USA Rare Earth Faces Challenges Amid China's Export Controls
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 17 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
USA Rare Earth Inc's stock has hit a 5-day low, reflecting investor concerns amid recent geopolitical tensions.
The company's inclusion on China's export control list, alongside other U.S. entities, has raised alarms about potential supply chain disruptions and market access challenges. This move is seen as a strategic escalation in U.S.-China relations, particularly affecting rare earth producers like USA Rare Earth, which are crucial for various industries including defense and technology.
As the company prepares for its upcoming presentation at the J.P. Morgan Natural Resources Conference, it faces the dual challenge of maintaining investor confidence while navigating these geopolitical hurdles. The market's reaction underscores the importance of stable international relations for the rare earth sector.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy USAR?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on USAR
Wall Street analysts forecast USAR stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 21.580
Low
15.00
Averages
22.75
High
28.00
Current: 21.580
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.
Kazakhstan Project Sparks Political Controversy
- Funding Support: At least 14 companies linked to the Trump and Lutnick families are seeking over $8.9 billion in federal support, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to the substantial funding involved.
- Political Investigation Calls: Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations into investments related to senior officials' family members, emphasizing the need for transparency in government-backed mining initiatives to prioritize national interests over personal gains.
- Mining Agreement Context: The agreement secured by Trump and Lutnick in 2025 grants an American-led venture access to one of the world's largest undeveloped tungsten deposits, with the project eligible for up to $1.6 billion in federal financing, highlighting strategic resource diversification efforts.
- Market Reactions: While stocks of Critical Metals and Energy Fuels edged down, USA Rare Earth and ASP Isotopes saw premarket gains of 1% to 2%, indicating varied market responses to the project amidst ongoing scrutiny.
See More
Opportunities and Risks in Rare Earth Metals Market
- Surging Market Demand: The International Energy Agency forecasts a 50% to 60% increase in demand for rare earth metals by 2040, primarily driven by new technologies like electric vehicles and AI, indicating significant market opportunities for related companies.
- Supply Risk from China: China's control over the majority of rare earth metal supplies was highlighted by a 10x price surge in Japan following export restrictions in 2010, underscoring the strategic importance of these metals and prompting countries to seek alternative sources.
- Divergent Business Developments: The Metals Company is attempting to develop an undersea mining operation and is currently unprofitable, but U.S. regulatory changes may accelerate its progress; meanwhile, USA Rare Earth has quickly built a processing business through acquisitions, with production expected to start in 2028.
- MP Materials' Competitive Edge: MP Materials has established complete mining and processing facilities and is generating positive earnings on an adjusted basis, positioning itself as a leader in the rare earth metals market and attracting investor interest.
See More
Opportunities and Challenges in Rare Earth Metals Market
- Surging Market Demand: The International Energy Agency forecasts a 50% to 60% increase in demand for rare earth metals by 2040, primarily driven by new technologies like electric vehicles and AI, indicating significant market opportunities for companies like TMC, USA Rare Earth, and MP Materials.
- Differing Investment Risks: TMC is attempting to establish an undersea mining operation, facing high risks and ongoing losses, yet the U.S. government is changing regulations to expedite its progress, highlighting its long-term potential despite immediate challenges.
- Acquisition-Driven Growth: USA Rare Earth has rapidly built a rare earth processing business through acquisitions, and while its proposed mine won't be operational until 2028, a deal to acquire a Brazilian mine expected to close in late 2026 will create a complete rare earth business chain.
- Profitability Comparison: MP Materials operates a rare earth mine and processing facilities, achieving positive earnings on an adjusted basis, making it the most developed company among the three, and has attracted U.S. government funding, showcasing its competitive advantage in the market.
See More
Elroy Air to Go Public, Accelerating Drone Production for Defense and Commercial Markets
- Transaction Overview: Elroy Air has entered into a business combination agreement with Columbus Circle Capital Corp II, expected to close in Q4 2026, with a pre-money valuation of approximately $800 million and a post-transaction enterprise value of about $1 billion, reflecting strong market confidence in its drone technology.
- Funding Support: The transaction has secured over $165 million in committed PIPE capital, with $65 million allocated for the execution of the business combination agreement, ensuring Elroy Air can accelerate the commercial-scale production of its Chaparral drone to meet rising market demand.
