Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO) Stock

Southern Copper

Southern Copper Corp is an integrated producer of copper and other minerals and operates the mining, smelting, and refining facilities in Peru and Mexico. Its production includes copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. The company operates through the following segments: Peruvian operations, Mexican open-pit operations, and Mexican underground mining operations. It generates the majority of its revenue from the sale of copper and the rest from the sale of non-copper products, such as molybdenum, silver, zinc, lead, and gold. The company's geographical segments are The Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Southern Copper Corp

Per-ounce gold prices are up $1,000 from a year ago, and defensive-minded investors can be forgiven for balking at the yellow metal's skyrocketing price.
Metals experts cite multiple reasons why gold prices are so high right now.&nbsp;
"If you step back, it's not surprising that we've seen gold surge by $1,000 per ounce over the past year," said Rana Vig, president and CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources Inc., a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company. "It's a textbook gold rally created by a perfect storm of macroeconomic and geopolitical factors."
Vig said the economy and markets have seen persistent inflation concerns, aggressive central bank buying (especially from countries seeking to reduce U.S. dollar exposure), and ongoing global instability. "Add to that falling confidence in fiat currencies and tariff instability, and you have an environment where gold speculation can thrive."
Given gold&#8217;s rapid rise, investors who wish to use metals as a powerful hedge against volatile markets have other options.
It's worth noting that gold prices aren't necessarily out of reach for precious metals investors.
"No doubt, the easy money in this cycle may have already been made," Vig noted. "As for new investors coming in now, the upside will be harder to find without taking on more risk."
One major upside of gold is that it's not just a speculative asset or a hedge for volatility. In many parts of the world, it's a way of life. 
"In countries like India, where gold is deeply woven into the cultural and economic fabric, it's not uncommon for entire villages to pool resources and buy gold by the gram," Vig added. "Even the poorest households will save in gold, not stocks, not bonds because it's tangible, trusted, and borderless."
That level of generational trust in gold continues to anchor demand globally. "For Western investors, there's something to learn from that mindset: Gold isn't just about price, it's about preservation," Vig noted. "It's about holding something real when everything else feels uncertain."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Non-Physical Gold Portfolio Options</h2>
Experts say that if current per-ounce gold prices at $3,300 are too high, investors have formidable "Plan B" options in the precious metals market. These metal plays may be your best bets.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Silver</h3>
Silver&#8217;s price is expected to rise to $40 an ounce within the next six to twelve months, about a 20% increase from current levels.
"This is similar to the projection for gold, and silver and gold tend to move in tandem with each other," said Brett Elliott, marketing director at American Precious Metals Exchange in Urbandale, Iowa. "Silver has a constrained supply, large industrial buyers who will pay virtually any amount to get the silver they need, and growing demand from various sectors."
Additionally, silver rallies tend to follow gold rallies, and gold has been rallying frequently this year. "Just like gold, silver is highly liquid and can be bought and sold in physical form, through ETFs, or through digital silver apps where the metal is vaulted but owned by you," Elliot noted.
Another factor favoring silver is supply and demand.&nbsp;
"There's a huge silver shortage in the world due to a lack of silver mines, and the demand for silver will continue to be high due to its usage in electric vehicles, electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles, and other electrical appliances," said Sankar Sharma, investing analyst and founder of RiskRewardReturn.com, mentioning iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>). "The best and easiest way to invest in silver is via the iShares Silver Trust, which is trading at an attractive $29.99 entry price as of May 30."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Copper</h3>
