Rio Tinto's Cash Gusher Fuels Biggest Dividend Boost in Years

Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO ) stock rose Wednesday after the mining giant reported mixed first-half 2026 results, with earnings meeting Wall Street expectations while revenue missed estimates. Adjusted earnings were $4.21 per share, in line with analyst expectations. Revenue totaled $31.03 billion, below the consensus estimate of $32.03 billion. Cash Flow And Shareholder Returns Operating cash flow increased 32% to $9.2 billion, supporting investment in the company’s growth pipeline while maintaining a strong balance sheet. Underlying EBITDA rose 28% to $14.8 billion, while free cash flow climbed 75% to $3.8 billion during the first half of 2026. Rio Tinto declared an interim ordinary dividend of $3.4 billion, up 43% from a year earlier, representing a 50% payout ratio. The company said it remains on track to unlock $5 billion to $10 billion in cash through portfolio optimization,...