XPL vs HL vs PAAS vs USAS vs AG

For growth investors, First Majestic Silver Corp.

(AG) is the stronger pick with 128. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 3% for Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (USAS). Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) offers the better valuation at 22. 1x trailing P/E (12. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) a "Buy" — based on 24 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, Pan American Silver Corp.

(PAAS) is the cheapest at 22. 1x versus First Majestic Silver Corp. at 61. 1x. On forward P/E, Pan American Silver Corp. is actually cheaper at 12. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Pan American Silver Corp. wins at 0. 49x versus First Majestic Silver Corp. 's 0. 78x — 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 +26. 2% for Solitario Zinc Corp. (XPL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HL returned +360. 6% versus USAS's -5. 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), Pan American Silver Corp.

(PAAS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Americas Gold and Silver Corporation's 2. 31β — meaning USAS is approximately 213% more volatile than PAAS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Solitario Zinc Corp. (XPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 45% for Americas Gold and Silver Corporation — 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 5. 3% for Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (USAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to -5. 0% for Americas Gold and Silver Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAAS leads at 35. 1% 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.

Pan American Silver Corp.

(PAAS) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 0% net margin versus -44. 9% for Americas Gold and Silver Corporation — meaning it keeps 27. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HL leads at 37. 5% versus -26. 2% for USAS. 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.

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, Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus First Majestic Silver Corp. 's 0. 78x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) trades at 12. 4x forward P/E versus 26. 3x for Americas Gold and Silver Corporation — 13. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for USAS: 52. 8% to $9. 75.

In this comparison, PAAS (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. XPL, HL, USAS, AG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pan American Silver Corp.

(PAAS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), 0. 8% yield, +326. 1% 10Y return). Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (USAS) carries a higher beta of 2. 31 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PAAS: +326. 1%, USAS: -5. 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: XPL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HL is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PAAS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; USAS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. PAAS pays a dividend while XPL, HL, USAS, AG 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.