Copper is another robust metal contender for defense-oriented investors. "It's essential electrification, whether it&#8217;s electric vehicles, grid infrastructure, or renewable power," Vig said. "And while copper's global demand is expected to outpace supply over the next decade, its market price, in many ways, still hasn't caught up relative to its fundamental story."
Geography also matters with copper.
"Copper is an excellent base metal to get into as electric utility needs for third world countries are only going to increase over the next 10 to 20 years," said Robert Kientz, operations lead at Kinesis Bullion USA.
Overall, global economies are moving into an expansion cycle, which should fuel demand for copper. "If an investor has a five-year game plan, then copper stocks and miners are likely to move higher," Sharma said.&nbsp;
Sharma added that good copper stocks to consider include Freeport McMoran (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>), Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/B#NYSE">B</a>) and Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIO#NYSE">RIO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Zinc</h3>
Zinc is an often overlooked precious metal, but it's critical to infrastructure across the globe. "As major economies reinvest in aging roads, bridges, and transport networks, zinc demand will remain strong," Vig said. "At the same time, recent supply disruptions have tightened the market, creating an attractive setup."
He recommends starting with producers like Teck Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TECK#NYSE">TECK</a>), which offers zinc and copper exposure in a single play. The stock is trading at $37 per share and is down over 8% for the year, suggesting a possible "buy the dip" opportunity.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gold ETFs</h3>
Suppose you're only interested in exposure or short-term trades. In that case, a gold exchange-traded fund can provide a low-cost way of expanding your portfolio and has the added bonus of near-instant liquidity.
There are some caveats, however. "If you're planning to hold gold for a few years or longer, the expense ratio on most gold ETFs is cost inefficient in the long run," Elliot said. "Physical gold often provides a better value for gold longs. You pay the premium once on physical gold, but with an ETF, you pay the expense ratio every year."
It's also ideal to conduct thorough due diligence on gold ETFs.
"Before investing in gold funds, investors must review suitable ETFs to ensure the fund's holdings are purely linked to gold," Sharma said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Takeaway On Gold And Its Long-Term Outlook</h2>
Near the mid-point of 2025, gold is edging higher for two reasons.&nbsp;
"We are in a time of geopolitical instability and inflation of the monetary supply," said Blake Mclaughlin, vice president of exploration at Axcap Ventures. "With both scenarios at play, it's no surprise that we have seen the price of gold rise consistently over the last 18 months. Also driving the surge in price are the central banks' continuous and real-time adjustments in gold allocation."
Yet despite an uptick in the price, gold comprises just a fraction of a percent of global investment holdings, noted Mclaughlin. "However, with the release of the US Federal Reserve's May meeting minutes, which flagged rising inflation and risks of recession, gold's appeal as a safe-haven asset is likely to increase and may soon make up a larger portion of investor portfolios." 
That's what precious metals with limited capacity can do to drive a portfolio upward.&nbsp;
"When it comes to gold supply, a tap cannot be turned on to increase supply &#8211; it takes years, even decades, to substantially increase it, making a demand spike like the one we are seeing carry significant impacts," Mclaughlin added.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rebound Or Breakdown? Join Matt Maley Live On Wednesday, June 4</h2>
The market is flashing major warning signs—tech is cracking, small caps are diverging, and rate pressure is building fast. Volatility is rising, and a sharp move could hit any day. Join 42-year Wall Street veteran Matt Maley as he breaks down the signals he's watching, the stocks he's targeting for short-term trades, and how he's positioning for the next major move—whether the market rips higher or breaks down next. Reserve your free spot <a href="https://events2.benzinga.com/matt-maley-webinar-wed-june4-2025-registration/?utm_campaign=webinar060425&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD060225&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_medium=newsletter">HERE</a>.
Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.
Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

