We recently published a list of 10 Best Junior Silver Mining Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) stands against other best junior silver mining stocks to buy according to analysts.
Silver not only plays a key role in the global industry, it is also considered an investment asset. Although gold is considered a top alternative investment, silver is much more significant due to its multifaceted usage. It is used for various purposes, including but not limited to solar panels, and electric vehicles. Silver’s position has strengthened even more in 2025 due to elevated industrial demand, economic uncertainty, and changes in monetary policies.
During the previous year, silver saw a steady increase in its price, going above $30 per ounce for the first time since 2011. Analysts are closely following the key resistance zones that could trigger breakouts looking at $37 and even $40 per ounce in bullish cases, according to Dukascopy. This increase is driven by multiple macroeconomic factors, including inflation, geopolitical instability, and a global financial easing cycle, making silver an attractive asset to hold. With a weakening U.S. dollar and falling interest rates, investors’ interest in non-yielding assets like silver has increased.
Furthermore, silver’s uses in the industry have multiplied, causing its demand to increase. It is projected that silver will reach a record high in 2025, as per the Silver Institute, with a demand of over 700 million ounces by the industry. A major portion of the demand can be attributed to solar panel production, where silver’s high conductivity grants it a unique place in photovoltaic cells. Moreover, the expansion of electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, as well as consumer electronics further solidified the demand for silver.
On the other hand, supply-related concerns are a growing issue. Consecutively, for the fifth year, the silver market is expected to be in deficit despite an expected 2% increase in production, as reported in Global Newswire. Top producers and companies are looking to meet the increasing demand. Further complications arise from worldwide trade tensions. With a new government in the U.S. and its aggressive tariff policies, fears of a new trade war loom. Although this creates risks, it also presents opportunities to those who understand the market dynamics of silver.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 Best Junior Silver Mining Stocks to Buy According to Analysts, we selected top junior mining companies with significant exposure to silver exploration and production. We prioritized companies with strong market capitalizations and evaluated hedge fund sentiment to ensure investor confidence in these stocks. To assess hedge fund interest, we looked into the hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks, as of Q4 2024, with data fetched from Insider Monkey’s extensive hedge fund database, which tracks over 1,000 hedge funds. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on their upside potential.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Aerial view of a gold mine, with its winding roads and pits.
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
Average Upside Potential: 46%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27
With a robust portfolio of top-tier, long-lived mines, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest silver producer in the United States. Contributing to Hecla’s influential lead in the silver industry, its operations are anchored by its flagship Greens Creek mine in Alaska, Lucky Friday in Idaho, and Keno Hill in Canada. Hecla retains its position as a key player in the sector due to its continuous production growth and substantial silver reserves.
Driven by rising metal prices, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) achieved silver production of 16.2 million ounces, the second-highest in its history, as of the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024. The company achieved record revenues of $929.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of $337.9 million, despite missing analysts’ earnings forecasts with a basic income of $0.06 per share versus the expected $0.11.
In 2024, Greens Creek generated 8.5 million ounces of silver, positioning itself as the company’s key asset. In the fourth quarter, due to equipment difficulties, the company encountered marginal setbacks, but it is forecasted to regain equilibrium by 2025. Lucky Friday set a production record by yielding 4.9 million ounces of silver owing to its strong operational performance. However, a trend that is forecasted to persist into 2025 is higher all-in-sustaining costs.
While struggling to navigate hurdles such as ramp-up challenges, power constraints, and permitting delays, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)’s primary growth project, Keno Hill, yielded 2.8 million ounces of silver. Developing a strategy to increase throughput to 440 tons per day by 2026, the company maintains its commitment to securing sustainable output levels at the site. Simultaneously, Hecla bolstered its long-term growth potential by expanding its silver reserve to 240 million ounces.
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) made a pivotal move to terminate its silver-linked dividend, despite its strong operational performance. At Keno Hill specifically, the company plans to invest in organic growth prospects. This step is well integrated with its core focus on stakeholder engagement, innovation, and capital discipline.
The stock remains a compelling option among silver mining equities as analysts forecast a 46% upside. Hence, Hecla Mining serves as a top choice in the Ten Best Junior Silver Mining Stocks to Buy.
Overall, HL ranks 3rd on our list of best junior silver mining stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of HL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than HL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.