Rio Tinto appears to be a large and financially resilient mining business, but with notable limitations in the quality of the current data. Its strength lies in a high net margin of 12.76% and an operating margin of 17.32%, both above the industry median, which suggests a strong ability to generate earnings in a cyclical commodity market. At the same time, the gross margin of 19.14% is below the industry median, which points to pressure on costs or a less favorable product/commodity mix. The balance sheet looks moderately comfortable: debt/equity of 0.33 remains low, while cash of 9.45 billion and shareholders’ equity of 67.02 billion support financial flexibility. However, liquidity is not ideal: the quick ratio of 0.98 and current ratio of 1.45 are below industry benchmarks and have deteriorated over recent years, reducing the buffer in the event of a weak market environment. Long-term debt has increased to 22.26 billion from about 13.3 billion a year earlier, so the debt burden has become less comfortable, despite leverage still remaining at an acceptable level. The weakest area is the return profile on capital and assets: ROE, ROA, ROI, and return on tangible equity are shown as zero, which looks highly negative from a business quality perspective and warrants caution. The data also lack positive confirmation for EPS, revenue, and profit, so there is no clear evidence of operating growth to rely on. Dividend yield of 2.42% remains attractive for a mining company, but it is below prior levels, so the dividend factor is currently more supportive than a driver of re-rating. At the valuation level, several metrics are unavailable, so it is not possible to confidently argue for deep undervaluation on P/E, P/S, P/B, or P/FCF. Overall, the picture is mixed: profitability by margin is solid, but capital quality, liquidity, and debt dynamics limit upside in the valuation. For an investor, this suggests a moderately cautious view on the stock: the fundamentals are sufficient to maintain interest, but not strong enough to justify aggressively raising the target valuation.

Rio Tinto Plc

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Medium index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, flat. The market is on the bulls' side.

Слабый индекс, незначительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги остается на невысоком уровне.

Weak index, slightly up. The inflow of funds into longs remains at a low level.

High margins and moderate debt support Rio Tinto, but weak liquidity, rising debt, and zero capital return metrics limit the upside.

(RTTNews) - Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Plc (RIO, RIO.L, RTNTF, RIO.AX) reported Wednesday significantly higher first-half profit as revenues were benefited mainly by higher commodity prices. Further, the firm maintained fiscal 2026 production and sales guidance.
In Australia, the shares were trading at A$166.52, up 4.38 percent.
In the first half, profit before taxation climbed to $9.31 billion from last year's $6.74 billion. Net earnings grew 47 percent to $6.66 billion from $4.53 billion in the prior-year period.
Earnings per share increased to 406.3 cents from 276.5 cents a year ago.
Underlying earnings rose 43 percent to $6.85 billion from $4.81 billion a year ago, and underlying earnings per share climbed 42 percent to 421.4 US cents from prior year's 296.0 US cents.
Underlying EBITDA increased 28 percent to $14.83 billion from $11.55 billion a year ago. The company attributed the results to strong commodity prices combined with continued focus on operational excellence and cost discipline.
Consolidated sales revenue grew 15 percent to $31.03 billion from $26.87 billion last year.
Further, Rio Tinto declared an interim ordinary dividend of 211 US cents per share, representing a 43 percent increase from the prior-year period. The interim dividend will be paid on September 24 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on August 14.
For 2026, Rio Tinto continues to project copper production at 800 to 870 kt, while total iron ore sales guidance stands at 343 to 366 Mt.
For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Rio Tinto H1 Profit Climbs On Growth In Commodity Prices, Backs FY26 Outlook; Stock Gains

