BHP GROUP LIMITED vs RIO TINTO PLC, two Mining stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
The diversified twins split three points of operating margin, BHP's 38% against Rio Tinto's 25.9%, mining the same iron ore basins for the same Chinese steel mills, plus copper each. Rio converts its thinner margin into the fatter cash yield, 11.1% against 4.5%, capital discipline showing where the income statement does not. Returns on equity favor BHP, 21.3% against 15.3%. The market prices BHP seven turns dearer, 22.8 against 15.3 times, scale and margin buying the premium while Rio's cash argues against it. Both are debt-free. Mining's oldest rivalry is priced at its widest recent spread; the cash-flow line is Rio's entire case, and it is not a small one.
Comparison updated 2026-07-10.
| Metric | BHP | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $81.00 | $93.73 |
| Market cap | $205.5B | $152.2B |
| Sector | Mining | Mining |
| Stage | Cyclical | Cyclical |
| Implied growth (priced in) | +4.2% | -3.8% |
| P/E | 22.8 | 15.3 |
| P/B | 3.93 | 2.27 |
| P/S | 4.01 | 2.64 |
| EV/EBITDA | 7.7 | 9.6 |
| Revenue growth | -1.8% | -2.4% |
| Operating margin | 38.0% | 25.9% |
| Net margin | 21.7% | 17.8% |
| Return on equity | 21.3% | 15.3% |
| Return on assets | 10.2% | 8.0% |
| Return on invested capital | 22.6% | 15.7% |
| FCF yield | 4.5% | 11.1% |
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Current ratio | 1.46 | 1.44 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 3.87 | 2.90 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 6 / 9 | 7 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.