Bell Bank Decreases Position in Rio Tinto PLC $RIO

Bell Bank trimmed its holdings in Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO) by 6.3% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 170,052 shares of the mining company’s stock after selling 11,454 shares during the quarter. Rio Tinto comprises about 0.6% of Bell Bank’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Bell Bank’s holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $13,609,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mather Group LLC. raised its holdings in Rio Tinto by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,060 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $245,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital boosted its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 3,780 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Rio Tinto by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 4,258 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $281,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Rio Tinto by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,620 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $437,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its stake in Rio Tinto by 62.2% during the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 472 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. 19.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Rio Tinto

Here are the key news stories impacting Rio Tinto this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record Australian supplier spend (A$19.7bn) signals strong operating scale, local partnerships and support for ongoing projects and community social licence — a positive for long‑term operations and project delivery. Rio Tinto boosts 2025 Australian supplier spend to record A$19.7 billion
• Positive Sentiment: Rio formally exits diamonds with closure of the Diavik mine after 23 years — freeing capital and management attention to focus on iron ore, copper, aluminium and lithium where margins and strategic demand (EVs, infrastructure) are stronger. Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine reaches end of production after 23 years
• Positive Sentiment: Resolution (Arizona) copper project targeting a mid‑2030s start is reiterated — reinforces Rio’s long‑term copper exposure (projected >18Mt life production) important for battery/EV supply chains. Rio Tinto targets mid-2030s for Arizona copper mine opening
• Positive Sentiment: Rio’s subsidiary Nuton has strategic ties with Lion Copper & Gold advancing U.S. copper supply — supportive of Rio’s positioning in North American copper value chains. Video – CEO Clips: Lion Copper & Gold Advances U.S. Copper Supply from Nevada
• Positive Sentiment: Sale of Quebec titanium assets to SAGA Metals signals portfolio simplification and monetisation of non‑core assets — can free capital or reduce exploration overheads. SAGA Metals acquires titanium property from Rio Tinto
• Neutral Sentiment: Rio published $9.9bn of taxes and royalties paid in 2025 — transparency is good for governance, but the scale is a reminder of cash outflows that will affect free cash flow allocation. Rio Tinto releases details of $9.9 billion of taxes and royalties paid in 2025
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitor BHP reports a 2% rise in iron‑ore output and record WAIO volumes — may add near‑term pricing/volume pressure in the seaborne iron‑ore market, a factor investors will watch for Rio’s iron‑ore margins. BHP Iron Ore Output Up 2% in 1H26: Can Expansion Drive Future Gains?
• Negative Sentiment: Local infrastructure disruption: Rio is repairing a pipe that will close Bangerter Highway in West Jordan over a weekend — a minor operational/PR disruption and reminder of local operational risks. Bangerter Highway to close in West Jordan over weekend as Rio Tinto repairs pipe
• Negative Sentiment: Critical coverage on the diamond exit highlights asset write‑downs and reputational scrutiny tied to closures — could pressure short‑term sentiment around legacy asset impairments. Diamonds Turn To Dust In Canada For Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto Stock Up 1.0%

RIO opened at $86.65 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $92.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $79.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Rio Tinto PLC has a 52 week low of $51.67 and a 52 week high of $101.53.

Rio Tinto Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a $2.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This represents a dividend yield of 564.0%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. DZ Bank cut shares of Rio Tinto from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on Rio Tinto from $83.00 to $77.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Erste Group Bank raised Rio Tinto from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley cut Rio Tinto from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, HSBC downgraded Rio Tinto from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $81.00.

Rio Tinto Company Profile

Rio Tinto is a global mining and metals company that explores for, mines, processes and markets a wide range of commodities. Its principal products include iron ore, aluminum, copper, diamonds and various other minerals and industrial materials. The company’s activities span the full value chain from exploration and project development to mining, processing, smelting and refining, supplying raw materials to industries such as steelmaking, automotive, packaging, electronics and construction.

The origins of Rio Tinto date back to mining operations in the Rio Tinto region of Spain in the 19th century, and the group has since grown into a multinational enterprise.