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EQX vs. RIO: Equinox Gold vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

How do Equinox Gold (EQX) 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

Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though EQX is classified under Gold while RIO falls under Diversified Metals & Mining.

Equinox Gold (EQX) 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.

Company profile comparison for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile ItemEQXRIO
NameEquinox Gold Corp.Rio Tinto plc ADR
Country/RegionCanadaUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryGoldDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization13.45 billion USD136.19 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSE AmericanNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 2019June 28, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EQX
RIO
GSPC
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Equinox Gold (EQX) 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 Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
Total Return (1Y)1.87%30.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)37.49%16.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.54%14.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EQX
RIO
GSPC
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Equinox Gold (EQX) 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 Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)63.25%30.72%
Beta (5Y)1.250.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-71.57%-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.60M2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EQX 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 Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.040.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.061.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Equinox Gold (EQX) at 8.47% 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.

EQX

Materials industry group

8.47%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
EQX
8.47%
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%
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Equinox Gold (EQX) at 28.09% 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.

EQX

Materials industry group

28.09%

Max
38.66%
EQX
28.09%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
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%
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 32.14% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

EQX

Materials industry group

32.14%

Max
66.70%
EQX
32.14%
Q3
28.92%
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%
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
ROE (TTM)8.47%19.31%
ROA (TTM)6.74%8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)28.09%19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.14%28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)57.60%29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 99.07% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

EPS Growth

Both Equinox Gold (EQX) at -53.33% 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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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)99.07%7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)24.04%1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)-53.33%-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Equinox Gold (EQX) at 1.33 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.

EQX

Materials industry group

1.33

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
EQX
1.33
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
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Equinox Gold (EQX) at 0.13 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

EQX

Materials industry group

0.13

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
EQX
0.13
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
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Equinox Gold (EQX) 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 Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.331.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.130.32
Net Debt / EBITDA0.210.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 0.27% pays an industry-typical yield; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 5.59% 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.

EQX

Materials industry group

0.27%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
EQX
0.27%
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%
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 6.25% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

EQX

Materials industry group

6.25%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
EQX
6.25%
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%
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.27%5.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.25%54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Equinox Gold (EQX) at 24.00 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

EQX

Materials industry group

24.00

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
EQX
24.00
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
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Equinox Gold (EQX) at 4.64 sits in the pricier quartile — EQX costs more per dollar of sales.

EQX

Materials industry group

4.64

Max
9.62
EQX
4.64
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
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Equinox Gold (EQX) at 1.43 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

EQX

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
EQX
1.43
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
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Equinox Gold (EQX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Equinox Gold (EQX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricEQXRIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.0011.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.642.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.432.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.15%2.64%