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RIO vs. SHW: Rio Tinto vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison

How do Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) 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 Sherwin-Williams (SHW) both fall under the Materials industry group, but RIO is classified in Metals & Mining while SHW is classified in Chemicals.

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Profile ItemRIOSHW
NameRio Tinto plc ADRThe Sherwin-Williams Company
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Metals & MiningSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization136.19 billion USD83.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 28, 1990March 17, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RIO
SHW
GSPC
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW), 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
Total Return (1Y)30.54%5.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.90%13.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.68%2.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RIO
SHW
GSPC
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW), 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.72%29.59%
Beta (5Y)0.631.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.25%-42.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.35M1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RIO and SHW 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.850.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.260.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 63.70% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
RIO
19.31%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

SHW

Materials industry group

63.70%

SHW
63.70%
Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): 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 Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 10.74%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

RIO

Materials industry group

19.59%

Max
38.66%
RIO
19.59%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

SHW

Materials industry group

10.74%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
SHW
10.74%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

RIO

Materials industry group

28.05%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
RIO
28.05%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

SHW

Materials industry group

17.56%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
SHW
17.56%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
ROE (TTM)19.31%63.70%
ROA (TTM)8.11%9.48%
Net Margin (TTM)19.59%10.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.05%17.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.75%48.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at -2.75% 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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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.42%2.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.24%2.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)-13.97%-2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.23%9.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.71 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

RIO

Materials industry group

1.42

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
RIO
1.42
Min
0.16

SHW

Materials industry group

0.71

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
SHW
0.71
Min
0.16
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.72 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

RIO

Materials industry group

0.32

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
RIO
0.32
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

SHW

Materials industry group

3.72

SHW
3.72
Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.420.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.323.72
Net Debt / EBITDA0.583.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% 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.

RIO

Materials industry group

5.59%

RIO
5.59%
Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHW

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
SHW
0.91%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% 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.

RIO

Materials industry group

54.46%

Max
83.62%
RIO
54.46%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

SHW

Materials industry group

29.35%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
SHW
29.35%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.59%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)54.46%29.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 31.66 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for RIO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

RIO

Materials industry group

11.35

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
RIO
11.35
Min
3.93

SHW

Materials industry group

31.66

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
SHW
31.66
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

RIO

Materials industry group

2.20

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
RIO
2.20
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

SHW

Materials industry group

3.34

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
SHW
3.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 20.78 prices above its benchmark range — SHW looks rich relative to book.

RIO

Materials industry group

2.08

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
RIO
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

SHW

Materials industry group

20.78

SHW
20.78
Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRIOSHW
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.3531.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.203.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.0820.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.64%2.98%