HL 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 (10. 1x 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 10. 1x. 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. 42x 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 +80. 0% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WPM returned +689. 7% versus NEM's +302. 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.

66β versus Hecla Mining Company's 1. 51β — meaning HL is approximately 130% 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 12% for Hecla Mining Company — 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: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 124. 1% for Newmont Corporation. 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 22. 6% for Hecla Mining Company — 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 37. 5% for HL. 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. 42x 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 10. 1x forward P/E versus 24. 2x for Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. — 14. 1x 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. HL 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. 78), 0. 5% yield, +689. 7% 10Y return). Hecla Mining Company (HL) carries a higher beta of 1. 51 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WPM: +689. 7%, HL: +373. 7%), 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, AEM, WPM pay a dividend while HL, 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.