RIO vs BHP: which was the better investment?
Rio Tinto Group against BHP Group Limited on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 28, 1990 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did RIO beat BHP?
No — measured from Jun 28, 1990 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, BHP came out ahead: $702,422 versus $526,551 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.5% annual return against 11.6%.
What would $10,000 in RIO be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Rio Tinto Group (RIO) on Jun 28, 1990 would be worth about $526,551 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 5165.5% (11.6% per year). The same $10,000 in BHP would be worth $702,422.
Which was riskier — RIO or BHP?
RIO swung with an annualized volatility of 36.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -89.0%; BHP ran at 34.2% volatility with a -76.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.26 for RIO vs 0.31 for BHP.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 28, 1990 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with RIO vs BHP. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.