SCCO

TECK

3 Gold Alternatives Set To Soar Next

WIIM

CSTM

STLD

Shares of metals stocks are trading higher amid overall market strength after the US and China agreed to a temporary reduction in most tariffs on each other's goods. A decrease of trade tensions could reduce demand uncertainty for base metals.

MTAL

Shares of copper-related companies are trading lower ahead of China's Labour Day. The material may also be experiencing weakness due to a contraction in Q1 US GDP.

Wall Street is set for a volatile Wednesday after first-quarter GDP data showed an unexpected economic contraction, stoking fears that a recession <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/45098824/tariffs-hit-hard-as-us-economy-shrinks-for-first-time-since-2022">may already be underway. </a>
The U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% on an annualized basis last quarter, down from 2.4% growth in the previous quarter and well below the expected 0.4% growth, official advance statistics showed.
The outcome marked the first quarterly contraction since the second quarter of 2022. 
In addition, U.S. private employers added 62,000 jobs in April, according to ADP National Employment Report, the lowest since July 2024 and well below predictions of 108,000. 
Broad-based equity losses followed during premarket trading in New York as investors digested signs of weakening growth, elevated inflation, and deteriorating trade balances.
Futures on the S&amp;P 500 fell 1.28% to 5,489.61 by 9:00 a.m. ET, shedding 71 points. 
Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 336 points, or 0.8%, to 40,191. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 underperformed, plunging 1.9% to 19,184, while the small-cap Russell 2000 index dropped 1.7% to 1,944.
Recession odds for 2025 climbed to 74%, their highest level yet, according to data from CFTC-regulated betting platform Kalshi. Under Kalshi&#8217;s terms, a $100 bet on a recession now yields $131 if the U.S. sees two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/RECSSNBER-25/markets/RECSSNBER-25?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="242px" style="border:0"></iframe>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Economists Divided On US Economic Performance</h3>
David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation, noted the growing stagflation risk: "Today's data shows more stagflation, with the economy shrinking and prices rising more than expected. Trade was a huge drag as imports jumped ahead of tariffs. Combined with the weak ADP payrolls growth and yesterday's weak JOLTs data, the numbers increasingly suggest a recession may have begun."
Economist Joseph Brusuelas of RSM US LLP offered a more tempered view: "The trade shock caused a large change in behavior that resulted in that large drag due to a larger trade deficit. However, the economy did not slide into recession in Q1 2025." 
He expects a recession more likely by midyear, citing a $140 billion inventory swing that temporarily padded GDP by 2.25 percentage points.
Robin Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, echoed concerns about the unusual nature of the trade dynamics, calling the current environment "a huge natural experiment," with ballooning imports and swelling inventories reflecting a widespread effort to front-run tariffs.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Responds: &#8216;This Is Biden&#8217;s Stock Market, Not Trump&#8217;s&#8217;</h3>
"This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's. I didn't take over until January 20th," Trump wrote on social media X, shortly after the GDP release.
Trump denied that his trade policies were responsible for the weak GDP figures, attributing the slowdown to the economic legacy of President Joe Biden. 
"This will take a while, has nothing to do with tariffs, only that he left us with bad numbers," Trump posted. 
"But when the boom begins, it will be like no other. Be patient!!!"
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Premarket Gainers In The S&amp;P 500</h3>
<ul>
<li>Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>) up 7.5% to $43.7</li>
<li>Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TT#NYSE">TT</a>) up 6.3% to $375.6</li>
<li>Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>) up 5.9% to $86.4</li>
<li>Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>) up 5.6% to $139.7</li>
<li>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) up 5.5% to $273.5</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Premarket Decliners In The S&amp;P 500</h3>
<ul>
<li>Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) down 19.3% to $29.1</li>
<li>First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) down 12.8% to $119.6</li>
<li>Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) down 10.0% to $76.4</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) down 8.4% to $15.9</li>
<li>Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>) down 8.1% to $187.5</li>
</ul>
By 8:52 a.m. ET, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data, the stocks falling most over the past 30 minutes of premarket trading included:
<ul>
<li>AppLovin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) down 6.2% to $242.0</li>
<li>Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) down 3.6% to $133.1</li>
<li>Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>) down 3.5% to $220.8</li>
<li>Shopify Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>) down 3.3% to $95.0</li>
<li>KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) down 3.0% to $111.0</li>
<li>Eaton Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETN#NYSE">ETN</a>) down 2.5% to $283.1</li>
<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) down 2.4% to $111.4</li>
<li>Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) down 2.2% to $87.5</li>
<li>Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>) down 2.1% to $34.5</li>
<li>Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) down 2.1% to $312.0</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45098912/caterpillar-faces-lower-q1-results-but-projects-flat-sales-in-2025-or-slight-decline-with-tariff-headwinds">Caterpillar Warns Of $250 Million To $350 Million Tariff Hit After Q1 Profit Miss</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Dilok Klaisataporn via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Analyst Ratings

Tech

ETFs

FSLR

GRMN

NCLH

PLTR

SBUX

SHOP

SMCI

TEAM

Recession Odds Spike, Wall Street Tumbles As Q1 GDP Surprisingly Contracts: 'Be Patient,' Trump Responds

Southern Copper (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.19 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.09 by 9.17 percent. This is a 30.77 percent increase over earnings of $0.91 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.12 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.96 billion by 5.51 percent. This is a 20.08 percent increase over sales of $2.60 billion the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

News

Southern Copper Q1 EPS $1.19 Beats $1.09 Estimate, Sales $3.12B Beat $2.96B Estimate

VALE

Shares of metals and materials stocks are trading higher following US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's reported remarks about trade de-escalation with China. De-escalation with China could reduce demand uncertainty.

