TECK vs FCX vs HBM vs SCCO vs CMCL

For growth investors, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) is the stronger pick with 38.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 1% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) offers the better valuation at 8. 3x trailing P/E (6. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Teck Resources Limited (TECK) a "Buy" — based on 26 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, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) is the cheapest at 8.

3x versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. at 39. 9x. On forward P/E, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc is actually cheaper at 6. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc wins at 0. 60x 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 +44. 3% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCCO returned +668. 4% versus CMCL's +478. 3%. 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), Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

28β versus Hudbay Minerals Inc. 's 1. 91β — meaning HBM is approximately 49% more volatile than CMCL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 67% for Southern Copper Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) is pulling ahead at 38.

9% 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, CMCL leads at 21. 4% 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 16. 5% for TECK. 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, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 60x 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, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 25. 4x for Southern Copper Corporation — 19. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FCX: 10. 5% to $67. 00.

In this comparison, CMCL (4.

4% yield), SCCO (1. 7% yield), FCX (1. 0% yield), TECK (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. HBM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (CMCL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

28), 4. 4% yield, +478. 3% 10Y return). Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) carries a higher beta of 1. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CMCL: +478. 3%, HBM: +552. 2%), 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: 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; CMCL is a small-cap high-growth stock. TECK, FCX, SCCO, CMCL pay a dividend while HBM 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.