In practice
It carries a strong geo-targeting signal by default, which cannot be overridden in Search Console.
Running several means running several sites: separate authority, separate technical work, separate content plans.
Why it matters
In markets where local trust matters — finance, health, public sector — a ccTLD converts better than a generic domain.
The cost is fragmentation, so the decision belongs to the market strategy, not to the SEO plan alone.
Related terms