Rio Tinto Group RIO reported iron ore shipments from Pilbara (on a 100% basis) of 85.3 million tons (Mt) for the second quarter of 2025, which increased 7% year over year. On a sequential basis, shipments rose 18%. Total iron ore production from Pilbara for the quarter was 83.5 Mt, in line with the year-ago quarter. This marked the highest first-half iron ore production at Pilbara since 2018.
Bauxite production dipped 3% year over year to 15.2 Mt in the second quarter. However, the figure marked a 14% increase from first-quarter 2026. Rio Tinto’s aluminum output was steady year over year at 840 thousand tons. Alumina production increased 10% to 2 Mt.
In the second quarter, mined copper production was 213 thousand tons, 7% lower than the year-ago quarter. Production at Kennecott was 49% lower year over year due to lower cathode production. Copper production at Escondida decreased 13% year over year due to expected lower ore grades from the mine sequence.
Oyu Tolgoi’s production rose 12% year over year to 97 thousand tons, driven by the ramp-up of underground operations, and a higher combined grade from the open pit and underground.
Titanium dioxide slag production declined 15% from the year-ago quarter, led by weak market conditions.
Rio Tinto’s Production Guidance for 2026
RIO expects Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis) at the lower end of 323-338 Mt.
The company retains its Bauxite’s guidance at 58-61 Mt. Alumina production is anticipated between 7.6 and 8 Mt, while aluminum production is expected to be 3.25-3.45 Mt for 2026. The copper output guidance remains unchanged at 800-870 kt.
RIO Share Price Performance
In a year, shares of the company have gained 64.2% compared with the industry’s 38.7% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Rio Tinto’s Peer Performances
BHP Group Limited BHP announced that its iron ore production dipped 3% year over year to 68.1 Mt in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026). However, the production increased 8% from the third quarter’s reported figure and 1% year over year, bringing the company’s total iron ore production for fiscal 2026 to a record 264.7 Mt. It came within its fiscal 2026 iron ore production guidance at 258-269 Mt.
BHP Group’s copper output declined 5% year over year to 491.9 kt in the fourth quarter but increased 3% sequentially. The company’s fiscal 2026 copper output fell 3% year over year to 1,952.8 kt. BHP Group’s guidance for copper production for fiscal 2026 was 1,900-2,000 kt.
RIO’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Rio Tinto currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB. CRS sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present and ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Carpenter Technology has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carpenter Technology’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.57 per share, indicating 41.3% year-over-year growth. Its shares have surged 101% in a year.
Albemarle has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 74.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.45 per share, indicating year-over-year growth from a loss of 79 cents. ALB shares have surged 66% so far this year.
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Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Rio Tinto Reports 18% Sequential Increase in Q2 Iron Ore Shipments

BHP Group Limited BHP announced that its iron ore production dipped 3% year over year to 68.1 Mt in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended June 30, 2026). However, the production increased 8% from the third quarter’s reported figure and 1% year over year, bringing the company’s total iron ore production for fiscal 2026 to a record 264.7 Mt. It came within its iron ore production guidance of 258-269 Mt for fiscal 2026.
The upside was driven by record production at Western Australia Iron Ore (“WAIO”) as a result of the strong operational performance. WAIO’s iron ore production was 256.9 Mt for fiscal 2026 (291.2 Mt on a 100% basis). This reflects solid supply-chain performance, along with a strong performance at South Flank. WAIO's production is expected between 253 Mt and 264 Mt (286 Mt and 298 Mt on a 100% basis) for fiscal 2027.
BHP’s FY26 Copper Output Within Guidance
The company’s opper output declined 5% year over year to 491.9 kt in the fourth quarter 2026 but increased 3% sequentially. BHP’s fiscal 2026 copper output fell 3% year over year to 1,952.8 kt. BHP’s guidance for copper production for fiscal 2026 was within 1,900-2,000 kt.
Copper production at Escondida fell 3% year over year to 1,261.2 kt due to planned lower concentrator feed grade. This was partially offset by continued solid operational performance and productivity. Copper output at Pampa Norte was down 21% year over year to 212.6 kt in fiscal 2026. Production at Spence fell due to ongoing challenges with processing complex ore. Production was also impacted by Cerro Colorado remaining in care and maintenance throughout the year.
Production from Copper South Australia was 320.7 kt, which marked a 2% rise from the prior fiscal quarter, aided by a strong operational performance. Antamina’s copper production rose 27% to record 151.5 kt in fiscal 2026 as a result of higher feed grades and improved operational performance.
The company expects copper production of 1,650-1,800 kt for fiscal 2027.
BHP Group’s Energy & Steelmaking Coal Output Rises Y/Y
Energy coal production rose 3% year over year to 4.2 Mt in the fiscal fourth quarter, bringing the year’s total to 16.4 Mt. The fiscal 2026 energy coal production marked a 9% year-over-year increase. It came slightly above its production guidance of 14-16 Mt for fiscal 2026.
Steelmaking coal production was 5.7 Mt, which increased 10% from the year-ago quarter. The fiscal 2026 production was up 3% year over year to 18.6 Mt. It came within its guidance of 18-20 Mt for fiscal 2026.
The production guidance for steelmaking coal is 18.5-20.5 Mt, while the energy coal guidance is 14-16 Mt for fiscal 2027.
BHP Sees Y/Y Growth in Average Prices
In the fiscal fourth quarter, average realized prices for iron ore were up 5% year over year to $83.58 per ton. Copper prices increased 47% year over year to $6.53 per pound. In fiscal 2024, average realized prices for iron ore grew 3% year over year to $84.56 per ton. Copper prices were up 35% to $5.74 per pound.
BHP Group’s Peer Performances
Rio Tinto Group RIO reported iron ore shipments from Pilbara (on a 100% basis) of 85.3 Mt for the second quarter of 2025, which increased 7% year over year. On a sequential basis, shipments rose 18%. Total iron ore production from Pilbara for the quarter was 83.5 Mt, in line with the year-ago quarter. This marked the highest first-half iron ore production at Pilbara since 2018.
In the second quarter, Rio Tinto’s mined copper production was 213 thousand tons, 7% lower than the year-ago quarter. Production at Kennecott was 49% lower year over year due to lower cathode production. Copper production at Escondida decreased 13% year over year due to expected lower ore grades from the mine sequence.
BHP’s Price Performance
The company’s shares have surged 72.4% in a year compared with the industry’s 38.7% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BHP Group’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
BHP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS and Albemarle Corporation ALB. CRS sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present and ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Carpenter Technology has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carpenter Technology’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.57 per share, indicating 41.3% year-over-year growth. Its shares have surged 101% in a year.
Albemarle has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 74.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.45 per share, indicating year-over-year growth from a loss of 79 cents. ALB shares have skyrocketed 66% so far this year.
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Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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BHP Reports Record FY26 Iron Ore Output on Strong WAIO Performance

