Hecla Mining's Shares Decline Amid Broader Market Weakness
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy HL?
Source: Benzinga
Hecla Mining Co's shares fell by 5.02% today, crossing below the 5-day SMA, reflecting a challenging trading environment.
Despite the recent positive news regarding Hecla's strategic investments in silver and the cash generated from the sale of its Casa Berardi gold mine, the stock's decline is attributed to broad market weakness, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.83% and the S&P 500 down 0.39%. This broader market trend has overshadowed the company's efforts to enhance its financial flexibility and increase silver exploration spending.
The implications of this price movement suggest that while Hecla Mining is taking steps to strengthen its position in the silver market, external market pressures are currently impacting investor sentiment. The company's future performance will depend on its ability to navigate these challenges and capitalize on its strategic initiatives.
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Analyst Views on HL
Wall Street analysts forecast HL stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 17.220
Low
16.00
Averages
23.93
High
36.50
Current: 17.220
Low
16.00
Averages
23.93
High
36.50
About HL
Hecla Mining Company is a silver producer in the United States and Canada. The Company discovers, acquires and develops mines and other mineral interests and produces and markets concentrates containing silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper; carbon material containing silver and gold, and unrefined dore containing silver and gold. The Company's segments include Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Keno Hill and Casa Berardi. The Greens Creek operation is located on Admiralty Island, near Juneau, Alaska. The Greens Creek ore body contains silver, zinc, gold and lead. The Lucky Friday mine is a deep underground silver, lead, and zinc mine located in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. The Casa Berardi mine is an underground/open-pit gold mine located in western Quebec. It owns 100% of the Keno Hill Silver Project, which is located within the Keno Hill Silver District in Canada’s Yukon Territory. The Company also owns a number of exploration and pre-development projects.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Significant Demand Changes: According to the IMF, investors held 2.8% of their assets in gold in 2025, double the figure from a decade ago, while investment demand for gold increased by nearly 990 tonnes compared to 2024, indicating strong long-term demand despite short-term price volatility.
- Stable Industrial Demand: Industrial demand for silver accounts for 59% of total demand and remained stable in 2025 compared to 2024, with expectations that increased usage in new data centers will further drive silver demand, highlighting its importance in emerging technologies.
- Central Bank Buying Potential: Although central bank demand for gold declined in 2025, this may align with banks reaching their target holdings due to price increases; any significant drop in gold prices could trigger increased buying from central banks, reflecting ongoing concerns over U.S. debt levels and geopolitical tensions.
See More
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- Investment Demand Growth: According to the World Gold Council, investment demand for gold increased by nearly 990 tonnes in 2025 compared to 2024, while silver saw an increase of 13.5 million ounces, indicating that despite short-term price volatility, long-term demand remains robust, particularly supported by central banks and industrial sectors.
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- Market Reaction: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran caused a spike in global oil prices, putting pressure on other supply chains and prompting indiscriminate selling across asset classes, with silver and gold being utilized as 'cash stations' during this turmoil.
- Potential for Rebound: Despite short-term pressures on silver prices, analysts believe that the exit of 'weak hands' from the market may lead to a rebound, with KKM's Kilburg projecting prices could rise to $90 to $100 per ounce if U.S.-Iran relations improve.
- Growing Industrial Demand: Despite market fluctuations, the demand for silver in industrial applications continues to grow, while its supply remains relatively scarce; Boockvar noted that the difficulty in mining silver could drive prices higher in the future.
See More
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- Market Correlation: The rise in silver prices is closely tied to equity market performance, particularly following President Trump's comments hinting at a potential end to attacks on Iran, although this diverges from traditional investor expectations for silver and gold as safe-haven assets.
- Demand Outlook: The primary demand for silver comes from the industrial sector, with potential marginal demand driven by the growing use of silver in AI data centers, providing potential support for Hecla Mining's long-term growth.
- Strategic Shift: Hecla Mining's management plans to ramp up investment in silver assets by 2026, selling off some gold assets to focus resources, demonstrating the company's commitment to the silver market and confidence in future growth.
See More
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- Market Correlation Shift: Although silver is typically viewed as a non-correlated asset, its current price movement is linked to equity market trends, especially following President Trump's hints at potentially ending attacks on Iran, prompting caution among investors.
- Future Demand Outlook: With increasing demand for silver in AI data centers, Hecla Mining plans to ramp up investments in silver assets by 2026 while divesting some gold assets, aiming to adapt to market changes and enhance its competitive edge.
- Investment Advisory: Despite the positive stock performance of Hecla Mining, it was not included in the Motley Fool Stock Advisor's current list of top investment stocks, suggesting that investors should carefully evaluate market trends and potential risks before making purchases.
See More
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