MP Materials (MP) 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 MP Materials (MP) over the past year, gaining 40.6% versus a loss of 37.2%. Over five years, MP leads with a +36.3% price change compared with +32.3% for RIO. Rio Tinto Plc is the larger company by market cap ($151.51 billion vs $8.25 billion), about 18.4 times the size, while MP Materials is growing revenue faster (+10.1% vs +7.4%).
On valuation, Rio Tinto Plc trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 56.3x for MP Materials). Rio Tinto Plc pays a dividend yielding 4.99%, while MP Materials does not currently pay one. Rio Tinto Plc converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 17.3% versus -38.3%.
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 | MP | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $46.31 | $93.16 |
| Market cap | $8.25B | $151.51B |
| 1-day change | -4.57% | -2.85% |
| YTD return | -8.33% | +16.41% |
| 1-year return | -37.22% | +40.62% |
| 5-year return | +36.29% | +32.27% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 12.62 |
| Forward P/E | 56.27 | 10.88 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.33 | $7.38 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 4.99% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $4.65 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $224.44M | $57.64B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.10% | +7.42% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-85.87M | $9.97B |
| Gross margin | 14.10% | — |
| Operating margin | -66.55% | 25.91% |
| Net margin | -38.26% | 17.29% |
| 52-week high | $100.25 | $112.58 |
| 52-week low | $37.81 | $65.35 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -53.81% | -17.25% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +57.63% | +10.72% |
| Average volume | 5.85M | 2.27M |
| Shares outstanding | 178.10M | 1.25B |
| Employees | 998 | 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 18.4 times larger than MP Materials by market value ($151.51B vs $8.25B).
- RIO has outperformed MP by 77.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Rio Tinto Plc offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.99% vs 0.00%).
- Rio Tinto Plc is more profitable, keeping 17.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -38.3 cents for MP Materials.
About MP Materials
MP stock →MP Materials Corp., together with its subsidiaries, produces rare earth materials in the Western Hemisphere. It operates in two segments, Materials and Magnetics.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 998 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
MP vs RIO FAQ
Which is bigger, MP Materials or Rio Tinto Plc?
Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $151.51B compared with $8.25B for MP Materials (MP).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MP or RIO?
RIO returned +40.62% over the past 12 months, compared with -37.22% for MP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, MP Materials or Rio Tinto Plc?
Rio Tinto Plc pays a dividend yielding 4.99%, while MP Materials does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are MP Materials and Rio Tinto Plc in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Mining industry within the Basic Materials sector.