What is RIO.L's Intrinsic value?

Rio Tinto PLC (RIO.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 20, 2025, Rio Tinto PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $4838.99 to $6675.96 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $6675.96 +61.4%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $6357.53 +53.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $4838.99 +17.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $5321.59 +28.6%
Earnings Power Value $6225.85 +50.5%

Is Rio Tinto PLC (RIO.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $4137.50, the stock appears to be significantly undervalued.

Understanding Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value represents the "true" worth of a company based on its fundamentals rather than market sentiment. We've employed multiple methodologies to triangulate Rio Tinto PLC's intrinsic value, including:

  1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Values the company based on projected future cash flows
  2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM): Values the company based on expected future dividend payments
  3. Earnings Power Value (EPV): Values the company based on its current earnings power, assuming no growth

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

The cost of capital is a critical factor in valuation models, representing the required return for investors.

WACC Component Low High
Long-term bond rate 4.0% 4.5%
Equity market risk premium 6.0% 7.0%
Adjusted beta 0.8 1.07
Cost of equity 8.7% 12.5%
Cost of debt 4.3% 4.6%
Tax rate 27.4% 28.7%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.14 0.14
After-tax WACC 8.1% 11.4%

Valuation Methods

1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation

Our DCF model projects cash flows over 5-year and 10-year horizons, with the following key assumptions:

  • Forecast Period: 5-year DCF and 10-year DCF
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 0.0% (range: 3.0% - 5.0%)
  • Discount Rate: 9.7% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $53,658 (FY12-2024) to $74,498 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 22% to 21%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 14% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $8,627 $155,461M 68.3%
10-Year Growth $9,059 $162,978M 47.8%
5-Year EBITDA $7,422 $134,493M 63.3%
10-Year EBITDA $8,241 $148,746M 42.8%

2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

The DDM values a company based on its expected future dividend payments. We used two approaches:

Multi-Stage DDM:

  • Current payout ratio: 60.8%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 10.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $4838.99 (17.0% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 12.5% (Low) to 8.7% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $4,048 to $10,395
  • Selected fair value: $5321.59 (28.6% from current price)

3. Earnings Power Value (EPV)

EPV assesses a company's value based on its current normalized earnings power, assuming no growth.

EPV Component Value
Normalized Earnings $14,384M
Discount Rate (WACC) 11.4% - 8.1%
Enterprise Value $126,475M - $178,227M
Net Debt $5,360M
Equity Value $121,115M - $172,867M
Outstanding Shares 17M
Fair Value $6,961 - $9,936
Selected Fair Value $6225.85

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $71985M
Enterprise Value $75934M
Trailing P/E 8.46
Forward P/E 8.27
Trailing EV/EBITDA 5.20
Current Dividend Yield 693.82%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 3.46%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.14

Investment Decision Framework

To determine the most reliable intrinsic value estimate, we weigh each valuation method based on:

  1. Forecast Certainty: DCF methods rely on long-term projections, while earnings power value focuses on current normalized earnings
  2. Business Model Alignment: Dividend models are more appropriate for mature companies with established dividend policies
  3. Historical Accuracy: How well each method has predicted fair value historically

Valuation Weight Matrix

Valuation Method Weight Weighted Value
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) 30% $2002.79
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $1589.38
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $967.80
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $798.24
Earnings Power Value 10% $622.59
Weighted Average 100% $5980.79

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Rio Tinto PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $5980.79, which is approximately 44.6% above the current market price of $4137.50.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (22% to 21% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.14)
  • Historical dividend growth of 3.46%

Given these factors, we believe Rio Tinto PLC is currently significantly undervalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.