Perpetua Resources Secures $2.9 Billion Loan to Advance Mining Project
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 21 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Record Financing: Perpetua Resources has secured a $2.9 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, marking the largest loan under EXIM's 'Make More in America' initiative, highlighting a strategic investment in critical minerals by the U.S.
- Project Significance: The funding will advance the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, which will not only produce gold but also provide antimony, essential for defense applications, with the potential to meet 35% of U.S. antimony demand within the first six years of production.
- Positive Market Reaction: Shares of Perpetua Resources rose over 12% following the announcement, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's growth potential, particularly as the U.S. seeks to reduce its reliance on Chinese mineral supplies.
- Government Support Strategy: This financing is part of a broader U.S. government initiative to bolster domestic production of critical minerals, ensuring national security and economic independence, while furthering collaboration with the Department of Defense to meet antimony needs.
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Analyst Views on USAR
Wall Street analysts forecast USAR stock price to fall
5 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 23.550
Low
15.00
Averages
22.75
High
28.00
Current: 23.550
Low
15.00
Averages
22.75
High
28.00
About USAR
USA Rare Earth, Inc. is a supplier of sintered neo magnets and other rare earth metals. The Company is engaged in developing a NdFeB magnet manufacturing plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and intends to establish domestic rare earth and critical minerals supply, extraction, and processing capabilities to both supply its magnet manufacturing plant and market surplus materials to third parties. It is focused on developing domestic rare earth production that offers sustainable and secure domestic supply of materials critical to key industries. Its vertically integrated approach consists of sourcing rare earth elements (REEs), in addition to other critical minerals such as gallium, to producing finished NdFeB magnets. The Company serve a variety of industries, such as defense, robotics, electric vehicles, wind power, appliances, cordless tools and computing and semiconductors. The Company owns, Less Common Metals Ltd., which is a scaled ex-China rare earth metal and alloy manufacturer.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Market Dominance: Currently, most of the world's supply of rare earth metals comes from China, and MP Materials, as the only rare earth mining and processing company in the U.S., leverages this geopolitical advantage to attract long-term investor interest.
- Profitability Improvement: MP Materials achieved an adjusted earnings per share of $0.03 in Q1 2026, demonstrating its sustainable profitability in the rare earth sector, which enhances investor confidence.
- Clear Competitive Advantage: Compared to TMC The Metals Company and USA Rare Earth, MP Materials has established a mature operational framework, avoiding high capital expenditures and execution risks, thus securing a favorable position in a high-risk industry.
- Long-Term Investment Potential: Given that the rare earth metals industry is still developing, MP Materials' profitability and mature business model make it an ideal choice for investors looking to hold stocks over the next decade, offering a good risk-reward balance.
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- Strong Market Demand: Rare earth metals are crucial for modern technology, with demand expected to remain high, positioning MP Materials favorably as a long-term investment due to its mining and processing operations based in the U.S.
- Notable Profitability: MP Materials reported positive adjusted earnings of $0.03 per share in Q1 2026, making it the only profitable player in the rare earth sector, which provides a compelling advantage in a high-risk industry.
- Competitor Analysis: Compared to TMC The Metals Company and USA Rare Earth, MP Materials has established a mature operational model, while its competitors are still in development phases, facing higher capital investment and execution risks.
- Strategic Investment Opportunity: Although MP Materials was not included in The Motley Fool Stock Advisor's current top picks, its established business model and profitability in the rare earth sector make it an attractive choice for investors.
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- Conference Presentation: USA Rare Earth CFO William Robert Steele Jr. will present at the J.P. Morgan Natural Resources Conference on June 23, 2026, at 10:55 a.m. Eastern Time, which is expected to draw investor interest in the company's strategic developments.
- Investor Relations Focus: Following the conference, a replay of the presentation will be available on the company's investor relations section of its website, aiming to enhance transparency and improve engagement with investors, thereby strengthening market trust.
- Integrated Value Chain: USA Rare Earth is building a fully integrated rare earth and permanent magnet value chain across the U.S., U.K., France, and Brazil, ensuring competitiveness in critical industries through its ownership of Less Common Metals, a leading producer of rare earth metals and alloys.
- Strategic Market Positioning: The company is committed to providing a secure Western-aligned supply chain for sectors such as aerospace, defense, and semiconductors, highlighting its significant strategic position in the global rare earth market, which is expected to drive future business growth.
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- Significant Funding Support: USA Rare Earth has secured up to $1.6 billion in federal funding through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, including $277 million in direct grants and up to $1.3 billion in secured loan capacity, which will greatly enhance its competitiveness in the rare-earth supply chain.
- Successful Acquisition Strategy: The company acquired U.K.-based Less Common Metals for $100 million last year and Serra Verde Group for approximately $2.8 billion in April, positioning itself strongly in the global rare-earth market, especially as Serra Verde is the only large-scale producer outside Asia.
- Manufacturing Capacity Expansion: USA Rare Earth announced a $1.2 billion investment in a magnet manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which, combined with its existing operations in Oklahoma, is projected to achieve a production capacity of 600 metric tons per annum, further solidifying its market share in the electric vehicle and defense sectors.
- Long-Term Development Plans: The company aims to commence commercial production at the Round Top mine in Texas by 2028, which is rich in heavy rare-earth elements, enabling cleaner and cheaper processing, thereby providing a significant competitive advantage for USA Rare Earth.
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- Stock Recovery: USA Rare Earth shares surged 12.3% today, bouncing back from a 5.9% decline at Monday's close, reflecting strong market confidence in the demand for rare-earth elements.
- G7 Meeting Impact: G7 leaders reached a consensus at their meeting in France to limit any single country's share of rare-earth metal supply to below 60% by 2030, further promoting diversification in the rare-earth industry.
- Dependence on China: Research indicates that China accounted for an average of 66% of global rare-earth supply from 2021 to 2025, and the G7's goal aims to reduce reliance on China, thereby enhancing supply chain security for Western nations.
- Project Development: USA Rare Earth is developing its Round Top project and plans to launch a rare-earth magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma, which, despite ongoing development risks, is expected to enhance the company's competitiveness in the rare-earth market.
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- Production Capacity Boost: USA Rare Earth is commissioning a hydrometallurgical demonstration facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, targeting first production of separated heavy rare earth oxides by Q3 2026, marking a significant advancement in domestic rare earth production capabilities.
- Diverse Raw Material Sourcing: The company will source raw materials from Serra Verde and Round Top, ensuring the production of commercial-grade heavy rare earth oxides including dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in the global rare earth market.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement of the facility, USAR shares surged over 5% in premarket trading, reflecting investor confidence in the company's strategic execution and future growth potential, with the stock rising nearly 85% year-to-date.
- Government Support Context: The U.S. government prioritizes securing rare earth minerals and is actively promoting domestic facility development to reduce dependence on China, further solidifying USA Rare Earth’s strategic position in the global market.
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