Silver is valued both as an industrial metal and as a precious metal. It is used in jewellery, electronics, and photography. Many investors use it as a safe haven in times of economic turmoil and sometimes as a hedge against inflation. Silver mining companies are engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. These companies often mine for other metals and minerals besides silver, such as zinc, lead, copper, and gold. Silver is often a byproduct produced from mining these other metals. Some big names in the industry include Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM), Hecla Mining Co. (HL), and SSR Mining Inc. (SSRM).
Silver stocks, represented by the Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL), have outperformed the broader market over the last year. SIL has provided a total return of 44.7% over the past 12 months, more than double the Russell 1000’s total return of 18.2%, as of January 29, 2021. All statistics in the tables below are as of January 29, 2021.
Silver-miner stocks have been the subject of enormous speculation since the beginning of February 2021 and have been incredibly volatile as a result. This means that investing in them is substantially riskier than usual. The prices of the stocks below may no longer match the prices listed below due to the large swings stocks have been making. These price swings may change how the stocks rate according to value, growth, and momentum factors. Please be careful when investing in this area and be wary that the current large price swings are likely not indicative of underlying market conditions.
Here are the top 3 silver stocks with the best value, the fastest growth, and the most momentum.
Best Value Silver Stocks
These are the silver stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Because profits can be returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks, a low P/E ratio shows you’re paying less for each dollar of profit generated.
| Best Value Silver Stocks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price ($) | Market Cap ($B) | 12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio | |
| Silvercorp Metals Inc. (SVM.TO) | CA$8.25 | CA$1.5 | 25.5 |
| Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (FVI.TO) | CA$9.89 | CA$1.8 | 63.2 |
| Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS.TO) | CA$41.37 | CA$8.7 | 107.5 |
Source: YCharts
- Silvercorp Metals Inc.: Silvercorp Metals is a Canada-based mining company that acquires, explores, and develops mineral properties in China. The company produces silver, lead, and zinc metals. It also trades in the U.S. under the ticker SVM. On Jan. 21, 2021 Silvercorp acquired exploration rights to the Zhonghe Silver Project in the Henan province of China.
- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.: Fortuna Silver Mines is a Canada-based mining company focused on silver mining in Latin America. The company operates silver, lead, zinc, and gold mines. It also trades in the U.S. under the ticker FSM.
- Pan American Silver Corp.: Pan American Silver is a Canada-based mining company focused on the production of sliver, gold, zinc, lead, and copper. The company’s mining activities include exploration, extraction, processing, refining, and reclamation. It has operations in the U.S. as well as Latin America. It also trades in the U.S. under the ticker PAAS. On Jan. 19, 2021 Pan American Silver announced its 2021 guidance and preliminary 2020 production results. It said it is expecting a 35% increase in silver production in 2021 over 2020, despite the company’s “assumption that COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on operations.”
Fastest Growing Silver Stocks
These are the silver stocks with the highest year-over-year (YOY) earnings per share (EPS) growth for the most recent quarter. Rising earnings show that a company’s business is growing and is generating more money that it can reinvest or return to shareholders.
| Fastest Growing Silver Stocks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price ($) | Market Cap ($B) | EPS Growth (%) | |
| First Majestic Silver Corp. (FR.TO) | CA$23.07 | CA$5.1 | 252.9 |
| Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS.TO) | CA$41.37 | CA$8.7 | 73.6 |
| Silvercorp Metals Inc. (SVM.TO) | CA$8.25 | CA$1.5 | 29.6 |
Source: YCharts
- First Majestic Silver Corp.: First Majestic Silver is a Canada-based mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. Its primary focus is on silver production in Mexico. It also trades in the use under the ticker AG.
- Pan American Silver Corp.: See above for company description.
- Silvercorp Metals Inc.: See above for company description.
Silver Stocks with the Most Momentum
These are the silver stocks that had the highest total return over the last 12 months.
| Silver Stocks with the Most Momentum | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price ($) | Market Cap ($B) | 12-Month Trailing Total Return (%) | |
| Endeavour Silver Corp. (EXK) | 4.95 | 0.8 | 135.7 |
| Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (FVI.TO) | CA$9.89 | CA$1.8 | 92.4 |
| MAG Silver Corp. (MAG.TO) | CA$24.97 | CA$2.4 | 73.6 |
| Russell 1000 | N/A | N/A | 18.1 |
| Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) | N/A | N/A | 44.7 |
Source: YCharts
- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.: See above for company description.
- Endeavour Silver Corp.: Endeavour Silver is a Canada-based mining company focused on silver properties in Mexico. It engages in property acquisition, exploration, development, mineral extraction, processing, refining, and reclamation.
- MAG Silver Corp.: MAG Silver is a Canada-based mineral exploration and development company. The company is focused on exploring for silver, lead, and zinc within the Mexican silver belt. It also trades in the U.S. under the ticker MAG. On Jan. 14, 2021 MAG appointed Susan Mathieu to its Board of Directors, who has worked in international mining for over 25 years, including tenures at NovaGold Resources, FalconBridge, and NexGen Energy.
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