Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs VALE S.A. (VALE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) has outperformed VALE S.A. (VALE) over the past year, gaining 76.6% versus a gain of 27.5%. Over five years, FCX leads with a +86.0% price change compared with -4.7% for VALE. Freeport-McMoRan is the larger company by market cap ($103.19 billion vs $57.92 billion), about 1.8 times the size.
On valuation, VALE S.A. trades at a lower forward P/E (7.0x vs 16.7x for Freeport-McMoRan). VALE S.A. offers the higher dividend yield (40.24% vs 0.83%).
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 | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $71.86 | $13.61 |
| Market cap | $103.19B | $57.92B |
| 1-day change | -0.96% | -3.34% |
| YTD return | +41.48% | +8.06% |
| 1-year return | +76.60% | +27.54% |
| 5-year return | +85.97% | -4.74% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.40 | 27.22 |
| Forward P/E | 16.74 | 7.04 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.03 | $0.50 |
| Dividend yield | 0.83% | 40.24% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $5.48 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $25.91B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.81% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.15B | — |
| Gross margin | 28.16% | — |
| Operating margin | 25.15% | — |
| Net margin | 16.02% | — |
| 52-week high | $80.24 | $17.94 |
| 52-week low | $38.54 | $10.71 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.44% | -24.14% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +6.65% | — |
| Average volume | 13.40M | 27.70M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.44B | 4.26B |
| Employees | 29,000 | — |
| 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 VALE by 49.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Freeport-McMoRan trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.4x vs 27.2x trailing P/E).
- VALE S.A. offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (40.24% vs 0.83%).
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
FCX vs VALE FAQ
Which is bigger, Freeport-McMoRan or VALE S.A.?
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $103.19B compared with $57.92B for VALE S.A. (VALE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FCX or VALE?
FCX returned +76.60% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.54% for VALE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FCX or VALE?
VALE has the lower trailing P/E at 27.2, versus 35.4 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 VALE S.A.?
VALE S.A. has the higher yield at 40.24%, compared with 0.83% for Freeport-McMoRan.
Are Freeport-McMoRan and VALE S.A. in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Mining industry within the Basic Materials sector.