HMY vs HL vs PAAS vs AU vs NEM

For growth investors, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the stronger pick with 70.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 19. 1% for Newmont Corporation (NEM). Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY) offers the better valuation at 12. 6x trailing P/E (0. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) a "Buy" — based on 24 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, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY) is the cheapest at 12.

6x versus Hecla Mining Company at 36. 9x. On forward P/E, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited is actually cheaper at 0. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Pan American Silver Corp. wins at 0. 48x versus Newmont Corporation's 0. 87x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) delivered a total return of +357.

0%, compared to +71. 4% for Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AU returned +702. 4% 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), Newmont Corporation (NEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

86β versus Hecla Mining Company's 1. 51β — meaning HL is approximately 76% 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 25% for AngloGold Ashanti Plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is pulling ahead at 70.

8% 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 67. 7% for Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAAS leads at 35. 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.

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

1% net margin versus 19. 5% for Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited — 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 27. 5% for HMY. 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.

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, Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 48x versus Newmont Corporation's 0. 87x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY) trades at 0. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 7x for Hecla Mining Company — 20. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AU: 32. 8% to $133. 00.

In this comparison, AU (3.

7% yield), HMY (1. 1% yield), NEM (0. 9% yield), PAAS (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. HL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

95), 3. 7% yield, +702. 4% 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 (AU: +702. 4%, 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.

HMY, PAAS, AU, NEM pay 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.