North American Silver Mining Stocks Plummet 600% in One Day

Hecla Mining Company (NYSE: HL) saw its share price tumble on the New York Stock Exchange on February 12, plunging 11.86% from the previous close to $20.89. Trading volume reached 16.97 million shares, and market capitalization fell to about $13.99 billion (roughly KRW 18 trillion), wiping out nearly $1.5 billion (around KRW 2 trillion) in value in a single day.

In a late-January update, the company said it had hit the top end of its 2025 silver production guidance at 17 million ounces and outlined an aggressive production and investment plan, targeting 15.1 to 16.5 million ounces of silver output in 2026. With its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report due after the market close on February 18, analysts are forecasting earnings per share of about $0.16 and warn that the stock could see heightened volatility depending on the results.

Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining is North America’s largest primary silver producer. The mid-tier miner operates silver and gold projects at sites including Greens Creek in Alaska, the Lucky Friday mine in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene district, and the Keno Hill operations in Canada. Headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and listed on the NYSE, Hecla is considered a bellwether silver mining stock, accounting for roughly 30% of silver production in the United States and Canada.