Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares put in mixed performances in August.
Two of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giants charged ahead of the 1.1% gains posted by the benchmark index in August, while one finished in the red.
Looking at the miners' top two revenue earners, the iron ore price dipped around 2% in August to close the month at US$96 per tonne. But the copper price increased by 3.7% to end the month at US$14,294 per tonne, according to data from Bloomberg.
August also saw all two of the miners release their full-year results.
Here's what's been happening.
Image source: Getty Images
BHP shares lead the charge
The best performing of the big three ASX 200 mining stocks in the month just past is also the biggest of them all.
BHP shares closed on 31 August trading for $66.23 each, up 9.8% for the month.
BHP released its full year FY 2026 results on 18 August.
Highlights from the 12 months included 15% year-on-year increase in revenue to US$58.8 billion. Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) leapt 27% to US$32.9 billion.
On the bottom line, the miner reported a 30% increase in underlying profit to US$13.2 billion.
That saw management boost the final FY 2026 dividend to $1.392 per share, up 51.5% from last year's final dividend payout.
If you want to bank the boosted BHP dividend, you'll need to own shares at market close today. The ASX 200 miner trades ex-dividend on Thursday. You can then expect to see that passive income hit your bank account on 23 September.
BHP shares closed up 2.7% on the day of the results release.
Rio Tinto shares trade ex-dividend
Like BHP shares, Rio Tinto shares outperformed in August, closing the month at $174.81 apiece, up 2.5%.
We should also note that Rio Tinto stock traded ex-dividend on 13 August. Investors who held the ASX 200 mining stock on 12 August will receive the $3.029 fully franked interim dividend on 24 September. If we add that back into the 31 August closing price, then the cumulative value of Rio Tinto shares gained 4.3% over the month.
Rio Tinto reported its half year results on 29 July. There was no fresh price sensitive news out from the company in August.
Fortescue shares take a tumble
Unlike Rio Tinto and BHP shares, Fortescue shares lost ground in August, closing the month trading for $17.70 apiece, down 4.4%.
Fortescue reported its FY 2026 results on 20 August.
On the positive side of the ledger, the miner reported revenue of US$17 billion, up 9% year-on-year. And underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) was up 3% to US$3.5 billion.
However, statutory NPAT of US$2.9 billion was down 15%. That was primarily due to the US$525 million non-cash impairment charge relating to Iron Bridge, and a US$73 million compensation claim expense.
On the passive income front, Fortescue declared a fully franked final dividend of 46 cents per share, down 23.3% from last year's final payout. The stock traded ex-dividend yesterday.
Fortescue shares closed down 0.6% on the day of the results release.
