Hecla Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

Cash Flow from Continuing Operations $183 million, Record Free Cash Flow¹ $144 million;

Premier Silver Focus Sharpened; Organic Growth Pipeline Advancing

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) ("Hecla", or the "Company") today announced first quarter 2026 financial and operating results. "Prior quarter" refers to the fourth quarter of 2025. Prior period financial information has been revised to reflect Casa Berardi as a discontinued operation.

FIRST QUARTER 2026 HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Performance:

• Revenue: Over $411 million from continuing operations, representing a 13% increase over prior quarter and a 100% increase versus the first quarter of 2025 (both periods on a continuing operations basis, excluding Casa Berardi), reflecting the combination of significantly higher realized silver and gold prices, partly offset by 5% and 6% lower silver and gold production, respectively.
• Profitability: Net income from continuing operations of $165 million or $0.25 per share - up from $24 million or $0.04 per share in the first quarter of 2025. After a non-cash $192 million write-down related to the Casa Berardi sale, net loss attributable to common stockholders of $19 million or ($0.03) per share. Casa Berardi generated income from operations of $31 million in the first quarter prior to the sale closing on March 25.
• Record Adjusted EBITDA: $265 million from continuing operations, a 31% increase over the prior quarter and nearly three and half times the $77 million recorded in first quarter of 2025 (both periods on a continuing operations basis, excluding Casa Berardi).⁴
• Continued strong cash flow generation: $183 million cash generated from operations, and record quarterly free cash flow from continuing operations of $144 million, with all producing assets contributing.¹
• Building balance sheet strength: Cash balance of $588 million, providing strategic flexibility, benefiting from free cash flow and cash proceeds from Casa Berardi sale.
• Transition to net cash: Total debt of $266 million and cash and cash equivalents of $588 million, marking a significant strategic inflection point to net cash at quarter end.
• Subsequent to Quarter End: On April 9, 2026, the Company redeemed its remaining $263 million of 7.25% Senior Notes, leaving the Company with no long-term debt, an undrawn $225 million revolving credit facility with an additional $75 million accordion feature — the strongest balance sheet in the Company's recent history.

Operational Performance:

• Operations:
  • 3.9 million ounces of silver produced, an increase of 3% compared to prior quarter.
  • Consolidated total cost of sales of $158 million, with silver cash cost of ($3.24) per ounce and AISC of $8.17 per ounce (both after by-product credits and excluding Keno Hill).^2,3
  • Production and cost guidance reiterated.

• Individual Mine Performance:
  • Greens Creek: Produced nearly 2.2 million ounces of silver and nearly 13 thousand ounces of gold. Total cost of sales in first quarter 2026 of $82 million, with silver cash cost of ($11.94) per ounce and AISC of ($8.39) per ounce (both after by-product credits).^2,3 This represents a dramatic improvement from the first quarter of 2025, when AISC was ($0.03) per ounce, driven by better production and significantly higher gold by-product credits reflecting the rise in realized gold prices. Greens Creek achieved a record for underground backfill placement, placing nearly 164 thousand tons in the quarter -16% above the 2025 quarterly average - enhancing operational flexibility for the remainder of the year.
  • Lucky Friday: Silver production of 1.2 million ounces. Total cost of sales of $49 million, with silver cash cost of $12.07 per ounce and AISC of $23.78 per ounce (both after by-product credits).^2,3 Construction of the surface cooling project continued with the project 81% complete and tracking for completion by mid-2026.
  • Keno Hill: Achieved its fourth consecutive positive free cash flow quarter, demonstrating Keno Hill's profitability at current throughput rates and silver prices.¹ Silver production of 0.5 million ounces, impacted by Yukon Energy's reduced power supply related to extreme cold weather continuing from prior quarter and lower silver milled grade. Silver grade mined and milled expected to increase in second quarter.

