Rare earth stocks decline amid Trump administration's policy shift
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 04 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LAC?
Source: Fool
Lithium Americas Corp. experienced a decline of 5.16% as it hit a 5-day low amid broader market weakness, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.56% and the S&P 500 down 0.27%.
The decline in Lithium Americas Corp. shares is part of a broader sell-off in rare earth and critical minerals stocks following the Trump administration's announcement to abandon minimum price guarantees for critical minerals projects. This policy shift raises concerns about the competitiveness and financial viability of U.S. rare earth projects, leading to decreased investor confidence in the sector.
The implications of this policy change could be significant for companies like Lithium Americas Corp., as it may deter investment and affect the overall stability of the rare earth supply chain in the U.S.
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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: 4.550
Low
4.73
Averages
5.77
High
8.00
Current: 4.550
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.
Lithium Americas Corp. Stock Sees Modest Increase
- Stock Performance: Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) ended the recent trading session at $4.64, reflecting a 1.98% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.83%, indicating market optimism about its short-term performance.
- Monthly Performance: Despite a 2.36% decline over the past month, LAC has outperformed the Basic Materials sector's loss of 0.27% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.65%, demonstrating relative resilience within its industry.
- Earnings Expectations: LAC is projected to report a loss of $0.04 per share in its upcoming earnings disclosure, which represents a year-over-year growth of 63.64%, reflecting potential improvement amid adversity.
- Analyst Ratings: Currently holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), LAC indicates a neutral outlook from analysts, with a 4.59% upward revision in EPS estimates over the past month, suggesting cautious optimism regarding its profitability.
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Antimony Market Growth Potential Emerges Amid Rising Demand
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- Supply Security Concerns: With a significant portion of global antimony production concentrated in China, concerns over supply security for Western economies are prompting the U.S. and its allies to support new mining projects and alternative supply chains to meet rising demand.
- Outstanding Test Results: American Antimony Corporation's testing at the Antimony King Mine in Nevada revealed an average head grade of 30.3% can produce 63% antimony concentrate with a recovery rate of 97%, establishing a strong foundation for future scalable production.
- Strategic Investment Outlook: The CEO of American Antimony highlighted that the high grades and metallurgical robustness of the Antimony King project significantly enhance the company's competitiveness in domestic antimony concentrate production, further advancing U.S. self-sufficiency in critical minerals.
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Antimony Market Growth Potential Emerges Amid Rising Demand
- Market Expansion Outlook: The global antimony market is currently valued at approximately $2.5 billion, with projections to grow to around $4.3–$4.4 billion by 2035, reflecting a 5-6% annual growth rate driven by increasing demand in defense and high-tech manufacturing.
- Supply Security Concerns: With a significant portion of global antimony production sourced from China, concerns over supply security for Western economies are prompting the U.S. and its allies to support new mining projects and alternative supply chains to meet rising demand.
- High-Quality Concentrate Production: American Antimony Corporation's Antimony King Mine in Nevada achieved an average head grade of 30.3% antimony, producing concentrates with 63% antimony at a remarkable 97% recovery rate, establishing a strong foundation for scalable production pathways.
- Strategic Investment Opportunities: As defense spending and electronics manufacturing continue to expand, the antimony market, while still relatively small, is gaining attention from investors due to its strategic importance and growth potential amid rising demand for high-tech materials.
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NACCO Industries Reports Q4 and FY 2025 Financial Highlights
- Operating Profit Growth: In Q4 2025, NACCO reported an operating profit of $7.573 million, an increase of $3.69 million year-over-year, driven by improvements in the Utility Coal Mining segment, although a $7.8 million pension settlement charge led to a net loss of $3.84 million for the quarter.
- Revenue and Cash Flow: For the full year 2025, NACCO generated revenues of $277.198 million, up from $237.708 million in 2024, with cash flow from operations increasing from $22.3 million to $50.9 million, indicating significant operational cash flow improvement that enhances future investment capacity.
- Coal Delivery Volume Increase: The Utility Coal Mining segment delivered 6,219 thousand tons of coal in Q4 2025, up from 6,133 thousand tons in Q4 2024, primarily due to enhanced production efficiency at the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company, further solidifying its market position.
- Strategic Investment Plans: NACCO anticipates capital expenditures of up to $89 million in 2026, primarily for business development opportunities, aiming to ensure future cash flow stability and growth potential through the
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NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Update: Key Movers
- Market Performance: The NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator rose by 102.62 points to 25,079.66, indicating investor optimism towards tech stocks, which may drive positive performance in upcoming trading sessions.
- Active Stocks: Circle Internet Group, Inc. (CRCL) increased by 11.24 points to $72.61 with a trading volume of 4,323,122 shares, currently at 74.86% of its target price, reflecting market confidence in its future growth.
- Novo Nordisk Update: Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) fell by 0.79 points to $37.80 with 3,182,829 shares traded, indicating a cautious market sentiment following its 52-week high in the previous session.
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Zimbabwe Suspends Lithium Exports to Boost Local Processing
- Export Ban Enforced: Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines has announced an immediate suspension of all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports to encourage mining companies to establish processing operations domestically, thereby enhancing the economic value and benefits of the country's mining sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the export ban announcement, shares of Sigma Lithium, Albemarle, and Lithium Americas surged by 13%, 7%, and 5% respectively in Wednesday's pre-market trading, reflecting strong market demand for lithium resources and investor optimism.
- Mining Compliance Requirements: Only companies holding valid mining titles from the government will be permitted to export minerals, with agents and third-party traders prohibited from exporting on behalf of title holders, which will strengthen the management and control of mineral resources.
