RIO vs. VMC: Rio Tinto vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison
How do Rio Tinto (RIO) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but RIO is classified in Metals & Mining while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.
Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Rio Tinto plc ADR | Vulcan Materials Company |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Metals & Mining | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 136.19 billion USD | 36.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1990 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.54% | 2.25% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 16.90% | 12.53% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.68% | 8.08% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.72% | 30.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.63 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.25% | -32.50% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.35M | 1.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.85 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.26 | -0.09 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 12.88% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
RIO
Materials industry group
19.31%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- RIO
- 19.31%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
VMC
Materials industry group
12.88%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- VMC
- 12.88%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 13.78%, 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
13.78%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- VMC
- 13.78%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
23.95%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- VMC
- 23.95%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.31% | 12.88% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.11% | 5.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 19.59% | 13.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.05% | 23.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.75% | 27.48% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% 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 | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.42% | 7.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.24% | 2.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -13.97% | 18.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.23% | 23.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 1.43 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
VMC
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- VMC
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.63 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
VMC
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- VMC
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.42 | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.32 | 0.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.58 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
0.72%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- VMC
- 0.72%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 24.26% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
24.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- VMC
- 24.26%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.59% | 0.72% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.46% | 24.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 33.46 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
RIO
Materials industry group
11.35
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- RIO
- 11.35
- Min
- 3.93
VMC
Materials industry group
33.46
- Max
- 59.00
- VMC
- 33.46
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 sits in the pricier quartile — VMC costs more per dollar of sales.
RIO
Materials industry group
2.20
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- RIO
- 2.20
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
4.53
- Max
- 9.62
- VMC
- 4.53
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 carries an above-peer premium to book — VMC is pricier on assets.
RIO
Materials industry group
2.08
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- RIO
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
VMC
Materials industry group
4.31
- Max
- 6.59
- VMC
- 4.31
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RIO | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.35 | 33.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.20 | 4.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.08 | 4.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.64% | 1.96% |