Rob Krcmarov, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The first quarter demonstrates the strength of the platform we have built. The closing of the Casa Berardi sale sharpened our focus on silver and enabled us to redeem our Senior Notes in April, leaving Hecla debt-free with a $225 million undrawn revolver and the strongest balance sheet in the Company’s recent history. What further excites me is the quality of the organic growth initiatives advancing across our portfolio — from the Greens Creek pyrite concentrate circuit and potential Midas restart to our near-doubling of exploration investment in 2026. These opportunities, backed by a debt-free balance sheet and world-class operations, position Hecla to deliver compelling long-term value with best-in-class silver exposure."

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW

In the following table and throughout this release, "total cost of sales" is comprised of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization; "prior quarter" refers to the fourth quarter of 2025. All information in the table below is presented on a continuing operations basis.

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Sales of $411 million, increased 13% compared to the prior quarter, primarily reflecting higher realized precious metals prices, due largely to a rising price environment, partly offset by lower precious metals sales volumes. Payable silver sold was about 4% lower compared to the prior quarter, primarily driven by lower production at Keno Hill.

Net income from continuing operations of $165 million, or $0.25 per share compared to $113 million in the prior quarter (in each case from continuing operations, excluding Casa Berardi). The improvement was primarily related to:

• A 13% increase in revenue from continuing operations due primarily to higher realized silver, gold and lead prices.

Partly offset by:

• Lower payable silver and gold volumes sold.
• An increase in depreciation expense of $3 million due primarily to higher expense at Greens Creek, related to higher production and volumes sold.
• An increase in cost of sales of $2 million primarily related to labor costs at Lucky Friday (related to STIP payments), and contractor and fuel costs at Greens Creek.
• An increase in tax expense of $25 million primarily related to higher profitability.

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $265 million from continuing operations, 31% higher than the prior quarter (in each period, excluding Casa Berardi).⁴

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2026, were $588 million and included no draws on the revolving credit facility.

Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $183 million, up 10% over the prior quarter, primarily attributable to elevated metal prices realized for silver, gold and lead, partly offset by lower volumes of payable silver and gold ounces sold and lower realized zinc price (in each period, excluding Casa Berardi). Cash provided by operating activities was negatively impacted by a $43 million increase in accounts receivable due to elevated metal prices and timing of concentrate shipments at Greens Creek. This increase is solely tied to the increase in metal value of concentrate receivables as of March 31, 2026, with the majority of the receivables collected in April 2026.

Capital investment from continuing operations was $39 million, a decrease of $27 million compared to the prior quarter (in each period, excluding Casa Berardi). Capital investment is expected to ramp up in the second quarter with the warmer construction months and remain elevated in the third quarter as numerous projects are advanced across the portfolio in the construction season. We also continue to invest in corporate projects in 2026 geared toward improving business planning and operations initiatives.

Free cash flow from continuing operations was a record $144 million, compared to $100 million in the prior quarter, with the increase primarily due to higher cash flow from operations and lower capital investment (in each period, excluding Casa Berardi).¹

Consolidated silver production of 3.9 million ounces, nearly 3% higher than the prior quarter, driven by Greens Creek, partly offset by Lucky Friday where 10% higher mill throughput was more than offset by an 11% decline in head grade, and by Keno Hill, where production decreased 18% as mining advanced through a lower-grade zone of the Bermingham deposit and experienced mine sequencing delays at Flame and Moth deposit due to power constraints resulting from extreme cold weather. Lucky Friday and Keno Hill's milled grade is expected to increase in the second quarter, in the latter case as mine sequencing improves, high grade stopes develop, and ore stockpiles build. Keno Hill is profitable at current throughput rates and prices, with achieving 440 tons per day (“tpd”), its permitted capacity, remaining the medium-term objective. Achieving sustained production at that level requires completing key infrastructure investments and obtaining amendments to the Company’s Quartz Mining License and Water License, a multi-year process.

Gold production from Greens Creek of 13 thousand ounces was 5% higher than the prior quarter.

