Rare-earth stocks are grabbing headlines lately, as China tightens its grip on exports in the midst of the ongoing trade war with the United States. With the spotlight on critical minerals, U.S. policymakers are prioritizing mining, production, and processing to bolster domestic manufacturing. Three stocks to pay close attention to in 2026 are MP Materials (NYSE: MP), The Metals Company (NASDAQ: TMC), and USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR). Here's what investors need to know about investing in these up-and-com ...

Core Viewpoint - The Metals Company (TMC) experienced a remarkable stock increase of 450.9% in 2025, driven by heightened interest in critical metals and deep-sea mining [1]. Group 1: Government Influence - The return of President Trump to the Oval Office led to speculation about increased domestic production of critical minerals, which was confirmed by executive orders aimed at advancing the deep-sea mining industry [3]. - Following the announcement of these executive orders, TMC's shares surged nearly 45% on the day of the announcement [4]. - The U.S. government's efforts to reduce regulatory barriers for deep-sea mining operations have been beneficial for TMC, which has faced regulatory uncertainty in the past [8]. Group 2: Strategic Investments - Korea Zinc's investment of $85.2 million for 19.6 million shares of TMC, along with their interest in collaboration for processing and manufacturing in the U.S., further fueled investor interest [5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly China's export limits on critical minerals, positioned TMC as a strategic investment opportunity for U.S. investors looking to secure domestic supply [6]. - TMC plans to produce not only copper but also cobalt, manganese, and nickel from polymetallic nodules, enhancing its market appeal [6]. Group 4: Recent Performance - As of early 2026, TMC's shares have increased by 25.9%, largely due to new regulations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that facilitate deep-sea mineral exploration and recovery [8].

We recently published 10 Big Names Stumbling Hard. TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC) was one of the worst performers on Monday. TMC snapped a three-day winning streak on Monday, shedding 17.69 percent to close at $7.77 apiece as investors resorted to profit-taking while waiting for developments in relation to its deep-sea mining application with the United States for its planned exploration of the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ). This followed TMC the metals company Inc.’s (NASDAQ:TMC) submission w ...

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest now [1][13] - The energy demands of AI technologies are highlighted, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities, leading to concerns about power grid strain and rising electricity prices [2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is presented as a critical player in the AI energy sector, owning essential energy infrastructure assets that are poised to benefit from the increasing energy demands of AI [3][7] - This company is described as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, collecting fees from energy exports and positioned to capitalize on the onshoring trend driven by tariffs [5][6] Financial Position - The company is noted for being debt-free and holding a significant cash reserve, amounting to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, which provides a strong financial foundation [8] - It also has a substantial equity stake in another AI-related venture, offering investors indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities without the associated premium [9] Market Trends - The article discusses the broader trends of AI, energy, tariffs, and onshoring, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these sectors and the company's strategic positioning within them [6][14] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is mentioned, indicating a continuous stream of innovation and advancements that will drive future growth [12] Valuation and Potential Returns - The company is described as undervalued, trading at less than seven times earnings, which is considered attractive given its ties to the AI and energy sectors [10] - There is a projection of potential returns exceeding 100% within 12 to 24 months, suggesting a significant upside for investors [15][19]

Core Insights - The Metals Company (TMC) is positioned to potentially extract polymetallic nodules from the Pacific Ocean, which contain critical metals for clean energy and electric vehicle batteries [1][2] - Recent regulatory changes by NOAA may accelerate TMC's path to commercialization by allowing a consolidated application for exploration and commercial recovery permits [3][4] Company Overview - TMC has a market capitalization of $3.9 billion and its stock price increased by 13.46% to $9.44 [3] - The company currently generates no revenue but estimates the in-place value of its nodules at approximately $23.6 billion [6] - TMC is the first company to apply for a consolidated permit under NOAA's new regulations, which could shorten the timeline for commercial operations [6] Regulatory Environment - NOAA's new rule allows applicants to submit a single application for both exploration and commercial recovery, streamlining the permitting process [4] - This regulatory clarity may enhance TMC's prospects for commercialization, which had previously been uncertain due to a lack of approvals [5] Market Potential - The potential upside for TMC's stock could be significant if the company successfully capitalizes on the value of its polymetallic nodules [6] - Shares priced below $10 may represent an attractive entry point for long-term investors, despite existing execution risks [6]

Group 1 - TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC) experienced a significant stock increase of 13.46%, closing at $9.44, following its application for exploration approval in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) [1][2] - The company aims to secure an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit for polymetallic nodules, covering an area of approximately 65,000 square kilometers, which is an expansion from a previous application of 25,000 square kilometers in April 2025 [2] - TMC's Chairman and CEO, Gerard Barron, highlighted that the new application is the result of over a decade of scientific and engineering work, estimating over 800 million tonnes of nodules containing high-grade nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese, with metal grades of approximately 3.2% nickel equivalent and 7% copper equivalent [3][4]

