Rio Tinto vs Southern Copper Corporation
RIO.AX and SCCO, both materials, compared on the same figures computed the same way.
On our fair value model, Southern Copper Corporation looks the cheaper of the two, trading 63 percentage points further below its estimated fair value than Rio Tinto. That is a statement about price against one model, not a forecast. Our estimate is built from normalized earning power with growth capped deliberately low, so it is systematically hard on companies whose value is mostly future growth.
Southern Copper Corporation scores higher on our moat model (94 against 66). A moat is a structural reason competitors cannot take the profits away, and over a long holding period it matters more than any single quarter's numbers.
RIO.AX trades at 18.6 times earnings against SCCO's 30.4. A lower multiple is not automatically the better deal: on a cyclical business the low P/E arrives at the top of the cycle, right before earnings fall.
The honest answer to "which is better" is that it depends on what you are buying them for, and neither this page nor any screen can make that judgement for you. What it can do is show you the same figures for both, computed the same way, so the comparison is fair.
| Metric | RIO.AX | SCCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | A$165.15 | $199.22 |
| Market cap | US$186.79B | $171.02B |
| P/E ratio | 18.6 | 30.4 |
| fair value estimate | A$107.91 | $256.41 |
| Upside to fair value | -34.7% | +28.7% |
| Moat score | 66/100 | 94/100 |
| Dividend yield | 3.58% | 2.17% |
| Return on equity | 16.4% | 49.9% |
| Overall rating | 50/100, moderate quality | 86/100, high quality |
Gold marks the more favourable figure on rows where “better” has an agreed direction. It is a signpost, not a verdict. A lower P/E can be a value trap; a higher yield can be a dividend about to be cut.
Common questions
Is RIO.AX or SCCO a better buy?
Neither page nor screen can answer that for your situation, but on the numbers: our overall rating puts Southern Copper Corporation ahead (86 to 50), and against our fair value estimate Southern Copper Corporation looks the cheaper of the two. Both readings are one model's opinion, not advice.
RIO.AX vs SCCO: which has the wider moat?
Our moat model scores RIO.AX at 66 and SCCO at 94 out of 100. The higher score means a more durable structural advantage, which matters most over a long holding period.
Compare any two companies yourself, with financial statements and peer data, free inside the app.
Metrics from company filings and our own valuation model, both of which can be wrong. Quotes are delayed. Fundamentals for both companies as of 11 Jul 2026. Educational information, not financial advice.