Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) vs VALE S.A. (VALE)
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 VALE S.A. (VALE) over the past year, gaining 40.6% versus a gain of 27.5%. Over five years, RIO leads with a +32.3% price change compared with -4.7% for VALE. Rio Tinto Plc is the larger company by market cap ($150.65 billion vs $58.07 billion), about 2.6 times the size.
On valuation, VALE S.A. trades at a lower forward P/E (7.1x vs 10.8x for Rio Tinto Plc). VALE S.A. offers the higher dividend yield (40.14% vs 5.02%). Rio Tinto Plc converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 17.3% versus 6.1%.
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 | VALE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $92.63 | $13.65 |
| Market cap | $150.65B | $58.07B |
| 1-day change | -0.57% | +0.26% |
| YTD return | +16.41% | +8.06% |
| 1-year return | +40.62% | +27.54% |
| 5-year return | +32.27% | -4.74% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.55 | 27.29 |
| Forward P/E | 10.82 | 7.06 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.38 | $0.50 |
| Dividend yield | 5.02% | 40.14% |
| Annual dividend | $4.65 | $5.48 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $57.64B | $38.40B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.42% | +0.91% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $9.97B | $2.35B |
| Gross margin | — | 35.04% |
| Operating margin | 25.91% | 15.36% |
| Net margin | 17.29% | 6.12% |
| 52-week high | $112.58 | $17.94 |
| 52-week low | $65.35 | $10.71 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.72% | -23.94% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.36% | +21.66% |
| Average volume | 2.27M | 27.97M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.25B | 4.26B |
| Employees | 56,890 | 65,805 |
| 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 2.6 times larger than VALE S.A. by market value ($150.65B vs $58.07B).
- RIO has outperformed VALE by 13.1 percentage points over the past year.
- VALE S.A. trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.3x vs 12.6x trailing P/E).
- VALE S.A. offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (40.14% vs 5.02%).
- Rio Tinto Plc is more profitable, keeping 17.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.1 cents for VALE S.A..
- Rio Tinto Plc grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.42% vs +0.91%).
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 VALE S.A.
VALE stock →Vale S.A., together with its subsidiaries, produces iron ore and nickel in Brazil, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The company operates in two segments, Iron Ore Solutions and Vale Base Metals.
Basic Materials · Metal Mining · 65,805 employees
RIO vs VALE FAQ
Which is bigger, Rio Tinto Plc or VALE S.A.?
Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $150.65B compared with $58.07B for VALE S.A. (VALE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, RIO or VALE?
RIO returned +40.62% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.54% for VALE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, RIO or VALE?
RIO has the lower trailing P/E at 12.6, versus 27.3 for VALE. 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 VALE S.A.?
VALE S.A. has the higher yield at 40.14%, compared with 5.02% for Rio Tinto Plc.
Are Rio Tinto Plc and VALE S.A. in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Mining industry within the Basic Materials sector.