WOR vs FCX

For growth investors, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

(FCX) is the stronger pick with 1. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 4% for Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR). Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR) offers the better valuation at 29. 1x trailing P/E (16. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Worthington Industries, Inc.

(WOR) is the cheapest at 29. 1x versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. at 40. 1x. On forward P/E, Worthington Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 3x. 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 Worthington Industries, Inc. 's 2. 55x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

(FCX) delivered a total return of +51. 5%, compared to +35. 7% for Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FCX returned +444. 7% versus WOR's +175. 4%. 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), Worthington Industries, Inc.

(WOR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Freeport-McMoRan Inc. 's 1. 79β — meaning FCX is approximately 89% more volatile than WOR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 37% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

(FCX) is pulling ahead at 1. 1% versus -7. 4% for Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Freeport-McMoRan Inc. grew EPS 16. 9% year-over-year, compared to -12. 7% for Worthington Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FCX leads at 3. 3% 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.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

(FCX) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus 8. 3% for Worthington Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FCX leads at 24. 4% versus 4. 3% for WOR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WOR leads at 27. 6%, 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 Worthington Industries, Inc. 's 2. 55x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR) trades at 16. 3x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WOR: 19. 9% to $67. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Worthington Industries, Inc. (WOR) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 1. 0% for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Worthington Industries, Inc.

(WOR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 95), 1. 2% yield, +175. 4% 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 (WOR: +175. 4%, FCX: +444. 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 (WOR (Industrials) and FCX (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.