Group 1 - The Metals Company (TMC) has experienced significant volatility in its share price, with a notable surge following an $85.2 million investment from Korea Zinc and a positive compliance confirmation from NOAA [1][2] - TMC reported a second-quarter net loss of $74.3 million, leading to a decline of over 35% in share prices from late July highs [2] - TMC is positioned in a market with a $20 trillion opportunity in seabed mining, specifically targeting critical minerals essential for the green energy transition [4][5] Group 2 - The company holds one of the largest undeveloped sources of critical minerals, specifically nodules located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean [4] - China currently dominates the supply and processing of critical metals, highlighting the urgency for the U.S. to achieve industrial independence [5] - TMC needs to secure commercial rights and permits to begin mining operations, with production expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2027 [6] Group 3 - TMC currently has approximately $115.8 million in cash but is not generating revenue, indicating a reliance on its cash reserves until commercial operations commence [6] - The investment landscape for TMC may be speculative, with potential volatility in the near term, suggesting that alternative investments like clean energy ETFs may be less risky [7][8]