Albemarle Corporation ALB is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity.
ALB remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes (up 14% year over year) in its Energy Storage unit in the first quarter on the strength of its integrated conversion facilities.
The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. ALB has started the environmental permitting process for a commercial direct lithium extraction project at Salar de Atacama. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule. The company’s volumes are expected to continue to be supported by these capacity expansion actions going forward.
Among its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM has a robust balance sheet and generates strong cash flows, which allow it to make investments in driving production capacity. SQM logged strong lithium sales volumes of 69,000 metric tons in the first quarter. The Nova Andino Litio business recorded roughly 19% higher volumes compared to the prior-year quarter, driven by capacity expansion actions. SQM is operating at full capacity at the Mt. Holland mine and concentrator in Australia and continues to ramp up the Kwinana refinery.
Rio Tinto Group RIO is making progress with its high-value lithium projects. The fully owned Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina remains on track with commissioning of the starter plant already being completed and ramp-up currently in progress, with full capacity expected by the end of 2026. The Fénix expansion project and Sal de Vida in Argentina, with a capital cost of $0.7 billion each, are mechanically complete with first production expected in second-half 2026.
The Nemaska Lithium project, in which Rio Tinto now holds a 53.9% stake with the Government of Québec retaining the balance, is a fully integrated spodumene-to-lithium hydroxide development project comprising the lithium hydroxide plant in Bécancour and the Whabouchi spodumene mine with a production capacity of 32,000 tons. RIO initially acquired a 50% interest in Nemaska Lithium through the buyout of Arcadium in March 2025.
ALB’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Albemarle has gained 64.7% in the past year compared with the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s decline of 2.8%.
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.32, above the industry. It carries a Value Score of C.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 1,753.2%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
ALB stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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Will ALB's Expansion Actions Power Stronger Sales Volumes?

