Rio Tinto stock heads into the October 13 production update

Published on 10/07/2026 at 14:26 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Rio Tinto stock enters an important test on October 13, when third-quarter production results are due. H1 EBITDA rose 28 percent to USD 14.8 billion.

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Rio Tinto (ISIN GB0007188757) was last at GBp 7,242.00 on the LSE on October 6, 2026 at 10:37 a.m. BST, up 0.84 percent. According to IG on October 6, 2026, Rio Tinto's third-quarter production results are scheduled for October 13, 2026.

October 13 is the next test

The scheduled update will test whether the group's operational progress is carrying into the second half. IG reported that first-half underlying EBITDA rose 28 percent to USD 14.8 billion, while free cash flow increased 75 percent to USD 3.8 billion.

The same October 6, 2026 report said copper-equivalent production grew 3 percent in the first half and that Oyu Tolgoi copper production increased 31 percent year over year. Rio Tinto also reduced copper C1 unit-cost guidance to USD 0.30-0.50 per pound.

H1 earnings reset the baseline

Simply Wall St reported that first-half 2026 revenue reached USD 31.028 billion, up from USD 26.873 billion a year earlier, while net income rose to USD 6.664 billion from USD 4.528 billion.

That comparison puts the October production report in a clear framework: investors will be looking for volume growth that supports cash generation, not only stronger commodity prices. The production mix also matters because copper, aluminium and lithium contributed more than half of first-half underlying EBITDA, according to IG.

RBC turned less negative

The latest analyst action adds a valuation counterpoint. Morningstar reported on October 6, 2026 that RBC upgraded Rio Tinto from Underperform to Sector Perform while cutting its price target to GBp 6,500 from GBp 6,600.

For the ADR, Yahoo Finance lists a consensus Buy rating from 10 analysts, with an average USD 103.71 target, a USD 88.00 low and a USD 118.00 high. The consensus target is separate from RBC's London-listed view and therefore does not replace the LSE price signal.

Rio Tinto stock stays below its high

Rio Tinto stock was last at GBp 7,242.00 on the LSE on October 6, 2026, with the daily move at 0.84 percent. The October 13 production figures will show whether the stronger first-half earnings profile is translating into sustained operating momentum.