UBS analyst Myles Allsop maintains Southern Copper (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $120 to $100.

Price Target

UBS Maintains Buy on Southern Copper, Lowers Price Target to $100

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) disclosed her significant stock purchases made just before and on the day of President Donald Trump&#8216;s announcement to pause global tariffs. This announcement had a substantial impact on the stock market.
What Happened: Based on the information disclosed to the House, Greene bought stocks valued between $21,000 and $315,000 on April 8 and 9. On April 8, she also sold Treasury bills worth between $50,000 and $100,000, according to the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Benzinga Government Trades tracker.</a>
Greene&#8217;s stock purchases included shares in several companies, such as&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), which has since appreciated by approximately 5%. She also invested in other tech firms, energy companies like&nbsp;Devon Energy Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>), and pharmaceutical giant&nbsp;Merck &amp; Company&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>).
On April 8, Greene bought stocks in&nbsp;Palantir Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) and&nbsp;Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>). These transactions occurred&nbsp;as government bond yields were&nbsp;on the rise amidst the tariff turmoil.
Here's a look at the stocks Greene purchased during the period:
<ul>
<li>Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>)</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</li>
<li>Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</li>
<li>Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>)</li>
<li>ASML Holding N.V (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>)</li>
<li>Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)</li>
<li>Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>)</li>
<li>Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>)</li>
<li>FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>)</li>
<li>JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>)</li>
<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>)</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</li>
<li>Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</li>
<li>Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>)</li>
<li>Southern Copper Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</li>
</ul>
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44805507/jensen-huang-praised-by-trump-nvidia-wouldnt-be-doing-500-billion-ai-infrastructure-commitment-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jensen Huang Praised By Trump: Nvidia &#8216;Wouldn&#8217;t Be Doing&#8217; $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Commitment Without Tariffs</a>
Why It Matters: Greene&#8217;s stock trades have raised eyebrows, especially considering the timing of her purchases. The trades coincided with former President Trump&#8217;s tariff pause announcement, which led to a significant surge in the stock market. 
This has led to calls for an investigation into potential insider trading related to President Trump&#8217;s market communications before the tariff pause announcement. Key Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have expressed concerns about possible corruption. Schiff and Warren pointed out a post on Truth Social where Trump<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44747573/adam-schiff-and-elizabeth-warren-call-for-investigation-into-possible-insider-trading-by-trump-allie"> encouraged buying stocks</a> just hours before the tariff pause announcement that sent markets soaring.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York&nbsp;urged a ban on stock trading by members of Congress following the revelation of Ms. Greene's investment activities. He told <a href="https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/04/14/leader-jeffries-we-are-going-to-hold-republicans-accountable-for-any-effort-to-dismantle-social-security/">MSNBC </a>on Monday, "We obviously have to continue to highlight why this is problematic."
<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44804849/amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-once-made-his-grandmother-cry-trying-to-show-off-his-math-skills-that-day-his-gran" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Once Made His Grandmother Cry Trying To Show Off His Math Skills — That Day, His Grandfather Gave Him A Life-Changing Piece Of Wisdom</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Markets

AAPL

ADBE

AMAT

AMZN

ASML

NVDA

QCOM

TSLA

Marjorie Taylor Greene Made Large Stock Purchases Ahead Of Trump's 90-Day Tariff Pause: Hakeem Jeffries Calls It 'Problematic'

JP Morgan analyst Rodolfo Angele maintains Southern Copper (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $84 to $83.5.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Southern Copper, Lowers Price Target to $83.5

Shares of metals stocks are trading higher as stocks rebound amid overall market volatility as investors assess this week's tariff developments.

CENX

Shares of metals stocks are trading lower, pulling back after surging Wednesday following President Trump's tariff pause announcement. The sector has been volatile amid trade war concerns.

Shares of metals companies are trading higher following President Trump's decision to implement a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China.

