Core Viewpoint - Precious metals like gold and silver are expected to continue outperforming due to rising geopolitical tensions, making the metals and miners sector an attractive investment opportunity [1]. Group 1: Precious Metals Miners Overview - Six large-cap precious metals miners have been identified as potential investment opportunities, each with a net profit margin of at least 15% and a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of at least 90 [2]. Group 2: Hecla Mining Co. - Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) has a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of 97.64, a market cap of nearly $17 billion, and generates over $1.2 billion in annual sales with a net profit margin of 16.2% [3]. - The stock is trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs), indicating a bullish trend supported by the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator [5]. Group 3: DRDGold Ltd. - DRDGold (NYSE:DRD) has a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of 98.47 and a market cap of $3 billion, utilizing surface-tailing retreatment strategies for gold recovery, resulting in a high net profit margin of 28.5% [6][7]. - The stock has experienced a 280% gain over the last 12 months and recently made a new all-time high, supported by bullish MACD signals [9]. Group 4: Kinross Gold Corp. - Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) has a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of 97.49, a market cap of $40 billion, and reported annual sales exceeding $5 billion, with a net profit margin of 27.3% [10]. - The stock has rallied over 200% in the last year, supported by a strong balance sheet, although caution is advised as the MACD indicators suggest a potential short-term pullback [12]. Group 5: OR Royalties Inc. - OR Royalties (NYSE:OR) has a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of 94.14, a market cap of $7.68 billion, and net margins exceeding 60% [13]. - The stock has gained over 15% in 2026 and is positioned for potential new all-time highs, supported by bullish MACD indicators [15]. Group 6: Southern Copper Corp. - Southern Copper Corp. (NYSE:SCCO) has a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of 92.36, a market cap of $150 billion, and generated over $12 billion in revenue last year with a net margin of 31% [16]. - The stock has increased by 27% in January 2026, with bullish MACD confirmations indicating strong momentum [18]. Group 7: SSR Mining Inc. - SSR Mining (NASDAQ:SSRM) has a Benzinga Edge Quality Score of 92.96 and a market cap of $4.8 billion, with a net profit margin of 15% [19]. - The stock appears undervalued compared to peers, trading at 23 times earnings and 1.2 times book value, and is poised to resume its rally from 2025 [21].

Group 1 - The stock prices of silver mining companies listed in the United States have increased, with Hecla Mining Company rising by 1% and First Majestic Silver Corporation increasing by 1.2% [1]

Core Insights - Silver prices have surged, crossing $94/ounce, with a year-to-date increase of approximately 30% following a remarkable rise of over 150% last year [1] - Geopolitical tensions, particularly involving the U.S. and Iran, have driven investors towards silver as a safe-haven asset [2][3] - Industrial demand for silver is rising due to its applications in electronics, electric vehicles, and solar panels, contributing to price increases [4] - The global silver market is in a persistent deficit, with demand outpacing supply, further supporting high silver prices [5] - Despite the impressive rally, there may be short-term price fluctuations, but the long-term outlook remains positive due to ongoing demand and supply constraints [6] Company Summaries - **Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS)**: A leading silver and gold producer in the Americas, PAAS has expanded its reserves through the acquisition of MAG Silver. The company reported higher revenues and record cash inflow, allowing for an increase in its quarterly dividend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAAS's 2026 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 25% and 63%, respectively [7][8][9] - **Hecla Mining Company (HL)**: The largest silver producer in the U.S. and Canada, Hecla has seen strong production and revenues, enabling debt reduction. The company is advancing its Keno Hill project towards commercial production and has ongoing exploration projects. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HL's 2026 sales and EPS suggests year-over-year growth of 14% and 38%, respectively [10][11][12] - **Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM)**: A streaming company that benefits from rising silver and gold prices, WPM provides upfront cash to miners in exchange for a portion of future metal production. This model allows WPM to leverage higher metal prices for increased profit margins. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WPM's 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 29% and 35%, respectively [13][14][15]

