NEXA vs HL

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 2% for Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA). Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA) offers the better valuation at 13. 9x trailing P/E (6. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA) a "Hold" — based on 10 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, Nexa Resources S.

A. (NEXA) is the cheapest at 13. 9x versus Hecla Mining Company at 36. 9x. On forward P/E, Nexa Resources S. A. is actually cheaper at 6. 3x.

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

3%, compared to +40. 8% for Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +360. 6% versus NEXA's -6. 0%. 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 Nexa Resources S. A. 's 1. 52β — meaning NEXA is approximately 21% more volatile than HL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hecla Mining Company (HL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 142% for Nexa Resources S. A. — 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 8. 2% for Nexa Resources S. A. (NEXA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 164. 5% for Nexa Resources S. A.. 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 4. 4% for Nexa Resources S. A. — 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 13. 7% for NEXA. 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, Nexa Resources S.

A. (NEXA) trades at 6. 3x forward P/E versus 19. 1x for Hecla Mining Company — 12. 8x 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, NEXA (1.

9% yield) pays a dividend. HL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nexa Resources S.

A. (NEXA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEXA: -6. 0%, 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.

In terms of investment character: NEXA is a small-cap deep-value stock; HL is a mid-cap high-growth stock. NEXA pays 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.