Core Insights - Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is recognized as one of the 15 best-performing silver stocks to buy [1] Group 1: Exploration and Permits - Hecla Mining has received a permit for the 2026 Polaris Exploration Program in the Aurora Mining District, allowing exploration to commence [2] - The Aurora district has historically produced 20 million ounces of silver and 1.9 million ounces of gold, with an average of 2.24 ounces of gold per ton from underground grades [2] - The 2026 program will test several high-grade epithermal vein systems, including Brawley Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, and Polaris, as well as near-surface targets like Martinez, Juniata, and Ann [2] Group 2: Financial Performance - Hecla Mining reported revenue of $409.5 million, net income of $100.6 million, and EBITDA of $195.7 million for the previous quarter [3] - The company generated total cash flow from operations of $148 million, with free cash flow amounting to $90.1 million [3] - Net leverage decreased to 0.3x, with cash reserves of $133.9 million [3]

Core Viewpoint - Spartan Metals Corp. has received shareholder approval for its new 10% rolling stock option plan and share unit plan, aimed at incentivizing directors, officers, employees, and consultants [1][2]. Group 1: Equity Incentive Plans - The Equity Incentive Plans allow the issuance of stock options, restricted share units, and deferred share units, with the Option Plan capped at 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the time of grant [2]. - The Share Unit Plan reserves a maximum of 2,500,000 common shares for issuance [2]. - Detailed information regarding these plans is available in the management information circular filed on SEDAR+ [3]. Group 2: Grants and Options - The company has granted a total of 1,850,000 options to various stakeholders, exercisable at $0.395 per share for five years [4]. - Additionally, 682,000 deferred share units and 60,000 restricted share units have been granted under the Share Unit Plan, subject to applicable securities law hold periods [4]. Group 3: Company Focus and Projects - Spartan Metals is focused on developing critical minerals projects in stable mining jurisdictions in the Western United States, emphasizing strategic defense minerals such as Tungsten, Rubidium, Antimony, Bismuth, and Arsenic [5]. - The flagship project, the Eagle Project in eastern Nevada, contains one of the highest-grade historic tungsten resources in the USA, along with significant under-defined resources of other minerals [6].

Core Viewpoint - Critical Metals has established long-term offtake agreements covering 100% of expected concentrate production from the Tanbreez project, highlighting significant partnerships and advancements in mineralization and purity targets [1][6][21] Group 1: Project Updates - The company reported a transformational year in 2025, with independent validation of its processing approach and the ability to produce concentrate grades of over 3% total rare earth element oxides [2][4] - Management identified commercially significant gallium mineralization, emphasizing its relevance in sectors such as semiconductors and aerospace [1][4] - A larger pilot plant is expected by 2026, with plans for 30 to 50 tonnes of pre-production concentrate for partner testing [4][16] Group 2: Financial and Capital Expenditure - Feasibility-level capital estimates for the Tanbreez project are projected to be between $800 million and $1 billion, with $10 million already committed and an additional $40 million to $50 million planned for the next 12 to 18 months [5][10][11] - The company has executed a term sheet for a 50/50 joint venture in Saudi Arabia, which will take 25% of production for the life of the mine without requiring equity issuance or incurring debt [6][9] Group 3: Joint Ventures and Partnerships - The Saudi facility is expected to produce separated rare earth oxides and magnet-grade materials, expanding processing capacity outside of China [7][9] - A Romanian joint venture aims to create an integrated mine-to-magnet supply chain for European magnet manufacturing, with no capital outlays or debt for Critical Metals [9] Group 4: Operational Developments - Construction has been approved for a multi-use storage housing and pilot plant facility in Greenland, with the pilot plant section scheduled for completion by 2026 [14] - The company has ordered a mobile geochemical analysis center to enhance assay turnaround times, which will be operated by local personnel [15] Group 5: Wolfsberg Lithium Project - The Wolfsberg project is positioned as Europe's first fully licensed lithium mine, targeting production between 2027 and 2028, with a resource of 12.88 million tons at 1% lithium oxide [18] - Legal proceedings are ongoing regarding environmental assessments, with the company confident in its legal position [19] - Drilling in Zone 2 has been successful, and discussions for a lithium hydroxide facility with Saudi Arabia's Obeikan Group are well advanced [20]

Core Insights - Green Bridge Metals Corporation has announced the initiation of a diamond core drilling program at its Titac Project located in the South Contact District of northeastern Minnesota, U.S.A. [1] Company Developments - The diamond core drilling program is a significant step for Green Bridge as it aims to explore and develop its mineral resources in the region [1] - The Titac Project is part of the company's broader strategy to enhance its operational footprint in the mining sector [1] Industry Context - The commencement of drilling activities reflects the ongoing interest and investment in mineral exploration in the northeastern Minnesota area, which is known for its rich mineral deposits [1] - This development may indicate a positive trend in the mining industry, particularly for companies focusing on resource exploration and extraction [1]

Labor Market - Initial Jobless Claims came in at +200K, which is 8K below expectations and a slight increase from the previous week's revised figure of +199K [1] - The four-week average of new jobless claims is now +202K, which is 15K lower than the previous four weeks [1] - Continuing Claims reached 1.85 million, down from 1.884 million the previous week, marking the second-lowest level since last year's Memorial Day to Thanksgiving period [2] Economic Growth - Q3 GDP was revised up to +4.4%, the highest single quarter since +4.7% in Q3 of 2023, driven by increases in exports, investments, and inventories [3] Earnings Reports - GE Aerospace reported Q4 earnings of $1.57 per share, beating estimates of $1.44, with revenues of $11.87 billion, surpassing expectations by 5.38%, although shares are down -3% due to slowing revenue growth [4] - Procter & Gamble's fiscal Q2 earnings were $1.88, slightly above estimates, while revenues were $22.21 billion, falling short by -0.36% [5] - Abbott Labs met earnings estimates of $1.50 per share but fell short on revenue projections at $11.46 billion, leading to a -7.2% drop in shares [6] - Freeport-McMoRan reported earnings of 47 cents per share, exceeding the estimated 28 cents, with revenues of $5.63 billion, surpassing expectations of $5.18 billion, and shares are up slightly [7] Upcoming Earnings - Major companies such as Intel, Intuitive Surgical, and Capital One are set to release earnings after today's close, all currently holding Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) ratings [8]