In the current session, Southern Copper Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) is trading at $88.89, after a 5.80% drop. Over the past month, the stock decreased by 1.38%, and in the past year, by 16.37%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are more likely to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743688819_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Evaluating Southern Copper P/E in Comparison to Its Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 26.21 in the Metals &amp; Mining industry, Southern Copper Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 21.97. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743688819_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

A Look Into Southern Copper Inc's Price Over Earnings

Often as we go through life we find the need for mum to be the word.
In 1967 a young Dusitn Hoffman was told in no uncertain terms that Plastics was the word.
According to the 1976 movie Grease was the word.
Today the word is tariff.
Wall Street and old Washington has gotten far more of this word than they expected or wanted since Donald Trump came into office.
Apparently, they thought then candidate Trump was kidding when he talked at length about his plans to use aggressive tariffs to reshape global trade policies bringing in revenue.
I am not a fan of tariffs and can find little historical evidence to suggest that this is a great idea, but I had little doubt that once elected President Trump would follow through on his strategy.
This has created a new equation for Wall Street to follow.
Tariffs announced=Risk off,
Tariffs delayed=Risk On.
One of the administrations' most recent tariff announcement has the potential to create an enormous amount of wealth for investors willing to buy in as&nbsp; stocks impacted by the new fees.
President Trump recently announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on copper imports.
Copper miners have sold off slightly, but I expect this to accelerate as the new taxes are actually implemented in the weeks ahead.
A steeper downturn will be a massive buying opportunity.
Copper is a backbone of the world we live in and has a wide range of uses.
Copper demand is not just growing – it is accelerating from multiple directions simultaneously. The traditional drivers remain intact: construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure in emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia continue to consume massive quantities. But what is really changing the game is the convergence of three unstoppable trends:
<ol start="1">
<li>The Energy Transition: EVs use 2.5-4x more copper than regular cars. Wind turbines? Packed with copper. Solar farms? Same story. Grid upgrades to handle all this new capacity? You guessed it – copper everywhere.</li>
<li>Data Infrastructure: The explosion of AI, data centers, and 5G is creating another copper-hungry monster that few analysts are properly accounting for.</li>
<li>Supply Constraints: Meanwhile, the world&#8217;s biggest copper mines in Chile and Peru are aging, facing lower ore grades, water shortages, and labor disputes. Getting new mines online takes 7-10 years even when everything goes right – which it rarely does.</li>
</ol>
According to multiple industry analyses, we are looking at potential copper deficits by the late 2020s that could hit 5-8 million tonnes annually by 2035. For perspective, the entire global copper market today is only about twenty-six million tons.
This is not just another commodity cycle. It is a structural shift that has copper being called &#8220;the new oil&#8221; for good reason.
Here are the three stocks that have the potential to deliver massive gains for patient aggressive investors :
Freeport-McMoRan (Ticker: FCX) The undisputed king of publicly traded copper producers. FCX boasts a globally diversified portfolio anchored by the legendary Grasberg mine in Indonesia – one of the highest-grade, lowest-cost operations on the planet.
What makes Freeport compelling:
<ul>
<li>Scale and resource depth unmatched among Western miners</li>
<li>Dramatically improved balance sheet with minimal debt</li>
<li>Strategic U.S. assets gaining importance as domestic supply becomes a national security concern</li>
<li>Cash flow machine with both base and variable dividends</li>
</ul>
The underground expansion at Grasberg is a multi-decade growth engine that should deliver high-grade copper at remarkably low costs. Management has shown admirable discipline, focusing on optimizing existing assets rather than splashy, overpriced acquisitions.
Southern Copper (Ticker: SCCO) If you are looking for pure copper leverage with massive reserves, Southern Copper is your play. With over seventy million tons of proven and probable reserves, SCCO has the longest mine life among major copper producers – we are talking decades of production visibility.
The Grupo México-controlled miner operates primarily in Peru and Mexico, with a fully integrated model spanning mining, smelting, and refining. Its growth pipeline could potentially increase production from around 950,000 tons to 1.5 million tons by 2030.
The company&#8217;s cost position is stellar, with copper cash costs typically below $1.00/lb. net of byproducts. This supports EBITDA margins that frequently exceed 50% – exceptional for a mining operation.
The main risk? Political and social license challenges in Peru, where the flagship Tía María project has been delayed for over a decade due to local opposition.
Lundin Mining (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUN#TSX">LUN</a>, OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNMF#OTC">LUNMF</a>) For those seeking a mid-tier option with solid upside, Lundin Mining deserves attention. This copper-focused diversified miner offers leverage to copper prices without the extreme market cap of the majors.
Lundin&#8217;s portfolio includes:
<ul>
<li>Candelaria (Chile): A flagship copper-gold mine producing steady cash flow</li>
<li>Chapada (Brazil): A copper-gold operation with expansion potential</li>
<li>Zinkgruvan (Sweden): A long-life zinc-lead-silver mine that adds diversification</li>
<li>Josemaria Project (Argentina): A major copper-gold development that could boost copper output by 30-40%</li>
</ul>
The Lundin family&#8217;s long-term presence ensures alignment with shareholder interests, and the company has a proven track record of value-accretive acquisitions. Its balance sheet remains in good shape, with moderate debt levels and strong cash generation.
The Big Picture Make no mistake: the copper market is not just facing a typical cyclical upturn. The combination of accelerating demand from electrification, green energy, and data infrastructure, coupled with chronic underinvestment in new supply, points to a potential shortage that could make the 2000s commodity supercycle look tame by comparison.
S&amp;P Global has called the coming copper shortage &#8220;unprecedented,&#8221; warning that without significant investments now, the world could face chronic undersupply just as clean energy and digital infrastructure deployment peaks.
Tariffs may hurt profit margins and stock prices in the short run but will not slow demand or magically create new supply.
Buying copper on down days or selling cash secured puts to back into the stocks (the ones that are optional) should be a winning strategy for investors willing to embrace volatility driven by the current word of the day.