- Market Potential: Elroy Air boasts a demand pipeline exceeding 1,400 aircraft and over $5 billion in potential revenue opportunities from leading logistics and aviation companies such as Bristow Group, Barq Group, and FedEx, underscoring its strategic importance in both defense and commercial markets.
- Technological Innovation: The Chaparral drone is designed to carry over 500 pounds of cargo with a range of 450 miles, utilizing a hybrid-electric powertrain for reliability and operational flexibility, indicating a significant transformation in the cargo transport sector.
See More
USA Rare Earth and Archer Aviation Compete in Rare-Earth and eVTOL Markets
- Government Backing for Rare Earths: USA Rare Earth benefits from U.S. government support, including a 10% stake and approximately $3.5 billion in funding, aimed at establishing a domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which is expected to significantly enhance U.S. autonomy in critical technology sectors.
- Pioneering Electric Aviation: Archer Aviation has successfully passed Phase 3 of the FAA's regulatory approval process, and if it receives final approval, it could begin commercial operations this year, positioning itself as a leader in the U.S. eVTOL market, which is projected to reach $28.6 billion by 2030.
- Market Opportunities and Risks: USA Rare Earth faces a $19 billion market opportunity for rare-earth magnets, but its success hinges on political support and the smooth execution of multiple construction projects, while Archer Aviation's outlook primarily depends on FAA approval, providing a clearer growth trajectory.
- Revenue Potential Comparison: Despite USA Rare Earth and Archer Aviation having market capitalizations of $5.5 billion and $4.2 billion respectively, both companies have less than $10 million in total trailing-12-month revenue, indicating that both are highly speculative investments, with future revenue realization being critical.
See More
Competitive Analysis of USA Rare Earth and Archer Aviation
- Market Opportunity: USA Rare Earth, backed by the Trump administration, has secured approximately $3.5 billion in funding commitments to establish a domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which is expected to significantly enhance its market share in weapons and electronics over the coming years.
- Expansion Plans: The company plans to complete an expansion of its magnet factory in Oklahoma by 2024 and expects to open a new facility in South Carolina by 2028, with commercial mining in Texas projected to begin in late 2028, targeting a $19 billion rare-earth market.
- Archer Aviation's Edge: Archer Aviation's eVTOL aircraft has successfully passed Phase 3 of the FAA's regulatory approval process and is expected to begin commercial operations this year, positioning itself as a pioneer in urban air taxi services with substantial market potential.
- Industry Outlook: According to Grand View Research, the eVTOL industry could reach $28.6 billion by 2030, and FAA approval for Archer Aviation will provide a clearer growth trajectory, enhancing its leadership position in the industry.
See More
Kazakhstan Project Sparks Political Controversy
- Funding Support: At least 14 companies linked to the Trump and Lutnick families are seeking over $8.9 billion in federal support, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to the substantial funding involved.
- Political Investigation Calls: Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations into investments related to senior officials' family members, emphasizing the need for transparency in government-backed mining initiatives to prioritize national interests over personal gains.
- Mining Agreement Context: The agreement secured by Trump and Lutnick in 2025 grants an American-led venture access to one of the world's largest undeveloped tungsten deposits, with the project eligible for up to $1.6 billion in federal financing, highlighting strategic resource diversification efforts.
- Market Reactions: While stocks of Critical Metals and Energy Fuels edged down, USA Rare Earth and ASP Isotopes saw premarket gains of 1% to 2%, indicating varied market responses to the project amidst ongoing scrutiny.
See More
Opportunities and Risks in Rare Earth Metals Market
- Surging Market Demand: The International Energy Agency forecasts a 50% to 60% increase in demand for rare earth metals by 2040, primarily driven by new technologies like electric vehicles and AI, indicating significant market opportunities for related companies.
- Supply Risk from China: China's control over the majority of rare earth metal supplies was highlighted by a 10x price surge in Japan following export restrictions in 2010, underscoring the strategic importance of these metals and prompting countries to seek alternative sources.
- Divergent Business Developments: The Metals Company is attempting to develop an undersea mining operation and is currently unprofitable, but U.S. regulatory changes may accelerate its progress; meanwhile, USA Rare Earth has quickly built a processing business through acquisitions, with production expected to start in 2028.
- MP Materials' Competitive Edge: MP Materials has established complete mining and processing facilities and is generating positive earnings on an adjusted basis, positioning itself as a leader in the rare earth metals market and attracting investor interest.
