Southern CopperLIM:SCCO +0.47%86 Pretax Margin % is 57.49% as of Mar. 2026, which is 50% above its 10-year median of 38.23. GuruFocus rates LIM:SCCO with a GF Score™ of 86/100 and a GF Value™ of $122.87 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 842 Metals & Mining companies, Southern Copper ranks better than 91.09% on this metric.
The pretax margin, as know as pretax profit margin, is widely used to measure the operating efficiency of a company before deducting taxes.
The pretax margin is sometimes preferred over the net margin as tax expenditures can make profitability comparisons between companies misleading.
It is a useful tool to compare companies operating in the same sector and less effective when comparing companies from other sectors as each industry generally has different operating expenses and sales patterns.
The long term trend of the pretax margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
Southern Copper Pretax Margin % Related Terms
Southern Copper Pretax Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Southern Copper's Pretax Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
LIM:SCCO vs FCX, IE, COPRD: Pretax Margin % Comparison
For the Copper subindustry, Southern Copper's Pretax Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Pretax Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Southern Copper Pretax Margin % vs Metals & Mining Industry
For the Metals & Mining industry and Basic Materials sector, Southern Copper's Pretax Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Southern Copper's Pretax Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Southern Copper (LIM:SCCO) has a Pretax Margin % of 57.49% as of Mar. 2026. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Southern Copper and its competitors. This is 50% above median its historical median of 38.23. Over the past decade, Southern Copper's Pretax Margin % has ranged from 23.35 to 53.27. According to the industry distribution chart, Southern Copper ranks #75 out of 842 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, placing it in the top 8.9%.
Is Southern Copper's Pretax Margin % too high?
Southern Copper's current Pretax Margin % of 57.49% is 50% above median its 10-year median of 38.23. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 23.35 to a high of 53.27. The Metals & Mining industry median Pretax Margin % is 4.86. Southern Copper's value of 57.49% is 1084.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Southern Copper ranks #75 out of 842 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Southern Copper has a GF Score™ of 86/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Southern Copper's Pretax Margin % compare to FCX and IE?
According to the Metals & Mining industry distribution chart, Southern Copper ranks #75 out of 842 companies for Pretax Margin %. This places Southern Copper in the top 9% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Pretax Margin % is 4.86. Southern Copper's value of 57.49% is 1084.1% above this benchmark. Historically, Southern Copper's own Pretax Margin % has ranged from 23.35 to 53.27 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 38.23 vs. the industry median of 4.86, Southern Copper has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Pretax Margin % for a Metals & Mining company?
The median Pretax Margin % among Metals & Mining companies is 4.86, based on 842 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Pretax Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Pretax Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Southern Copper's current Pretax Margin % of 57.49% is 1084.1% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Pretax Margin % mean?
A high Pretax Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Southern Copper and its competitors. For the Metals & Mining industry, the median Pretax Margin % is 4.86 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Southern Copper's current Pretax Margin % is 57.49%, which is 50% above median its own 10-year median of 38.23. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Southern Copper stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern Copper (LIM:SCCO) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $122.87, compared to a current price of $170.80 — trading 39% above its estimated fair value. The current Pretax Margin % is 57.49%, which is 50% above median its 10-year median of 38.23 and 1084.1% above the Metals & Mining industry median of 4.86. Southern Copper's overall GF Score™ is 86/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Pretax Margin % calculated?
Pretax Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Southern Copper (LIM:SCCO), the current Pretax Margin % is 57.49% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Southern Copper (LIM:SCCO) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern Copper stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $170.80 is trading 39% above its estimated GF Value™ of $122.87.
GuruFocus considers Southern Copper to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for LIM:SCCO:
Pretax Margin %: 57.49% (50% above median its 10-year median of 38.23)
GF Value™: $122.87 vs. price of $170.80 (39% above fair value)
Industry Position: 1084.1% above the Metals & Mining median (#75 of 842)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LIM:SCCO stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
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.
86GF Score
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