Albemarle Corporation’s ALB shares have tumbled 25.5% in the past month, underperforming the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry and the S&P 500’s declines of 6.7% and 0.1%, respectively.
Falling lithium market prices are weighing on the ALB stock lately. Lithium prices have pulled back amid slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, an inventory glut and prospects of increased supply from mine restarts and capacity additions. EV orders have slowed in China, the world’s biggest lithium consumer, while demand in energy storage systems remains healthy.
Meanwhile, China’s battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has reportedly secured a safety production permit to resume production at its Jianxiawo lithium mine, with operations expected to resume soon. CATL suspended operations at the mine in August 2025, following the expiry of its mining permit. Mineral Resources has also announced the restart of operations at its fully-owned Bald Hill lithium mine in Western Australia. The mine was placed on care and maintenance in November 2024 amid weak lithium market conditions.
ALB’s One-month Price Performance
Reflecting the retreat in lithium prices, ALB stock broke below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 15, 2026. It also slipped below its 200-day SMA on June 23, 2026. Nonetheless, the 50-day SMA is reading higher than the 200-day SMA following a golden crossover on Sept. 3, 2025.
Albemarle Trades Below 50-Day SMA
Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.
Growing Lithium Demand and Productivity Aid ALB
Albemarle is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. Lithium demand is expected to grow on the back of significant global EV penetration.
ALB expects lithium demand to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-20% from 2025 to 2030. Stationary storage is expected to be a significant driver for lithium demand along with EVs. Albemarle expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this year. Demand indicators stayed positive in the first quarter of 2026, with global Energy Storage Systems production rising 117% year over year.
The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes (up 14% year over year) in its Energy Storage unit in the first quarter on the strength of its integrated conversion facilities.
The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. ALB has started the environmental permitting process for a commercial direct lithium extraction project at Salar de Atacama. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule.
Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions. The company delivered roughly $450 million in cost and productivity improvements for full-year 2025, having surpassed its initial target of $300-$400 million. It expects additional cost and productivity improvements of $100-$150 million in 2026, with $40 million already delivered this year. ALB is taking actions to maintain its competitive position, including the initiation of a comprehensive review of cost and operating structure, optimization of the conversion network and reduction of capital expenditure.
ALB’s Strong Financial Health Supports Capital Allocation
Albemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior-year period. At the end of the first quarter, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. ALB generated an operating cash flow of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million in the quarter.
The company paid down $1.3 billion of outstanding debt in March 2026, reducing annual interest expense by roughly $60 million. This followed the successful divestments of the controlling stake in Ketjen and its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture, which together generated $670 million in pre-tax proceeds.
The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year. ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.3% at the current stock price. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM and Rio Tinto Group RIO, have a dividend yield of 3.6% and 5.6%, respectively.
ALB’s Earnings Estimates Northbound
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has been going up over the same time frame.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $13.06, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 1,735.2%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 2,818.2% in the second quarter.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
A Look at ALB’s Valuation
ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.34, above the industry’s 0.88. It is trading at a modest discount to Sociedad Quimica and at a premium to Rio Tinto. Both Albemarle and Sociedad Quimica currently have a Value Score of C, while Rio Tinto has a Value Score of B.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Should Investors Play ALB Stock?
Albemarle is gaining from increased lithium volumes, supported by project ramp-ups, ongoing efforts to expand its global lithium conversion capacity and productivity improvement initiatives. The company remains well-positioned to benefit from the long-term expansion of the battery-grade lithium market. Robust growth prospects and rising earnings estimates are some other positives. Although ALB trades at a premium valuation, its strong fundamentals and earnings growth potential justify the higher multiple. Notwithstanding the recent pullback in lithium prices, we advise investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock now, as it has solid earnings growth prospects.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Albemarle Stock Loses 25% in a Month: What Should Investors Do Now?

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Rio Tinto plc (Symbol: RIO) is the #1 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index is comprised of the top fifty global leaders from the metals and mining sector. The companies listed in the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index are not fixed, but instead variable — updating on a continuous basis to reflect the changing market environment with respect to commodity prices, government policy and market volatility.
From the other direction, when companies have a low rank among analysts, it isn't necessarily the case that investors should conclude that the stock will perform poorly. It can, of course, but a bullish investor could also take the contrarian angle and read into the data that there is lots of room for upside because the stock is so out of favor.
RIO operates in the Metals & Mining sector, among companies like Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold (FCX) which is trading flat today, and BHP Group Ltd (BHP) trading up by about 0.1%. Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of RIO, versus FCX and BHP.
RIO is currently trading down about 0.3% midday Monday.
Further RIO Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Analyst Favorites: Rio Tinto Ranks As a Top Metals Pick

