Rio Tinto PLC $RIO Shares Sold by Commonwealth Equity Services LLC

Commonwealth Equity Services LLC reduced its position in shares of Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO) by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 193,941 shares of the mining company’s stock after selling 9,171 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC’s holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $12,802,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of RIO. Salomon & Ludwin LLC grew its stake in shares of Rio Tinto by 62.2% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 472 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 181 shares during the period. Pinpoint Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in Rio Tinto in the second quarter valued at approximately $38,000. MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Rio Tinto in the second quarter worth approximately $43,000. Hilltop National Bank acquired a new stake in Rio Tinto during the second quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Rio Tinto during the second quarter worth $53,000. 19.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Rio Tinto News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Rio is ramping up copper production and reporting efficiency/cleaner‑tech gains from new projects and Nuton technology — a tailwind given strong copper demand for electrification. Rio Tinto Continues to Ramp Up Copper Output: What’s the Road Ahead?
• Neutral Sentiment: Broad market coverage notes the FTSE‑100 was buoyed by the Glencore‑Rio merger talks, which lifted sector sentiment even as individual stock moves differed. FTSE 100 Buoyed by Glencore-Rio Tinto Merger Talks
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple outlets report that Rio and Glencore confirmed early merger discussions; markets flagged big scale (estimates $200–$280B) but emphasized there’s no certainty a deal will be agreed — prompting volatility and a pullback in RIO. Glencore Stock Jumps, and Rio Tinto Shares Fall. The Two Miners Confirm Early Merger Talks.
• Negative Sentiment: Glencore shares surged on the prospect of a takeover that could create the world’s largest miner; the asymmetric market reaction (Glencore up, Rio down) increases short‑term downside pressure on RIO. Glencore rises on prospect of Rio Tinto merger to form world’s biggest miner
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage frames the talks as a restart of large‑scale merger discussions amid a copper boom; while strategic rationale exists, investors are focused on deal terms, shareholder dilution, integration and regulatory approval risks. Rio Tinto and Glencore restart talks over mega-merger that would create the world’s largest mining firm
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts and market pieces place the potential deal value in the $200B+ range and recount past mega‑deals — highlighting execution and regulatory precedents that increase uncertainty for Rio shareholders. Mining mega‑deals that built global giants
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction pieces and trade coverage note competing headlines (size estimates $260–$280B) and reiterate there’s no guarantee of an offer — reinforcing the near‑term risk premium on RIO shares. Glencore and Rio Tinto shares jump confirm $260bn merger talks as copper race intensifies
• Negative Sentiment: News outlets (WSJ, Invezz and others) covering the restart of merger talks emphasize that talks are preliminary — sustaining volatility until more detail on structure, valuation and approvals emerges. Glencore, Rio Tinto Restart Merger Talks

Rio Tinto Trading Down 3.6%

Shares of RIO opened at $81.19 on Friday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $75.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $67.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Rio Tinto PLC has a 1 year low of $51.67 and a 1 year high of $85.46.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on RIO shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Argus upped their target price on shares of Rio Tinto from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $85.00.

Rio Tinto 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.