Along Peru's mining corridor, Big Copper faces a snarl of trucks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 19 2024
0mins
Should l Buy SCCO?
Source: reuters
- Surging Copper Prices Impacting Peru: Surging copper prices have led to a significant increase in the number of trucks carrying copper from illegal mines in Peru, causing congestion, accidents, and hazardous conditions along key highways.
- Illegal Mining Boom: The demand for copper due to the rise of electric vehicles and clean energy has fueled a boom in illegal mining operations in Peru, leading to overcrowding on roads used by legitimate mines.
- Accidents and Delays: Informal mining trucks have been involved in multiple accidents along the essential highway for transporting copper concentrate to the coast, resulting in delays and stoppages.
- Government Challenges: Stand-offs between large mines and artisan miners are complicating government efforts to boost investment and production in Peru's mining sector, which was recently surpassed by Congo in global copper production.
- Regulation Efforts: Peru's government is attempting to regulate the artisan mining sector more strictly, but faces pushback from small-scale miners, leading to uncontrolled activities and increased traffic along mining corridors.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy SCCO?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on SCCO
Wall Street analysts forecast SCCO stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SCCO is 127.95 USD with a low forecast of 90.00 USD and a high forecast of 152.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
10 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
5 Hold
5 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 200.040
Low
90.00
Averages
127.95
High
152.00
Current: 200.040
Low
90.00
Averages
127.95
High
152.00
About SCCO
Southern Copper Corporation is an integrated copper producer. The Company is engaged in the production of copper, molybdenum, silver, and zinc. The Company’s mining, smelting and refining facilities are located in Peru and Mexico and conducts exploration activities in those countries and in Argentina, Chile and Ecuador. Its segments include the Peruvian operations, Mexican open-pit operations and Mexican underground mining operations. Its Peruvian operations include the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and smelting and refining plants, including a precious metals plant, industrial railroad and port facilities. Its Mexican open-pit operations include the La Caridad and Buenavista mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, including a precious metals plant and a copper rod plant and support facilities that service both mines. Its Mexican underground mining operations include five underground mines that produce zinc, copper, lead, silver and gold, and a zinc refinery.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Southern Copper Corp Reports Record Earnings for 2025
- Sales Performance Surge: Southern Copper Corp achieved record sales of $13.4 billion in 2025, a 17% increase from 2024, reflecting strong global copper demand and effective market strategies, which are expected to further enhance its market share.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $7.8 billion, a 22% increase over 2024, indicating significant improvements in operational efficiency and cost control, thereby enhancing the sustainability of future investments.
- Capital Investment Commitment: Southern Copper has committed to over $20.5 billion in investments over the coming years, focusing on projects in Peru and Mexico, which will support its long-term growth objectives and strengthen its competitive position in the Latin American market.
- Production Challenges and Market Outlook: While zinc production increased by 36% year-on-year, copper production fell by 1.8%, with a further expected decrease of 4.7% in 2026, potentially leading to a 320,000-ton copper market deficit that could impact overall company performance.
See More
Trump Administration Increases Investments in Critical Minerals
- Surge in Investments: The Trump administration has made unprecedented equity investments in at least 10 companies over the past year, including critical minerals and chipmakers, aiming to build a domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on China, indicating a proactive government role in economic strategy.
- U.S. Steel Golden Share: The administration secured a golden share in U.S. Steel as a condition for approving Nippon Steel's acquisition, granting the president veto power over key business decisions, which ensures stability and growth in the U.S. steel industry, reflecting direct government intervention in vital sectors.
- Strategic Deal with MP Materials: The Defense Department struck a landmark deal with MP Materials, investing $400 million in preferred stock with rights to purchase additional shares, positioning the Pentagon as the largest single shareholder and further solidifying U.S. dominance in the rare earth mining sector.
- L3Harris and Defense Partnership: L3Harris announced a proposed partnership with the U.S. government, where the Pentagon will invest $1 billion in its rocket motor business, with plans for an IPO in the second half of 2026, allowing the Pentagon's investment to convert into common equity, enhancing the capital base of the defense industry.
See More
U.S. Markets End Tuesday in Decline; Gartner Reports Largest Loss
- U.S. Stock Market Performance: Stock indexes in the U.S. experienced a decline on Tuesday, with significant drops across major indices.
- Specific Index Changes: The S&P 500 fell by 1.43%, the Dow Jones dropped by 0.84%, and the Nasdaq declined by 0.34%.
See More
DaVita Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Shares Surge 21.7%
- Strong Earnings Report: DaVita's Q4 earnings per share of $3.40 exceeded analyst expectations of $3.16, demonstrating robust profitability that enhances market confidence in the company's future performance.
- Sales Beat Estimates: The company reported quarterly sales of $3.620 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus of $3.497 billion, indicating strong competitive positioning and a rebound in customer demand that is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Significant Stock Surge: DaVita's shares jumped 21.7% to $135.26 on Tuesday, reflecting a positive investor reaction to the financial results, which may attract further institutional interest in the stock.
- Price Target Increase: Barclays raised its price target for DaVita from $143 to $158, indicating analysts' optimistic outlook on the company's growth potential, which could further propel the stock price upward.
See More
Gold, Copper, and Missiles: Three Major Dividend Increases Following a Successful Year
2025 Performance Highlights: The aerospace and defense sectors saw significant returns in 2025, with the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF delivering nearly 49% and the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF achieving around 83%, marking their best performances in over a decade.
Franco-Nevada's Dividend Increase: Franco-Nevada Corporation announced a substantial 16% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.44, driven by strong gold and silver prices, and expects to continue rewarding shareholders with consistent payouts.
Southern Copper's Strong Returns: Southern Copper Corporation reported a remarkable 68% total return in 2025, alongside a 11% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $1.00, reflecting its position as a leading copper producer.
L3 Harris Technologies' Dividend Growth: L3 Harris Technologies declared a quarterly dividend of $1.25, representing a 4% increase, and is focused on maintaining a controlling stake in its missile solutions business while also planning to spin off this segment into a publicly traded entity.
See More
Southern Copper Shares Surge 12.8% Amid Copper Price Spike
- Copper Price Surge: Southern Copper's shares rose by 12.8% over the past week as copper prices briefly hit an all-time high of over $6.50 per pound on the London Metal Exchange, reflecting strong market demand and supply constraints.
- Market Deficit Forecast: Management estimates a market deficit of 320,000 tonnes by 2026, while the company's own copper production is expected to decline by 4.7% to 911,400 tonnes due to lower ore grades at its Peruvian operations, highlighting industry challenges.
- Demand Drivers: Ongoing demand from data centers for power cabling and copper wire continues to support rising copper prices, despite Southern Copper and Freeport-McMoRan facing difficulties in increasing production volumes, maintaining a positive market outlook.
- Inventory Levels: With copper inventories covering only 14 days of consumption and production recovery plans from Freeport and Southern Copper, the bullish sentiment for future copper prices is likely to benefit low-cost producers like Southern Copper.
See More
Southern Copper Corp Reports Record Earnings for 2025
- Sales Performance Surge: Southern Copper Corp achieved record sales of $13.4 billion in 2025, a 17% increase from 2024, reflecting strong global copper demand and effective market strategies, which are expected to further enhance its market share.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $7.8 billion, a 22% increase over 2024, indicating significant improvements in operational efficiency and cost control, thereby enhancing the sustainability of future investments.
- Capital Investment Commitment: Southern Copper has committed to over $20.5 billion in investments over the coming years, focusing on projects in Peru and Mexico, which will support its long-term growth objectives and strengthen its competitive position in the Latin American market.
- Production Challenges and Market Outlook: While zinc production increased by 36% year-on-year, copper production fell by 1.8%, with a further expected decrease of 4.7% in 2026, potentially leading to a 320,000-ton copper market deficit that could impact overall company performance.
See More
Trump Administration Increases Investments in Critical Minerals
- Surge in Investments: The Trump administration has made unprecedented equity investments in at least 10 companies over the past year, including critical minerals and chipmakers, aiming to build a domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on China, indicating a proactive government role in economic strategy.
- U.S. Steel Golden Share: The administration secured a golden share in U.S. Steel as a condition for approving Nippon Steel's acquisition, granting the president veto power over key business decisions, which ensures stability and growth in the U.S. steel industry, reflecting direct government intervention in vital sectors.
- Strategic Deal with MP Materials: The Defense Department struck a landmark deal with MP Materials, investing $400 million in preferred stock with rights to purchase additional shares, positioning the Pentagon as the largest single shareholder and further solidifying U.S. dominance in the rare earth mining sector.
- L3Harris and Defense Partnership: L3Harris announced a proposed partnership with the U.S. government, where the Pentagon will invest $1 billion in its rocket motor business, with plans for an IPO in the second half of 2026, allowing the Pentagon's investment to convert into common equity, enhancing the capital base of the defense industry.
See More
U.S. Markets End Tuesday in Decline; Gartner Reports Largest Loss
- U.S. Stock Market Performance: Stock indexes in the U.S. experienced a decline on Tuesday, with significant drops across major indices.
- Specific Index Changes: The S&P 500 fell by 1.43%, the Dow Jones dropped by 0.84%, and the Nasdaq declined by 0.34%.
See More
DaVita Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Shares Surge 21.7%
- Strong Earnings Report: DaVita's Q4 earnings per share of $3.40 exceeded analyst expectations of $3.16, demonstrating robust profitability that enhances market confidence in the company's future performance.
- Sales Beat Estimates: The company reported quarterly sales of $3.620 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus of $3.497 billion, indicating strong competitive positioning and a rebound in customer demand that is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Significant Stock Surge: DaVita's shares jumped 21.7% to $135.26 on Tuesday, reflecting a positive investor reaction to the financial results, which may attract further institutional interest in the stock.
- Price Target Increase: Barclays raised its price target for DaVita from $143 to $158, indicating analysts' optimistic outlook on the company's growth potential, which could further propel the stock price upward.
See More
Gold, Copper, and Missiles: Three Major Dividend Increases Following a Successful Year
2025 Performance Highlights: The aerospace and defense sectors saw significant returns in 2025, with the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF delivering nearly 49% and the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF achieving around 83%, marking their best performances in over a decade.
Franco-Nevada's Dividend Increase: Franco-Nevada Corporation announced a substantial 16% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.44, driven by strong gold and silver prices, and expects to continue rewarding shareholders with consistent payouts.
Southern Copper's Strong Returns: Southern Copper Corporation reported a remarkable 68% total return in 2025, alongside a 11% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $1.00, reflecting its position as a leading copper producer.
L3 Harris Technologies' Dividend Growth: L3 Harris Technologies declared a quarterly dividend of $1.25, representing a 4% increase, and is focused on maintaining a controlling stake in its missile solutions business while also planning to spin off this segment into a publicly traded entity.
See More
Southern Copper Shares Surge 12.8% Amid Copper Price Spike
- Copper Price Surge: Southern Copper's shares rose by 12.8% over the past week as copper prices briefly hit an all-time high of over $6.50 per pound on the London Metal Exchange, reflecting strong market demand and supply constraints.
- Market Deficit Forecast: Management estimates a market deficit of 320,000 tonnes by 2026, while the company's own copper production is expected to decline by 4.7% to 911,400 tonnes due to lower ore grades at its Peruvian operations, highlighting industry challenges.
- Demand Drivers: Ongoing demand from data centers for power cabling and copper wire continues to support rising copper prices, despite Southern Copper and Freeport-McMoRan facing difficulties in increasing production volumes, maintaining a positive market outlook.
- Inventory Levels: With copper inventories covering only 14 days of consumption and production recovery plans from Freeport and Southern Copper, the bullish sentiment for future copper prices is likely to benefit low-cost producers like Southern Copper.
See More
