HL vs SCCO

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 17. 4% for Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO). Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) offers the better valuation at 35. 1x trailing P/E (26. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hecla Mining Company (HL) a "Hold" — based on 26 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, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the cheapest at 35.

1x versus Hecla Mining Company at 37. 0x. On forward P/E, Hecla Mining Company is actually cheaper at 19. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) delivered a total return of +188.

5%, compared to +150. 8% for Hecla Mining Company (HL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SCCO returned +657. 5% versus HL's +327. 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), Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

26β versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 78β — meaning SCCO is approximately 41% more volatile than HL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hecla Mining Company (HL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 67% for Southern Copper Corporation — 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 17. 4% for Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 24. 5% for Southern Copper 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.

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

3% net margin versus 22. 6% for Hecla Mining Company — meaning it keeps 32. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SCCO leads at 52. 2% versus 37. 5% for HL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SCCO leads at 56. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Hecla Mining Company (HL) trades at 19.

1x forward P/E versus 26. 0x for Southern Copper Corporation — 6. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HL: 31. 3% to $23. 83.

In this comparison, SCCO (1.

6% yield) pays a dividend. HL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

6% yield, +657. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SCCO: +657. 5%, HL: +327. 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.

SCCO 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.