Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) vs Southern Copper (SCCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Southern Copper (SCCO) has outperformed Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) over the past year, gaining 64.4% versus a gain of 40.6%. Over five years, SCCO leads with a +224.1% price change compared with +32.3% for RIO. Southern Copper is the larger company by market cap ($167.08 billion vs $151.22 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Rio Tinto Plc trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 26.3x for Southern Copper). Rio Tinto Plc offers the higher dividend yield (5.00% vs 1.78%). Southern Copper converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 32.4% versus 17.3%.
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 | RIO | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $92.98 | $197.89 |
| Market cap | $151.22B | $167.08B |
| 1-day change | -0.19% | -1.34% |
| YTD return | +16.41% | +44.03% |
| 1-year return | +40.62% | +64.36% |
| 5-year return | +32.27% | +224.15% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.60 | 29.54 |
| Forward P/E | 10.86 | 26.31 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.38 | $6.70 |
| Dividend yield | 5.00% | 1.78% |
| Annual dividend | $4.65 | $3.52 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $57.64B | $13.42B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.42% | +17.38% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $9.97B | $4.35B |
| Gross margin | — | 60.07% |
| Operating margin | 25.91% | 52.17% |
| Net margin | 17.29% | 32.40% |
| 52-week high | $112.58 | $220.78 |
| 52-week low | $65.35 | $115.74 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.41% | -10.37% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | underperform |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.94% | -12.00% |
| Average volume | 2.27M | 1.11M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.25B | 844.34M |
| Employees | 56,890 | 16,617 |
| 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
- SCCO has outperformed RIO by 23.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Southern Copper trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.5x vs 12.6x trailing P/E).
- Rio Tinto Plc offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.00% vs 1.78%).
- Southern Copper is more profitable, keeping 32.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 17.3 cents for Rio Tinto Plc.
- Southern Copper grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+17.38% vs +7.42%).
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
About Southern Copper
SCCO stock →Southern Copper Corporation engages in mining, exploring, smelting, and refining copper and other minerals in Mexico, the United States, Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Other American countries. The company is involved in the mining, milling, and flotation of copper ore to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates; smelting of copper concentrates to produce blister and anode copper; refining of anode copper to produce copper cathodes; production of copper-molybdenum concentrates and sulfuric acid; production of refined silver, gold, and other materials; and mining and processing of copper, molybdenum, zinc, silver, gold and lead.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 16,617 employees
RIO vs SCCO FAQ
Which is bigger, Rio Tinto Plc or Southern Copper?
Southern Copper (SCCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $167.08B compared with $151.22B for Rio Tinto Plc (RIO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, RIO or SCCO?
SCCO returned +64.36% over the past 12 months, compared with +40.62% for RIO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, RIO or SCCO?
RIO has the lower trailing P/E at 12.6, versus 29.5 for SCCO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Rio Tinto Plc or Southern Copper?
Rio Tinto Plc has the higher yield at 5.00%, compared with 1.78% for Southern Copper.
Are Rio Tinto Plc and Southern Copper in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Mining industry within the Basic Materials sector.