IAG vs HL

For growth investors, IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) is the stronger pick with 77.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 53. 0% for Hecla Mining Company (HL). IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) offers the better valuation at 15. 8x trailing P/E (7. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) is the cheapest at 15.

8x versus Hecla Mining Company at 36. 9x. On forward P/E, IAMGOLD Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) delivered a total return of +454.

1%, compared to +150. 3% for Hecla Mining Company (HL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IAG returned +439. 4% versus HL's +360. 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), IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

93β versus Hecla Mining Company's 1. 26β — meaning HL is approximately 35% more volatile than IAG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hecla Mining Company (HL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 20% for IAMGOLD Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) is pulling ahead at 77.

8% versus 53. 0% for Hecla Mining Company (HL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to -22. 7% for IAMGOLD Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, IAG leads at 44. 7% 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.

IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) is the more profitable company, earning 23.

3% net margin versus 22. 6% for Hecla Mining Company — meaning it keeps 23. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IAG leads at 38. 9% versus 37. 5% for HL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IAG leads at 41. 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.

On forward earnings alone, IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) trades at 7.

7x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Hecla Mining Company — 11. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IAG: 60. 9% to $29. 50.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

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

93), +439. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IAG: +439. 4%, 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.

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.