Group 1: Market Performance - Shares of Silvercorp Metals Inc. increased by 6.90% during pre-market trading as silver prices surpassed $95 [1] - Other silver miners also saw gains, with Hecla Mining Company up 6.56%, First Majestic Silver Corp. rising 5.5%, and Endeavour Silver Corp. increasing by 4.5% [1] Group 2: Price Drivers - The surge in silver and gold prices is attributed to growing political uncertainty, particularly related to President Trump's Greenland initiative and potential EU retaliatory measures [2] - Gold spot prices rose by 1% to $4,725.43 an ounce, reaching a record high of $4,675 an ounce on Monday [2] - The conflict involving the White House, the Justice Department, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has also contributed to the upward pressure on silver prices [3] Group 3: Demand and Supply Dynamics - Silver prices have increased over 200% from approximately $30 in early 2025, driven by geopolitical uncertainties and its critical role in AI and solar technology [4] - Demand from data centers and renewable energy, along with a sixth consecutive year of supply deficits and new Chinese export restrictions, is tightening the physical silver market [5]

Group 1 - The core point of the article highlights a significant decline in spot silver prices, which fell below $88 per ounce [1] - Silver-related stocks in the U.S. market experienced weakness, with notable declines in several companies [1] Group 2 - Hecla Mining (HL.US) saw a drop of over 1.3% [1] - First Majestic Silver (AG.US) decreased by more than 1% [1] - Pan American Silver (PAAS.US) fell by 2% [1] - Coeur Mining (CDE.US) experienced a slight decline of 0.24% [1]

Core Insights - Hecla Mining Company (HL) is experiencing strong operational performance, particularly from its Greens Creek mine, which produced 2.3 million ounces of silver and 15,600 ounces of gold in Q3 2025 [1] - The company is increasing investments in the Greens Creek project due to ongoing projects and the dry-stack tailings expansion [1] - The Lucky Friday project also shows strength, producing 1.3 million ounces of silver in Q3, supported by higher milled grades and stable operations [2] - The Keno Hill project produced 898,328 ounces of silver, reflecting a 20% sequential increase, aided by improved power reliability and higher milling rates [3] - Hecla Mining's Polaris Exploration Project has received approval to begin exploration activities in 2026, contributing to the company's growth outlook [3] Peer Performance - Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) produced 5.5 million ounces of silver in Q3, maintaining its production outlook for 2025 at 22-25 million ounces [4] - First Majestic Silver Corp. (AG) reported a total silver production of 1.4 million ounces from Cerro Los Gatos, with an expected annual production of 30-32 million ounces of silver equivalent [5] Price Performance and Valuation - Hecla Mining shares have increased by 71.7% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 42.6% [6] - The company is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 41.91X, significantly above the industry average of 20.12X [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HL's 2025 earnings has been rising over the past 60 days, indicating positive market sentiment [10] Earnings Estimates - Current earnings estimates for HL are 0.17 for Q4 2025, 0.20 for Q1 2026, 0.42 for the current year, and 0.58 for the next year [11]

Group 1 - Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) experienced a significant stock surge, reaching an all-time high with an intra-day increase of 10.8% and closing 8.95% higher at $24.46 per share, driven by a flight to safer assets amid geopolitical tensions [1][2] - The rise in Hecla Mining's stock price was in line with other mining companies, as gold and silver prices hit new all-time highs of $4,600 and $86 respectively, influenced by geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran [2] - Concerns regarding the independence of the US Federal Reserve have heightened investor caution, particularly after Chairman Jerome Powell faced threats from President Trump over disagreements on interest rates [3] Group 2 - Hecla Mining is scheduled to hold an Investor Day on January 26, at 12:30 PM EST, to discuss its business strategy and outlook for the year, coinciding with its 135th founding anniversary [4]

