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BHP vs. RIO: BHP vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

How do BHP (BHP) 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

BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) are both classified in the Diversified Metals & Mining sub-industry within the broader Metals & Mining industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Both BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Company profile comparison for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile ItemBHPRIO
NameBHP Group Ltd. Sponsored ADRRio Tinto plc ADR
Country/RegionAustraliaUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Metals & MiningDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization223.22 billion USD158.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 28, 1990
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BHP
RIO
GSPC
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
Total Return (1Y)72.04%63.42%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.11%22.08%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.57%15.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BHP
RIO
GSPC
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.30%30.39%
Beta (5Y)0.740.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.21%-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.54M2.42M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BHP and RIO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.971.94
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.972.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 24.00% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BHP.

BHP

Materials industry group

24.00%

Max
58.68%
BHP
24.00%
Q3
19.46%
Median
7.17%
Q1
-6.73%
Min
-41.32%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max
58.68%
Q3
19.46%
RIO
19.31%
Median
7.17%
Q1
-6.73%
Min
-41.32%
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both BHP (BHP) at 16.73% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

BHP

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max
38.66%
BHP
16.73%
Q3
16.04%
Median
4.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-22.98%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.59%

Max
38.66%
RIO
19.59%
Q3
16.04%
Median
4.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-22.98%
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 43.34% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BHP

Materials industry group

43.34%

Max
66.54%
BHP
43.34%
Q3
28.58%
Median
12.48%
Q1
1.68%
Min
-29.20%

RIO

Materials industry group

28.05%

Max
66.54%
Q3
28.58%
RIO
28.05%
Median
12.48%
Q1
1.68%
Min
-29.20%
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
ROE (TTM)24.00%19.31%
ROA (TTM)13.43%8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)16.73%19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)43.34%28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)85.92%29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both BHP (BHP) at 14.63% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both BHP (BHP) at 8.91% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)14.63%7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.97%1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)8.91%-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.80%-7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

BHP (BHP) at 1.89 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RIO.

BHP

Materials industry group

1.89

Max
6.33
Q3
3.51
Median
2.23
BHP
1.89
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16

RIO

Materials industry group

1.42

Max
6.33
Q3
3.51
Median
2.23
Q1
1.45
RIO
1.42
Min
0.16
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both BHP (BHP) at 0.50 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

BHP

Materials industry group

0.50

Max
2.03
Q3
0.94
BHP
0.50
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

0.32

Max
2.03
Q3
0.94
Median
0.47
RIO
0.32
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.891.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.500.32
Net Debt / EBITDA0.330.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 2.00% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 4.79% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

BHP

Materials industry group

2.00%

Max
4.76%
BHP
2.00%
Q3
1.91%
Median
0.37%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

4.79%

RIO
4.79%
Max
4.76%
Q3
1.91%
Median
0.37%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both BHP (BHP) at 68.84% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

BHP

Materials industry group

68.84%

Max
84.09%
BHP
68.84%
Q3
34.59%
Median
7.64%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

54.46%

Max
84.09%
RIO
54.46%
Q3
34.59%
Median
7.64%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.00%4.79%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)68.84%54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 13.14 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while BHP (BHP) at 22.29 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

BHP

Materials industry group

22.29

Max
59.46
Q3
32.47
BHP
22.29
Median
19.90
Q1
14.40
Min
6.36

RIO

Materials industry group

13.14

Max
59.46
Q3
32.47
Median
19.90
Q1
14.40
RIO
13.14
Min
6.36
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both BHP (BHP) at 3.80 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.57 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BHP

Materials industry group

3.80

Max
11.02
Q3
4.99
BHP
3.80
Median
2.09
Q1
0.78
Min
0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

2.57

Max
11.02
Q3
4.99
RIO
2.57
Median
2.09
Q1
0.78
Min
0.00
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.42 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while BHP (BHP) at 4.38 carries an above-peer premium to book — BHP is pricier on assets.

BHP

Materials industry group

4.38

Max
8.64
BHP
4.38
Q3
4.37
Median
2.43
Q1
1.40
Min
-0.27

RIO

Materials industry group

2.42

Max
8.64
Q3
4.37
Median
2.43
RIO
2.42
Q1
1.40
Min
-0.27
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BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricBHPRIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)22.2913.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.802.57
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.382.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.30%2.27%