RIO vs. SCCO: Rio Tinto vs. Southern Copper Stock Comparison
How do Rio Tinto (RIO) and Southern Copper (SCCO) 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
Rio Tinto (RIO) and Southern Copper (SCCO) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though RIO is classified under Diversified Metals & Mining while SCCO falls under Copper.
Southern Copper (SCCO) 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 | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Rio Tinto plc ADR | Southern Copper Corporation |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Metals & Mining | Copper |
| Market Capitalization | 162.57 billion USD | 163.37 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1990 | January 5, 1996 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 67.91% | 95.55% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 23.59% | 40.82% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.07% | 32.49% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.27% | 52.67% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.57 | 1.13 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.25% | -43.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.54M | 1.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.11 | 1.73 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.18 | 2.63 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 49.90% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SCCO.
RIO
Materials industry group
19.31%
- Max
- 58.68%
- Q3
- 19.97%
- RIO
- 19.31%
- Median
- 7.25%
- Q1
- -6.14%
- Min
- -41.32%
SCCO
Materials industry group
49.90%
- Max
- 58.68%
- SCCO
- 49.90%
- Q3
- 19.97%
- Median
- 7.25%
- Q1
- -6.14%
- Min
- -41.32%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 35.87% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
RIO
Materials industry group
19.59%
- Max
- 38.18%
- RIO
- 19.59%
- Q3
- 15.31%
- Median
- 4.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -19.34%
SCCO
Materials industry group
35.87%
- Max
- 38.18%
- SCCO
- 35.87%
- Q3
- 15.31%
- Median
- 4.48%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -19.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 61.16% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
RIO
Materials industry group
28.05%
- Max
- 66.54%
- Q3
- 29.91%
- RIO
- 28.05%
- Median
- 12.48%
- Q1
- 1.85%
- Min
- -29.20%
SCCO
Materials industry group
61.16%
- Max
- 66.54%
- SCCO
- 61.16%
- Q3
- 29.91%
- Median
- 12.48%
- Q1
- 1.85%
- Min
- -29.20%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.31% | 49.90% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.11% | 25.71% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 19.59% | 35.87% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | 61.16% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.75% | 64.50% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 17.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 25.41% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.42% | 17.38% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.24% | 10.13% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -13.97% | 25.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.23% | 17.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Southern Copper (SCCO) at 5.06 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
RIO
Materials industry group
1.42
- Max
- 6.33
- Q3
- 3.46
- Median
- 2.25
- Q1
- 1.45
- RIO
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.16
SCCO
Materials industry group
5.06
- Max
- 6.33
- SCCO
- 5.06
- Q3
- 3.46
- Median
- 2.25
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
RIO
Materials industry group
0.32
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 0.93
- Median
- 0.45
- RIO
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
SCCO
Materials industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 0.93
- SCCO
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 5.06 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.32 | 0.68 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.58 | 0.13 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 4.68% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 1.81% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RIO the richer one.
RIO
Materials industry group
4.68%
- Max
- 4.74%
- RIO
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.90%
- Median
- 0.36%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCCO
Materials industry group
1.81%
- Max
- 4.74%
- Q3
- 1.90%
- SCCO
- 1.81%
- Median
- 0.36%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 54.16% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
RIO
Materials industry group
54.46%
- Max
- 84.09%
- RIO
- 54.46%
- Q3
- 34.59%
- Median
- 7.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCCO
Materials industry group
54.16%
- Max
- 84.09%
- SCCO
- 54.16%
- Q3
- 34.59%
- Median
- 7.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.68% | 1.81% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.46% | 54.16% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 13.54 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 29.05 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
RIO
Materials industry group
13.54
- Max
- 58.12
- Q3
- 32.25
- Median
- 20.96
- Q1
- 14.60
- RIO
- 13.54
- Min
- 5.82
SCCO
Materials industry group
29.05
- Max
- 58.12
- Q3
- 32.25
- SCCO
- 29.05
- Median
- 20.96
- Q1
- 14.60
- Min
- 5.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.63 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 10.35 sits in the pricier quartile — SCCO costs more per dollar of sales.
RIO
Materials industry group
2.63
- Max
- 10.35
- Q3
- 4.84
- RIO
- 2.63
- Median
- 2.00
- Q1
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.00
SCCO
Materials industry group
10.35
- SCCO
- 10.35
- Max
- 10.35
- Q3
- 4.84
- Median
- 2.00
- Q1
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.48 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 13.17 prices above its benchmark range — SCCO looks rich relative to book.
RIO
Materials industry group
2.48
- Max
- 8.22
- Q3
- 4.17
- RIO
- 2.48
- Median
- 2.46
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -0.34
SCCO
Materials industry group
13.17
- SCCO
- 13.17
- Max
- 8.22
- Q3
- 4.17
- Median
- 2.46
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.54 | 29.05 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.63 | 10.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.48 | 13.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 3.06% |