Alcoa (AA) vs Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) has outperformed Alcoa (AA) over the past year, gaining 66.0% versus a gain of 15.6%. Over five years, FCX leads with a +84.1% price change compared with -23.5% for AA. Freeport-McMoRan is the larger company by market cap ($105.82 billion vs $11.14 billion), about 9.5 times the size, while Alcoa is growing revenue faster (+7.9% vs +1.8%).
On valuation, Alcoa trades at a lower forward P/E (7.2x vs 17.1x for Freeport-McMoRan). Alcoa offers the higher dividend yield (0.95% vs 0.81%). Freeport-McMoRan converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.0% versus 9.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AA | FCX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $42.20 | $73.69 |
| Market cap | $11.14B | $105.82B |
| 1-day change | -1.47% | +3.58% |
| YTD return | -19.40% | +40.07% |
| 1-year return | +15.57% | +66.02% |
| 5-year return | -23.52% | +84.11% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.77 | 36.30 |
| Forward P/E | 7.19 | 17.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.81 | $2.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.95% | 0.81% |
| Annual dividend | $0.40 | $0.60 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.83B | $25.91B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.87% | +1.81% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.16B | $4.15B |
| Gross margin | 16.94% | 28.16% |
| Operating margin | — | 25.15% |
| Net margin | 9.02% | 16.02% |
| 52-week high | $84.38 | $80.24 |
| 52-week low | $35.01 | $38.54 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -49.99% | -8.16% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +47.46% | +4.00% |
| Average volume | 4.58M | 13.21M |
| Shares outstanding | 263.91M | 1.44B |
| Employees | 14,900 | 29,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Aluminum | Metal Mining |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Freeport-McMoRan is about 9.5 times larger than Alcoa by market value ($105.82B vs $11.14B).
- FCX has outperformed AA by 50.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Freeport-McMoRan trades at a higher earnings multiple (36.3x vs 8.8x trailing P/E).
- Freeport-McMoRan is more profitable, keeping 16.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 9.0 cents for Alcoa.
- Alcoa grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.87% vs +1.81%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Alcoa in Industrials and Freeport-McMoRan in Basic Materials.
About Alcoa
AA stock →Alcoa Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminum production, and energy generation business in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Spain, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Alumina and Aluminum.
Industrials · Aluminum · 14,900 employees
About Freeport-McMoRan
FCX stock →Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 29,000 employees
AA vs FCX FAQ
Which is bigger, Alcoa or Freeport-McMoRan?
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $105.82B compared with $11.14B for Alcoa (AA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AA or FCX?
FCX returned +66.02% over the past 12 months, compared with +15.57% for AA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AA or FCX?
AA has the lower trailing P/E at 8.8, versus 36.3 for FCX. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alcoa or Freeport-McMoRan?
Alcoa has the higher yield at 0.95%, compared with 0.81% for Freeport-McMoRan.
Are Alcoa and Freeport-McMoRan in the same industry?
No. Alcoa is in the Industrials sector, while Freeport-McMoRan is in Basic Materials.