ZACKS·2026-01-22 18:05Core Insights - Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) and SSR Mining Inc. (SSRM) are benefiting from record-high gold and silver prices, with silver prices increasing approximately 207% year over year and gold prices rising around 75% [2][3] Group 1: Company Overview - Pan American Silver operates 11 mines across the Americas and has a significant stake in the Juanicipio project, which has produced 2.5 million ounces of silver since acquisition [4][5] - SSR Mining has assets in the U.S., Turkey, Canada, and Argentina, and recently acquired the Cripple Creek & Victor mine, positioning it as the third-largest gold producer in the U.S. [12][13] Group 2: Production and Financials - PAAS expects silver production of 22.8 million ounces in 2025, an 8% increase from 2024, with a record fourth-quarter output of 7.3 million ounces [6][11] - SSRM's total gold production for 2025 is projected to be between 410,000 and 480,000 gold-equivalent ounces, with a previous production of 399,267 ounces in 2024 [14] - As of December 31, 2025, PAAS had cash and short-term investments of $1.32 billion, while SSRM reported cash and cash equivalents of $409 million [8][16] Group 3: Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAAS's 2025 earnings is $2.21 per share, reflecting a 179.7% year-over-year increase, with estimates for 2026 at $3.60, indicating a 63.2% rise [17] - SSRM's earnings estimate for 2025 is $1.77 per share, showing a 532.1% increase year-over-year, with 2026 estimates at $3.56, implying growth of 101.3% [18] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, PAAS stock has increased by 166.2%, while SSRM has risen by 196.6% [19] - PAAS is trading at a forward earnings multiple of 15.76X, while SSRM is at 6.53X, both lower than their five-year medians [21] Group 5: Investment Appeal - Both companies are positioned to benefit from rising silver and gold prices, with SSRM showing stronger price performance and a more attractive valuation compared to PAAS [23]