Southern Copper vs Freeport-McMoRan

This page compares Southern Copper Corp. and Freeport-McMoRan Inc., examining their business models, financial performance, and market context to help readers understand their roles and prospects in the metals sector. The comparison remains neutral, accessible, and free of promotion. Educational content, not financial advice.

This page compares Southern Copper Corp. and Freeport-McMoRan Inc., examining their business models, financial performance, and market context to help readers understand their roles and prospects in t...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

SCCO

Metric

FCX

$163.44B

Market Cap

$90.23B

-30.11%

Potential Profit

-12.07%

Hold

Analyst Rating

Buy

Why It's Moving

SCCO Faces Analyst Storm: Consensus Points to Sharp Downside Amid Mixed Signals

Analysts maintain a 'Reduce' consensus with 7 Sells, 3 Holds, and 2 Buys, implying investors should brace for significant price contraction from current levels.
Institutions like Denali Advisors dumped 6,505 shares and Public Sector Pension trimmed positions, reflecting fading confidence in SCCO's near-term trajectory.
Quarterly dividend jumped to $1.00 per share from $0.90, boosting annualized yield to 2%, yet high 75% payout ratio underscores risks if earnings falter.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

FCX Stock Warning: Why Analysts See -11% Downside Risk

Grasberg mine mud-rush slashed Q3 copper output by 90M lbs and gold by 80k oz, with uncertain restart delaying Q4 recovery and pressuring earnings.
Earnings estimates surged—with current-quarter consensus up 7.26% and full-year up 6.18% over 30 days—fueled by four upward revisions and optimism on copper prices.
Mixed analyst reactions post-Q3 beat (EPS $0.50 vs. $0.41 expected) include some estimate hikes but broader concerns over production disruptions and Nov. 18 update.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

SCCO Faces Analyst Storm: Consensus Points to Sharp Downside Amid Mixed Signals

Analysts maintain a 'Reduce' consensus with 7 Sells, 3 Holds, and 2 Buys, implying investors should brace for significant price contraction from current levels.
Institutions like Denali Advisors dumped 6,505 shares and Public Sector Pension trimmed positions, reflecting fading confidence in SCCO's near-term trajectory.
Quarterly dividend jumped to $1.00 per share from $0.90, boosting annualized yield to 2%, yet high 75% payout ratio underscores risks if earnings falter.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

FCX Stock Warning: Why Analysts See -11% Downside Risk

Grasberg mine mud-rush slashed Q3 copper output by 90M lbs and gold by 80k oz, with uncertain restart delaying Q4 recovery and pressuring earnings.
Earnings estimates surged—with current-quarter consensus up 7.26% and full-year up 6.18% over 30 days—fueled by four upward revisions and optimism on copper prices.
Mixed analyst reactions post-Q3 beat (EPS $0.50 vs. $0.41 expected) include some estimate hikes but broader concerns over production disruptions and Nov. 18 update.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

Investment Analysis

Southern Copper

SCCO

Pros

Southern Copper reported strong Q3 2025 revenue growth, surpassing estimates and showing resilience in a challenging market.
The company maintains a high dividend yield, projected at 6.4% for 2025, making it attractive for income-focused investors.
Southern Copper benefits from robust production growth in zinc and silver, diversifying its revenue streams beyond copper.

Considerations

Copper production declined slightly year-on-year, reflecting operational challenges and potential supply constraints.
Analysts forecast a negative average price target for the stock, suggesting limited near-term upside and possible downside risk.
The company faces headwinds from global trade tensions and potential tariffs on US copper imports, impacting future demand.

Freeport-McMoRan

FCX

Pros

Freeport-McMoRan holds a leading position in global copper mining, with significant stakes in major operations like Grasberg in Indonesia.
The company benefits from a diversified asset base across North America, reducing reliance on any single region or commodity.
Freeport-McMoRan has demonstrated strong operational efficiency and cost management in recent quarters.

Considerations

Freeport-McMoRan's stock has underperformed over the past year, with a notable decline compared to sector peers.
The company is exposed to geopolitical risks in key mining regions, which could disrupt operations and impact profitability.
Freeport-McMoRan faces ongoing challenges related to environmental regulations and community relations at its mining sites.

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