RIO vs. SQM: Rio Tinto vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison
How do Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but RIO is classified in Metals & Mining while SQM is classified in Chemicals.
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Rio Tinto plc ADR | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | Chile |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Metals & Mining | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 136.19 billion USD | 16.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1990 | September 21, 1993 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.54% | 19.41% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 16.90% | 7.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.68% | 1.46% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.72% | 47.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.63 | 1.10 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.25% | -69.69% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.35M | 953.31K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.85 | 0.32 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.26 | 0.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SQM.
RIO
Materials industry group
19.31%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- RIO
- 19.31%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
SQM
Materials industry group
21.82%
- Max
- 52.88%
- SQM
- 21.82%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% 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
- 38.66%
- RIO
- 19.59%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
SQM
Materials industry group
20.62%
- Max
- 38.66%
- SQM
- 20.62%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% 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
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- RIO
- 28.05%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
SQM
Materials industry group
48.82%
- Max
- 66.70%
- SQM
- 48.82%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.31% | 21.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.11% | 11.55% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 19.59% | 20.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | 48.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.75% | 42.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% 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 | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.42% | 1.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.24% | -24.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -13.97% | -14.16% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.23% | -46.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 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.
RIO
Materials industry group
1.42
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- RIO
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.16
SQM
Materials industry group
2.61
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- SQM
- 2.61
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
RIO
Materials industry group
0.32
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- RIO
- 0.32
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
SQM
Materials industry group
0.61
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- SQM
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 2.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.32 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.58 | 0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 5.59% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
RIO
Materials industry group
5.59%
- RIO
- 5.59%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SQM
Materials industry group
2.55%
- Max
- 4.52%
- SQM
- 2.55%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% 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%
SQM
Materials industry group
21.19%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- SQM
- 21.19%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.59% | 2.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.46% | 21.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
RIO
Materials industry group
11.35
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- RIO
- 11.35
- Min
- 3.93
SQM
Materials industry group
11.84
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- SQM
- 11.84
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 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
SQM
Materials industry group
2.44
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- SQM
- 2.44
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
RIO
Materials industry group
2.08
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- RIO
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
SQM
Materials industry group
2.60
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- SQM
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RIO | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.35 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.20 | 2.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.08 | 2.60 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.64% | 15.94% |