Historical source-based research. Compilation date and financial period are different dates.

Observation

Across 6 eligible materials companies, the equal-weight median operating cash-flow margin was 32.93% for the latest selected annual periods.

Data context

The eligible sample covers 6 of 6 selected companies. The latest selected annual periods span 2025-06-30 to 2025-12-31. Companies have different fiscal year ends. This is a cross-sectional research sample, not a calendar-year index or a representation of the full sector.

Company evidence

BHP 36.46% (period 2025-06-30); LIN 30.45% (period 2025-12-31); SCCO 35.41% (period 2025-12-31); RIO 29.20% (period 2025-12-31); NEM 45.59% (period 2025-12-31); FCX 22.27% (period 2025-12-31).

Distribution

The sample range is 22.27% (FCX) to 45.59% (NEM). The median is computed across company ratios with equal weight; it is not a ratio of aggregate totals. Extreme values can reflect a small denominator or unusual accounting items.

Interpretation

Mining and industrial-materials businesses depend on commodity cycles, capacity, input costs and capital discipline. The numerator is operatingCashFlow; the denominator is revenue. Only positive denominators and disclosed numerators qualify. No missing value is replaced with zero.

What to watch

Volumes, realized prices, reinvestment and through-cycle cash generation.

Research limitations

Commodity pricing, production disruption, reserve quality, energy costs and capital execution. The sample uses a September 18, 2026 source snapshot. It does not establish current market conditions, causal drivers or future returns. Sector labels are editorial and the financial-sector cash-flow measures need particular caution.

Company-level observations / percent / selected annual periods
CompanyValuePeriod end
BHP36.46%2025-06-30
LIN30.45%2025-12-31
SCCO35.41%2025-12-31
RIO29.20%2025-12-31
NEM45.59%2025-12-31
FCX22.27%2025-12-31

Sources & dates

Methodology protocol ↗SMS research updates ↗