FCX vs. SCCO: Which Copper Mining Stock Should You Bet on Now?

Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) and Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) are significant players in the copper mining industry, both facing challenges from fluctuating copper prices and global economic uncertainties, particularly due to U.S.-China trade tensions [1][2] Group 1: Company Fundamentals - FCX has high-quality copper assets and is focused on organic growth opportunities, including a large-scale concentrator expansion at Cerro Verde in Peru, which adds approximately 600 million pounds of copper annually [4] - Southern Copper has a robust pipeline of greenfield projects with a capital investment program exceeding $15 billion for this decade, targeting significant projects in Mexico and Peru [9][10] - FCX generated operating cash flows of around $1.4 billion in Q4 2024, with full-year cash flows climbing 35% year-over-year to $7.2 billion, and ended 2024 with $3.9 billion in cash [6] - SCCO generated net cash from operating activities of $4.42 billion in 2024, a 24% increase from $3.57 billion in 2023, supported by higher net income [12] Group 2: Production and Growth Projections - FCX is evaluating a large-scale expansion at El Abra in Chile and conducting pre-feasibility studies in Arizona to define significant sulfide expansion opportunities [4] - Southern Copper targets copper production of 967,000 tons for 2025, maintaining production levels from the previous year, with growth expected from higher production in Peru [11] - FCX's expansion activities are expected to boost production capacity, while SCCO is committed to increasing low-cost production [23] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Valuation - FCX offers a dividend yield of approximately 0.9% with a payout ratio of 20% and a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of about 21.8% [7] - SCCO provides a healthier dividend yield of 3.2% with a payout ratio of 65% and a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of roughly 13.4% [12] - FCX is trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 18.95X, representing a 4.2% premium over the industry average of 18.19X, while SCCO trades at 19.66X [16][19] Group 4: Cost Challenges - FCX's consolidated unit net cash costs per pound of copper for Q4 2024 were 9% higher than the previous year, with expectations of a 5% increase in Q1 2025 due to higher labor and mining costs [8] - Southern Copper experienced a 3% year-over-year increase in total operating costs and expenses in 2024, primarily due to rising labor costs and inflation for repair materials [13] Group 5: Investment Outlook - Both FCX and SCCO present compelling investment cases, with FCX having a slight edge due to more attractive valuation and higher earnings growth projections [23]