Lithium Americas Faces Cost Pressures Amid Earnings Concerns
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 15 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
Lithium Americas Corp (LAC) shares rose 5.04% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, despite broader market declines in the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500.
The company's recent earnings report revealed breakeven Q1 GAAP earnings, raising concerns about future profitability. Additionally, LAC warned that U.S. tariffs on steel and inflation linked to the Iran war could increase construction costs at its Thacker Pass lithium project by $80 million to $120 million. Despite these challenges, the company maintains its Phase 1 spending estimate of $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion this year, although this does not account for the rising costs due to tariffs and inflation.
The implications of these cost pressures could impact LAC's financial stability and future growth, especially as the Thacker Pass project is crucial for U.S. lithium supply, expected to produce enough lithium carbonate for approximately 800,000 electric vehicles.
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Analyst Views on LAC
Wall Street analysts forecast LAC stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 5.150
Low
4.73
Averages
5.77
High
8.00
Current: 5.150
Low
4.73
Averages
5.77
High
8.00
About LAC
Lithium Americas Corp. is a Canada-based lithium company. The Company focused on developing, building, and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The Company’s flagship asset is Thacker Pass, a sedimentary-based lithium deposit located in the McDermitt Caldera in Humboldt County, in northern Nevada. The Company is focused on developing the 100%-owned Thacker Pass lithium project in northern Nevada, the United States of America. Thacker Pass is approximately 100 kilometers (km) north-northwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, approximately 33 km west-northwest of Orovada, Nevada, and 33 km due south of the Oregon border. The Thacker Pass area encompasses approximately 7,900 hectares (ha) and lies within and is surrounded by public lands. The Company's subsidiaries are LAC Management LLC, Lithium Nevada Ventures LLC, KV Project LLC and others.
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.
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- 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.
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- Construction Progress and Budget: Despite these challenges, Lithium Americas still expects Phase 1 spending this year to be in the range of $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion; however, the original $2.93 billion Phase 1 capital estimate did not account for tariffs, fuel price hikes, or broader inflationary pressures tied to the war.
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See More
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- Capital Expenditure Plans: As of December 31, 2025, the company has capitalized approximately $982.8 million in construction and project-related costs, with 2026 capital expenditure guidance set between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion, demonstrating execution discipline during development.
See More
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- 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.
See More
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- Lackluster Earnings Report: Lithium Americas (LAC) shares fell 10% over two days following the release of breakeven Q1 GAAP earnings, indicating market concerns regarding its future profitability.
- Cost Increase Warning: The company warned that U.S. tariffs on steel, inflation linked to the Iran war, and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could add $80 million to $120 million to construction costs at its Thacker Pass lithium project, intensifying financial pressures.
- Construction Progress and Budget: Despite these challenges, Lithium Americas still expects Phase 1 spending this year to be in the range of $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion; however, the original $2.93 billion Phase 1 capital estimate did not account for tariffs, fuel price hikes, or broader inflationary pressures tied to the war.
- Production Capacity Outlook: Upon completion, the Thacker Pass project is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually, sufficient to support approximately 800,000 electric vehicles, significantly exceeding output from Albemarle's Silver Peak mine, underscoring its importance in the U.S. lithium market.
See More
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- Earnings Surprise: Lithium Americas reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of $0.00, beating expectations by $0.06, indicating stable performance and boosting investor confidence in the company's prospects.
- Strong Cash Reserves: As of March 31, 2026, the company had approximately $1.2 billion in total cash and restricted cash, including $529 million at the Thacker Pass joint venture level, ensuring financial support for ongoing projects and future growth potential.
- Capital Expenditure Guidance: The company continues to target a capital expenditure range of $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion for Thacker Pass Phase 1 in fiscal year 2026, demonstrating its commitment to advancing the project.
- Cumulative Capex: As of March 31, 2026, cumulative capital expenditures reached $1.277 billion, including $1.138 billion for Thacker Pass construction costs, reflecting ongoing investment and laying a solid foundation for future growth.
See More
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- Stock Surge: Albemarle Corp. (ALB) shares surged over 16% on Thursday, reaching a 52-week high of $215.34, reflecting the strong market performance driven by soaring lithium demand for electric vehicles.
- Demand Forecast: The company projects lithium demand will grow between 15% and 40% by 2026, primarily due to accelerating lithium-ion battery demand, indicating significant market potential for electric vehicles and energy storage systems in the coming years.
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: UBS raised Albemarle's price target from $220 to $230 while maintaining a 'Buy' rating, reflecting optimistic expectations for the company's future profitability and suggesting a potential upside of 6.7% in stock price.
- Retail Sentiment Shift: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around ALB stock shifted from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' in the past 24 hours, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's future performance, with some users predicting shares could soar to $250.
See More
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- Supply Agreement: REalloys has signed an agreement with U.S. Critical Materials Corp. to secure up to 10% of production from the Sheep Creek project in Montana, particularly dysprosium and terbium for high-performance magnets, enhancing the autonomy of the U.S. defense supply chain.
- Production Capacity Expansion: REalloys plans to establish a heavy rare earth metallization facility in Ohio, targeting an initial output of 525 tons of NdPr metal per year, with future expansion to 3,000 tons, significantly reducing reliance on Chinese rare earths and boosting U.S. competitiveness in the global market.
- Urgent Defense Needs: With the 2027 ban on Chinese rare earth materials approaching, the construction of REalloys' supply chain is critical, especially as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East drives up demand for rare earth metals, ensuring material supply for U.S. military contractors.
- Strategic Partnerships and Funding: REalloys has secured up to $200 million in federal financing and has brought in former defense officials to its advisory board, underscoring its pivotal role in the U.S. defense materials supply chain and its potential for future growth.
See More
Deutsche Bank Lowers LAC Price Target to $5
- Price Target Adjustment: Deutsche Bank has lowered Lithium Americas Corp.'s (NYSE:LAC) price target from $7 to $5 while maintaining a Hold rating, indicating a balanced risk-reward profile as the company advances its core development projects.
- Project Progress: CEO Jonathan Evans emphasized that 2025 will be a transformational year for the Thacker Pass project, with construction progressing rapidly and expected momentum to continue into 2026, highlighting the project's long-term potential.
- Government Support: Lithium Americas Corp. continues to receive support from the U.S. Department of Energy, including a second loan drawdown in February 2026, significantly de-risking the project and ensuring stable funding.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: As of December 31, 2025, the company has capitalized approximately $982.8 million in construction and project-related costs, with 2026 capital expenditure guidance set between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion, demonstrating execution discipline during development.
See More
