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Hecla Mining Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 17 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 5 lowered, 1 new, 12 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record revenue and net income: Sales were $1,423,019 thousand, up from $929,925 thousand. Net income applicable to common stockholders was $321,160 thousand, or $0.49 per diluted share, against $35,250 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA nearly doubled: Adjusted EBITDA was $670,004 thousand against $337,909 thousand in 2024, a rise of about 98%, per the company's non-GAAP reconciliation. Source
  • Lucky Friday set silver record: Lucky Friday produced 5,260,686 ounces of silver, above its 5.1 million ounce top-end guidance. Total cost of sales was $174 million, with cash cost of $8.66 and AISC of $21.98 per ounce after by-product credits. Source
  • Silver cash cost moved below zero: Silver cash cost after by-product credits was ($1.75) per ounce against $2.72 in 2024, and AISC was $11.28 against $13.06. Production costs, mainly at Lucky Friday, and higher G&A partly offset the gains. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $563 million: Cash from operations was $562,638 thousand against $218,277 thousand in 2024. Free cash flow was $310,249 thousand against $3,785 thousand, and all operations generated positive free cash flow. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 0.1x: Total debt was $275.8 million, down about 50% from a year earlier, with cash of $241.6 million. Net debt was $34.2 million, and the revolving credit facility had no draws at year end. Source
  • Casa Berardi sale to Orezone: Hecla agreed to sell the subsidiary owning Casa Berardi and Quebec exploration assets to Orezone for up to $593 million, subject to purchase price adjustments, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2026. Source

“Our balance sheet improved significantly and we are now well positioned to invest in value surfacing initiatives focused on our best-in-class project pipeline.”

Rob Krcmarov, President and Chief Executive Office

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated silver production Source202615.1 - 16.5 million ouncesKept
Greens Creek production Source2026silver 7.5 - 8.1 Moz; gold 51.0 - 55.0 KozKept
Lucky Friday production Source2026silver 4.7 - 5.2 MozKept
Keno Hill production Source2026silver 2.9 - 3.2 MozKept
Consolidated gold production Source202665.0-72.0 thousand ouncesLowered from 134.0-146.0 thousand ounces
Casa Berardi gold production Sourcefirst quarter 202614.0 - 17.0 thousand ouncesLowered from 83.0 - 91.0 thousand ounces (full year 2026)
Consolidated silver cash cost and AISC Source2026cash cost ($1.50)-($1.25) per ounce; AISC $15.00-$16.25 per ounce (both after by-product credits)Kept
Consolidated silver total cost of sales Source2026$471.0 millionKept
Greens Creek costs Source2026total cost of sales $287.0 million; cash cost ($9.00)-($8.25) per ounce; AISC $0.00-$0.50 per ounceKept
Lucky Friday costs Source2026total cost of sales $184.0 million; cash cost $10.25-$11.00 per ounce; AISC $23.50-$26.00 per ounceKept
Casa Berardi total cost of sales Source2026$49.0 millionLowered from $192.0 million
Casa Berardi cash cost and AISC per gold ounce Source2026cash cost $2,350-$2,850; AISC $2,775-$3,375 (both after by-product credits)Raised from cash cost $1,700-$1,850; AISC $2,150-$2,350
Casa Berardi first-quarter cost estimate Sourcefirst quarter 2026cash cost $2,575 per gold ounce; AISC $3,033 per gold ounce (both after by-product credits)New
Metal price assumptions Source2026gold $4,000/oz; silver $50.00/oz; zinc $1.30/lb; lead $0.90/lbKept
Canadian dollar exchange rate assumption Source20261.35 CAD/USDKept
Total capital investment, four mines and corporate Source2026$216-$238 millionLowered from $255-$279 million
Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Keno Hill and corporate capital Source2026Greens Creek $66-$71M; Lucky Friday $68-$73M; Keno Hill $61-$66M; corporate $9-$13MKept
Casa Berardi capital investment Source2026$12-$15 millionLowered from $51-$56 million
Exploration and pre-development Source2026$55 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Consolidated 2026 gold production guidance was lowered to 65.0-72.0 thousand ounces from 134.0-146.0, with Casa Berardi limited to the first quarter. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Total capital investment guidance was lowered to $216-$238 million from $255-$279 million, reflecting the planned Casa Berardi sale. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Casa Berardi total cost of sales guidance was lowered to $49.0 million from $192.0 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Casa Berardi cash cost and AISC per gold ounce guidance was revised to higher ranges than in the January release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Silver mine guidance (Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and Keno Hill) is unchanged from the January release. Source
  • New: Hecla announced the sale of the subsidiary owning the Casa Berardi Mine and Quebec exploration assets to Orezone Gold Corporation. Source
  • New: The U.S. Forest Service issued a FONSI and Decision Notice for the Polaris Exploration Project in Mineral County, Nevada. Source
  • New: Greens Creek received a FONSI and Decision Notice authorizing surface exploration operations after year end. Source

