GFI vs. PAAS: Gold Fields vs. Pan American Silver Stock Comparison
How do Gold Fields (GFI) and Pan American Silver (PAAS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Gold Fields (GFI) and Pan American Silver (PAAS) both belong to the Metals & Mining industry, though GFI is classified under Gold while PAAS falls under Silver.
Pan American Silver (PAAS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Gold Fields (GFI) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Gold Fields Ltd. Sponsored ADR | Pan American Silver Corp. |
| Country/Region | South Africa | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Metals & Mining | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Gold | Silver |
| Market Capitalization | 34.65 billion USD | 16.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | June 12, 1995 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 9.54% | 22.43% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 51.07% | 47.84% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 38.08% | 11.59% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.41% | 58.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.64 | 0.72 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.22% | -57.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.78M | 4.31M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.31 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.12 | 0.45 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Gold Fields (GFI) at 58.68% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 22.39% also sits in the top quartile.
GFI
Materials industry group
58.68%
- GFI
- 58.68%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
PAAS
Materials industry group
22.39%
- Max
- 52.88%
- PAAS
- 22.39%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Gold Fields (GFI) at 38.66% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 35.16% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
GFI
Materials industry group
38.66%
- GFI
- 38.66%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
PAAS
Materials industry group
35.16%
- Max
- 38.66%
- PAAS
- 35.16%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 55.00% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 34.29% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
GFI
Materials industry group
55.00%
- Max
- 66.70%
- GFI
- 55.00%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
PAAS
Materials industry group
34.29%
- Max
- 66.70%
- PAAS
- 34.29%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 58.68% | 22.39% |
| ROA (TTM) | 28.52% | 11.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 38.66% | 35.16% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 55.00% | 34.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 57.77% | 55.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Gold Fields (GFI) at 68.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 28.38% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GFI.
EPS Growth
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 725.81% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Gold Fields (GFI) at 185.51% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 68.24% | 28.38% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.86% | 34.28% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 185.51% | 725.81% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 71.58% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 1.87 and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 2.72 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
GFI
Materials industry group
1.87
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- GFI
- 1.87
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
PAAS
Materials industry group
2.72
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- PAAS
- 2.72
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Gold Fields (GFI) at 0.29 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
GFI
Materials industry group
0.29
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- GFI
- 0.29
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
PAAS
Materials industry group
0.11
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- PAAS
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.87 | 2.72 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.29 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.06 | -0.39 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 1.69% pays an industry-typical yield; Gold Fields (GFI) at 5.65% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
GFI
Materials industry group
5.65%
- GFI
- 5.65%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PAAS
Materials industry group
1.69%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- PAAS
- 1.69%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 31.81% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 18.00% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
GFI
Materials industry group
31.81%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- GFI
- 31.81%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PAAS
Materials industry group
18.00%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- PAAS
- 18.00%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.65% | 1.69% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.81% | 18.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Gold Fields (GFI) at 8.03 and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 10.83 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
GFI
Materials industry group
8.03
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- GFI
- 8.03
- Min
- 3.93
PAAS
Materials industry group
10.83
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- PAAS
- 10.83
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Gold Fields (GFI) at 3.05 and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 3.80 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
GFI
Materials industry group
3.05
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- GFI
- 3.05
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
PAAS
Materials industry group
3.80
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- PAAS
- 3.80
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 2.29 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Gold Fields (GFI) at 7.78 prices above its benchmark range — GFI looks rich relative to book.
GFI
Materials industry group
7.78
- GFI
- 7.78
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
PAAS
Materials industry group
2.29
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- PAAS
- 2.29
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GFI | PAAS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.03 | 10.83 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.05 | 3.80 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.78 | 2.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 12.05% | 8.01% |