Rio Tinto Improves Cash Flow in Weak Mining Environment
Key Takeaways · Cost cuts helped Rio Tinto stomach weak commodity end markets. · Production increases buffered weak iron ore prices. · China remains a key driver of growth. Country data flow continues to contradict. · We continue to hold Rio Tinto in our Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio…but we think it could be a wild ride. Best Ideas Newsletter portfolio holding Rio Tinto (click ticker for report: ) announced weak, but better-than-expected, financial performance for the first half of 2013 Thursday. Earnings per share declined 71% year-over-year to $0.93, though revenue declined only 3% year-over-year to $24.5 billion as production increases were able to partially offset commodity price weakness. Underlying earnings per share, which is adjusted for one-time charges, exchange rates, and write-downs, … Read more