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Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO)

This page compares Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) with Rio Tinto (RIO) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though FCX is classified under Copper while RIO falls under Diversified Metals & Mining.

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) trades as a standard ordinary-equity line, while Rio Tinto (RIO) is an ADR tied to a foreign-share or depositary-receipt structure — compare with FX exposure, program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

SymbolFCXRIO
NameFreeport-McMoRan Inc.Rio Tinto Plc Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryCopperDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization94.46 billion USD173.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 10, 1995June 28, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 17.47 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 34.77 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — FCX carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

34.77

Max
60.28
Q3
34.34
Median
21.51
Q1
15.85
Min
4.52

RIO

Materials industry group

17.47

Max
60.28
Q3
34.34
Median
21.51
Q1
15.85
Min
4.52
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

On Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.58 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 3.00 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FCX

Materials industry group

3.58

Max
10.83
Q3
4.81
Median
2.12
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

3.00

Max
10.83
Q3
4.81
Median
2.12
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.78 is valued about in line with its industry on Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 4.84 carries a peer-beating premium to book — FCX is pricier on assets.

FCX

Materials industry group

4.84

Max
8.91
Q3
4.55
Median
2.75
Q1
1.53
Min
-0.53

RIO

Materials industry group

2.78

Max
8.91
Q3
4.55
Median
2.75
Q1
1.53
Min
-0.53
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)34.7717.47
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)3.583.00
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)4.842.78
Free Cash Flow Yield1.81%2.02%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.63% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 16.40% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.

FCX

Materials industry group

15.63%

Max
51.93%
Q3
17.55%
Median
5.92%
Q1
-10.29%
Min
-50.42%

RIO

Materials industry group

16.40%

Max
51.93%
Q3
17.55%
Median
5.92%
Q1
-10.29%
Min
-50.42%
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 17.29% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 10.34%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

FCX

Materials industry group

10.34%

Max
35.99%
Q3
14.87%
Median
3.80%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-21.87%

RIO

Materials industry group

17.29%

Max
35.99%
Q3
14.87%
Median
3.80%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-21.87%
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.07% operates in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile, ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 25.32%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.07%

Max
66.92%
Q3
27.27%
Median
9.63%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-32.85%

RIO

Materials industry group

25.32%

Max
66.92%
Q3
27.27%
Median
9.63%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-32.85%
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
Return on Equity (TTM)15.63%16.40%
Return on Assets (TTM)7.77%7.86%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)10.34%17.29%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)31.07%25.32%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)38.64%28.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
1-Year Revenue Growth1.81%7.42%
3-Year Revenue CAGR4.39%1.24%

EPS Growth

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
1-Year EPS Growth16.92%-13.97%
3-Year EPS CAGR-14.00%-7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 2.39 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.45 carry Current Ratio (MRQ) within their industry mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

2.39

Max
6.31
Q3
3.52
Median
2.26
Q1
1.43
Min
0.12

RIO

Materials industry group

1.45

Max
6.31
Q3
3.52
Median
2.26
Q1
1.43
Min
0.12
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.33 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.35 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

FCX

Materials industry group

0.33

Max
2.02
Q3
0.92
Median
0.44
Q1
0.14
Min
0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

0.35

Max
2.02
Q3
0.92
Median
0.44
Q1
0.14
Min
0.00
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.391.45
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.330.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.680.71

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 3.78% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.91%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

FCX

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max
5.82%
Q3
2.85%
Median
1.53%
Q1
0.81%
Min
0.01%

RIO

Materials industry group

3.78%

Max
5.82%
Q3
2.85%
Median
1.53%
Q1
0.81%
Min
0.01%
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.75% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Rio Tinto (RIO) at 61.31% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.75%

Max
90.00%
Q3
38.50%
Median
8.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

61.31%

Max
90.00%
Q3
38.50%
Median
8.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.91%3.78%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)31.75%61.31%

Performance & Risk

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) has an aggressive beta of 1.37, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Rio Tinto (RIO) is defensive at 0.57 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

FCX
RIO
Loading price history…
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolFCXRIO
1-Year Return70.32%86.07%
1-Year Volatility47.21%28.13%
Beta1.370.57
3-Month Avg. Volume16.40M2.83M