Feb 7 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX :
* FY NET EARNINGS $8,762 MILLION VERSUS $4,617 MILLION A YEAR AGO
* FY UNDERLYING EARNINGS $8,627 MILLION VERSUS $5,100 MILLION
* CAPITAL EXPENDITURE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT AROUND $5.5 BILLION IN 2018 AND AROUND $6.0 BILLION IN EACH OF 2019 AND 2020
* 2018 PRODUCTION GUIDANCE IS UNCHANGED FROM Q4 OPERATIONS REVIEW
* NET DEBT AS AT DEC 31, 2017 US$ 3,845 MILLION
* EFFECTIVE TAX RATE ON UNDERLYING EARNINGS OF ABOUT 30 PER CENT EXPECTED IN 2018
* SAYS ANNOUNCES FULL YEAR DIVIDEND OF $5.2 BILLION AND AN ADDITIONAL $1 BILLION SHARE BUY-BACK
* FINAL DIVIDEND 290.0 US CENTS PER SHARE
* SEES "ADDITIONAL CUMULATIVE FREE CASH FLOW OF $5.0 BILLION FROM 2017 TO END OF 2021 FROM MINE TO MARKET PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS"
* SEES ADDITIONAL CUMULATIVE FREE CASH FLOW OF $0.3 BILLION IN 2018
* TARGETING AN ANNUAL EXIT RATE FROM MINE TO MARKET PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS OF AROUND $1.5 BILLION FROM 2021
* "THERE WAS A DEFERRED TAX ASSET WRITE-DOWN AT GRASBERG"
* EXPECTS TOTAL CASH RETURNS TO SHAREHOLDERS OVER LONGER TERM TO BE IN RANGE OF 40 TO 60% OF UNDERLYING EARNINGS IN AGGREGATE THROUGH CYCLE