See More
Opportunities and Challenges in Rare Earth Metals Market
- Surging Market Demand: The International Energy Agency forecasts a 50% to 60% increase in demand for rare earth metals by 2040, primarily driven by new technologies like electric vehicles and AI, indicating significant market opportunities for companies like TMC, USA Rare Earth, and MP Materials.
- Differing Investment Risks: TMC is attempting to establish an undersea mining operation, facing high risks and ongoing losses, yet the U.S. government is changing regulations to expedite its progress, highlighting its long-term potential despite immediate challenges.
- Acquisition-Driven Growth: USA Rare Earth has rapidly built a rare earth processing business through acquisitions, and while its proposed mine won't be operational until 2028, a deal to acquire a Brazilian mine expected to close in late 2026 will create a complete rare earth business chain.
- Profitability Comparison: MP Materials operates a rare earth mine and processing facilities, achieving positive earnings on an adjusted basis, making it the most developed company among the three, and has attracted U.S. government funding, showcasing its competitive advantage in the market.
See More
Elroy Air to Go Public, Accelerating Drone Production for Defense and Commercial Markets
- Transaction Overview: Elroy Air has entered into a business combination agreement with Columbus Circle Capital Corp II, expected to close in Q4 2026, with a pre-money valuation of approximately $800 million and a post-transaction enterprise value of about $1 billion, reflecting strong market confidence in its drone technology.
- Funding Support: The transaction has secured over $165 million in committed PIPE capital, with $65 million allocated for the execution of the business combination agreement, ensuring Elroy Air can accelerate the commercial-scale production of its Chaparral drone to meet rising market demand.
- Market Potential: Elroy Air boasts a demand pipeline exceeding 1,400 aircraft and over $5 billion in potential revenue opportunities from leading logistics and aviation companies such as Bristow Group, Barq Group, and FedEx, underscoring its strategic importance in both defense and commercial markets.
- Technological Innovation: The Chaparral drone is designed to carry over 500 pounds of cargo with a range of 450 miles, utilizing a hybrid-electric powertrain for reliability and operational flexibility, indicating a significant transformation in the cargo transport sector.
See More
USA Rare Earth and Archer Aviation Compete in Rare-Earth and eVTOL Markets
- Government Backing for Rare Earths: USA Rare Earth benefits from U.S. government support, including a 10% stake and approximately $3.5 billion in funding, aimed at establishing a domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which is expected to significantly enhance U.S. autonomy in critical technology sectors.
- Pioneering Electric Aviation: Archer Aviation has successfully passed Phase 3 of the FAA's regulatory approval process, and if it receives final approval, it could begin commercial operations this year, positioning itself as a leader in the U.S. eVTOL market, which is projected to reach $28.6 billion by 2030.
- Market Opportunities and Risks: USA Rare Earth faces a $19 billion market opportunity for rare-earth magnets, but its success hinges on political support and the smooth execution of multiple construction projects, while Archer Aviation's outlook primarily depends on FAA approval, providing a clearer growth trajectory.
- Revenue Potential Comparison: Despite USA Rare Earth and Archer Aviation having market capitalizations of $5.5 billion and $4.2 billion respectively, both companies have less than $10 million in total trailing-12-month revenue, indicating that both are highly speculative investments, with future revenue realization being critical.
See More
Competitive Analysis of USA Rare Earth and Archer Aviation
- Market Opportunity: USA Rare Earth, backed by the Trump administration, has secured approximately $3.5 billion in funding commitments to establish a domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which is expected to significantly enhance its market share in weapons and electronics over the coming years.
- Expansion Plans: The company plans to complete an expansion of its magnet factory in Oklahoma by 2024 and expects to open a new facility in South Carolina by 2028, with commercial mining in Texas projected to begin in late 2028, targeting a $19 billion rare-earth market.
- Archer Aviation's Edge: Archer Aviation's eVTOL aircraft has successfully passed Phase 3 of the FAA's regulatory approval process and is expected to begin commercial operations this year, positioning itself as a pioneer in urban air taxi services with substantial market potential.
- Industry Outlook: According to Grand View Research, the eVTOL industry could reach $28.6 billion by 2030, and FAA approval for Archer Aviation will provide a clearer growth trajectory, enhancing its leadership position in the industry.
See More
