Stock of the Day

October 19, 2020

Southern Copper (SCCO)

$201.87
+$1.19 (+0.6%)
Market Cap: $167.43B

About Southern Copper

Southern Copper Corporation engages in mining, exploring, smelting, and refining copper and other minerals in Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile. 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 molybdenum concentrate and sulfuric acid; production of refined silver, gold, and other materials; and mining and processing of zinc, copper, molybdenum, silver, gold, and lead. It operates the Toquepala and Cuajone open-pit mines, and a smelter and refinery in Peru; and La Caridad, an open-pit copper mine, as well as a copper ore concentrator, a SX-EW plant, a smelter, refinery, and a rod plant in Mexico. The company also operates Buenavista, an open-pit copper mine, as well as two copper concentrators and two operating SX-EW plants in Mexico. In addition, it operates underground mines that produce zinc, lead, copper, silver, and gold; a coal mine; and a zinc refinery. The company has interests in 156,818 hectares and 502,688 hectares of concessions in Peru and Mexico; and 168,200 hectares and 28,453 hectares of exploration concessions in Argentina and Chile. Southern Copper Corporation was incorporated in 1952 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Southern Copper Corporation is a subsidiary of Americas Mining Corporation.

Southern Copper Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Southern Copper Co.:

  • The stock is currently trading at $201.87, reflecting a strong upward trend as it sits well above its 52-week low of $119.25 and near its 52-week high of $223.88, indicating significant recent momentum and investor confidence in the company's performance.
  • Southern Copper Co. recently reported record second-quarter 2026 net sales with revenue up 40.6% year-over-year, driven by substantially stronger realized metal prices, which demonstrates the company's ability to capitalize on favorable market conditions for copper and other metals.
  • The company recently increased its quarterly dividend to $1.10 per share, representing an annualized yield of approximately 2.1%, which provides a steady income stream for investors and signals management's confidence in the company's cash flow generation capabilities.
  • Institutional investors have shown renewed interest, with several firms such as Farther Finance Advisors LLC and Confluence Investment Management LLC significantly increasing their stakes in the third quarter, suggesting that professional money managers are positioning for continued growth in the copper sector.
  • The company operates major mining assets in Mexico and Peru, including the Buenavista del Cobre and Cuajone mines, providing a diversified and robust production base that benefits from the global demand for copper in industrial and technological applications.

Southern Copper Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Southern Copper Co. for these reasons:

  • The consensus rating from sell-side analysts is "Reduce" with an average price target of $156.02, which is significantly below the current stock price of $201.87, suggesting that many analysts believe the stock is overvalued relative to its fundamental earnings potential.
  • Recent analysis suggests the stock could be approximately 22% overvalued because investors have already priced in the company's project pipeline and future growth expectations, leaving little room for upside if copper prices or production volumes do not exceed these high expectations.
  • Corporate insiders have been consistently selling shares, with Director Luis Palomino Bonilla making multiple sales in the past six months, which may indicate that those with the most knowledge of the company's internal operations are taking profits or reducing their exposure.
  • The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.63, and while its current ratio is strong at 5.06, the high leverage combined with the cyclical nature of commodity markets could pose risks if copper prices decline or if interest rates remain elevated, impacting the company's financial flexibility.
  • Despite strong recent results, the company's revenue for the most recent quarter of $4.29 billion slightly missed analysts' expectations of $4.37 billion, indicating that while prices are high, there may be underlying pressures on production volumes or costs that could affect future earnings stability.

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