You Wouldn't Believe the Drop in Hecla Mining Company's Performance Last Quarter

Mr. Market didn't approve of the second-quarter 2017 performance turned in by Hecla Mining Company (NYSE: HL). Aside from a 43% reduction in capital expenditures compared to the year-ago period, there wasn't much to get excited about.

Revenue and profits were significantly lower than during the second quarter of 2016. That also resulted in an astounding 89% decrease in operating cash flow between the comparison periods. The weak operational performance has sent shares down 10% since earnings were announced in early August.

What happened during the quarter that drove the poor performance, and will it impact the long-term fortunes of Hecla Mining stock? Luckily for shareholders, there's a relatively innocent explanation.

Source: Fool.com