USA Rare Earth Secures $19.3M Funding from DOE
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 21 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
USA Rare Earth shares rose nearly 7% today to $24.18, with a market cap of $4.9 billion, driven by concerns over the security of the rare earth supply chain, as improving relations with China may lead to price volatility.
The company secured a $19.3 million award from the Department of Energy to develop a rare earth element separation project, which not only enhances its market position but also underscores the government's commitment to securing the domestic supply chain. This funding is expected to support the development of essential technology for processing rare earth elements from domestic resources, further solidifying USA Rare Earth's role in the industry.
Despite a significant decline in the rare earth sector over the past week, today's rebound reflects investor confidence in USA Rare Earth's future, particularly as the company actively advances its Round Top mine development plan, expected to be operational by 2028.
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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: 20.900
Low
15.00
Averages
22.75
High
28.00
Current: 20.900
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.
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- Strategic Partnership Expansion: A 15-year offtake agreement with Critical Metals Corp. secures REalloys 15% of production from the Tanbreez project in Greenland, enhancing its competitive edge in the global rare earth supply chain, particularly in heavy rare earths.
- Increased Policy Support: The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $67 million this week for rare earth extraction projects, reflecting the government's commitment to building a domestic supply chain, as REalloys actively positions itself to meet defense demands and secure future market share.
See More
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- Mineral Significance: Fluorspar is a critical raw material in the modern industrial economy, used in refrigerants, fluoropolymers, and aluminum smelting, with nearly all of the 445 tons consumed in the U.S. in 2024 being imported, highlighting the vulnerability of domestic supply chains.
- Mining Development Progress: Ares Strategic Mining has commenced operations at its Lost Sheep mine in Utah, with several thousand tons of fluorspar ore mined and stockpiled in preparation for processing, marking a significant transition from development to production.
- Financing and Expansion Plans: The company filed a US$100 million base shelf registration with the SEC in June 2026 to support its mine construction and production expansion, while also planning to list on Nasdaq to enhance market visibility.
- Government Contract Support: Ares secured a five-year contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, potentially worth up to US$250 million, which not only boosts the company's market position but also reflects the government's increasing focus on domestic fluorspar supply chain security.
See More
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- Capital Raising Plans: On June 8, 2026, the company filed a $100 million base shelf registration with the SEC to support its transition from development to sustained production, reflecting its ambitious growth strategy.
- Defense Department Contract: Ares secured a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, potentially worth up to $250 million in future orders, enhancing its market position in the critical minerals sector.
- Production Targets: The company aims for an annual output of approximately 45,400 to 54,500 tons of final products, and while it has not yet achieved commercial production, these targets offer investors long-term growth potential.
See More
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- Market Control: Research by The Motley Fool indicates that China controls up to 90% of rare earth element processing, creating significant vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain, prompting government action to enhance domestic mining and processing capabilities.
- Government Investment: The U.S. government has invested in MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, with the former securing a 10-year agreement with the Department of Defense to purchase neodymium-praseodymium products at $110 per kilogram, providing price protection and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Production Capacity Growth: In Q1, MP Materials produced 917 metric tons of NdPr and sold 1,006 metric tons, representing year-over-year increases of 63% and 117%, while adjusted EBITDA improved from negative $2.7 million to positive $36.6 million, indicating strong business growth potential.
- Strategic Acquisition Moves: USA Rare Earth recently acquired Serra Verde Group for $2.8 billion and plans to develop the Round Top deposit in Texas, which, despite being in early stages, could provide significant growth opportunities due to its rich heavy rare earth element resources.
See More
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- Dependence on China: The U.S. relies on China for 90% of rare earth processing, creating significant supply chain vulnerabilities that necessitate bolstering domestic production capabilities to ensure national security and economic stability.
- Government Investment: The U.S. government has invested in MP Materials and USA Rare Earth to expand their mining and processing capabilities, with MP Materials securing a 10-year purchase agreement with the DoD at $110 per kilogram for NdPr products, enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Production Capacity Growth: In Q1, MP Materials produced 917 metric tons of NdPr and sold 1,006 metric tons, representing year-over-year increases of 63% and 117%, while its EBITDA improved from negative $2.7 million to positive $36.6 million, indicating a strong financial recovery.
- Market Competition Landscape: While MP Materials holds a first-mover advantage in the rare earth sector, USA Rare Earth is actively expanding its market share through acquisitions and the development of the Round Top deposit, potentially positioning itself as a significant competitor in the future.
See More
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- Merger Agreement Signed: Quantum Space has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI, expected to close in Q4 2026, with a post-merger valuation of approximately $1.2 billion, enhancing its competitive position in the orbital economy.
- Significant Market Opportunities: Quantum Space has secured six contracts and pending proposals with the U.S. national security space enterprise, with an estimated unweighted value exceeding $5 billion, indicating strong demand and market traction in defense and commercial sectors.
- Technological Innovation Edge: The flagship Ranger platform boasts over 4,000 kg of fuel capacity and a 15-year operational life, projected to achieve missions in geosynchronous orbit and beyond at up to 70% lower costs than conventional architectures, enhancing its technological competitiveness in the aerospace sector.
- Strategic Investment Support: The transaction includes approximately $253 million in trust account funds and a $300 million convertible PIPE investment, which will fund accelerated production of the Ranger platform and expansion of manufacturing facilities, further solidifying its market position in national security and commercial missions.
See More
