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RGLD vs. RIO: Royal Gold vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

How do Royal Gold (RGLD) 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

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

Royal Gold (RGLD) 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 Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile ItemRGLDRIO
NameRoyal Gold, Inc.Rio Tinto plc ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryGoldDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization22.47 billion USD136.19 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 9, 1981June 28, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RGLD
RIO
GSPC
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Royal Gold (RGLD) 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 Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
Total Return (1Y)60.60%30.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)39.65%16.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)23.26%14.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.91%30.72%
Beta (5Y)0.390.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.73%-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)667.01K2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RGLD 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 Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.340.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.001.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Royal Gold (RGLD) at 15.03% 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.

RGLD

Materials industry group

15.03%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
RGLD
15.03%
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%
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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 47.99% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% also retains a top-quartile share.

RGLD

Materials industry group

47.99%

RGLD
47.99%
Max
38.66%
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 65.85% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

RGLD

Materials industry group

65.85%

Max
66.70%
RGLD
65.85%
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
ROE (TTM)15.03%19.31%
ROA (TTM)9.97%8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)47.99%19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)65.85%28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)86.63%29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 43.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RGLD.

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

EPS Growth

Both Royal Gold (RGLD) at 32.74% 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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)43.24%7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)19.54%1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)32.74%-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)22.60%-7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 2.40 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.

RGLD

Materials industry group

2.40

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
RGLD
2.40
Median
2.24
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

RGLD

Materials industry group

0.02

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
RGLD
0.02
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) 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 Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.401.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.020.32
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.030.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 0.74% 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.

RGLD

Materials industry group

0.74%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
RGLD
0.74%
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 19.41% 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.

RGLD

Materials industry group

19.41%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
RGLD
19.41%
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.74%5.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)19.41%54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Royal Gold (RGLD) at 27.15 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

RGLD

Materials industry group

27.15

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
RGLD
27.15
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) 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 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Royal Gold (RGLD) at 12.86 clears its benchmark range — RGLD looks notably rich on sales.

RGLD

Materials industry group

12.86

RGLD
12.86
Max
9.62
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) 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 Royal Gold (RGLD) at 2.91 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

RGLD

Materials industry group

2.91

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
RGLD
2.91
Median
2.08
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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Royal Gold (RGLD) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Royal Gold (RGLD) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricRGLDRIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.1511.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)12.862.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.912.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.24%2.64%