MUX vs AG

For growth investors, First Majestic Silver Corp.

(AG) is the stronger pick with 128. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 2% for McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX). McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX) offers the better valuation at 39. 6x trailing P/E (22. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, McEwen Mining Inc.

(MUX) is the cheapest at 39. 6x versus First Majestic Silver Corp. at 61. 1x. On forward P/E, First Majestic Silver Corp. is actually cheaper at 20. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, McEwen Mining Inc.

(MUX) delivered a total return of +79. 8%, compared to +31. 0% for First Majestic Silver Corp. (AG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AG returned +133. 7% versus MUX's +3. 5%. 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), McEwen Mining Inc.

(MUX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 49β versus First Majestic Silver Corp. 's 1. 75β — meaning AG is approximately 18% more volatile than MUX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 10% for First Majestic Silver Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Majestic Silver Corp.

(AG) is pulling ahead at 128. 2% versus 13. 2% for McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Majestic Silver Corp. grew EPS 202. 9% year-over-year, compared to 168. 6% for McEwen Mining Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AG leads at 26. 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.

McEwen Mining Inc.

(MUX) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus 13. 1% for First Majestic Silver Corp. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AG leads at 27. 8% versus -6. 5% for MUX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AG leads at 34. 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.

On forward earnings alone, First Majestic Silver Corp.

(AG) trades at 20. 9x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for McEwen Mining Inc. — 1. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MUX: 28. 4% to $30. 00.

In this comparison, MUX (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. AG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, McEwen Mining Inc.

(MUX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. First Majestic Silver Corp. (AG) carries a higher beta of 1. 75 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MUX: +3. 5%, AG: +133. 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.

In terms of investment character: MUX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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.