LUNMF

TSX:LUN

Under the Radar: Navigating the Copper Crunch Amidst Tariff Turbulence

Copper just blew past record highs, dismissing recent recession fears as stimulus optimism in China and potential U.S. tariffs spark a rush <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities">into the red metal.</a>
Copper futures traded at the New York Mercantile Exchange rallied 1.6% to $5.17 per pound on Tuesday, notching historical records. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">What's Fueling Copper's Relentless Climb?</h1>
Often dubbed &#8220;Dr. Copper&#8221; for its reputation as a proxy for global industrial health, the metal has surged as traders bet on a brighter economic outlook in China and react to tariff risks.
"Tariff threats, tightening supply, and stimulus-fueled optimism for an economic rebound in China have underpinned a rally in copper," said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. 
&#8220;Beijing's pro-growth agenda is beginning to show up in the economic data, evidenced by recent better-than-expected retail sales, industrial output, and fixed-asset investment,&#8221; he added.
Turnquist indicated markets are already "front-running" the potential copper tariff ordered under former President Donald Trump's direction, even though an official recommendation isn't expected until later this year.
Bloomberg data shows that between 100,000 and 150,000 metric tons of copper are en route to the U.S., the highest inbound volume on record. That flood of demand has pushed the COMEX copper premium over LME copper to its highest point ever, indicating intense physical buying interest in the U.S. market.
David&nbsp;Goldman, head of trading at Novion Global, also pointed to dollar weakness as a factor boosting copper prices. 
&#8220;Whilst LME&nbsp;copper&nbsp;is up around 14% from the start of the year, COMEX prices have seen a 27% jump, prompting traders and producers to move supplies to the US,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;The price squeeze is also being replicated on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, where the front month spread is trading at levels not seen since December 2023.&#8221;
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">China&#8217;s Recovery and Strategic Buying Add Fuel to the Fire</h1>
Adding further momentum is a shift in tone out of Beijing. Goldman Sachs analyst Daan Struyven said, "China sentiment has turned notably more positive" thanks to the government's focus on boosting household consumption, lower-than-expected U.S. tariffs and a surge of investor excitement around artificial intelligence.
Importantly, Struyven flagged reports that China's State Reserve Bureau plans to replenish copper stockpiles in 2025. While not purely opportunistic, this buying could cushion any price-sensitive demand drop in China. 
"We remain structurally bullish," said Struyven, who sees the LME's ongoing tightening and strong electrification trends driving prices higher in the months ahead.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Copper Chart Breaks Out — And So Do The Stocks</h1>
The price move has also broken a key technical level. 
According to LPL Financial's Turnquist, copper futures have surged past the highs of 2021–2022, completing a "head and shoulders" bottom pattern that hints at more upside ahead. 
Speculative flows are also favoring the bulls. Hedge funds and other large speculators have largely unwound their short positions, while long bets have picked up in recent months, supporting the momentum.
That enthusiasm has spilled into equity markets. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), one of the world's largest copper producers, has climbed 13% in March, on track for its best monthly performance in a year. Southern Copper Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) is also up 12% over the same period, riding the wave of investor optimism.
Traders looking for broad copper exposure may consider the Global X Copper Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COPX#NYSE">COPX</a>), which has historically showed strong rallies April. Over the past 15 years, the ETF has gained an average of 4.5% during the month — its strongest seasonal trend of the year.
Read Next: •<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44463509/ukraines-recovery-depends-on-sustainable-investment-experts-call-for-trilateral-minerals-deal"> &#8216;Ukraine&#8217;s Recovery Depends On Sustainable Investment,&#8217; Experts Call For Trilateral Minerals Deal</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Large Cap