Full-year results and profit drivers

  • Record revenue and net income: Sales were $1,423,019 thousand, up from $929,925 thousand. Net income applicable to common stockholders was $321,160 thousand, or $0.49 per diluted share, against $35,250 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA nearly doubled: Adjusted EBITDA was $670,004 thousand against $337,909 thousand in 2024, a rise of about 98%, per the company's non-GAAP reconciliation. Source
  • Gross profit tripled; Keno Hill positive: Gross profit was $622,203 thousand against $198,210 thousand, with gains at all mines. Keno Hill recorded its first positive annual gross profit under Hecla ownership. Source
  • Costs and taxes shaped net income: Ramp-up and suspension costs were $29 million lower and interest expense $8 million lower; depreciation fell $23 million. Cost of sales rose $93 million on higher volumes, and the tax provision rose $127 million. Source

Mines and silver segments

  • Lucky Friday set silver record: Lucky Friday produced 5,260,686 ounces of silver, above its 5.1 million ounce top-end guidance. Total cost of sales was $174 million, with cash cost of $8.66 and AISC of $21.98 per ounce after by-product credits. Source
  • Keno Hill's first profitable year: Keno Hill had its first year of profitability and positive free cash flow under Hecla ownership, produced over 3 million ounces of silver, and completed its backfill plant, now being commissioned. Source
  • Greens Creek cash flow and costs: Greens Creek total cost of sales was $290 million for 2025, with silver cash cost of ($8.02) and AISC of ($2.36) per ounce after by-product credits. Free cash flow was $256,285 thousand. Source
  • Casa Berardi gold costs and output: Casa Berardi total cost of sales was $207 million in 2025, with gold cash cost of $1,851 and AISC of $2,029 per ounce after by-product credits. Free cash flow was $94,684 thousand. Source

“Lucky Friday achieved record production, Keno Hill reached a significant milestone, achieving its first full year of profitability under Hecla's ownership, and Greens Creek continued generating substantial cash flow.”

Rob Krcmarov, President and Chief Executive Office

Products, volumes and concentrate sales

  • Concentrate volumes flat year on year: Concentrate production and sales were largely flat in 2025. Greens Creek precious metals concentrate sales fell to 25,134 tons from 34,409 tons, while Keno Hill precious metals concentrate sales rose to 3,829 tons from 2,643. Source
  • Greens Creek shipment slipped to January: A precious metals concentrate shipment from Greens Creek was delayed into January 2026, adding to the inventory build at year end. Source

Costs, margins and by-product credits

  • Silver cash cost moved below zero: Silver cash cost after by-product credits was ($1.75) per ounce against $2.72 in 2024, and AISC was $11.28 against $13.06. Production costs, mainly at Lucky Friday, and higher G&A partly offset the gains. Source
  • Silver cost of sales rose 14%: Depreciation, depletion and amortization for silver operations rose $16 million, mainly on higher sales volumes. Consolidated silver total cost of sales was $556 million, against $488 million in 2024. Source
  • Casa Berardi gold costs rose: Casa Berardi cash cost rose to $1,851 per gold ounce from $1,762, and AISC rose to $2,029 from $1,990. Lower sustaining capital partly offset the AISC increase. Source
  • Fourth-quarter silver AISC rose: Silver AISC after by-product credits was $18.11 per ounce in the fourth quarter, against $11.01 in the third quarter. Fourth-quarter silver cash cost was ($0.23) per ounce, against ($2.03). Source

“The pending sale of Casa Berardi for up to $593 million, which is expected to close in the first quarter of this year, positions us as North America's premier silver company.”

