 440.5% 10Y total return vs AA's 188.5%
- Beta 1.79, yield 1.0%, current ratio 2.29x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
AA
Alcoa Corporation
The Growth Play
AA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 4.5%, EPS growth 14.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.77, Low D/E 0.0%, current ratio 1.45x
- 4.5% revenue growth vs FCX's 1.1%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AA | 4.5% revenue growth vs FCX's 1.1% |
| Value | AA | Lower P/E (9.0x vs 21.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | FCX | 10.3% margin vs AA's 9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AA | Beta 1.77 vs FCX's 1.79, lower leverage |
| Dividends | FCX | 1.0% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs AA's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AA | +153.2% vs FCX's +56.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AA | 7.1% ROA vs FCX's 4.7%, ROIC 12.7% vs 12.8% |
FCX vs AA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
FCX vs AA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAALAGGINGFCX
FCXFreeport-McMoRan Inc.
2leads
AAAlcoa Corporation
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FCXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
FCX6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AA6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AA6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AA5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FCX2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FCX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FCX is the larger business by revenue, generating $26.4B annually — 2.1x AA's $12.7B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.3% (FCX) to 9.0% (AA). On growth, FCX holds the edge at +12.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FCXFreeport-McMoRan … | AAAlcoa Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $26.4B | $12.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9.6B | $1.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.7B | $1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6.2B | $567M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.8% | +13.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +27.8% | +7.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.3% | +9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +4.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.2% | -13.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +154.2% | +11.8% |
FCX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.2x trailing earnings, AA trades at a 63% valuation discount to FCX's 38.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AA's 9.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FCX's 10.7x.
| Metric | FCXFreeport-McMoRan … | AAAlcoa Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $82.9B | $16.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $91.1B | $14.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 37.96x | 14.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.33x | 9.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.27x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.67x | 9.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.22x | 1.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.71x | 2.67x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 74.31x | 28.81x |
AA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AA leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AA delivers a 18.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $9 for FCX. AA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FCX's 0.37x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AA scores 7/9 vs FCX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | FCXFreeport-McMoRan … | AAAlcoa Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.9% | +18.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.7% | +7.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.8% | +12.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.4% | +8.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.37x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.1B | -$1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.4B | $1.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $11.5B | $1M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 17.68x | 7.85x |
AA leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AA five years ago would be worth $15,978 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,576 for FCX. Over the past 12 months, AA leads with a +153.2% total return vs FCX's +56.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AA at 21.1% vs FCX's 17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FCXFreeport-McMoRan … | AAAlcoa Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.7% | +11.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +56.1% | +153.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.1% | +77.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.8% | +59.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +440.5% | +188.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.7% | +21.1% |
AA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AA is the less volatile stock with a 1.77 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FCX's 1.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | FCXFreeport-McMoRan … | AAAlcoa Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.79x | 1.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $70.97 | $75.70 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.15 | $24.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.3% | +83.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 35.7 | 42.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 15.5M | 5.5M |
AA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FCX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FCX as "Buy" and AA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 16.1% upside for FCX (target: $67) vs 9.1% for AA (target: $69). For income investors, FCX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.04% vs AA's 0.63%.
| Metric | FCXFreeport-McMoRan … | AAAlcoa Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.00 | $68.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | $0.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
FCX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AA leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). FCX leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Analyst Outlook).
Best OverallAlcoa Corporation (AA)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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FCX vs AA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FCX or AA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the stronger pick with 4.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Alcoa Corporation (AA) offers the better valuation at 14. 2x trailing P/E (9. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) a "Buy" — based on 41 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — FCX or AA?
On trailing P/E, Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the cheapest at 14.
2x versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. at 38. 0x. On forward P/E, Alcoa Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FCX or AA?
Over the past 5 years, Alcoa Corporation (AA) delivered a total return of +59.
8%, compared to +45. 8% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FCX returned +440. 5% versus AA's +188. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — FCX or AA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
77β versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning FCX is approximately 1% more volatile than AA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alcoa Corporation (AA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 37% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FCX or AA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alcoa Corporation (AA) is pulling ahead at 4.
5% versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alcoa Corporation grew EPS 1486% year-over-year, compared to 16. 9% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FCX leads at 3. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — FCX or AA?
Alcoa Corporation (AA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
0% net margin versus 8. 6% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FCX leads at 24. 4% versus 7. 6% for AA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FCX leads at 27. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is FCX or AA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alcoa Corporation (AA) trades at 9.
0x forward P/E versus 21. 3x for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. — 12. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FCX: 16. 1% to $67. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — FCX or AA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 0. 6% for Alcoa Corporation (AA).
09Is FCX or AA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
(FCX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 0% yield, +440. 5% 10Y return). Alcoa Corporation (AA) carries a higher beta of 1. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FCX: +440. 5%, AA: +188. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between FCX and AA?
Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: FCX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(FCX: 12.2% · AA: -13.3%)Net Margin>
%
(FCX: 10.3% · AA: 9.0%)P/E Ratio<
x
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