|
Rio Tinto PLC on Thursday said profit declined in 2025 despite higher revenue, as rising operating and finance costs weighed on performance. The London and Melbourne, Australia-based diversified miner said pretax profit fell 6.7% to $14.57 billion in the year ended December 31 from $15.62 billion in the previous year. Diluted earnings per share declined 14% to 608.4 US cents from 707.2 cents. The company lifted its final dividend for the year by 13% to 254 cents per share from 225 cents, leaving full-year dividend unchanged at 402 cents per share. Consolidated sales revenue grew 7.4% to $57.64 billion from $53.66 billion, while net operating costs excluding separately disclosed items increased 11% to $41.78 billion from $37.75 billion. Free cash flow declined 28% to $4.03 billion from $5.55 billion. Rio said net impairment charges fell 37% to $341 million from $538 million, as exploration and evaluation expenditure fell 38% to $577 million from $936 million. Finance costs increased 39% to $1.06 billion from $763 million. Net debt more than doubled to $14.36 billion from $5.49 billion. Chief Executive Officer Simon Trott said: ‘Our solid financial results demonstrate clear progress as we embed our stronger, sharper and simpler way of working...We continue to invest in delivering industry-leading, value accretive growth, supported by our disciplined capital allocation and best-in class project execution.’ Rio made no change to its production and sales guidance issued on December 4. ‘The structural cost improvements underway today position us for higher margins and cash flow. With a high-quality pipeline, anchored in copper, we have clear visibility to extend this growth profile well into the next decade,’ CEO Trott said. Rio Tinto shares closed 2.0% higher at A$168.55 in Sydney on Thursday. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
|
