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

August 10, 2026

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 Item	BHP	RIO
Name	BHP Group Ltd.	Rio Tinto Plc Sponsored ADR
Country/Region	Australia	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Diversified Metals & Mining	Diversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization	229.67 billion USD	164.48 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	June 28, 1990
Security Type	ADR	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BHP

RIO

GSPC

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
Total Return (1Y)	76.92%	75.16%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.36%	23.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	12.77%	11.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BHP

RIO

GSPC

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	33.35%	29.68%
Beta (5Y)	0.79	0.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.21%	-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.70M	2.73M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	2.18	2.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	3.33	3.64

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both BHP (BHP) at 24.71% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

BHP

Materials industry group

24.71%

Max: 53.09%
BHP: 24.71%
Q3: 18.31%
Median: 6.54%
Q1: -7.36%
Min: -44.78%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max: 53.09%
RIO: 19.31%
Q3: 18.31%
Median: 6.54%
Q1: -7.36%
Min: -44.78%

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 18.97% 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

18.97%

Max: 35.87%
BHP: 18.97%
Q3: 14.51%
Median: 4.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.48%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.59%

Max: 35.87%
RIO: 19.59%
Q3: 14.51%
Median: 4.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.48%

BHP (BHP) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both BHP (BHP) at 40.73% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

BHP

Materials industry group

40.73%

Max: 66.92%
BHP: 40.73%
Q3: 27.96%
Median: 11.83%
Q1: 0.58%
Min: -39.87%

RIO

Materials industry group

28.05%

Max: 66.92%
RIO: 28.05%
Q3: 27.96%
Median: 11.83%
Q1: 0.58%
Min: -39.87%

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
ROE (TTM)	24.71%	19.31%
ROA (TTM)	12.23%	8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.97%	19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)	40.73%	28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)	83.09%	29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while BHP (BHP) at -7.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both BHP (BHP) at 14.08% 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.

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-7.90%	7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-7.66%	1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)	14.08%	-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-33.72%	-7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

BHP (BHP) at 1.65 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

1.65

Max: 6.25
Q3: 3.38
Median: 2.21
BHP: 1.65
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.12

RIO

Materials industry group

1.42

Max: 6.25
Q3: 3.38
Median: 2.21
Q1: 1.45
RIO: 1.42
Min: 0.12

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

BHP

Materials industry group

0.53

Max: 2.03
Q3: 0.90
BHP: 0.53
Median: 0.44
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

0.32

Max: 2.03
Q3: 0.90
Median: 0.44
RIO: 0.32
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.65	1.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.53	0.32
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.60	0.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BHP (BHP) at 1.51% pays an industry-typical yield; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 4.67% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

BHP

Materials industry group

1.51%

Max: 3.93%
Q3: 1.59%
BHP: 1.51%
Median: 0.12%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

4.67%

RIO: 4.67%
Max: 3.93%
Q3: 1.59%
Median: 0.12%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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 54.64% 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

54.64%

Max: 87.71%
BHP: 54.64%
Q3: 35.53%
Median: 7.61%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

54.46%

Max: 87.71%
RIO: 54.46%
Q3: 35.53%
Median: 7.61%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.51%	4.67%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	54.64%	54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 13.50 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while BHP (BHP) at 21.84 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

BHP

Materials industry group

21.84

Max: 61.94
Q3: 33.51
BHP: 21.84
Median: 21.84
Q1: 13.83
Min: 4.59

RIO

Materials industry group

13.50

Max: 61.94
Q3: 33.51
Median: 21.84
Q1: 13.83
RIO: 13.50
Min: 4.59

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 4.25 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.66 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BHP

Materials industry group

4.25

Max: 10.66
Q3: 4.75
BHP: 4.25
Median: 1.99
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

2.66

Max: 10.66
Q3: 4.75
RIO: 2.66
Median: 1.99
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

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 2.51 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while BHP (BHP) at 4.55 carries an above-peer premium to book — BHP is pricier on assets.

BHP

Materials industry group

4.55

Max: 8.66
BHP: 4.55
Q3: 4.38
Median: 2.57
Q1: 1.46
Min: -0.29

RIO

Materials industry group

2.51

Max: 8.66
Q3: 4.38
Median: 2.57
RIO: 2.51
Q1: 1.46
Min: -0.29

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)
Metric	BHP	RIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.84	13.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.25	2.66
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.55	2.51
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.54%	2.19%