Why Hecla

Hecla Mining Company stands apart from other mining companies because we operate two of the largest silver mines in the world that contain the highest-grade silver equivalent ounces and we are the oldest U.S. precious metals mining company.

Our business is to create value for our shareholders by discovering, acquiring, developing, producing, and marketing mineral resources at a profit. Our mission is to create long-term value for shareholders from mining silver, gold and associated base metals.

Corporate Profile

  • Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest primary silver producer in the United States and the third largest in the world.
  • We expect silver production to increase by 15-20% in 2023, and 30% by 2026, making Hecla one of the world’s fastest growing silver companies.
  • Hela is positioned to become Canada’s largest primary silver producer. We hold the largest primary silver reserves in Canada, have increased silver reserves 45% since the acquisition of Alexco Resource Corp., and there is significant exploration potential in the Keno Hill Silver District in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
  • Hecla 100% owns and operates mines in Alaska (Greens Creek), Idaho (Lucky Friday), Quebec, Canada (Casa Berardi), and Yukon Territory, Canada (Keno Hill).
  • Our silver assets continue to generate positive margins after covering all-in sustaining costs in low-price environments.
  • In 2023, Hecla delivered silver reserves of 238 million ounces, produced 14.3 million ounces of silver, and recorded total sales of $720.2 million, all are the second highest in Company history.
  • Hecla developed and patented the Underhand Closed Bench (UCB) mining method which has improved safety and increased productivity. We pioneered UCB at the Lucky Friday Mine. Learn more about this innovative mining method.

Silver Focused Portfolio

Hecla dominates U.S. silver production. We produce approximately 45% of all silver in the U.S., and we also mine gold, lead, and zinc. Hecla owns the Keno Hill mine which has the largest primary silver reserves in Canada. We have exploration properties in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.

Diverse Portfolio with Margin Generation

Hecla 2023 Revenues Silver Lead Gold Zinc pie chart

Hecla by the Numbers 2023

4

Operating Mines

3

North American Countries

238

million ounces of silver reserves–second highest in Company history

14.3

million ounces of silver produced
largest U.S. producer—approximately 45% of all U.S. silver

151,259

ounces of gold produced

40.3

tons of lead produced

60.6

tons of zinc produced

1,780

employees 

675

contractors 

$720.2

million of revenues
second highest in Company history

*Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure. A reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) to Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) can be found on the Legal/Privacy page.

Seven attributes that differentiate us from our peers

There are seven characteristics that further differentiate us from our peers and will drive the value of the company now and into the future.

  1. We Operate in Secure Jurisdictions
    Hecla’s silver mines are located in the U.S. and Canada, which makes our production safer. We are the only company that provides exposure to silver without taking the political and currency risks of other countries. Our site locations are highly rated by the Fraser Institute’s annual survey of mineral and mining companies for investor attractiveness and a region’s policy climate.
  2. We Specialize in Silver
    Hecla owns the Keno Hill property which has the potential to become Canada’s largest silver producer. Our profits and cash flow are from silver, and our reserves and resources are dominated by silver. In 2023, we had silver reserves of 238 million, the second highest in Company history. Hecla is at the forefront of understanding and anticipating the dynamics of the silver market.
  3. We Have Top Grades
    In the U.S., our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday operations are the highest grade, lowest cost silver mines in the world with a reserve base that continues to grow. In Canada, the Keno Hill district is one of the world’s highest-grade primary silver mines.
  4. We Operate Large, Long-Lived Mines
    Greens Creek and Lucky Friday have operated for decades. Greens Creek is in its third decade and Lucky Friday has been in operation since 1942.
  5. We Offer Growth & Stability
    Hecla has a rapidly growing silver production. We expect that by 2024, the Lucky Friday mine will be a 5 million ounce per year producer which is more than double its production from 2020. Greens Creek also continues to produce consistent and strong production year after year. At the same time, operating costs are stable.
  6. We Offer Consistent Dividend Payments
    Hecla’s dividend program is unique as it is the only dividend that is linked to the silver price and is a return on the silver we produce. We have paid a base dividend since 2011 which has increased 50%. In 2023, dividends of $15.2 million, or 20% of cash flow from operations were paid to shareholders.
  7. We Deliver Proven Results
    Hecla has been in business for more than 130 years, with more than 50 years on the New York Stock Exchange. Hecla has the brand value for when investors want exposure to silver.

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is made up of five men and two women that bring diverse expertise, skills, professional experience, and industry background.

The Board oversees the Company’s business strategy with the goal of delivering long-term value to shareholders and stakeholders and monitors and assesses risk exposure.

Strong commitment to Sustainability & ESG

Sustainability is integrated into Hecla’s business strategy, starting at the highest levels of leadership and planning. Our 2023 Sustainability Report details how our executive team and Board of Directors identify and manage environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues as well as how risks and opportunities factor into long-term planning.

In 2023, for the third year, Hecla prepared the Sustainability Report with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. For the sixth year, we benchmarked our performance against the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Metals and Mining standards. 2023 is also the fourth year that we are reporting against relevant aspects of the Task-Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. (TCFD).

Annual Report

Learn more about Hecla in our Annual Report.