Labor Market - Initial Jobless Claims came in at +200K, which is 8K below expectations and a slight increase from the previous week's revised figure of +199K [1] - The four-week average of new jobless claims is now +202K, which is -15K lower than the previous four weeks [1] Continuing Claims - Continuing Claims reached 1.85 million, down from 1.884 million reported a week ago, marking the second-lowest tally since the previous high of 1.9+ million claims [2] Economic Growth - Q3 GDP was revised up by 10 basis points to +4.4%, the highest single quarter since +4.7% in Q3 of 2023, driven by increases in exports, investments, and inventories [3] Earnings Reports - GE Aerospace reported Q4 earnings of $1.57 per share, beating estimates of $1.44, with revenues of $11.87 billion, a +5.38% surprise, but shares are down -3% due to slowing revenue growth [4] - Procter & Gamble's fiscal Q2 earnings were $1.88, slightly above estimates, while revenues were $22.21 billion, falling short by -0.36% [5] - Abbott Labs met earnings estimates at $1.50 per share but fell short of revenue projections at $11.46 billion, leading to a -7.2% drop in shares [6] - Freeport-McMoRan reported earnings of 47 cents per share, exceeding the estimated 28 cents, with revenues of $5.63 billion, surpassing expectations of $5.18 billion [7] Upcoming Earnings - Major companies such as Intel, Intuitive Surgical, and Capital One are set to release earnings after today's close, all currently holding Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) ratings [8]

Core Insights - Sun Peak Metals Corp. has reported initial results from its geological mapping and sampling program at the Halahila copper-gold-silver VMS project in Saudi Arabia, indicating a mineralized zone exceeding 650 meters in strike length and widths of up to 30 meters, with promising gold and silver values [1] Group 1: Project Highlights - The Halahila project is 100% owned by Sun Peak Metals Corp. [1] - Systematic geological mapping and rock chip sampling have outlined a mineralized zone with a strike length of over 650 meters [1] - The mineralized zone has widths reaching up to 30 meters, showcasing encouraging values for gold and silver [1]

Core Viewpoint - Kingfisher Metals Corp. has announced the final assay results from its 2025 drilling program at the HWY 37 Project, which is located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia [1]. Company Summary - Kingfisher Metals Corp. operates in the mining sector, focusing on exploration and development projects [1]. - The HWY 37 Project covers an area of 933 square kilometers [1]. Industry Context - The HWY 37 Project is situated within the Golden Triangle, a region known for its rich mineral deposits and mining activities [1].

Core Insights - Sherritt International Corporation reported a significant increase in dividends from Energas S.A., totaling $26 million for 2025, which is double the amount received in 2024 [1][2]. Production Results - In Q4 2025, Sherritt produced 7,632 tonnes of finished nickel and 849 tonnes of finished cobalt, with total production for the year being 25,240 tonnes of nickel and 2,729 tonnes of cobalt, both at the lower end of revised guidance [3][4]. - Electricity production for the year was 799 GWh, slightly below the guidance range of 800 to 850 GWh [3][5]. Operational Challenges - The Moa Joint Venture faced operational challenges in 2025, including lower-than-expected production of mixed sulphides due to various factors such as below-plan mined ore volumes and national grid power outages [4][7]. - An operational review is underway to stabilize the Moa site and restore production levels, with plans to optimize the expansion program once stability is achieved [8][9]. Financial Performance - The full year 2025 net direct cash cost (NDCC) for nickel was within the guidance range of US$5.75 to US$6.25 per pound, benefiting from higher cobalt by-product credits [4]. - The unit operating cost for electricity was at the lower end of the guidance range of US$23.00 to US$24.50 per MWh [5]. Future Outlook - Sherritt plans to provide further operational updates and 2026 guidance on production, costs, and capital spending on February 10, 2026 [9]. - The company is committed to improving operational performance amid geopolitical uncertainties and aims to replicate the success seen in its Power division across other segments [2][10].

Core Insights - The iShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF (SLVP) and abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) have distinct structures, volatility, and recent performance, with SLVP focusing on mining companies and PPLT tracking platinum prices directly [2][3] Cost & Size Comparison - SLVP has a lower expense ratio of 0.39% compared to PPLT's 0.60%, but PPLT has a significantly larger asset base of $2.86 billion versus SLVP's $843.6 million [4][5] Performance & Risk Metrics - Over the past five years, SLVP experienced a maximum drawdown of -55.56%, while PPLT had a drawdown of -35.73%. The growth of $1,000 over five years was $2,222 for SLVP and $2,133 for PPLT [6] Fund Structure and Holdings - PPLT is designed to closely track platinum prices, avoiding equity risks, and has over $2 billion in assets with a singular focus on platinum market performance [7] - SLVP invests in approximately 30 mining companies, including Hecla Mining, Indust Penoles, and Fresnillo Plc, providing diversification but also introducing company-specific risks [8] Recent Performance Context - Both ETFs have significantly outperformed the market in the past year, with SLVP returning over 200% and PPLT around 135%, driven by rising precious metal prices amid inflation and economic uncertainty [10]