IE vs SCCO

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

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 8% for Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE). Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) offers the better valuation at 34. 3x trailing P/E (25. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE) a "Buy" — based on 5 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.

Over the past 5 years, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) delivered a total return of +167.

4%, compared to +26. 7% for Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCCO returned +668. 4% versus IE's +26. 7%. 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 Ivanhoe Electric Inc. 's 2. 39β — meaning IE is approximately 35% more volatile than SCCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% 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 11. 8% for Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ivanhoe Electric Inc. grew EPS 26. 2% year-over-year, compared to 24. 5% for Southern Copper Corporation. 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 -32. 6% for Ivanhoe Electric 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 -34. 2% for IE. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IE: 18.

2% to $16. 17.

In this comparison, SCCO (1.

7% yield) pays a dividend. IE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +668. 4% 10Y return). Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (IE) carries a higher beta of 2. 39 — 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: +668. 4%, IE: +26. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (IE (Technology) and SCCO (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: IE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SCCO is a mid-cap high-growth stock. SCCO pays a dividend while IE 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.