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PKX vs. RIO: POSCO vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

How do POSCO (PKX) 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

POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though PKX is classified under Steel while RIO falls under Diversified Metals & Mining.

Both POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile ItemPKXRIO
NamePOSCO Holdings Inc. American Depositary ReceiptRio Tinto plc ADR
Country/RegionSouth KoreaUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustrySteelDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization14.79 billion USD136.19 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 14, 1994June 28, 1990
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PKX
RIO
GSPC
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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
Total Return (1Y)-4.84%30.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-15.65%16.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.81%14.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

POSCO (PKX) has an aggressive beta of 1.71, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Rio Tinto (RIO) is defensive at 0.63 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.00%30.72%
Beta (5Y)1.710.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-68.71%-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)216.95K2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PKX 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 POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.200.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.301.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 2.21% 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
PKX
2.21%
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of POSCO (PKX) at 1.89%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.89%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
PKX
1.89%
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 4.26% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

PKX

Materials industry group

4.26%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
PKX
4.26%
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
ROE (TTM)2.21%19.31%
ROA (TTM)1.31%8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)1.89%19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.26%28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)7.87%29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while POSCO (PKX) at -6.09% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both POSCO (PKX) at -29.00% 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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.09%7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.72%1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)-29.00%-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-39.42%-7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

POSCO (PKX) at 1.98 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.98

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
PKX
1.98
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
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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 0.50 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.50

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
PKX
0.50
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
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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.981.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.500.32
Net Debt / EBITDA2.810.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 18,518.52% 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

18,518.52%

PKX
18,518.52%
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%
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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 51.60% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

PKX

Materials industry group

51.60%

Max
83.62%
PKX
51.60%
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%
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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)18,518.52%5.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)51.60%54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at 15.57 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

PKX

Materials industry group

15.57

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
PKX
15.57
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

POSCO (PKX) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 prices around its industry’s middle — PKX costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.00

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
PKX
0.00
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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POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) at 1.36 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.36

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
PKX
1.36
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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POSCO (PKX) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricPKXRIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.5711.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.002.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.362.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-23,410.34%2.64%