Silver payable ounces sold of 3.6 million ounces, 4% lower than the prior quarter, primarily due to lower payable ounces sold at Keno Hill.

Gold payable ounces sold of 12 thousand ounces, 10% higher than the prior quarter.

Concentrate volumes produced and sold were higher at Greens Creek, with Lucky Friday concentrate production up modestly with sales lower, and lower at Keno Hill compared to the prior quarter. Shipment of the silver and zinc concentrates roughly matched production at Greens Creek, with shipments of the precious metals concentrate catching up on built up inventory in the prior quarter. Concentrates sold at Lucky Friday were lower than produced volumes. At Keno Hill, the silver concentrate sold was nearly 90% of the volume produced, and precious metals concentrates sales closely matched production volumes.

Consolidated silver total cost of sales was $158 million, an increase of $8 million (5%) over the prior quarter, primarily due to $6 million higher depreciation, depletion and amortization expense.

Silver cash costs and AISC per silver ounce, each after by-product credits and excluding Keno Hill, were ($3.24) and $8.17, respectively, lower versus the prior quarter, primarily due to higher ounces produced, $13 million higher by-product credits, mostly associated with Greens Creek, and $3 million lower general and administrative expense, partly offset by $3 million higher cash costs and $1 million higher treatment charges. Decrease in AISC compared to the prior quarter was driven by the items noted above impacting cash costs as well as $16 million lower sustaining capital investment, mostly associated with Greens Creek.^2,3

PROJECT PIPELINE UPDATE

Hecla continues to advance a portfolio of organic growth initiatives that leverage existing infrastructure, established permitting pathways, and the Company's deep operating expertise. The projects highlighted below represent projected low-capital-intensity opportunities with the potential to meaningfully grow precious metal production and/or cash flows and net asset value over time, without requiring the Company to assume the exploration or development risk associated with greenfield projects.

Greens Creek Pyrite Concentrate Circuit

The Company is evaluating the feasibility and economic potential of developing a pyrite concentrate circuit at the Greens Creek mill in Alaska. If successful, the project would generate an additional marketable concentrate boosting overall silver and gold recoveries from the mill while potentially significantly reducing the mine's reclamation liability. Additional upside could come from an expansion of the mineral reserves for the underground mine through the inclusion of lower silver grade blocks and/or sulphur rich blocks in the mineral reserve and resource block model. The project would require a mill expansion, which is currently estimated to require minimal capital investment to execute. The Company expects to provide a project update in late 2026 or early 2027.

Greens Creek Tailings Reprocessing Project

The Greens Creek tailings reprocessing project represents a compelling near-term value creation opportunity within the Company's portfolio, though meaningful work remains before that value can be realized. The project is currently advancing through a multi-phase metallurgical study with a third party, with Phase 3 test work scheduled to be completed mid-2026 — a critical milestone that will inform the path forward. As of year end 2025, the Greens Creek dry-stack tailings facility held an estimated 10.4 million tons of tailings, containing an estimated 50 million ounces of silver and nearly 600 thousand ounces of gold along with several other critical minerals, with a combined estimated in-situ gross metal value of approximately $6.8 billion, before any processing or sales costs. While current results suggest the project could be relatively low in capital intensity to bring into a cash-flowing state, testing and finding a suitable processing facility remain in early stages. The project also carries the additional benefit of potentially reducing the mine's long-term reclamation liability by reprocessing all or a portion of the existing tailings.

Midas Restart Project

Hecla continues to evaluate the potential to restart the existing and permitted Midas mill in northern Nevada, a historic high-grade gold and silver operation. Midas benefits from fully permitted infrastructure that has the potential to reduce the capital required to restart the operation, and the Company is working to expand the existing high-grade gold and silver resource to the scale needed to warrant that restart. Midas is a potential hub-and-spoke operating model, where ore sources could come from multiple regional sources and fed into the 1,200 tpd mill. There is also a permitted tailings facility on site which, with some improvements, has storage capacity of approximately 15 years at nameplate capacity of the mill.

