Hecla Mining Co., of Coeur d’Alene, reported this morning fourth-quarter net income of $16.8 million, or 5 cents a diluted share, up from a net loss of $3 million, or 1 cent a share, in the year-earlier period.

For all of 2014, Hecla posted income of $17.3 million, or 5 cents a share, up from a loss of $25.7 million, or 8 cents a share, in 2013.

The improved results came on record sales of $500.8 million, up 31 percent from $382.6 million the previous year.

Hecla said it set another company record by producing 34.5 million ounces of silver, a 24 percent increase compared with the previous year.

Phillips S. Baker, Hecla’s president and CEO, said in a press release that while production increased, the company had lower per-ounce costs for both silver and gold, as well as spending less on exploration.

“Hecla was able to end the year with roughly the same amount of cash we started with, while continuing to invest in capital projects designed to extend mine life and increase production,” he said.