Global Race to Secure Critical Mineral Stockpiles Intensifies
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy GS?
Source: CNBC
- U.S. Strategic Reserve Initiative: The U.S. government has proposed a $12 billion Project Vault strategic mineral reserve aimed at enhancing supply chain resilience by stockpiling rare earths and essential metals, thereby supporting electrification, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
- Australia's Reserve Strategy: Australia plans to formalize a state-backed stockpiling strategy through an $800 million strategic critical minerals reserve, prioritizing antimony, gallium, and rare earth elements to address global supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance national security.
- EU Joint Reserve Initiative: The European Union is advancing plans under its RESourceEU strategy to establish a joint reserve of critical raw materials, with Italy, France, and Germany expected to lead the effort, thereby strengthening control over critical minerals and stabilizing supply chains.
- Trend of Resource Nationalism: Analysts note a shift towards resource nationalism among many countries, emphasizing that strategic stockpiling is not just a buffer against price fluctuations but also a critical component of national security and industrial strategy, reflecting a significant increase in global focus on critical minerals.
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Analyst Views on GS
Wall Street analysts forecast GS stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 892.310
Low
604.00
Averages
951.45
High
1100
Current: 892.310
Low
604.00
Averages
951.45
High
1100
About GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a global financial institution that delivers a range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Its segments include Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management and Platform Solutions. The Global Banking & Markets segment offers a range of services, including financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for its institutional and corporate clients. It facilitates client transactions and makes markets in fixed income, equity, currency and commodity products. The Asset & Wealth Management segment manages assets and offers investment products across all asset classes to a diverse set of clients. It also provides investing and wealth advisory solutions. The Platform Solutions segment includes consumer platforms, such as partnerships offering credit cards and point-of-sale financing, and transaction banking and other platform businesses.
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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- U.S. Strategic Reserve Initiative: The U.S. government has proposed a $12 billion Project Vault strategic mineral reserve aimed at enhancing supply chain resilience by stockpiling rare earths and essential metals, thereby supporting electrification, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
- Australia's Reserve Strategy: Australia plans to formalize a state-backed stockpiling strategy through an $800 million strategic critical minerals reserve, prioritizing antimony, gallium, and rare earth elements to address global supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance national security.
- EU Joint Reserve Initiative: The European Union is advancing plans under its RESourceEU strategy to establish a joint reserve of critical raw materials, with Italy, France, and Germany expected to lead the effort, thereby strengthening control over critical minerals and stabilizing supply chains.
- Trend of Resource Nationalism: Analysts note a shift towards resource nationalism among many countries, emphasizing that strategic stockpiling is not just a buffer against price fluctuations but also a critical component of national security and industrial strategy, reflecting a significant increase in global focus on critical minerals.
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- Funding Squeeze Impact: Despite strong appetite for deals, the proportion of capital allocated to M&A hit a 30-year low in 2025, forcing companies to be more selective in their transaction choices to ensure clear returns on investment.
- AI-Driven Transactions: Over 73% of the increase in deal value came from mega-deals valued at over $5 billion, highlighting the significant impact of AI-related demand on the M&A market, with expectations for continued large transactions in 2026.
- Private Equity Dominance: Private equity accounts for approximately 40% of global M&A activity, as firms actively seek investment opportunities amid changing capital markets, driving increased transaction activity.
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- Australia's Reserve Strategy: Australia plans to formalize a state-backed stockpiling strategy through an $800 million strategic critical minerals reserve, prioritizing antimony, gallium, and rare earth elements to address global supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance national security.
- EU Joint Reserve Initiative: The European Union is advancing plans under its RESourceEU strategy to establish a joint reserve of critical raw materials, with Italy, France, and Germany expected to lead the effort, thereby strengthening control over critical minerals and stabilizing supply chains.
- Trend of Resource Nationalism: Analysts note a shift towards resource nationalism among many countries, emphasizing that strategic stockpiling is not just a buffer against price fluctuations but also a critical component of national security and industrial strategy, reflecting a significant increase in global focus on critical minerals.
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- Sale Details: Senator David McCormick sold between $1 million and $5 million in Goldman Sachs shares on January 23, 2025, when prices ranged from $917.05 to $937.16, while current trading is at $905.64, indicating market volatility risks.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed by McCormick's spouse, a former Goldman Sachs employee with 16 years in senior roles, highlighting the close ties between personal and financial markets, which may influence investor confidence.
- Market Performance Insight: Goldman Sachs was the second-best performing stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2025, with a 55.8% gain, and this sale locks in significant profits, potentially drawing attention to its future performance.
- Investor Attention Points: As a member of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development, McCormick's trade may attract additional investor scrutiny, particularly as his insights into the banking sector could impact Goldman Sachs' stock trajectory.
See More
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- Market Opportunities: Taking advantage of discounted investments can lead to better financial outcomes and increased returns.
See More
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- Market Rally: A relief rally unfolded as fears regarding Anthropic's Claude disrupting the economy eased, with investors closely monitoring the company's new developments in enterprise applications, although this rebound does not signal a complete risk mitigation.
- Dividend Increases: Home Depot raised its quarterly dividend by 1.3% to $2.33 per share, equating to $9.32 annually, resulting in a dividend yield of approximately 2.4%; Linde increased its quarterly dividend by 7% to $1.60 per share, or $6.40 annually, with a yield of about 1.28%.
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