Rio Tinto (RIO) Stock Analysis

September 14, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Rio Tinto (RIO): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Materials peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Rio Tinto (RIO) trades as an ADR rather than ordinary local shares — read it with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile fields for Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile Item	RIO
Name	Rio Tinto plc ADR
Country/Region	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Diversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization	162.57 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	June 28, 1990
Security Type	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RIO

GSPC

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Rio Tinto (RIO) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Rio Tinto (RIO) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	67.91%	21.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	23.59%	17.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.07%	8.21%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RIO

GSPC

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Rio Tinto (RIO) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.27%	54.63%
Beta (5Y)	0.57	1.04
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.25%	-58.82%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. RIO is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.11	0.39
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.18	0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) posts ROE of 19.31%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

Group distribution

Max: 58.68%
Q3: 19.97%
RIO: 19.31%
Median: 7.25%
Q1: -6.14%
Min: -41.32%

Largest peers

SCCO: 49.90%
NEM: 25.91%
BHP: 24.00%
AEM: 22.97%
RIO: 19.31%
LIN: 18.40%
FCX: 14.76%

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on ROE within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) keeps 19.59% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

RIO

Materials industry group

19.59%

Group distribution

Max: 38.18%
RIO: 19.59%
Q3: 15.31%
Median: 4.48%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -19.34%

Largest peers

AEM: 40.44%
SCCO: 35.87%
NEM: 33.36%
LIN: 20.44%
RIO: 19.59%
BHP: 16.73%
FCX: 11.39%

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on net margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) turns 28.05% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

RIO

Materials industry group

28.05%

Group distribution

Max: 66.54%
Q3: 29.91%
RIO: 28.05%
Median: 12.48%
Q1: 1.85%
Min: -29.20%

Largest peers

SCCO: 61.16%
AEM: 58.11%
NEM: 51.57%
BHP: 43.34%
FCX: 33.40%
LIN: 28.12%
RIO: 28.05%

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on operating margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	19.31%	7.25%
ROA (TTM)	8.11%	4.52%
Net Margin (TTM)	19.59%	4.48%
Operating Margin (TTM)	28.05%	12.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.75%	27.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) grew revenue 7.42%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Rio Tinto (RIO): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) grew earnings per share -13.97%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Rio Tinto (RIO): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.42%	7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.24%	0.33%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-13.97%	-2.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-7.23%	1.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) has current ratio of 1.42, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

RIO

Materials industry group

1.42

Group distribution

Max: 6.33
Q3: 3.46
Median: 2.25
Q1: 1.45
RIO: 1.42
Min: 0.16

Largest peers

SCCO: 5.06
AEM: 2.86
NEM: 2.55
FCX: 2.07
BHP: 1.89
RIO: 1.42
LIN: 0.88

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on current ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

RIO

Materials industry group

0.32

Group distribution

Max: 2.03
Q3: 0.93
Median: 0.45
RIO: 0.32
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

LIN: 0.69
SCCO: 0.68
BHP: 0.50
FCX: 0.32
RIO: 0.32
NEM: 0.16
AEM: 0.01

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	2.25
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.32	0.45
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.58	1.43

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) has dividend yield of 4.68%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

RIO

Materials industry group

4.68%

Group distribution

Max: 4.74%
RIO: 4.68%
Q3: 1.90%
Median: 0.36%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

RIO: 4.68%
BHP: 1.97%
SCCO: 1.81%
LIN: 1.34%
AEM: 0.86%
FCX: 0.84%
NEM: 0.82%

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on dividend yield within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) has payout ratio of 54.46%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

RIO

Materials industry group

54.46%

Group distribution

Max: 84.09%
RIO: 54.46%
Q3: 34.59%
Median: 7.64%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

BHP: 68.84%
RIO: 54.46%
SCCO: 54.16%
LIN: 40.00%
FCX: 29.41%
AEM: 14.55%
NEM: 12.86%

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on payout ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.68%	0.36%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	54.46%	7.64%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) trades at P/E ratio of 13.54, in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. Investors are paying less for each dollar of TTM earnings than they usually pay for comparable businesses.

RIO

Materials industry group

13.54

Group distribution

Max: 58.12
Q3: 32.25
Median: 20.96
Q1: 14.60
RIO: 13.54
Min: 5.82

Largest peers

FCX: 34.84
LIN: 30.12
SCCO: 29.05
BHP: 22.58
AEM: 17.15
NEM: 15.99
RIO: 13.54

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on P/E ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) trades at 2.63 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

RIO

Materials industry group

2.63

Group distribution

Max: 10.35
Q3: 4.84
RIO: 2.63
Median: 2.00
Q1: 0.71
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

SCCO: 10.35
AEM: 6.98
LIN: 6.06
NEM: 5.19
FCX: 3.95
BHP: 3.77
RIO: 2.63

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on P/S ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) trades at 2.48 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

RIO

Materials industry group

2.48

Group distribution

Max: 8.22
Q3: 4.17
RIO: 2.48
Median: 2.46
Q1: 1.44
Min: -0.34

Largest peers

SCCO: 13.17
LIN: 5.50
FCX: 5.08
BHP: 4.35
NEM: 3.81
AEM: 3.55
RIO: 2.48

Where Rio Tinto (RIO) stands on P/B ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Rio Tinto (RIO) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RIO	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	13.54	20.96
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.63	2.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.48	2.46
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.21%	1.99%