Core Insights - TMC the Metals Company Inc. is a key player in the deep-sea mining industry, focusing on extracting essential metals like manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper, which are critical for U.S. supply security [1][5] - An analyst from National Bank has set a price target of $11.75 for TMC, indicating a potential increase of approximately 25.6% from its current stock price [2][5] - TMC's projects have a combined after-tax net present value (NPV) of $23.6 billion, significantly higher than its market capitalization of approximately $3.92 billion, suggesting a bullish outlook for the company [3][5] Market Performance - TMC's current stock price is $9.50, reflecting a 14.12% increase from a previous price of $9.36, with a trading volume of 19.13 million shares indicating strong investor interest [2][4] - The stock has fluctuated between $8.51 and $9.67 recently, with a 52-week high of $11.35 and a low of $1.42, showcasing its volatility in the market [3]

Group 1 - The article promotes the investment group "Out Fox The Street," which focuses on identifying undervalued stocks mispriced by the market for potential investment opportunities starting in 2026 [1][2] - Mark Holder, a CPA with 30 years of investing experience, leads the group and provides stock picks, deep research, and portfolio management strategies [2] - The group offers features such as model portfolios, stock picks with identifiable catalysts, daily updates, real-time alerts, and community chat for direct interaction with Mark [2] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research or consulting a financial advisor before making investment decisions [4] - It clarifies that past performance is not indicative of future results and that no specific investment recommendations are provided [5]

Group 1 - Sanhua Intelligent Control (02050) saw a decline of over 3.4% after announcing a share reduction plan involving the actual controller and several directors, with a total of up to approximately 10.2 million A-shares to be sold between February 24, 2026, and May 23, 2026 [1] - Tuo Yun Biotechnology (01332) experienced a significant drop of over 60%, nearly erasing gains since October 2022, following stock movements involving major shareholders [1] - Zhongwei New Materials (02579) increased by over 5% as the company announced securing 5-6 billion wet tons of nickel ore resources and establishing four nickel raw material industrial bases in Indonesia [1] Group 2 - InnoCare Pharma (03696) rose over 6%, reaching a new high of 62.9 HKD, after receiving FDA approval for its oral NLRP3 inhibitor ISM8969 for Parkinson's disease treatment [2] - Solar stocks surged, with Kaisa New Energy (01108) up 17.85% and other companies like Fuyao Glass (06865) and Xinyi Solar (00968) also showing significant gains, driven by a report indicating a new phase in commercial space deployment [2] - Jiangnan Buyi (03306) fell nearly 7% after announcing a placement of 14.535 million shares at a discount to the market price [2] Group 3 - Lithium stocks rose, with Ganfeng Lithium (01772) up 5.22% and Tianqi Lithium (09696) up 2.88%, following a report of a significant increase in lithium carbonate contract prices [3] - Rongchang Bio (09995) increased nearly 2% after UBS expressed a positive outlook on its collaboration with AbbVie, which includes substantial milestone payments [4] - DCH Holdings (00179) fell nearly 7% as it reported a slight decline in revenue for the nine months ending December 31, 2025 [4] Group 4 - Gold stocks rebounded, with Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining (06693) up 6.99% and others also showing gains, as spot gold prices reached a new high of over $4,960 per ounce [4] - Bitgo Holdings (BTGO.US) debuted on the US stock market, rising 2.72% as a leading cryptocurrency custody provider [5] - Rare earth stocks surged, with USA Rare Earth (USAR.US) up 17.49% after announcing partnerships to advance its Round Top project [5] Group 5 - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index opened up 1.6%, with major Chinese stocks like Li Auto (LI.US) and Alibaba (BABA.US) showing gains, supported by comments from the People's Bank of China regarding potential monetary easing [6] - Abbott (ABT.US) fell 10.04% after reporting lower-than-expected sales for Q4 2025, despite a year-over-year increase in adjusted EPS [7] - Alibaba (BABA.US) rose 5.05% as it plans to list its semiconductor division, benefiting from investor interest in competing with Nvidia [7]

Key Points TMC has filed the first-ever NOAA consolidated application to explore the seabed for minerals. TMC has received prior unconsolidated approvals, and recovered 3,000 tons of minerals from the ocean. 10 stocks we like better than TMC The Metals Company › TMC the metals company (NASDAQ: TMC) -- that's not a description, that's its actual name -- stock surged 13.7% through 11:40 A.M. ET Thursday, and it's not hard to figure out why. This morning, TMC subsidiary TMC USA filed the country's fi ...