Since Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO) and Solitario Zinc Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:XPL) are part of the Industrial Metals & Minerals industry, they are influenced by contrast. The influences particularly affect the dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, risk, earnings and valuation of both companies.

Valuation and Earnings

Table 1 demonstrates Rio Tinto plc and Solitario Zinc Corp.’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Profitability

Table 2 demonstrates the net margins, return on equity and return on assets of Rio Tinto plc and Solitario Zinc Corp.

Volatility & Risk

A 0.87 beta means Rio Tinto plc’s volatility is 13.00% less than Standard and Poor’s 500’s volatility. Competitively, Solitario Zinc Corp.’s 41.00% volatility makes it more volatile than Standard and Poor’s 500, because of the 1.41 beta.

Liquidity

The Current Ratio and Quick Ratio of Rio Tinto plc are 1.5 and 1.1 respectively. Its competitor Solitario Zinc Corp.’s Current Ratio is 94.8 and its Quick Ratio is 94.8. Solitario Zinc Corp. can pay off short and long-term obligations better than Rio Tinto plc.

Dividends

Rio Tinto plc pays out $2.97 per share annually while its annual dividend yield is 5.17%. Solitario Zinc Corp. does not pay a dividend.

Analyst Recommendations

Rio Tinto plc and Solitario Zinc Corp. Recommendations and Ratings are available in the next table.

$65 is Rio Tinto plc’s average target price while its potential upside is 10.32%.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Rio Tinto plc and Solitario Zinc Corp. has shares owned by institutional investors as follows: 8.3% and 5.5%. About 6.5% of Rio Tinto plc’s share are owned by insiders. Competitively, 8.4% are Solitario Zinc Corp.’s share owned by insiders.

Performance

Here are the Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Half Yearly, Yearly and YTD Performance of both pretenders.

For the past year Rio Tinto plc has weaker performance than Solitario Zinc Corp.

Summary

Rio Tinto plc beats Solitario Zinc Corp. on 9 of the 12 factors.

Rio Tinto plc, a mining and metals company, finds, mines, processes, and markets mineral resources. The company mines and produces aluminum products, including bauxite, alumina, and aluminum; copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum, as well as nickel; diamonds, titanium dioxide feedstocks, borates, and salt, as well as high purity iron, steel billets, metal powders, zircon, and rutile; uranium; iron ore; and thermal coal, and coking or metallurgical coal. Its products also comprise others, such as sulphuric acid, rhenium, lead carbonate, and selenium. It has operations in Australia, North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Rio Tinto plc operates as a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group.

Solitario Zinc Corp., an exploration and royalty company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metal properties in Peru, Brazil, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, lead, and zinc deposits. It primarily holds interests in the Bongará project comprising 16 concessions that covers an area of 12,600 hectares located in the Department of Amazonas, northern Peru; Chambara zinc property located in northern Peru; Newmont Alliance and the La Promesa project located in Peru. The company also owns royalty interests in Yanacocha royalty property in Peru; Pedra Branca platinum-palladium project in Brazil; and Montana royalty property in the United States; and Norcan and Aconchi royalty properties in Mexico. The company was formerly known as Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. and changed its name to Solitario Zinc Corp. in July 2017. Solitario Zinc Corp. was founded in 1984 and is based in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.