HL vs NEM

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 19. 1% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). Newmont Corporation (NEM) offers the better valuation at 17. 7x trailing P/E (10. 9x 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, Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the cheapest at 17.

7x versus Hecla Mining Company at 36. 9x. On forward P/E, Newmont Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Hecla Mining Company (HL) delivered a total return of +150.

3%, compared to +80. 0% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +360. 6% versus NEM's +293. 1%. 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), Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

75β versus Hecla Mining Company's 1. 26β — meaning HL is approximately 67% more volatile than NEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Newmont Corporation (NEM) 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 19. 1% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 124. 1% for Newmont Corporation. 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.

Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

1% net margin versus 22. 6% for Hecla Mining Company — meaning it keeps 32. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NEM leads at 46. 9% versus 37. 5% for HL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEM leads at 49. 8%, 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, Newmont Corporation (NEM) trades at 10.

9x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Hecla Mining Company — 8. 2x 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, NEM (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. HL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

75), 0. 9% yield, +293. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEM: +293. 1%, 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.

NEM 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.