Polymet Mining (NYSE:PLM) and Avino Silver & Gold Mines (NYSE:ASM) Critical Contrast

Avino Silver & Gold Mines (NYSE:ASM) and Polymet Mining (NYSE:PLM) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Avino Silver & Gold Mines and Polymet Mining’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Avino Silver & Gold Mines	6.57%	12.13%	10.16%
Polymet Mining	N/A	N/A	N/A

Institutional and Insider Ownership

3.1% of Avino Silver & Gold Mines shares are held by institutional investors. 4.3% of Avino Silver & Gold Mines shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Avino Silver & Gold Mines and Polymet Mining”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Avino Silver & Gold Mines	$43.89 million	3.68	$540,000.00	$0.02	57.53
Polymet Mining	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Avino Silver & Gold Mines has higher revenue and earnings than Polymet Mining.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Avino Silver & Gold Mines and Polymet Mining, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Avino Silver & Gold Mines	0	0	3	0	3.00
Polymet Mining	0	0	0	0	0.00

Avino Silver & Gold Mines presently has a consensus target price of $1.93, suggesting a potential upside of 68.12%. Given Avino Silver & Gold Mines’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Avino Silver & Gold Mines is more favorable than Polymet Mining.

Summary

Avino Silver & Gold Mines beats Polymet Mining on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Avino Silver & Gold Mines

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and advancement of mineral properties in Canada. It primarily explores for silver, gold, and copper deposits. The company owns interests in 42 mineral claims and four leased mineral claims, including Avino mine area property comprising four exploration concessions covering 154.4 hectares, 24 exploitation concessions covering 1,284.7 hectares, and one leased exploitation concession covering 98.83 hectares; Gomez Palacio property consists of nine exploration concessions covering 2,549 hectares; and Unification La Platosa properties, which include three leased concessions located in the state of Durango, Mexico. It also owns 100% interests in the Minto and Olympic-Kelvin properties located in British Columbia, Canada; and 14 quartz leases in Eagle property located in the Mayo Mining Division of Yukon, Canada. The company was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

About Polymet Mining

PolyMet Mining Corp., through its subsidiary, Poly Met Mining, Inc., engages in the exploration and development of natural resource properties. Its primary mineral property is the NorthMet project, a polymetallic project that hosts copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, and platinum group metal mineralization covering an area of approximately 4,300 acres located in northeastern Minnesota, the United States. The company was formerly known as Fleck Resources Ltd. and changed its name to PolyMet Mining Corp. in June 1998. PolyMet Mining Corp. was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota.