New Gold (NYSE: NGD) and Freeport-McMoran (NYSE:FCX) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, analyst recommendations and dividends.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares New Gold and Freeport-McMoran’s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | EBITDA | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| New Gold | $704.10 million | 2.82 | $282.10 million | N/A | N/A |
| Freeport-McMoran | $15.31 billion | 1.45 | $5.20 billion | $0.71 | 21.54 |
Freeport-McMoran has higher revenue and earnings than New Gold.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
69.9% of Freeport-McMoran shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of Freeport-McMoran shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares New Gold and Freeport-McMoran’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| New Gold | 12.45% | 4.03% | 2.24% |
| Freeport-McMoran | 5.97% | 10.45% | 2.60% |
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for New Gold and Freeport-McMoran, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| New Gold | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2.25 |
| Freeport-McMoran | 3 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1.93 |
New Gold currently has a consensus target price of $3.88, suggesting a potential upside of 12.89%. Freeport-McMoran has a consensus target price of $13.86, suggesting a potential downside of 9.37%. Given New Gold’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe New Gold is more favorable than Freeport-McMoran.
New Gold Company Profile
New Gold Inc. is an intermediate gold mining company. The Company is engaged in the development and operation of mineral properties. Its segments include New Afton, Mesquite, Peak Mines, Cerro San Pedro, Corporate and Other. It has operating mines in Canada, the United States, Australia and Mexico; development projects in Canada, and a stream on gold production from a development property in Chile. Its development projects include Rainy River and Blackwater projects, which are located in Canada. Its Rainy River project is a gold project located approximately 65 kilometers northwest of Fort Frances in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The Rainy River comprises approximately 192 square kilometers of various rights and claims. The Blackwater Project is located approximately 160 kilometers southwest of the city of Prince George in central British Columbia, Canada and 110 kilometers southwest of the town of Vanderhoof. The Blackwater project covers an area of over 1,000 square kilometers.
Freeport-McMoran Company Profile
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) is a mining company. The Company operates through geographical assets with proven and probable reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum, and traded copper producer. The Company’s segments include refined copper products, copper in concentrate, gold, molybdenum, oil and other. The Company’s segments include the Morenci, Cerro Verde, Grasberg copper mines, the Rod & Refining operations and the United States (U.S.) Oil and Gas Operations. The Company has organized its operations into five divisions, which include North America copper mines, South America mining, Indonesia mining and Molybdenum mines. The Company’s portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, copper and gold deposits, and mining operations in the Americas, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in North America and the Cerro Verde operation in South America.
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