Caterpillar Inc. CAT has strengthened its mining technology capabilities by acquiring Skycatch, Inc., a provider of spatial data capture, processing and analytics solutions for the mining industry. The acquisition supports Caterpillar’s broader strategy of helping its mining customers address increasingly complex operational challenges through data-driven technologies.
This follows the acquisition of Australian mining software company RPMGlobal (“RPM”) in February 2026. By integrating Skycatch’s near-real-time, high-resolution spatial data into both RPM and CAT MineStar solutions, Caterpillar aims to improve mine site performance by enhancing safety, productivity and predictability across their operations.
Skycatch specializes in capturing high-frequency, high-precision, large-scale spatial data and pairs it with a suite of Artificial Intelligence capabilities that identify, measure and interact with the data to deliver improved operational performance. This enables mine operators to monitor site conditions continuously, detect changes quickly and adjust mine plans accordingly in near real time, helping reduce operational disruptions and improve efficiency.
A key advantage of Skycatch’s technology is its ability to generate a near-real-time digital twin of the mining site. When integrated with existing software platforms, these digital replicas provide accurate, up-to-date information that can be incorporated directly into planning and execution workflows.
The mining industry is increasingly embracing automation, Artificial Intelligence and digitalization as companies seek to improve efficiency, reduce costs, address labor shortages and support their decarbonization goals. Last month, BHP Group BHP, Rio Tinto RIO and Caterpillar launched a trial of two Cat 793 XE Early Learner battery-electric haul trucks at a mine-site demonstration in Western Australia’s Pilbara as part of an industry-first collaboration focused on reducing emissions from mining operations.
BHP has been expanding the use of AI and advanced analytics across its operations, leveraging improvements in data quality, digital platforms and internal capabilities to optimize performance. Rio Tinto has similarly integrated data from automated drills, trucks, shovels, conveyors, trains and ships with analytics, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and automation technologies to enhance safety, productivity and operational efficiency.
CAT’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Caterpillar shares have gained 133.8% in a year, outperforming the manufacturing - construction and mining industry's 120.7% growth. In comparison, the Zacks Industrial Products sector and the S&P 500 have advanced 23.4% and 8.9%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CAT is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 33.83X, a premium compared with the industry’s 32.66X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 points to year-over-year earnings growth of 29.6%, while the 2027 estimate implies growth of 25%, reflecting improving confidence in the company’s earnings trajectory.
Earnings estimates for CAT have moved up for both 2026 and 2027 over the past 90 days.
Caterpillar stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
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Can Caterpillar's Skycatch Deal Boost Its Mining Tech Edge?

Rio Tinto Group RIO announced that it completed industrial-scale pelletization and shaft furnace trials in China in partnership with China Baowu, utilizing Rio Tinto's Pilbara Blend iron ore. This successful move aids Rio Tinto and China Baowu’s understanding of lower-emission iron and steelmaking technologies.
Rio Tinto’s Focus on Lower Emissions
China Baowu is a leading steelmaker that has been collaborating with Rio Tinto for more than 50 years across project development, technological innovation and steelmaking research. Since 2020, the two companies have been working on a multi-step partnership focused on decarbonization.
During the trials at China Baowu’s Baoshan Iron & Steel Zhanjiang Steel Operations, the companies used a hydrogen-based shaft furnace to produce direct reduced iron from pellets containing one-third Pilbara Blend ore. Post that, the direct reduced iron was successfully converted to steel using an industrial-scale basic oxygen furnace.
This successful trial indicates that Pilbara Blend iron ore can be successfully processed in an industrial-scale direct reduction shaft furnace. This can potentially reduce emissions compared with traditional blast furnaces.
With this success, Rio Tinto and China Baowu advance their 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which aims to discover technologies that reduce carbon emissions across the steel industry. The companies will now continue to work on other projects under the MoU.
RIO Stock's Price Performance
In the past year, shares of the company have soared 95.6% compared with the industry’s 61.9% surge.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Rio Tinto Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
RIO currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials space are Albemarle Corporation ALB, L.B. Foster Company FSTR and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. ASM. ALB and FTSE carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, and ASM carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Albemarle has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 74.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.45 per share, indicating year-over-year growth from a loss of 79 cents. ALB shares have skyrocketed 186% so far this year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for L.B. Foster’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.74 per share, indicating a 152% year-over-year upsurge. FSTR has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.6%. L.B. Foster’s shares have gained 4.9% in a year.
Avino Silver has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 125%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avino Silver’s 2026 earnings is pegged at 39 cents per share, indicating 34.5% year-over-year growth. Its shares have soared 90.5% in a year.
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L.B. Foster Company (FSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

