AUST vs NEM vs AEM vs KGC vs WPM

For growth investors, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is the stronger pick with 83. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 19. 1% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (9. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Newmont Corporation (NEM) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) is the cheapest at 15.

3x versus Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. at 40. 0x. On forward P/E, Kinross Gold Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited wins at 0. 40x versus Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. 's 1. 07x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) delivered a total return of +301.

4%, compared to -69. 6% for Austin Gold Corp. (AUST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WPM returned +649. 6% versus AUST's -69. 6%. 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), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

52β versus Austin Gold Corp. 's 1. 47β — meaning AUST is approximately 181% more volatile than AEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 9% for Kinross Gold Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is pulling ahead at 83. 3% versus 19. 1% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. grew EPS 181. 2% year-over-year, compared to 47. 8% for Austin Gold Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WPM leads at 30. 3% 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.

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is the more profitable company, earning 63. 6% net margin versus 0. 0% for Austin Gold Corp. — meaning it keeps 63. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WPM leads at 68. 8% versus 0. 0% for AUST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WPM leads at 72. 2%, 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, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 40x versus Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. 's 1. 07x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) trades at 9. 7x forward P/E versus 24. 2x for Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. — 14. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KGC: 38. 9% to $42. 25.

In this comparison, NEM (0.

9% yield), AEM (0. 8% yield), WPM (0. 5% yield), KGC (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. AUST does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 63), 0. 5% yield, +649. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WPM: +649. 6%, AUST: -69. 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: AUST is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NEM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; AEM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; KGC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; WPM is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NEM, AEM, WPM pay a dividend while AUST, KGC 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.