LYB vs. RIO: LyondellBasell Industries vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison
How do LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) 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
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) and Rio Tinto (RIO) both fall under the Materials industry group, but LYB is classified in Chemicals while RIO is classified in Metals & Mining.
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) 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.
| Profile Item | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | LyondellBasell Industries N.V. | Rio Tinto plc ADR |
| Country/Region | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Commodity Chemicals | Diversified Metals & Mining |
| Market Capitalization | 19.63 billion USD | 136.19 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 28, 2010 | June 28, 1990 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 49.52% | 30.54% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -7.11% | 16.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -1.68% | 14.68% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.84% | 30.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.32 | 0.63 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.35% | -35.25% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.62M | 2.35M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.06 | 0.85 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.63 | 1.26 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% 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.
LYB
Materials industry group
12.18%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- LYB
- 12.18%
- Median
- 8.76%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
LYB
Materials industry group
4.05%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- LYB
- 4.05%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
LYB
Materials industry group
13.40%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- LYB
- 13.40%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.18% | 19.31% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.36% | 8.11% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.05% | 19.59% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 13.40% | 28.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 14.56% | 29.75% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -9.71% | 7.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -15.77% | 1.24% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -156.39% | -13.97% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -7.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 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.
LYB
Materials industry group
1.78
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- LYB
- 1.78
- Q1
- 1.45
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 uses more debt funding than most peers.
LYB
Materials industry group
1.21
- Max
- 1.98
- LYB
- 1.21
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.78 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.21 | 0.32 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.47 | 0.58 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 5.58% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 5.59% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
LYB
Materials industry group
5.58%
- LYB
- 5.58%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
LYB
Materials industry group
83.29%
- Max
- 83.62%
- LYB
- 83.29%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.58% | 5.59% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 83.29% | 54.46% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
LYB
Materials industry group
14.70
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- LYB
- 14.70
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 prices around its industry’s middle — LYB costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
LYB
Materials industry group
0.61
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- LYB
- 0.61
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
LYB
Materials industry group
1.74
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- LYB
- 1.74
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LYB | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.70 | 11.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.61 | 2.20 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.74 | 2.08 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 9.06% | 2.64% |