LODE vs GORO vs HL vs CDE vs NEM

For growth investors, Coeur Mining, Inc.

(CDE) is the stronger pick with 96. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -48. 5% for Comstock Inc. (LODE). 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 Comstock Inc. (LODE) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Coeur Mining, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Coeur Mining, Inc. wins at 0. 17x versus Newmont Corporation's 0. 85x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

3%, compared to -45. 8% for Gold Resource Corporation (GORO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +360. 6% versus LODE's -66. 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), Gold Resource Corporation (GORO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

38β versus Comstock Inc. 's 2. 03β — meaning LODE is approximately 440% more volatile than GORO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Newmont Corporation (NEM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 2% for Gold Resource Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Coeur Mining, Inc.

(CDE) is pulling ahead at 96. 4% versus -48. 5% for Comstock Inc. (LODE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 63. 6% for Comstock Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LODE leads at 105. 8% 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 -27. 7% for Comstock Inc. — 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 -24. 4% for LODE. 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, Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 17x versus Newmont Corporation's 0. 85x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Coeur Mining, Inc. (CDE) trades at 9. 1x forward P/E versus 28. 6x for Gold Resource Corporation — 19. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CDE: 60. 1% to $29. 00.

In this comparison, NEM (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. LODE, GORO, HL, CDE do 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). Comstock Inc. (LODE) carries a higher beta of 2. 03 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEM: +293. 1%, LODE: -66. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LODE (Real Estate) and GORO (Basic Materials) and HL (Basic Materials) and CDE (Basic Materials) and NEM (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LODE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GORO is a small-cap high-growth stock; HL is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CDE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NEM is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NEM pays a dividend while LODE, GORO, HL, CDE 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.