The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price has risen in recent months, as the chart below shows. Despite the rise, analysts still think the ASX mining share is a good buy.
Rio Tinto is one of the most diversified miners in the world, with exposure to commodities such as iron ore, aluminium, copper, and other key resources.
Fund managers from listed investment company (LIC) WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE) are optimistic on the company. WAM Leaders aims to actively invest in high-quality Australian companies, with a focus on businesses listed within the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
The five businesses that WAM Leaders has the largest allocation to, compared to their size in the ASX share market, are Rio Tinto, Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF), and Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU).
Wilson Asset Management pointed out that its key commodity exposures, supported by new policy signals from the Chinese government, helped drive the Rio Tinto performance in September. The Rio Tinto share price rose by 5.7% last month.
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Why is the Rio Tinto share price a buy right now?
The investment team at WAM Leaders explained that major Chinese state-run iron ore purchaser China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG) blocked iron ore purchases from mining competitor BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). This situation reportedly positively impacted Rio Tinto's iron ore pricing environment.
China still needs to purchase iron ore for its steel mills, so if it's not buying from BHP, then other ASX-listed iron ore shares can benefit.
WAM Leaders' fund managers also said that the company benefits from stronger relations with China because of the joint venture mining project, Simandou. This giant new project in Africa could have a sizeable impact on the global iron ore market. WAM said the Rio Tinto-Chinese relationship is significant given the volume of global iron ore demand influenced by Chinese policy decisions.
The investment team also said that the well-established pattern of supply chain interruptions in the industrial metals sector supported both aluminium and copper prices, offering further upside for Rio Tinto during the month.
WAM believes the Rio Tinto share price "effectively assumes an iron ore price well below the current market price", and the fund managers continue to see value in Rio Tinto, particularly over competitors in the sector.
Valuation snapshot
In 2025 to date, Rio Tinto shares have gone up by approximately 5%. According to the ASX, the business now has a market capitalisation of $46 billion.