Group 1: Precious Metals Market - The precious metals market experienced significant volatility, with gold prices dropping below $4580 per ounce and silver prices falling below $84 per ounce on January 13 [1][2][14] - On January 12, both gold and silver prices reached historical highs, with gold peaking at $4630.24 per ounce and silver rising over 6% to $86.237 per ounce [5][17] - Analysts suggest that the recent price movements in precious metals are influenced by increased criticism of the Federal Reserve by the Trump administration, leading to reduced investment in U.S. assets [5][17] Group 2: U.S. Stock Market Performance - The U.S. stock market saw all three major indices close higher on January 12, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 reaching new highs [6][19] - The Dow Jones rose by 86.13 points (0.17%) to close at 49,590.20 points, while the Nasdaq increased by 62.56 points (0.26%) to 23,733.90 points, and the S&P 500 gained 10.99 points (0.16%) to finish at 6,977.27 points [7][19] - Notable gains were observed in popular Chinese stocks, with the Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index rising by 4.26%, and Alibaba's stock increasing by over 10%, marking its largest single-day gain since August 29, 2025 [1][21] Group 3: Federal Reserve and Economic Outlook - Market expectations are leaning towards the Federal Reserve maintaining interest rates in January, with a 95% probability of no change and only a 5% chance of a 25 basis point cut [21] - The potential for a 25 basis point cut by March is estimated at 26%, while the probability of maintaining rates is 72.8% [21] - Trump is set to interview Rick Riedel for the position of Federal Reserve Chair, indicating ongoing political influence over monetary policy [22]

Core Insights - Gold and silver prices have reached record highs, with gold at approximately $4,600 per ounce and silver at $83.96 per ounce, driven by safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty [2][11] - The rally in precious metals is supported by expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, which typically benefits non-yielding assets like gold and silver [3][6] Market Drivers - Geopolitical tensions, particularly unrest in Iran and strained U.S.-Europe relations, have heightened safe-haven buying [4] - Political pressure on the Federal Reserve and controversies surrounding its leadership have contributed to increased demand for precious metals [5] Investment Opportunities - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is a leading gold producer with strong growth prospects, reporting record adjusted net income and a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [8][10] - Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) has diversified its portfolio and reported record revenues, with a Zacks Rank 1, indicating strong growth potential [12][13] - Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) has expanded its silver reserves and reported significant revenue growth, also holding a Zacks Rank 1 [14][16] - Hecla Mining (HL), the largest silver producer in the U.S. and Canada, is advancing its projects and has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating solid growth prospects [17][19]

Core Insights - Silver North has successfully completed its 2025 drill program at the Haldane Project, located in the Keno Hill Silver District, which is known for its prolific silver production [3][4] - The company has made significant discoveries, particularly at the Main Fault target, which shows high-grade silver and gold mineralization [6][14] - The upcoming 2026 drill program is expected to be transformative, with plans for increased drilling and exploration activities [16][21] Group 1: Project Overview - The Haldane property spans 8,579 hectares and is strategically located near Hecla Mining's Keno Hill silver mine [3] - Silver North's Main Fault discovery is notable for its high-grade silver and gold, with drilling revealing significant continuity and potential for further exploration [6][15] - The company aims to achieve a 30-million-ounce silver deposit, aligning with the average production of silver mines in the Keno Hill District [24][25] Group 2: Drill Results - The 2025 drill program included eight holes totaling 1,759.8 meters, successfully testing the Main Fault structure [5] - Notable drill results include 3.2 meters averaging 2,014 g/t silver and 1.72 g/t gold, and another interval showing 1,112 g/t silver and 4.61 g/t gold [7][10] - The Main Fault has been extended to 100 meters on strike and 150 meters down dip, indicating substantial mineralization potential [11][23] Group 3: Future Plans - Silver North has raised $2.25 million and is preparing for a $5 million exploration budget for 2026, focusing primarily on the Main Fault [21] - An airborne survey is planned for March-April 2026 to further assess the mineralization [21] - A separate $500,000 program is planned for the Veronica property, emphasizing geophysical studies to identify drill targets [22]