FCX vs. RIO: Freeport-McMoRan vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

July 23, 2026

How do Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) 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

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 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile Item	FCX	RIO
Name	Freeport-McMoRan Inc.	Rio Tinto Plc Sponsored ADR
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Copper	Diversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization	89.93 billion USD	147.26 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	July 10, 1995	June 28, 1990
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FCX

RIO

GSPC

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
Total Return (1Y)	39.93%	53.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	17.00%	17.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.11%	10.07%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FCX

RIO

GSPC

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) has an aggressive beta of 1.37, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Rio Tinto (RIO) is defensive at 0.59 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	49.96%	29.67%
Beta (5Y)	1.37	0.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.26%	-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)	14.93M	2.69M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FCX 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.72	1.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.96	2.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 15.63% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 16.40% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

FCX

Materials industry group

15.63%

Max: 51.93%
Q3: 18.20%
FCX: 15.63%
Median: 5.99%
Q1: -9.69%
Min: -50.42%

RIO

Materials industry group

16.40%

Max: 51.93%
Q3: 18.20%
RIO: 16.40%
Median: 5.99%
Q1: -9.69%
Min: -50.42%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net 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: 14.91%
FCX: 10.34%
Median: 3.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -21.87%

RIO

Materials industry group

17.29%

Max: 35.99%
RIO: 17.29%
Q3: 14.91%
Median: 3.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -21.87%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.07% operates in the top operating margin 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%
FCX: 31.07%
Q3: 27.44%
Median: 10.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -32.85%

RIO

Materials industry group

25.32%

Max: 66.92%
Q3: 27.44%
RIO: 25.32%
Median: 10.11%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -32.85%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
ROE (TTM)	15.63%	16.40%
ROA (TTM)	7.77%	7.86%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.34%	17.29%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.07%	25.32%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.64%	28.12%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.81% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 16.92% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.81%	7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.39%	1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)	16.92%	-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y 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 within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

2.39

Max: 6.31
Q3: 3.49
FCX: 2.39
Median: 2.23
Q1: 1.42
Min: 0.12

RIO

Materials industry group

1.45

Max: 6.31
Q3: 3.49
Median: 2.23
RIO: 1.45
Q1: 1.42
Min: 0.12

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 0.33 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FCX

Materials industry group

0.33

Max: 2.02
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.44
FCX: 0.33
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

0.35

Max: 2.02
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.44
RIO: 0.35
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.39	1.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.33	0.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.68	0.71

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 4.51% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 1.02% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RIO the richer one.

FCX

Materials industry group

1.02%

Max: 4.91%
Q3: 1.96%
FCX: 1.02%
Median: 0.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

4.51%

Max: 4.91%
RIO: 4.51%
Q3: 1.96%
Median: 0.46%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.75% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 61.31% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.75%

Max: 97.44%
Q3: 40.00%
FCX: 31.75%
Median: 9.04%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RIO

Materials industry group

61.31%

Max: 97.44%
RIO: 61.31%
Q3: 40.00%
Median: 9.04%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.02%	4.51%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	31.75%	61.31%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 31.12 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 14.89 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

FCX

Materials industry group

31.12

Max: 58.49
Q3: 31.23
FCX: 31.12
Median: 20.26
Q1: 12.90
Min: 4.66

RIO

Materials industry group

14.89

Max: 58.49
Q3: 31.23
Median: 20.26
RIO: 14.89
Q1: 12.90
Min: 4.66

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) 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 Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 3.40 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.55 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FCX

Materials industry group

3.40

Max: 8.72
Q3: 4.01
FCX: 3.40
Median: 1.86
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

RIO

Materials industry group

2.55

Max: 8.72
Q3: 4.01
RIO: 2.55
Median: 1.86
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) 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 2.37 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) at 4.61 carries an above-peer premium to book — FCX is pricier on assets.

FCX

Materials industry group

4.61

Max: 7.76
FCX: 4.61
Q3: 3.99
Median: 2.25
Q1: 1.38
Min: -0.30

RIO

Materials industry group

2.37

Max: 7.76
Q3: 3.99
RIO: 2.37
Median: 2.25
Q1: 1.38
Min: -0.30

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Metric	FCX	RIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.12	14.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.40	2.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.61	2.37
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.90%	2.37%