SG Americas Securities LLC Boosts Stock Position in Rio Tinto PLC $RIO

SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO) by 433.1% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 83,143 shares of the mining company’s stock after acquiring an additional 67,546 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $5,488,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. HB Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto by 14.5% in the third quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,063 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $268,000 after purchasing an additional 515 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Rio Tinto by 4.2% during 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 in the last quarter. Castellan Group boosted its position in Rio Tinto by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Castellan Group now owns 23,040 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $1,521,000 after buying an additional 1,327 shares during the period. Moran Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Rio Tinto by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 101,930 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $6,728,000 after buying an additional 2,124 shares during the period. Finally, Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its stake in Rio Tinto by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 14,415 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $952,000 after acquiring an additional 830 shares in the last quarter. 19.33% of the stock is currently owned by 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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

RIO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research upgraded Rio Tinto from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Citigroup reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Argus increased their price target on Rio Tinto from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rio Tinto has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $85.00.

Rio Tinto Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:RIO opened at $81.19 on Friday. Rio Tinto PLC has a 52 week low of $51.67 and a 52 week high of $85.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $75.17 and a 200 day moving average of $67.50.

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.