SCCO vs LIN

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

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Linde plc (LIN) offers the better valuation at 34. 4x trailing P/E (28. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Linde plc (LIN) a "Buy" — based on 28 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the cheapest at 34.

4x versus Southern Copper Corporation at 35. 1x. On forward P/E, Southern Copper Corporation is actually cheaper at 26. 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: Linde plc wins at 1. 11x versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 25x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) delivered a total return of +188.

5%, compared to +78. 1% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCCO returned +657. 5% versus LIN's +376. 9%. 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), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

24β versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 78β — meaning SCCO is approximately 639% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 68% for Linde plc — 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 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Southern Copper Corporation grew EPS 24. 5% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. 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 20. 3% for Linde plc — 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 26. 3% for LIN. 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 11x versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 25x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) trades at 26. 0x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LIN: 7. 5% to $539. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).

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

24), 1. 2% yield, +376. 9% 10Y return). Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) carries a higher beta of 1. 78 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +376. 9%, SCCO: +657. 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: SCCO is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder 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.