- Lithium Resource Potential: According to the British Geological Survey, Zimbabwe has lithium reserves of 480,000 tonnes and is projected to produce 22,000 tonnes of lithium between 2022 and 2024, making it the fifth-largest lithium producer globally, further highlighting the country's significant position in the global lithium market.
See More
Lithium Americas Corp. Stock Sees Modest Increase
- Stock Performance: Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) ended the recent trading session at $4.64, reflecting a 1.98% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.83%, indicating market optimism about its short-term performance.
- Monthly Performance: Despite a 2.36% decline over the past month, LAC has outperformed the Basic Materials sector's loss of 0.27% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.65%, demonstrating relative resilience within its industry.
- Earnings Expectations: LAC is projected to report a loss of $0.04 per share in its upcoming earnings disclosure, which represents a year-over-year growth of 63.64%, reflecting potential improvement amid adversity.
- Analyst Ratings: Currently holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), LAC indicates a neutral outlook from analysts, with a 4.59% upward revision in EPS estimates over the past month, suggesting cautious optimism regarding its profitability.
See More
Antimony Market Growth Potential Emerges Amid Rising Demand
- Market Demand Growth: The global antimony market is currently valued at approximately $2.5 billion, with projections indicating it could reach $4.3-$4.4 billion by 2035, reflecting a 5-6% annual growth rate driven by increasing demand in defense and high-tech manufacturing sectors.
- Supply Security Concerns: With a significant portion of global antimony production concentrated in China, concerns over supply security for Western economies are prompting the U.S. and its allies to support new mining projects and alternative supply chains to meet rising demand.
- Outstanding Test Results: American Antimony Corporation's testing at the Antimony King Mine in Nevada revealed an average head grade of 30.3% can produce 63% antimony concentrate with a recovery rate of 97%, establishing a strong foundation for future scalable production.
- Strategic Investment Outlook: The CEO of American Antimony highlighted that the high grades and metallurgical robustness of the Antimony King project significantly enhance the company's competitiveness in domestic antimony concentrate production, further advancing U.S. self-sufficiency in critical minerals.
See More
Antimony Market Growth Potential Emerges Amid Rising Demand
- Market Expansion Outlook: The global antimony market is currently valued at approximately $2.5 billion, with projections to grow to around $4.3–$4.4 billion by 2035, reflecting a 5-6% annual growth rate driven by increasing demand in defense and high-tech manufacturing.
- Supply Security Concerns: With a significant portion of global antimony production sourced from China, concerns over supply security for Western economies are prompting the U.S. and its allies to support new mining projects and alternative supply chains to meet rising demand.
- High-Quality Concentrate Production: American Antimony Corporation's Antimony King Mine in Nevada achieved an average head grade of 30.3% antimony, producing concentrates with 63% antimony at a remarkable 97% recovery rate, establishing a strong foundation for scalable production pathways.
- Strategic Investment Opportunities: As defense spending and electronics manufacturing continue to expand, the antimony market, while still relatively small, is gaining attention from investors due to its strategic importance and growth potential amid rising demand for high-tech materials.
See More
NACCO Industries Reports Q4 and FY 2025 Financial Highlights
- Operating Profit Growth: In Q4 2025, NACCO reported an operating profit of $7.573 million, an increase of $3.69 million year-over-year, driven by improvements in the Utility Coal Mining segment, although a $7.8 million pension settlement charge led to a net loss of $3.84 million for the quarter.
- Revenue and Cash Flow: For the full year 2025, NACCO generated revenues of $277.198 million, up from $237.708 million in 2024, with cash flow from operations increasing from $22.3 million to $50.9 million, indicating significant operational cash flow improvement that enhances future investment capacity.
- Coal Delivery Volume Increase: The Utility Coal Mining segment delivered 6,219 thousand tons of coal in Q4 2025, up from 6,133 thousand tons in Q4 2024, primarily due to enhanced production efficiency at the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company, further solidifying its market position.
- Strategic Investment Plans: NACCO anticipates capital expenditures of up to $89 million in 2026, primarily for business development opportunities, aiming to ensure future cash flow stability and growth potential through the
See More
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Update: Key Movers
- Market Performance: The NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator rose by 102.62 points to 25,079.66, indicating investor optimism towards tech stocks, which may drive positive performance in upcoming trading sessions.
- Active Stocks: Circle Internet Group, Inc. (CRCL) increased by 11.24 points to $72.61 with a trading volume of 4,323,122 shares, currently at 74.86% of its target price, reflecting market confidence in its future growth.
- Novo Nordisk Update: Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) fell by 0.79 points to $37.80 with 3,182,829 shares traded, indicating a cautious market sentiment following its 52-week high in the previous session.
- Southwest Airlines Outlook: Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) rose by 0.25 points to $50.89 with a trading volume of 725,737 shares, with an EPS forecast of $0.51 for Q1 2026, suggesting potential improvement in the company's profitability.
See More
Zimbabwe Suspends Lithium Exports to Boost Local Processing
- Export Ban Enforced: Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines has announced an immediate suspension of all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports to encourage mining companies to establish processing operations domestically, thereby enhancing the economic value and benefits of the country's mining sector.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the export ban announcement, shares of Sigma Lithium, Albemarle, and Lithium Americas surged by 13%, 7%, and 5% respectively in Wednesday's pre-market trading, reflecting strong market demand for lithium resources and investor optimism.
- Mining Compliance Requirements: Only companies holding valid mining titles from the government will be permitted to export minerals, with agents and third-party traders prohibited from exporting on behalf of title holders, which will strengthen the management and control of mineral resources.
- Lithium Resource Potential: According to the British Geological Survey, Zimbabwe has lithium reserves of 480,000 tonnes and is projected to produce 22,000 tonnes of lithium between 2022 and 2024, making it the fifth-largest lithium producer globally, further highlighting the country's significant position in the global lithium market.
See More
