Contrasting Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE) & First Quantum Minerals (OTCMKTS:FQVLF)

Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE) and First Quantum Minerals (OTCMKTS:FQVLF) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, dividends, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Coeur Mining and First Quantum Minerals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Coeur Mining	10.11%	9.96%	5.55%
First Quantum Minerals	2.78%	1.19%	0.58%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

63.0% of Coeur Mining shares are held by institutional investors. 1.6% of Coeur Mining shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Coeur Mining has a beta of 1.32, suggesting that its stock price is 32% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Quantum Minerals has a beta of 1.38, suggesting that its stock price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Coeur Mining and First Quantum Minerals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Coeur Mining	0	0	6	3	3.33
First Quantum Minerals	0	5	2	2	2.67

Coeur Mining currently has a consensus price target of $9.21, suggesting a potential upside of 1.53%. Given Coeur Mining’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Coeur Mining is more favorable than First Quantum Minerals.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Coeur Mining and First Quantum Minerals”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Coeur Mining	$1.05 billion	5.51	$58.90 million	$0.26	34.90
First Quantum Minerals	$4.80 billion	3.20	$2.00 million	$0.16	115.19

Coeur Mining has higher earnings, but lower revenue than First Quantum Minerals. Coeur Mining is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Quantum Minerals, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Coeur Mining beats First Quantum Minerals on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Coeur Mining

Coeur Mining, Inc. explores for precious metals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, and lead properties. It markets and sells its concentrates to third-party customers, smelters, under off-take agreements. The company was formerly known as Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation and changed its name to Coeur Mining, Inc. in May 2013. Coeur Mining, Inc. was incorporated in 1928 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

About First Quantum Minerals

First Quantum Minerals Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. It primarily explores for copper, nickel, pyrite, silver, gold, and zinc ores, as well as produces acid. The company has operating mines located in Zambia, Panama, Finland, Turkey, Spain, Australia, and Mauritania, as well as a development project in Zambia. It is exploring the Taca Taca copper-gold-molybdenum project in Argentina, as well as the Haquira copper deposit in Peru. The company was formerly known as First Quantum Ventures Ltd. and changed its name to First Quantum Minerals Ltd. in July 1996. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.