AlphaValue/Baader Europe Sees Rio Tinto as 'Preferred Bet' Amid Copper Tailwinds, Reduced Iron Ore Dependence

06:56 AM EDT, 09/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- AlphaValue/Baader Europe views Rio Tinto Group (RIO.L) as one of its "preferred bets", saying the mining giant benefits from tailwinds in copper and other commodities while reducing its "overdependence" on iron ore. "Rio is at an interesting juncture; wherein various diversity initiatives should help the group better navigate rapidly evolving markets and geopolitical challenges. With the traditionally strong Iron Ore division (though still healthy) facing the wrath of Chinese regulatory ambitions to control iron ore prices, Aluminium (also a beneficiary of Iran war fears) and Copper (a hot AI proxy) are contributing meaningfully (also evident in H1 results) - such the Iron Ore dependencies have been reduced to record lows," according to a Tuesday note. "Add on top the firm's countercyclical bets on Lithium (where Iran war-induced tight oil markets could also revive EVs), the firm has a well-balanced exposure with no extraordinary overdependencies on any of the commodities - which isn't the case for its AV peers (many of whom are copper overdependent)," analysts wrote. Meanwhile, the research firm trimmed its price target for the add-rated stock's price target to 87.84 pounds sterling from 89.61 pounds.