FCX vs SCCO

For growth investors, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the stronger pick with 17.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) offers the better valuation at 32. 6x trailing P/E (24. 2x 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.

On trailing P/E, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the cheapest at 32.

6x versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. at 38. 0x. On forward P/E, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Freeport-McMoRan Inc. wins at 0. 71x versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 16x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) delivered a total return of +171.

0%, compared to +45. 8% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCCO returned +617. 5% versus FCX's +440. 5%. 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), Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

78β versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning FCX is approximately 1% more volatile than SCCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 67% for Southern Copper Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is pulling ahead at 17.

4% versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Southern Copper Corporation grew EPS 24. 5% year-over-year, compared to 16. 9% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SCCO leads at 10. 1% 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.

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

3% net margin versus 8. 6% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SCCO leads at 52. 2% versus 24. 4% for FCX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SCCO leads at 56. 7%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 71x versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 16x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) trades at 21. 3x forward P/E versus 24. 2x for Southern Copper Corporation — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FCX: 16. 1% to $67. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 1. 0% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

7% yield, +617. 5% 10Y return). Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCCO: +617. 5%, FCX: +440. 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.

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; SCCO is a mid-cap high-growth 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.