MUX vs HL

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 2% for McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX). Hecla Mining Company (HL) offers the better valuation at 36. 9x trailing P/E (19. 1x 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, Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the cheapest at 36.

9x versus McEwen Mining Inc. at 39. 6x. On forward P/E, Hecla Mining Company is actually cheaper at 19. 1x.

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

3%, compared to +79. 8% for McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +360. 6% versus MUX's -0. 1%. 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 McEwen Mining Inc. 's 1. 27β — meaning MUX is approximately 1% more volatile than HL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 12% for Hecla Mining Company — 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 13. 2% for McEwen Mining Inc. (MUX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 168. 6% for McEwen Mining Inc.. 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.

Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

6% net margin versus 17. 4% for McEwen Mining Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HL leads at 37. 5% versus -6. 5% for MUX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HL leads at 41. 1%, 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 22. 2x for McEwen Mining Inc. — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HL: 31. 7% to $23. 83.

In this comparison, MUX (0.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

26), +360. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HL: +360. 6%, MUX: -0. 1%), 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; HL 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.