APD vs. RIO: Air Products and Chemicals vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison
How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Rio Tinto (RIO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Rio Tinto (RIO) both fall under the Materials industry group, but APD is classified in Chemicals while RIO is classified in Metals & Mining.
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) trades as ordinary local shares, while Rio Tinto (RIO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Air Products and Chemicals Inc. | Rio Tinto plc ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Gases | Diversified Metals & Mining |
| Market Capitalization | 67.88 billion USD | 136.19 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | June 28, 1990 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 23.26% | 30.54% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.49% | 16.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.43% | 14.68% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.21% | 30.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 0.63 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.77% | -35.25% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.06M | 2.35M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 0.85 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 1.26 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
APD
Materials industry group
3.19%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- APD
- 3.19%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
RIO
Materials industry group
19.31%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- RIO
- 19.31%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
APD
Materials industry group
4.10%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- APD
- 4.10%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
RIO
Materials industry group
19.59%
- Max
- 38.66%
- RIO
- 19.59%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
APD
Materials industry group
17.68%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- APD
- 17.68%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
RIO
Materials industry group
28.05%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- RIO
- 28.05%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 3.19% | 19.31% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.80% | 8.11% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.10% | 19.59% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | 28.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.58% | 29.75% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.52% | 7.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.77% | 1.24% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -110.30% | -13.97% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -7.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
APD
Materials industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- APD
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.16
RIO
Materials industry group
1.42
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- RIO
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 uses more debt funding than most peers.
APD
Materials industry group
1.06
- Max
- 1.98
- APD
- 1.06
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
RIO
Materials industry group
0.32
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- RIO
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.06 | 0.32 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.61 | 0.58 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 5.59% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
APD
Materials industry group
2.33%
- Max
- 4.52%
- APD
- 2.33%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RIO
Materials industry group
5.59%
- RIO
- 5.59%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
APD
Materials industry group
75.66%
- Max
- 83.62%
- APD
- 75.66%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RIO
Materials industry group
54.46%
- Max
- 83.62%
- RIO
- 54.46%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.33% | 5.59% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 75.66% | 54.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.
APD
Materials industry group
127.55
- APD
- 127.55
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
RIO
Materials industry group
11.35
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- RIO
- 11.35
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 sits in the pricier quartile — APD costs more per dollar of sales.
APD
Materials industry group
5.23
- Max
- 9.62
- APD
- 5.23
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
RIO
Materials industry group
2.20
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- RIO
- 2.20
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — APD is pricier on assets.
APD
Materials industry group
4.76
- Max
- 6.59
- APD
- 4.76
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
RIO
Materials industry group
2.08
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- RIO
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APD | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 127.55 | 11.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.23 | 2.20 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.76 | 2.08 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.28% | 2.64% |