Head-To-Head Analysis: Avino Silver & Gold Mines (NYSE:ASM) versus NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NB)

Avino Silver & Gold Mines (NYSE:ASM) and NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NB) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

3.1% of Avino Silver & Gold Mines shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.0% of NioCorp Developments shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.3% of Avino Silver & Gold Mines shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 18.7% of NioCorp Developments shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Avino Silver & Gold Mines and NioCorp Developments’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Avino Silver & Gold Mines	1.23%	4.53%	3.75%
NioCorp Developments	N/A	N/A	-194.39%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Avino Silver & Gold Mines and NioCorp Developments’ top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Avino Silver & Gold Mines	$43.89 million	2.21	$540,000.00	N/A	N/A
NioCorp Developments	N/A	N/A	-$40.08 million	($1.26)	-1.88

Avino Silver & Gold Mines has higher revenue and earnings than NioCorp Developments.

Volatility & Risk

Avino Silver & Gold Mines has a beta of 2.08, indicating that its stock price is 108% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NioCorp Developments has a beta of -0.52, indicating that its stock price is 152% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Avino Silver & Gold Mines and NioCorp Developments, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Avino Silver & Gold Mines	0	0	2	0	3.00
NioCorp Developments	0	0	1	0	3.00

Avino Silver & Gold Mines currently has a consensus price target of $1.70, suggesting a potential upside of 128.07%. NioCorp Developments has a consensus price target of $12.00, suggesting a potential upside of 406.33%. Given NioCorp Developments’ higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe NioCorp Developments is more favorable than Avino Silver & Gold Mines.

Summary

Avino Silver & Gold Mines beats NioCorp Developments on 8 of the 11 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 NioCorp Developments

NioCorp Developments Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in North America. It owns and develops the Elk Creek niobium/scandium/titanium project that owns one 226.43-acre parcel of land and associated mineral rights, and an additional 40 acres of mineral rights, as well as an optioned land package that covers an area of 1,396 acres located in Johnson County, southeast Nebraska. The company was formerly known as Quantum Rare Earth Developments Corp. and changed its name to NioCorp Developments Ltd. in March 2013. NioCorp Developments Ltd. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.