RIO-China Baowu Partnership Reaches Low-Carbon Steelmaking Milestone

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (Symbol: LIT) where we have detected an approximate $154.0 million dollar outflow -- that's a 7.4% decrease week over week (from 25,244,628 to 23,374,628). Among the largest underlying components of LIT, in trading today Rio Tinto plc (Symbol: RIO) is up about 0.9%, Albemarle Corp. (Symbol: ALB) is off about 1.7%, and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (Symbol: SQM) is lower by about 1.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the LIT Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of LIT, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, LIT's low point in its 52 week range is $36.11 per share, with $91.98 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $83.98. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further LIT Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF Experiences Big Outflow

Albemarle Corporation ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.05, well above the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry’s 0.95. It is also trading at a premium to its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. SQM and Rio Tinto Group RIO. Albemarle currently has a Value Score of C. Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto have a Value Score of B and A, respectively.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB’s shares have rallied 161.9% in the past year, thanks to the strength in its Energy Storage segment and an uptick in lithium prices. ALB has outperformed the industry’s rise of 4.4% and the S&P 500’s increase of 25.2%.
ALB’s One-year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALB stock broke below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 15, 2026. It is currently trading above its 200-day SMA, suggesting a long-term uptrend. Following a golden crossover on Sept. 3, 2025, the 50-day SMA is reading higher than the 200-day SMA, indicating a bullish trend.
Albemarle Trades Below 50-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.
Growing Lithium Demand, Productivity & Higher Prices Aid ALB
Albemarle is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, especially for electric vehicles (EVs), offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. Lithium demand is expected to grow on the back of significant global EV penetration.
ALB expects lithium demand to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-20% from 2025 to 2030. Stationary storage is expected to be a significant driver for lithium demand along with EVs. Albemarle expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this year. Demand indicators stayed positive in the first quarter of 2026, with global Energy Storage Systems production rising 117% year over year.
The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes (up 14% year over year) in its Energy Storage unit in the first quarter on the strength of its integrated conversion facilities.
The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. ALB has started the environmental permitting process for a commercial direct lithium extraction project at Salar de Atacama. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule.
Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions. The company delivered roughly $450 million in cost and productivity improvements for full-year 2025, having surpassed its initial target of $300-$400 million. It expects additional cost and productivity improvements of $100-$150 million in 2026, with $40 million already delivered this year. ALB is taking actions to maintain its competitive position, including the initiation of a comprehensive review of cost and operating structure, optimization of the conversion network and reduction of capital expenditure.
Higher lithium prices, driven by strong demand from EVs and energy storage systems, along with supply disruptions due to recent supply reductions in China, are expected to aid ALB’s performance. Lithium prices have rebounded from the trough levels seen in 2025, supported by tightening supply and strong demand in China and globally. Albemarle’s first-quarter earnings and sales topped estimates as higher lithium prices and volumes lifted results.
ALB’s Strong Financial Health Supports Capital Allocation
Albemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior-year period. At the end of the first quarter, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. ALB generated an operating cash flow of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million in the quarter.
The company paid down $1.3 billion of outstanding debt in March 2026, reducing annual interest expense by roughly $60 million. This followed the successful divestments of the controlling stake in Ketjen and its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture, which together generated $670 million in pre-tax proceeds.
The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year.
ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.1% at the current stock price. Sociedad Quimica and Rio Tinto, have a dividend yield of 3.6% and 5.1%, respectively.
ALB’s Earnings Estimates Northbound
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has been going up over the same time frame.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $12.39, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 1,668.4%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 2,700% in the second quarter.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Should Investors Play ALB Stock?
Albemarle is gaining from increased lithium volumes, supported by project ramp-ups, ongoing efforts to expand its global lithium conversion capacity and productivity improvement initiatives. The company remains well-positioned to benefit from the long-term expansion of the battery-grade lithium market, driven by the accelerating adoption of EVs worldwide. Favorable lithium pricing, backed by strong demand and constrained supply, further strengthens its outlook.
Robust growth prospects and rising earnings estimates are some other positives. Although ALB trades at a premium valuation, its strong fundamentals and earnings growth potential justify the higher multiple. We advise investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock now, as it has solid growth prospects.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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