Investor Relations Inquires

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This website contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws, including Canadian securities laws. When a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition and often contain words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “project,” “target,” “indicative,” “preliminary,” “potential” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this presentation may include, without limitation: (i) the Company will increase cash flow generation over the rest of the year; (ii) expected increase of the Company’s silver production to 15 million ounces by 2023;  (iii) expected increase in Lucky Friday’s silver production to 5 million ounces by 2023; (iv) the new mining method being tested at Lucky Friday could improve safety and productivity at the mine beyond the 5 million ounces expected by 2023 due to grade; (v) Greens Creek estimates of full-year 2021 silver and gold production reaffirmed at 9.5 -10.2 million and 40-43 thousand, respectively, estimated 2021 cost of sales updated to $213 million, estimated cash costs, after by-product credits, and AISC, after by-product credits, each per silver ounce updated to $1.50 – $2.25 and $6.50 – $7.25, respectively;  (vi) ability of business improvement activities at Casa Berardi to reduce costs and increase cash flow over the next two years; (vii) expectation of the Company to process 22,000 ore tons through the Midas mill and roughly 12,000 tons through a third-party roasting facility, and an additional 10,000 tons for processing at a third-party autoclave facility in the second half of the year with production in the range of 17,000 to 19,000 ounces of gold at the Nevada operations; and (viii) Company-wide estimates of future production, sales, costs of sales, cash costs, after by-product credits, AISC, after by-product credits, as well as estimated spending on capital, exploration and pre-development for 2021. The material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information include that the Company’s plans for development and production will proceed as expected and will not require revision as a result of risks or uncertainties, whether known, unknown or unanticipated, to which the Company’s operations are subject.

.

Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, which could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements. Such assumptions, include, but are not limited to: (i) there being no significant change to current geotechnical, metallurgical, hydrological and other physical conditions; (ii) permitting, development, operations and expansion of the Company’s projects being consistent with current expectations and mine plans; (iii) political/regulatory developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; (iv) the exchange rate for the USD/CAD and USD/MXN, being approximately consistent with current levels; (v) certain price assumptions for gold, silver, lead and zinc; (vi) prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (vii) the accuracy of our current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; (viii) the Company’s plans for development and production will proceed as expected and will not require revision as a result of risks or uncertainties, whether known, unknown or unanticipated; (ix) counterparties performing their obligations under hedging instruments and put option contracts; (x) sufficient workforce is available and trained to perform assigned tasks; (xi) weather patterns and rain/snowfall within normal seasonal ranges so as not to impact operations; (xii) relations with interested parties, including Native Americans, remain productive; (xiii) economic terms can be reached with third-party mill operators who have capacity to process our ore; (xiv) maintaining availability of water rights; (xv) factors do not arise that reduce available cash balances; and (xvi) there being no material increases in our current requirements to post or maintain reclamation and performance bonds or collateral related thereto.

In addition, material risks that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) gold, silver and other metals price volatility; (ii) operating risks; (iii) currency fluctuations; (iv) increased production costs and variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; (v) community relations; (vi) conflict resolution and outcome of projects or oppositions; (vii) litigation, political, regulatory, labor and environmental risks; (viii) exploration risks and results, including that mineral resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; (ix) the failure of counterparties to perform their obligations under hedging instruments; (x) we take a material impairment charge on our Nevada operations; (xi) we are unable to remain in compliance with all terms of the credit agreement in order to maintain continued access to the revolver, and (xii) we are unable to refinance the maturing senior notes.  For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K, filed on February 18, 2021, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as the Company’s other SEC filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any “forward-looking statement,” including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued “forward-looking statement” constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on “forward-looking statements” is at investors’ own risk.

Qualified Person (QP) Pursuant to Canadian National Instrument 43-101

Kurt D. Allen, MSc., CPG, Director – Exploration of Hecla Limited and Keith Blair, MSc., CPG, Chief Geologist of Hecla Limited, who serve as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101(“NI 43-101”), supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information concerning Hecla’s mineral projects.  Information regarding data verification, surveys and investigations, quality assurance program and quality control measures and a summary of analytical or testing procedures for the Greens Creek Mine are contained in a technical report  titled “Technical Report for the Greens Creek Mine” effective date December 31, 2018, and for the Lucky Friday Mine are contained in a technical report titled “Technical Report for the Lucky Friday Mine Shoshone County, Idaho, USA” effective date April 2, 2014, for Casa Berardi are contained in a technical report  titled “Technical Report on the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimate for Casa Berardi Mine, Northwestern Quebec, Canada” effective date December 31, 2018 (the “Casa Berardi Technical Report”), and for the San Sebastian Mine, Mexico, are contained in a technical report prepared for Hecla titled “Technical Report for the San Sebastian Ag-Au Property, Durango, Mexico” effective date September 8, 2015 . Also included in these four technical reports is a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant factors. Information regarding data verification, surveys and investigations, quality assurance program and quality control measures and a summary of sample, analytical or testing procedures for the Fire Creek Mine are contained in a technical report prepared for Klondex Mines, dated March 31, 2018; the Hollister Mine dated May 31, 2017, amended August 9, 2017; and the Midas Mine dated August 31, 2014, amended April 2, 2015. Copies of these technical reports are available under Hecla’s and Klondex’s profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.  Mr. Allen and Mr. Blair reviewed and verified information regarding drill sampling, data verification of all digitally collected data, drill surveys and specific gravity determinations relating to all the mines. The review encompassed quality assurance programs and quality control measures including analytical or testing practice, chain-of-custody procedures, sample storage procedures and included independent sample collection and analysis. This review found the information and procedures meet industry standards and are adequate for Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimation and mine planning purposes.

Mr. Allen and Mr. Blair reviewed and verified information regarding drill sampling, data verification of all digitally collected data, drill surveys and specific gravity determinations relating to the Casa Berardi Mine. The review encompassed quality assurance programs and quality control measures including analytical or testing practice, chain-of-custody procedures, sample storage procedures and included independent sample collection and analysis. This review found the information and procedures meet industry standards and are adequate for Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimation and mine planning purposes.