Rob Krcmarov, President and Chief Executive Office

Metal prices and receivables

  • Realized prices lifted sales: Realized silver averaged $45.25 per ounce in 2025 against $28.58, and gold $3,490 against $2,403. Sales rose on higher realized prices and the timing of sales in a rising price environment. Source
  • Receivables rose on year-end metal value: Accounts receivable rose by nearly $143 million on the year-end metal value of concentrate receivables. Most of these funds were collected in January and February 2026. Source
  • Working capital drew on operating cash: Working capital changes were unfavorable by about $28 million against the prior year. Accounts receivable rose $138 million, with over $65 million of the increase in the fourth quarter. Source

Cash flow, capital and debt

  • Operating cash flow reached $563 million: Cash from operations was $562,638 thousand against $218,277 thousand in 2024. Free cash flow was $310,249 thousand against $3,785 thousand, and all operations generated positive free cash flow. Source
  • Capital spending rose modestly: Capital investment was $252,389 thousand, up from $214,492 thousand. Mine projects were completed or tracking to schedule at year end, and more corporate spending is planned for 2026. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 0.1x: Total debt was $275.8 million, down about 50% from a year earlier, with cash of $241.6 million. Net debt was $34.2 million, and the revolving credit facility had no draws at year end. Source
  • Quarterly dividends declared: The common dividend is $0.00375 per share, payable March 24, 2026. The Series B preferred dividend is $0.875 per share, payable April 1, 2026. Source

Strategy, permits and safety

  • Casa Berardi sale to Orezone: Hecla agreed to sell the subsidiary owning Casa Berardi and Quebec exploration assets to Orezone for up to $593 million, subject to purchase price adjustments, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Nevada exploration budget nearly tripled: The 2026 exploration and pre-development budget of $55 million covers Greens Creek, Keno Hill, Lucky Friday and Nevada. Nevada's budget is nearly tripling from its 2025 level. Source
  • Polaris exploration permit granted: The U.S. Forest Service issued a FONSI and Decision Notice for the Polaris project in Mineral County, Nevada, clearing exploration to begin in 2026. Source
  • Greens Creek surface exploration authorized: Greens Creek received a FONSI and Decision Notice authorizing surface exploration operations, reported under subsequent events after year end. Source
  • Safety rate improved 13%: Company-wide Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate was 1.69 in 2025, an improvement of 13% over the prior year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 17 February 2026

  • Casa Berardi sale closing: The Orezone sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, with purchase price adjustments possible. Source
  • Lucky Friday cooling project completion: The surface cooling project was 79% complete at year end and is tracking for completion by mid-2026. Source
  • Keno Hill backfill plant commissioning: The backfill plant construction is complete and the plant is now being commissioned. Source
  • Polaris exploration to start in 2026: Exploration at the Polaris project is cleared to commence in 2026 following the Forest Service decision. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Silver production, consolidated (ounces) Source17.0 million ounces (17,026,785 oz in 2025)
Gold production, consolidated (ounces) Source151 thousand ounces (150,509 oz in 2025)
Silver payable ounces sold Source15.2 million ounces (15,236,377 oz in 2025)
Gold payable ounces sold Source139 thousand ounces (138,709 oz in 2025)
Greens Creek silver production (ounces) Source8,724,996 oz in 2025
Lucky Friday silver production (ounces) Source5,260,686 oz in 2025
Keno Hill silver production (ounces) Source3,018,490 oz in 2025
Casa Berardi gold production (ounces)91,160 oz in 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Keno Hill is excluded from cost guidance because it has not met the company's definition of commercial production. Source
  • Financial: Accounts receivable rose by nearly $143 million because of elevated year-end precious metal prices, adding to working capital pressure. Source
  • External: The Casa Berardi sale is subject to customary purchase price adjustments and to closing in the first quarter of 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: All silver operations met 2025 production guidance, with Lucky Friday above the top of its range.
  • Ahead: Consolidated 2025 gold production exceeded the top end of gold production guidance. Source
  • On track: Capital projects planned for 2025 at the operating mines were either completed or tracking to schedule at year end. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.