CGAU vs HL

For growth investors, Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the stronger pick with 53.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 5% for Centerra Gold Inc. (CGAU). Centerra Gold Inc. (CGAU) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Centerra Gold Inc. (CGAU) a "Buy" — based on 5 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Centerra Gold Inc.

(CGAU) is the cheapest at 6. 1x versus Hecla Mining Company at 36. 9x. On forward P/E, Centerra Gold Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Centerra Gold Inc.

(CGAU) delivered a total return of +171. 3%, compared to +150. 3% for Hecla Mining Company (HL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +360. 6% versus CGAU's +240. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Centerra Gold Inc.

(CGAU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 67β versus Hecla Mining Company's 1. 26β — meaning HL is approximately 89% more volatile than CGAU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Centerra Gold Inc. (CGAU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 12% for Hecla Mining Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hecla Mining Company (HL) is pulling ahead at 53.

0% versus 9. 5% for Centerra Gold Inc. (CGAU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 725. 7% for Centerra Gold Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HL leads at 25. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Centerra Gold Inc.

(CGAU) is the more profitable company, earning 44. 7% net margin versus 22. 6% for Hecla Mining Company — meaning it keeps 44. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HL leads at 37. 5% versus 17. 9% for CGAU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HL leads at 41. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Centerra Gold Inc.

(CGAU) trades at 9. 1x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Hecla Mining Company — 10. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HL: 31. 7% to $23. 83.

In this comparison, CGAU (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. HL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Centerra Gold Inc.

(CGAU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 67), 1. 1% yield, +240. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CGAU: +240. 7%, HL: +360. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CGAU is a small-cap deep-value stock; HL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. CGAU pays a dividend while HL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.