CENX vs NEM

For growth investors, Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the stronger pick with 19.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 6% for Century Aluminum Company (CENX). Newmont Corporation (NEM) offers the better valuation at 17. 0x trailing P/E (10. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Newmont Corporation (NEM) a "Buy" — based on 36 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.

On trailing P/E, Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the cheapest at 17.

0x versus Century Aluminum Company at 18. 9x. On forward P/E, Century Aluminum Company is actually cheaper at 6. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Century Aluminum Company (CENX) delivered a total return of +261.

3%, compared to +80. 0% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CENX returned +732. 6% versus NEM's +267. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

75β versus Century Aluminum Company's 1. 74β — meaning CENX is approximately 131% more volatile than NEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Newmont Corporation (NEM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 78% for Century Aluminum Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Newmont Corporation (NEM) is pulling ahead at 19.

1% versus 1. 6% for Century Aluminum Company (CENX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Century Aluminum Company grew EPS 800. 0% year-over-year, compared to 124. 1% for Newmont Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, NEM leads at 22. 7% 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.

Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

1% net margin versus 15. 2% for Century Aluminum Company — meaning it keeps 32. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NEM leads at 46. 9% versus 5. 5% for CENX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEM leads at 49. 8%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Century Aluminum Company (CENX) trades at 6.

0x forward P/E versus 10. 5x for Newmont Corporation — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NEM: 26. 1% to $137. 50.

In this comparison, NEM (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. CENX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

75), 0. 9% yield, +267. 2% 10Y return). Century Aluminum Company (CENX) carries a higher beta of 1. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEM: +267. 2%, CENX: +732. 6%), 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.

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: CENX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NEM is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NEM pays a dividend while CENX does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.