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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO)

This page compares Rio Tinto (RIO) with Southern Copper (SCCO) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

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 a standard ordinary-equity line, while Rio Tinto (RIO) is an ADR tied to a foreign-share or depositary-receipt structure — compare with FX exposure, program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

SymbolRIOSCCO
NameRio Tinto Plc Sponsored ADRSouthern Copper Corporation
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Metals & MiningCopper
Market Capitalization164.93 billion USD146.15 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 28, 1990January 5, 1996
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 16.57 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 28.91 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

RIO

Materials industry group

16.57

Max
59.04
Q3
32.64
Median
21.03
Q1
14.86
Min
4.60

SCCO

Materials industry group

28.91

Max
59.04
Q3
32.64
Median
21.03
Q1
14.86
Min
4.60
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.86 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 10.04 sits in the pricier quartile — SCCO costs more per dollar of sales.

RIO

Materials industry group

2.86

Max
10.04
Q3
4.49
Median
1.98
Q1
0.74
Min
0.00

SCCO

Materials industry group

10.04

Max
10.04
Q3
4.49
Median
1.98
Q1
0.74
Min
0.00
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.65 sits near its industry’s typical Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 12.40 prices above its benchmark range — SCCO looks rich relative to book.

RIO

Materials industry group

2.65

Max
7.93
Q3
4.27
Median
2.49
Q1
1.39
Min
-0.48

SCCO

Materials industry group

12.40

Max
7.93
Q3
4.27
Median
2.49
Q1
1.39
Min
-0.48
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)16.5728.91
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)2.8610.04
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)2.6512.40
Free Cash Flow Yield2.12%2.91%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 46.34% ranks in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM), ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 16.40%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

RIO

Materials industry group

16.40%

Max
51.93%
Q3
17.55%
Median
5.92%
Q1
-10.29%
Min
-50.42%

SCCO

Materials industry group

46.34%

Max
51.93%
Q3
17.55%
Median
5.92%
Q1
-10.29%
Min
-50.42%
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 17.29% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 34.13% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top Net Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.

RIO

Materials industry group

17.29%

Max
35.99%
Q3
14.87%
Median
3.80%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-21.87%

SCCO

Materials industry group

34.13%

Max
35.99%
Q3
14.87%
Median
3.80%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-21.87%
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Southern Copper (SCCO) at 58.34% operates in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile, ahead of Rio Tinto (RIO) at 25.32%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

RIO

Materials industry group

25.32%

Max
66.92%
Q3
27.27%
Median
9.63%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-32.85%

SCCO

Materials industry group

58.34%

Max
66.92%
Q3
27.27%
Median
9.63%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-32.85%
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
Return on Equity (TTM)16.40%46.34%
Return on Assets (TTM)7.86%23.81%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)17.29%34.13%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)25.32%58.34%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)28.12%62.71%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
1-Year Revenue Growth7.42%17.38%
3-Year Revenue CAGR1.24%10.13%

EPS Growth

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
1-Year EPS Growth-13.97%25.41%
3-Year EPS CAGR-7.23%17.64%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.45 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Southern Copper (SCCO) at 4.38 sits above the industry mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

RIO

Materials industry group

1.45

Max
6.31
Q3
3.52
Median
2.28
Q1
1.43
Min
0.12

SCCO

Materials industry group

4.38

Max
6.31
Q3
3.52
Median
2.28
Q1
1.43
Min
0.12
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.35 and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 0.62 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

RIO

Materials industry group

0.35

Max
2.02
Q3
0.92
Median
0.44
Q1
0.14
Min
0.00

SCCO

Materials industry group

0.62

Max
2.02
Q3
0.92
Median
0.44
Q1
0.14
Min
0.00
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.454.38
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.350.62
Net Debt / EBITDA0.710.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 3.96% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 2.28% report Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, indicating higher cash yield relative to share price than typical competitors.

RIO

Materials industry group

3.96%

Max
4.61%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.58%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SCCO

Materials industry group

2.28%

Max
4.61%
Q3
1.97%
Median
0.58%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 61.31% and Southern Copper (SCCO) at 56.33% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

RIO

Materials industry group

61.31%

Max
90.00%
Q3
38.50%
Median
8.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SCCO

Materials industry group

56.33%

Max
90.00%
Q3
38.50%
Median
8.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.96%2.28%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)61.31%56.33%

Performance & Risk

RIO
SCCO
Loading price history…
Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Southern Copper (SCCO): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolRIOSCCO
1-Year Return80.02%89.39%
1-Year Volatility28.99%48.77%
Beta0.581.13
3-Month Avg. Volume2.72M1.54M