Hecla Mining CoHL -3.65%67 Operating Margin % is 55.33% as of Mar. 2026, which is 293% above its 10-year median of 14.07. GuruFocus rates HL with a GF Score™ of 67/100 and a GF Value™ of $9.66 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 841 Metals & Mining companies, Hecla Mining Co ranks better than 90.13% on this metric.
Hecla Mining Co (NYSE:HL) Operating Margin % Explanation
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Hecla Mining Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
Hecla Mining Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
HL vs MUX, LODE, GORO: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Other Precious Metals & Mining subindustry, Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Hecla Mining Co Operating Margin % vs Metals & Mining Industry
For the Metals & Mining industry and Basic Materials sector, Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Hecla Mining Co (HL) has a Operating Margin % of 55.33% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Hecla Mining Co and its competitors. This is 293% above median its historical median of 14.07. According to the industry distribution chart, Hecla Mining Co ranks #83 out of 841 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, placing it in the top 9.9%.
Is Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin % too high?
Hecla Mining Co's current Operating Margin % of 55.33% is 293% above median its 10-year median of 14.07. The Metals & Mining industry median Operating Margin % is 5.72. Hecla Mining Co's value of 55.33% is 867.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Hecla Mining Co ranks #83 out of 841 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Hecla Mining Co has a GF Score™ of 67/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Hecla Mining Co's Operating Margin % compare to MUX and LODE?
According to the Metals & Mining industry distribution chart, Hecla Mining Co ranks #83 out of 841 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Hecla Mining Co in the top 10% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 5.72. Hecla Mining Co's value of 55.33% is 867.3% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 14.07 vs. the industry median of 5.72, Hecla Mining Co has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Metals & Mining company?
The median Operating Margin % among Metals & Mining companies is 5.72, based on 841 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Hecla Mining Co's current Operating Margin % of 55.33% is 867.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Hecla Mining Co and its competitors. For the Metals & Mining industry, the median Operating Margin % is 5.72 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Hecla Mining Co's current Operating Margin % is 55.33%, which is 293% above median its own 10-year median of 14.07. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Hecla Mining Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Hecla Mining Co (HL) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $9.66, compared to a current price of $14.52 — trading 50.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 55.33%, which is 293% above median its 10-year median of 14.07 and 867.3% above the Metals & Mining industry median of 5.72. Hecla Mining Co's overall GF Score™ is 67/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Hecla Mining Co (HL), the current Operating Margin % is 55.33% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Hecla Mining Co (HL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Hecla Mining Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $14.52 is trading 50.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $9.66.
GuruFocus considers Hecla Mining Co to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for HL:
Operating Margin %: 55.33% (293% above median its 10-year median of 14.07)
GF Value™: $9.66 vs. price of $14.52 (50.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 867.3% above the Metals & Mining median (#83 of 841)
No single metric tells the full story. See the HL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Hecla Mining Co produces and explores silver, gold, zinc, and other metals. The operating business segments are Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Keno Hill, and Casa Berardi. It generates maximum revenue from the Greens Creek segment. Geographically, It operates in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and it derives a majority of its revenue from the United States.
67GF Score
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Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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