01—Abstract
Summary
Summary of the 8-K filed October 21, 2026. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.
Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) has reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2026, with record-breaking net sales, net income, and adjusted EBITDA, driven by favorable metal prices across its product lines and a slight increase in zinc sales volume.
This performance reflects significant year-over-year growth, with net sales up 39.1% and net income soaring by 62.7% compared to the third quarter of 2025. The company also announced a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30a per share and a stock dividend of 0.0106 shares per share, underscoring its commitment to returning value to shareholders.
SCCO continues to advance its long-term growth strategy, with major capital investments in its Peruvian and Mexican projects, including the Tia Maria and El Pilar projects, which are expected to significantly increase future copper production capacity. The company is also focused on operational efficiency, evident in the substantial decrease in its operating cash cost per pound of copper, largely due to increased by-product revenue credits.
02—Key points
Key Highlights
- Record quarterly net sales of $4,696.6 million, a 39.1% increase over 3Q25, driven by higher metal prices and increased zinc sales volume.
- Record quarterly net income of $1,801.8 million, a 62.7% increase year-over-year, with a net income margin of 38.4%.
- Record quarterly adjusted EBITDA of $3,040.2 million, up 53.9% from 3Q25, reflecting strong operational performance and higher commodity prices.
- Operating cash cost per pound of copper, net of by-product credits, decreased significantly to $0.09 in 3Q26, down 77.4% from $0.42 in 3Q25, primarily due to increased by-product revenue.
- Approved a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share and a stock dividend of 0.0106 shares per share, payable on November 19, 2026.
- Significant capital investments of $515.8 million in 3Q26, a 47.7% increase over 3Q25, supporting ongoing development of major growth projects like Tia Maria and El Pilar.
- Company Chairman highlights progress on Tia Maria project (50% complete) and commencement of El Pilar project, both key to increasing future copper production capacity.
03—Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Southern Copper's key financial achievements in Q3 2026?
Southern Copper reported record-breaking results for the third quarter of 2026, including record net sales of $4,696.6 million (up 39.1% year-over-year), record net income of $1,801.8 million (up 62.7% year-over-year), and record adjusted EBITDA of $3,040.2 million (up 53.9% year-over-year). These strong performances were primarily driven by higher metal prices and increased zinc sales volume.
How is SCCO returning capital to shareholders?
The Board of Directors authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share and a stock dividend of 0.0106 shares of common stock per share, both payable on November 19, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 3, 2026. This demonstrates a commitment to shareholder returns.
What is the status of SCCO's major growth projects like Tia Maria and El Pilar?
The Tia Maria project in Peru is approximately 49.6% complete as of September 30, 2026, and is on track to produce 120,000 tonnes of copper per year starting in 1H28. In Mexico, the El Pilar project has commenced site preparation, with construction expected to start in Q1 2027 and operations in H2 2029, aiming to produce 36,000 tonnes of copper per year.
How has SCCO's operating cost per pound of copper changed?
Operating cash cost per pound of copper, net of by-product revenue credits, saw a significant decrease in 3Q26, falling to $0.09, a 77.4% reduction compared to $0.42 in 3Q25. This improvement is largely attributed to a substantial increase in by-product revenue credits, driven by better commodity prices.
04—Continue