Will Rio Tinto’s Falling Profits Cause These Top Institutional Shareholders to SELL?

For the year-to-date, Rio Tinto Plc’s (NYSE:RIO) shares are up 3.8 percent. On Wednesday, the company reported its second-half profits fell 22 percent but said it will continue plans for a $16 billion spending program in 2012.

Rio Tinto’s net profit dropped to $5.89 billion in the first half, down from a record $7.59 billion in the previous year. Revenue fell to $25.34 billion from $29.06 billion in 2011. The company announced an interim dividend of 72.5 cents per share, a 34 percent increase from the previous year.

Chief Executive Tom Albanese said to the media, ”We continue to generate strong margins despite falling prices. We are reaping the benefits of investing early in iron ore, which is producing consistently high returns.”

With its profit and revenue declines, will Rio Tinto’s largest shareholders decrease their holdings? 124 institutional firms indicated owning shares of Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE:RIO) in Q2 2012. These firms reported owning a total of 20.299 million shares on 06/30/2012. The shares closed at $47.81 on 06/30/2012.

Here are the ten largest positions in Rio Tinto Plc at the end of June 30th, 2012.

Fisher Asset Management LLC held 11,421,984 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $546,085,071. This brought the portfolio total to 1.57%.

Pacific Heights Asset Management LLC held 2,800,000 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $133,868,004. This brought the portfolio total to 2.43%.

Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. held 1,689,200 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $80,760,654. This brought the portfolio total to 3.28%.

Neuberger Berman Group LLC held 1,122,848 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $53,683,364. This brought the portfolio total to 0.07%.

SEI Trust Co held 311,800 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $14,907,158. This brought the portfolio total to 0.26%.

Todd Veredus Asset Management LLC held 217,307 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $10,389,448. This brought the portfolio total to 0.33%.

Teachers Retirement System Of the State of Kentucky held 215,000 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $10,279,150. This brought the portfolio total to 0.12%.

Parsec Financial Management Inc. held 181,606 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $8,682,583. This brought the portfolio total to 1.4%.

Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc held 166,135 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $7,942,915. This brought the portfolio total to 1.02%.

Schwab Charles Investment Management Inc held 161,150 shares on 06/30/2012 worth $7,704,582. This brought the portfolio total to 0.02%.

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