The Company has allocated $16 million of the 2026 exploration budget for the Nevada project portfolio, more than three times the investment made in 2025. The 2026 drill program at Midas is focused on following up on the success of the 2025 drill program with a heavy focus on the Sinter Offset Zone and the Pogo target. The nearby Hollister high-grade gold and silver project is within trucking distance of the Midas mill and drilling is currently scheduled to begin on this regional project late in the second quarter. The Company aims to provide regular exploration updates for the Nevada exploration projects throughout 2026.

EXPLORATION AND PRE-DEVELOPMENT

Investment and Strategy

During Q1 2026, the Company invested $4.6 million in exploration and corporate development (including $0.3 million in pre-development) activities, focused on high-impact discovery drilling at Midas in Nevada and Keno Hill in Yukon, and resource expansion programs at producing assets. Exploration activity is planned to ramp up in the second and third quarters with core drills expected to increase from the 13 currently deployed to 19.

Producing Asset Resource Definition

Underground definition drilling programs at Greens Creek, Keno Hill, and Lucky Friday continue to define and expand mineralization near resource boundaries, converting Inferred resources and identifying reserve extension opportunities.

Greens Creek

Definition drilling at Greens Creek continued to delineate and step out from existing resources using three underground drilling rigs. Assay results have been received from the East, West, SWB, and Gallagher zones. Notable intercepts include 18.2 oz/ton silver, 0.07 oz/ton gold, 5.2% zinc, and 2.9% lead over 7.5 feet in the West Zone, and 34.9 oz/ton silver, 0.14 oz/ton gold, 6.2% zinc, and 3.1% lead over 5.6 feet in the SWB Zone.

Keno Hill

At Keno Hill, one definition drilling rig continued to define and expand mineralization in the Arctic Zone at the Bermingham Mine. A drillhole into the Bermingham Vein returned 106.6 oz/ton silver, 0.7% zinc, and 1.5% lead over 2.4 feet, upgrading the local resource.

Lucky Friday

Definition drilling has recommenced on the Intermediate veins at Lucky Friday, confirming mineable grade and widths in the 80 and 90 veins. Drilling highlights include an intercept of 42.1 oz/ton silver, 2.1% zinc, and 22.6% lead over 1.9 feet in the 90 vein.

EXPLORATION PROGRAMS

Nevada Exploration

Follow-up exploration drilling of the high-grade intercepts at the Sinter Offset Vein (previously reported in February 2026 and November 2025) returned one additional narrow, high-grade gold intercept. Drillhole DMC-476 returned 0.21 oz/ton gold and 1.6 oz/ton silver over 2.3 feet including 1.13 oz/ton gold and 6.6 oz/ton silver over 0.4 feet. This hole was a down dip offset from the previously reported intercept in DMC-475 and has extended the known vertical extent of narrow, high-grade mineralization along the Sinter Offset structure to more than 500 feet. Drilling to date has defined the strike-length of this structure over 1,350 feet and drilling in Q2 2026 will continue to step out to the southeast, where the structure is open and to the northwest where the location of the offsetting fault has not been formally constrained by drilling.

Two additional holes identified narrow high-grade gold mineralization on structures parallel to the Sinter Offset Vein. DMC-472 returned 0.19 oz/ton gold over 3.9 feet including 0.38 oz/ton gold over 1.6 feet in a footwall structure and DMC-477 returned 0.25 oz/ton gold and 1.0 oz/ton silver over 0.7 feet including 0.41 oz/ton gold and 1.5 oz/ton silver over 0.4 feet in a hangingwall structure.

For further information, please contact:

Mike Parkin
Vice President - Strategy and Investor Relations

Cheryl Turner
Investor Relations Coordinator

Investor Relations
Email: hmc-info@hecla.com
Website: http://www.hecla.com