IE vs TECK vs FCX vs HBM vs SCCO

For growth investors, Teck Resources Limited (TECK) is the stronger pick with 18.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) offers the better valuation at 16. 3x trailing P/E (15. 3x 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.

On trailing P/E, Hudbay Minerals Inc.

(HBM) is the cheapest at 16. 3x versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. at 39. 9x. On forward P/E, Teck Resources Limited is actually cheaper at 13. 0x — 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. 75x versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 22x — 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 +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), Teck Resources Limited (TECK) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

73β versus Ivanhoe Electric Inc. 's 2. 39β — meaning IE is approximately 38% more volatile than TECK 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), Teck Resources Limited (TECK) is pulling ahead at 18.

6% versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hudbay Minerals Inc. grew EPS 630. 0% year-over-year, compared to 16. 9% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HBM leads at 14. 6% 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.

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. 75x versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 22x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Teck Resources Limited (TECK) trades at 13. 0x forward P/E versus 25. 4x for Southern Copper Corporation — 12. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IE: 18. 2% to $16. 17.

In this comparison, SCCO (1.

7% yield), FCX (1. 0% yield), TECK (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. IE, HBM do 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 TECK (Basic Materials) and FCX (Basic Materials) and HBM (Basic Materials) 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; TECK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; FCX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HBM is a small-cap deep-value stock; SCCO is a mid-cap high-growth stock. TECK, FCX, SCCO pay a dividend while IE, HBM do 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.