HECLA MINING CO., $5.90, is a buy. The company (symbol HL on New York), explores for, mines and processes silver and gold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Most of Hecla’s silver output comes from three sites: the Greens Creek mine in Alaska; the Lucky Friday project in Idaho; and the Keno Hill mine in the Yukon. It also owns the Casa Berardi gold mine in Quebec as well as four previously producing gold mines in Nevada— Fire Creek, Hollister, Midas and Aurora. Hecla reports that its silver production in the three months ended June 30, 2024, was 4.5 million ounces, up 16.3% from 3.8 million ounces a year earlier. Gold output rose 5.9%, to 37,324 ounces from 35,251. Silver (and to a lesser extent gold prices) continue to heavily influence Hecla’s share price. That’s the same for most precious-metal producers. But we think the direction of silver prices, and Hecla’s shares, is now upward. That’s in part because global demand for silver,…