Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs Southern Copper (SCCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) has outperformed Southern Copper (SCCO) over the past year, gaining 76.6% versus a gain of 64.4%. Over five years, SCCO leads with a +224.1% price change compared with +86.0% for FCX. Southern Copper is the larger company by market cap ($166.91 billion vs $102.01 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Freeport-McMoRan trades at a lower forward P/E (16.6x vs 26.3x for Southern Copper). Southern Copper offers the higher dividend yield (1.78% vs 0.84%). Southern Copper converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 32.4% versus 16.0%.
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 | FCX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $71.04 | $197.68 |
| Market cap | $102.01B | $166.91B |
| 1-day change | -1.15% | -1.44% |
| YTD return | +41.48% | +44.03% |
| 1-year return | +76.60% | +64.36% |
| 5-year return | +85.97% | +224.15% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 34.99 | 29.50 |
| Forward P/E | 16.55 | 26.29 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.03 | $6.70 |
| Dividend yield | 0.84% | 1.78% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $3.52 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $25.91B | $13.42B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.81% | +17.38% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.15B | $4.35B |
| Gross margin | 28.16% | 60.07% |
| Operating margin | 25.15% | 52.17% |
| Net margin | 16.02% | 32.40% |
| 52-week high | $80.24 | $220.78 |
| 52-week low | $38.54 | $115.74 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.47% | -10.46% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | underperform |
| Avg. price target upside | +7.89% | -11.91% |
| Average volume | 13.28M | 1.11M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.44B | 844.34M |
| Employees | 29,000 | 16,617 |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Metal Mining | 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
- FCX has outperformed SCCO by 12.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Southern Copper is more profitable, keeping 32.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 16.0 cents for Freeport-McMoRan.
- Southern Copper grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+17.38% vs +1.81%).
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
About Southern Copper
SCCO stock →Southern Copper Corporation engages in mining, exploring, smelting, and refining copper and other minerals in Mexico, the United States, Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Other American countries. The company is involved in the mining, milling, and flotation of copper ore to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates; smelting of copper concentrates to produce blister and anode copper; refining of anode copper to produce copper cathodes; production of copper-molybdenum concentrates and sulfuric acid; production of refined silver, gold, and other materials; and mining and processing of copper, molybdenum, zinc, silver, gold and lead.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 16,617 employees
FCX vs SCCO FAQ
Which is bigger, Freeport-McMoRan or Southern Copper?
Southern Copper (SCCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $166.91B compared with $102.01B for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FCX or SCCO?
FCX returned +76.60% over the past 12 months, compared with +64.36% for SCCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FCX or SCCO?
SCCO has the lower trailing P/E at 29.5, versus 35.0 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, Freeport-McMoRan or Southern Copper?
Southern Copper has the higher yield at 1.78%, compared with 0.84% for Freeport-McMoRan.
Are Freeport-McMoRan and Southern Copper in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Mining industry within the Basic Materials sector.