Regulations

Sector ETFs

Commodities

Global

COPX

Copper Breaks Records On China Stimulus, Tariff Hype: These Stocks Are Riding The Wave

Copper prices have surged above $10,000 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange (LME) for the first time since October. On LME, copper has gained 14% year-to-date, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/copper" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. copper futures</a> surged 26%.
The price differential widened to $1,200 per metric ton, creating arbitrage opportunities. Since copper futures result in physical delivery on maturity, buyers have scrambled to move supplies into the U.S.
Between 100,000 and 150,000 metric tons of copper will arrive in the U.S. in the coming weeks, potentially surpassing the monthly import record of 136,951 tons set in January 2022.
Leading commodity traders, including Trafigura, Glencore, and Gunvor, have aggressively rerouted shipments, with additional warehouse space being secured in New Orleans and Baltimore to handle the influx.
Still, the 12% differential between the domestic and foreign copper prices is around half of anticipated copper tariffs.
On February 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive action directing the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate copper imports on national security grounds. Leading institutions, including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, responded, predicting a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/guidance/25/03/44271394/goldman-sachs-sees-copper-imports-increasing-tariffs-as-fcx-positions-to-benefit" rel="noreferrer noopener">25% tariff</a> on imported copper by year-end.
"Copper's rise is being driven solely by supply concerns surrounding the potential for universal tariffs to be placed on all imports of copper into the US," Natalie Scott-Gray, a senior metals demand analyst at StoneX, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/neilksethi/status/1902053890079535258" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>, warning about the high reliance on foreign copper.
According to ING, in 2024, the U.S. imported <a target="_blank" href="https://think.ing.com/articles/industrial-metals-monthly-us-copper-tariff-risks-pull-more-metal-to-the-us/" rel="noreferrer noopener">850,000 tons</a> of refined copper, excluding scrap. Chile was the largest supplier, accounting for 41% of imports, while 27% came from Canada.
Despite efforts to increase local production, output has steadily declined, falling 3% in 2024 after an 11% drop in 2023. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), the largest U.S. producer, has faced declining ore grades, environmental regulations, and permitting challenges, limiting the ability to ramp up domestic supply.
The firm's CEO, Kathleen Quirk, has called for Trump's administration to classify copper as a critical mineral, anticipating a $500 million windfall from tax credits tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. Quirk sees Freeport's domestic production growing by 8%, targeting an output of 225,000 metric tons, none of which will be exported.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44375055/trump-turns-to-beautiful-clean-coal-to-address-domestic-energy-demand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Turns To ‘Beautiful, Clean Coal' To Address Domestic Energy Demand</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Guidance

