RIO vs. STLD: Rio Tinto vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though RIO is classified under Diversified Metals & Mining while STLD falls under Steel.

Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Profile Item	RIO	STLD
Name	Rio Tinto plc ADR	Steel Dynamics, Inc.
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	Steel
Market Capitalization	136.19 billion USD	31.70 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 28, 1990	November 22, 1996
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RIO

STLD

GSPC

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
Total Return (1Y)	30.54%	52.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	16.90%	29.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.68%	30.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RIO

STLD

GSPC

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Steel Dynamics (STLD) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Rio Tinto (RIO) is defensive at 0.63 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.72%	36.62%
Beta (5Y)	0.63	1.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.25%	-32.20%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.35M	1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

RIO and STLD 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.85	1.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.26	1.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 20.81% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for STLD.

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

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

STLD

Materials industry group

20.81%

Max: 52.88%
STLD: 20.81%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82%, 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

8.82%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
STLD: 8.82%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.46%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
STLD: 15.46%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
ROE (TTM)	19.31%	20.81%
ROA (TTM)	8.11%	9.45%
Net Margin (TTM)	19.59%	8.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)	28.05%	15.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)	29.75%	15.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.42%	3.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.24%	-6.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-13.97%	-18.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-7.23%	-27.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 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

STLD

Materials industry group

3.15

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
STLD: 3.15
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 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

STLD

Materials industry group

0.45

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
STLD: 0.45
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	3.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.32	0.45
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.58	1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

0.94%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
STLD: 0.94%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.44% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.44%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
STLD: 15.44%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	5.59%	0.94%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	54.46%	15.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 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

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
STLD: 16.46
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 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

STLD

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
STLD: 1.43
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 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

STLD

Materials industry group

3.23

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
STLD: 3.23
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Rio Tinto (RIO) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Rio Tinto (RIO) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Metric	RIO	STLD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	11.35	16.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.20	1.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.08	3.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.64%	1.36%