Bell Bank Lowers Stock Holdings in Rio Tinto PLC $RIO

Bell Bank cut its position in Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO) by 6.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 170,052 shares of the mining company’s stock after selling 11,454 shares during the quarter. Rio Tinto accounts for 0.6% of Bell Bank’s holdings, 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.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted 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. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Rio Tinto in the 3rd quarter valued at about $36,000. Triumph Capital Management purchased a new stake in Rio Tinto during the third quarter worth about $38,000. Strategic Advocates LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto during the third quarter worth about $44,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Rio Tinto by 342.9% during the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 775 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 19.33% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. HSBC lowered shares of Rio Tinto from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their target price on shares of Rio Tinto from $83.00 to $77.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Rio Tinto from a “hold (c)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, DZ Bank lowered Rio Tinto from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Rio Tinto currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $81.00.

Rio Tinto Price Performance

Rio Tinto stock opened at $86.65 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $92.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.41. Rio Tinto PLC has a 12-month low of $51.67 and a 12-month high of $101.53.

Rio Tinto Announces Dividend

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

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

About Rio Tinto

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.