Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) vs Rio Tinto Plc (RIO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) has outperformed Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) over the past year, gaining 40.6% versus a loss of 5.9%. Over five years, RIO leads with a +32.3% price change compared with -43.8% for CLF. Rio Tinto Plc is the larger company by market cap ($151.81 billion vs $6.95 billion), about 21.8 times the size.
On valuation, Rio Tinto Plc trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 14.2x for Cleveland-Cliffs). Rio Tinto Plc pays a dividend yielding 4.98%, while Cleveland-Cliffs does not currently pay one. Rio Tinto Plc converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 17.3% versus -7.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CLF | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.19 | $93.34 |
| Market cap | $6.95B | $151.81B |
| 1-day change | +1.08% | +0.19% |
| YTD return | -9.19% | +16.41% |
| 1-year return | -5.85% | +40.62% |
| 5-year return | -43.80% | +32.27% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 12.65 |
| Forward P/E | 14.21 | 10.90 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.61 | $7.38 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 4.98% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $4.65 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $18.61B | $57.64B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -3.00% | +7.42% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-1.48B | $9.97B |
| Gross margin | -4.62% | — |
| Operating margin | -8.48% | 25.91% |
| Net margin | -7.94% | 17.29% |
| 52-week high | $16.70 | $112.58 |
| 52-week low | $7.73 | $65.35 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.01% | -17.09% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.36% | +10.51% |
| Average volume | 18.45M | 2.27M |
| Shares outstanding | 570.54M | 1.25B |
| Employees | 25,000 | 56,890 |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Metal Mining | Metal Mining |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Rio Tinto Plc is about 21.8 times larger than Cleveland-Cliffs by market value ($151.81B vs $6.95B).
- RIO has outperformed CLF by 46.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Rio Tinto Plc offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.98% vs 0.00%).
- Rio Tinto Plc is more profitable, keeping 17.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -7.9 cents for Cleveland-Cliffs.
- Rio Tinto Plc grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.42% vs -3.00%).
About Cleveland-Cliffs
CLF stock →Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. operates as a steel producer in the United States and Canada.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 25,000 employees
About Rio Tinto Plc
RIO stock →Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore; Aluminium and lithium; and Copper segments.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 56,890 employees
CLF vs RIO FAQ
Which is bigger, Cleveland-Cliffs or Rio Tinto Plc?
Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $151.81B compared with $6.95B for Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLF or RIO?
RIO returned +40.62% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.85% for CLF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cleveland-Cliffs or Rio Tinto Plc?
Rio Tinto Plc pays a dividend yielding 4.98%, while Cleveland-Cliffs does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Cleveland-Cliffs and Rio Tinto Plc in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Mining industry within the Basic Materials sector.