AAUC vs CDE vs HL vs PAAS vs FSM

For growth investors, Coeur Mining, Inc.

(CDE) is the stronger pick with 96. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 6% for Fortuna Mining Corp. (FSM). Fortuna Mining Corp. (FSM) offers the better valuation at 12. 0x trailing P/E (6. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE) a "Buy" — based on 21 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, Fortuna Mining Corp.

(FSM) is the cheapest at 12. 0x versus Hecla Mining Company at 38. 0x. On forward P/E, Allied Gold Corporation is actually cheaper at 5. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fortuna Mining Corp. wins at 0. 13x versus Pan American Silver Corp. 's 0. 48x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) delivered a total return of +329.

5%, compared to +71. 9% for Fortuna Mining Corp. (FSM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +373. 7% versus FSM's +78. 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), Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

29β versus Coeur Mining, Inc. 's 1. 89β — meaning CDE is approximately 545% more volatile than AAUC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 34% for Allied Gold Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Coeur Mining, Inc.

(CDE) is pulling ahead at 96. 4% versus -9. 6% for Fortuna Mining Corp. (FSM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 63. 4% for Allied Gold Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CDE leads at 38. 1% 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.

Fortuna Mining Corp.

(FSM) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 5% net margin versus -3. 9% for Allied Gold Corporation — meaning it keeps 31. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FSM leads at 38. 5% versus 27. 4% for AAUC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FSM leads at 48. 7%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Fortuna Mining Corp. (FSM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 13x versus Pan American Silver Corp. 's 0. 48x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) trades at 5. 1x forward P/E versus 20. 7x for Hecla Mining Company — 15. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CDE: 46. 6% to $27. 20.

In this comparison, PAAS (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. AAUC, CDE, HL, FSM do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

29), +329. 5% 10Y return). Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE) carries a higher beta of 1. 89 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAUC: +329. 5%, CDE: +156. 0%), 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: AAUC is a small-cap high-growth stock; CDE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; HL is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PAAS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; FSM is a small-cap deep-value stock. PAAS pays a dividend while AAUC, CDE, HL, FSM do 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.