The composite value of the region’s seven publicly traded companies rose 7.7% to $12.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019, marking the fourth straight quarter in which the composite has risen, according to an analysis by Spokane-based financial advising company Hart Capital Management Inc. 

As of the end of the fourth quarter in 2018, the composite value was $9.2 billion. 

The last time the composite reached $12.5 billion was at the end of the first quarter in 2018, but it then fell to $12.1 billion, $11.4 billion, and $9.2 billion in successive quarters to the end of 2018.

Hart Capital tracks the seven publicly traded companies in the Inland Northwest with its composite and Inland Northwest Index. 

Those companies are Avista Corp., Clearwater Paper Corp., Hecla Mining Co., Itron Inc., Key Tronic Corp., PotlatchDeltic Corp., and WTB Financial Corp., the holding company for Washington Trust Bank.

Five of the seven companies posted increases in fourth-quarter market capitalization, the total dollar value of outstanding shares of stock.

Hecla posted the biggest gains for the quarter, up 92.6% to $1.68 billion, which the report attributes to “favorable pricing for precious metals, reduction in the company’s debt, and the re-opening of the Lucky Friday Mine.”

Itron Inc. experienced a gain of 13.5% to $3.32 billion and WTB gained 8.5% to $981 million. PotlatchDeltic was up 5.3% to $2.91 billion, and Clearwater Paper was up 1.1% to $353 million. Avista, however, was down 0.7% to $3.21 billion, and Key Tronic saw a drop of 14.3% to $58.5 million.

The report attributes Key Tronic’s loss to tariff pressures and a “sharp increase in the demand for sheet metals.”

For the year, Itron saw the biggest gain of 77.5%, while runner-up Hecla posted a 43.6% gain. Clearwater Paper and Key Tronic both saw losses for the year overall, with decreases of 3.7% and 12.4%, respectively.

PotlatchDeltic posted a gain of 36.8% for the year, WTB saw gains of 21.6%, and Avista had gains of 13.2% for the year.

Hart Capital is an independent, research-focused investment firm that serves the Inland Northwest.

The 21-year-old company has offices in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and reports having $400 million in assets under management as of early 2019.