Legal

CPER

FQVLF

JJCTF

Copper Surges As Arbitrage Opportunity Drives US Imports

Shares of base metals stocks are trading higher amid overall market strength and as investors assess US tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Editor&#8217;s Note: The headline has been updated for clarity.
Goldman Sachs forecasts a surge in U.S. copper imports soon, driven by expectations of tariffs from President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">administration</a>.
Per Reuters' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/goldman-sachs-anticipates-surge-us-copper-net-imports-2025-03-11/" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, the investment bank expects a 25% duty on copper imports by year's end, incentivizing stockpiling to frontrun the legislative. As a result, U.S. net copper imports could surge by 50-100%, adding between 200,000 to 300,000 metric tons to domestic inventories by Q3.
If this projection materializes, U.S. copper stockpiles could swell from 95,000 tons to as much as 400,000 tons or around half of global reported inventories – leaving the international market at historically low inventory levels.
For 2025, Goldman sees a 180,000-ton global copper deficit as growing demand for electrification, economic stimulus measures in China, and slow mine growth materialize. The bank sees the supply imbalance more pronounced in the second half of the year as a catalyst for higher prices.
"We maintain our forecast that the LME three-month price will average $10,200 per ton in Q3 2024 and see the impact of inventory dislocation predominantly in timespreads," the bank noted. Current three-month copper contracts on the London Metal Exchange were trading at $9,528.50 per ton as of Wednesday morning.
The largest U.S. copper producer, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), could benefit from this scenario, particularly if copper is classified as a critical mineral.
In a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/ceraweek-freeport-sees-500-million-annual-boost-if-trump-declares-copper-2025-03-10/" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview</a>, CEO Kathleen Quirk expressed optimism that the Trump administration could make this move soon, unlocking the federal tax incentives to support domestic production.
"Having the incentives and clarity around those would be a big plus for the domestic copper industry," Quirk said. Such a designation would enable Freeport to claim more than $500 million annually in tax credits tied to the Inflation Reduction Act.
Freeport-McMoRan operates seven copper mines across the U.S. and one of two domestic copper smelters. The firm doesn't export any domestically produced copper, making it a key supplier in any scenario restricting imports.
However, production costs in the U.S. are higher than in Freeport's international operations due to lower ore grades, making policy support a crucial factor.
Per the <a target="_blank" href="https://mms.businesswire.com/media/20250122679192/en/2360933/1/FCX_250123_4Q_2024_Earnings_Release.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">latest guidance</a>, the company expects its U.S. copper production to increase by 8% in 2025, with further growth in subsequent years. Opportunities include doubling the concentrator capacity at its Bagdad operation in Arizona, which could add 200-250 million pounds of copper annually.
Quirk also hinted at a possible <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44216408/dr-congo-explores-a-minerals-for-security-deal-with-the-us" rel="noreferrer noopener">return to the Democratic Republic of Congo</a>, where Freeport previously owned the Kisanfu copper-cobalt project before selling it to China Molybdenum in 2020. "We would be interested in going back for the right opportunity," she said, adding that Freeport would seek to be the operator of any project if it re-enters the DRC.
Price Watch: Freeport-McMoRan has declined 5.28% year-to-date. The stock is up 1.56% to $36.44 premarket at the last check on Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44243837/iron-ore-production-to-accelerate-until-2030-study-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iron Ore Production To Accelerate Until 2030, Study Says</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Politics

Trading Ideas

Goldman Sachs Sees Copper Imports Increasing Ahead Of Tariffs As FCX Positions To Benefit (UPDATED)

Southern Copper shares are trading higher after UBS upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy.

UBS analyst Myles Allsop upgrades Southern Copper (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) from Neutral to Buy and maintains the price target from $120 to $120.

Upgrades

UBS Upgrades Southern Copper to Buy, Maintains Price Target to $120

Small Cap

Press Releases

Copper Miners Expand Operations to Address Global Supply Shortages

This Little-Known Metal Just Exploded 200%, Here are 2 Ways To Play It

TSX:ERO

TSX:TKO

TSXV:USHA

USHAF

Alcoa

Anglogold Ashanti

BHP Group Limited American Depositary Shares (Each representing two Ordinary Shares)

BHP Group

Compania De Minas

Coeur Mining

Cleveland-Cliffs

Commercial Metals

Carpenter Technology Corporation Common Stock

Carpenter Tech

Freeport-McMoRan

Gold Fields Limited American Depositary Shares

Gold Fields

Gerdau

Hecla Mining

Harmony Gold Mining Co

MP Materials

ArcelorMittal

Newmont

Nucor

POSCO HOLDINGS INC. American Depositary Shares (Each representing 1/4th of a share of Common Stock)

POSCO Holdings

Royal Gold

Reliance

Sibanye Stillwater

Steel Dynamics

Ternium S.A. Ternium S.A. American Depositary Shares (each representing ten shares, USD1.00 par value)

Comments

Southern Copper

Notizie

PARTENAIRE / CONTRIBUTEUR

BENZINGA MONDIAL