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Trump accelerates mineral procurement! Which resource stocks in the US market are worth watching?

The U.S. Department of Defense has suddenly made a significant move.

According to the latest reports,the U.S. Department of Defense is seeking to procure critical minerals worth up to $1 billion.This marks an acceleration in the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen the supply chain for critical minerals.

The report indicates that this initiative is led by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) under the Pentagon. Recently disclosed documents show that the Trump administration is speeding up its efforts to expand the national strategic reserves.

Based on DLA’s procurement intentions, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to purchase: cobalt worth up to $500 million, antimony worth up to $245 million, tantalum worth up to $100 million, and scandium totaling approximately $45 million.

In addition, the DLA is also gathering more information on rare earths, tungsten, bismuth, and indium to further expand its reserves. Fastmarkets analyst Solomon Cefai pointed out that the scale of bismuth and indium that the DLA plans to acquire is 'quite substantial.'

In fact, this year, after first investing $400 million in rare earth miners, $MP Materials (MP.US)$ the department subsequently took a stake in a U.S. lithium company. $Lithium Americas (LAC.US)$ . Most recently, the White House confirmed plans to acquire $Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US)$ Shares of these companies surged strongly following the news, with MP Materials and USA Rare Earth having risen more than fourfold year-to-date, while LAC has increased by over 150%.

Which resource stocks in the U.S. market are worth watching?

Industry insiders noted thatFor the U.S. government, stockpiling critical minerals is still in its very early stages, but attention is rising rapidly.

Previously,Trump Administration’s Equity Stake Becomes Profit Signal! Who Might Be the Next "Lucky One"?、Up Over 360% This Year! Rare Earths Leader MP Receives Additional Investment from the U.S. Department of Defense and Apple; What Other Investment Opportunities Exist in This Sector?Multiple articles have pointed out that, since the beginning of this year, while technology stocks have made remarkable progress,resource stocks as an investment theme have also been on a sustained upward trajectory.Moreover, the upward trend in Sino-American resource markets is gaining momentum. Our analysis has also compiled a list of resource stocks currently available in the U.S. equity market for fellow investors' reference:

Rare earths — "the vitamins of industry"

Rare earth elements, often referred to as the "vitamins of industry," play an irreplaceable and critical role in advanced manufacturing and defense technology sectors.

Humanoid robots are considered the next frontier for rare earth permanent magnet materials, with the potential to trigger a new wave of explosive demand.China holds the world's largest reserves and production capacity of rare earths, occupying a pivotal position in the global supply chain.

As trade tensions between China and the United States continue to escalate, rare earths have become a crucial bargaining chip for China in countering U.S. strategic pressures. Consequently, the rare earth concept has garnered increased attention in financial markets.

Specifically, rare earth-related stocks listed on the U.S. equity market include:

$MP Materials (MP.US)$ MP Materials is the only U.S.-based company that has achieved scaled and vertically integrated rare earth production. Its core competitive advantage lies in its ownership and operation of the Mountain Pass mine, the world’s second-largest rare earth deposit.Read more>>Can MP Materials Become the 'Ace' of the U.S. Rare Earth Supply Chain?

$USA Rare Earth (USAR.US)$ Focused on the development of the Round Top deposit in Texas, which is rich in strategically important heavy rare earth elements. The deposit is characterized by a highly diverse combination of rare earth elements, capable of meeting specific demands for certain heavy rare earth elements, presenting unique potential for future production of high-performance permanent magnet materials. However, it is currently still in the early stages.

$Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR.US)$ Although primarily a gold producer, in recent years the company has also begun to venture into the rare earth elements sector and owns the largest rare earth element land package in the United States.

$Critical Metals (CRML.US)$ Established a partnership with U.S.-based GreenMet, a critical minerals company, to jointly develop the Tanbreez project in southern Greenland for the extraction of heavy rare earth elements.

$TEXAS MINERAL RESOURCES CORP (TMRC.US)$ A company focused on the exploration and development of rare earths and other mineral resources, actively positioning itself in various projects within the rare earths sector.The company is collaborating with USA Rare Earth to develop the Round Top mine.holding a 20% stake and enjoying a right of first refusal to purchase.

$TMC the metals (TMC.US)$ A Canadian deep-sea mining company, previously reported to be of interest to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who intended to order the establishment of a federal-level 'strategic rare earth reserve' specifically for storing rare earth minerals extracted from the seabed.

$United States Antimony (UAMY.US)$ A company specializing in the mining, production, and sales of antimony and related products, but also involved in diversified mineral sectors such as rare earths, covering resource development and other business segments.

$NioCorp Developments (NB.US)$ A mineral exploration and development company focused on critical minerals, with rare earths being one of its key business areas.Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense provided up to $10 million in funding to Elk Creek Resources, a subsidiary of NioCorp Developments Ltd.to advance its niobium and scandium project in Nebraska, establishing a domestic supply chain from scandium mining to manufacturing.

Traditional uranium miners $Energy Fuels (UUUU.US)$ have successfully transformed into diversified critical minerals companies, currently developing domestic rare earth resources at the White Mesa Mill in Utah, collaborating with Astron in Australia on the Donald rare earth sands project, and strategically acquiring heavy mineral sands (HMS) globally.

$American Resources (AREC.US)$ is a raw materials and processing company focused on the infrastructure market, specializing in rare earths, critical minerals, metallurgical carbon, and recycled metals. Its subsidiary, ReElement Technologies, specializes in rare earth extraction and separation, producing high-purity rare earths from domestic mining waste, recycled magnets, and industrial byproducts.The commercial-grade rare earth separation plant in Noblesville, Indiana, is driving the diversification and circular economy of the U.S. supply chain.

$Perpetua Resources (PPTA.US)$ The core business focuses on the development of the Stibnite gold-antimony mine in Idaho, with rare earth concentrates as a byproduct.

$IperionX (IPX.US)$ is a technology-oriented company specializing in the research, development, and production of strategic materials. Its Titan project holds one of the largest JORC-compliant deposits of titanium, rare earths, and zircon sands in the United States.

Lithium — 'White Petroleum'

As the lightest metal in nature, lithium has become a core material in fields such as new energy, aerospace, and nuclear industries due to its unique physicochemical properties, earning it the nickname 'White Petroleum of the 21st Century'.

Specifically, U.S.-listed lithium concept stocks include:

$Lithium Americas (LAC.US)$ A mining company focused on the development of lithium resources in North America, with its core asset being the Thacker Pass lithium clay project located in Nevada, USA. This project is expected to become a significant domestic source of lithium for the United States, which currently produces only a small amount of this battery metal domestically. Therefore, in early October, the U.S. government announced it would acquire a 5% stake in Lithium Americas and hold a 5% commercial interest in its Nevada Thacker Pass project. The company’s operations span the entire lithium industry chain, including lithium mining and lithium compound production.

$Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile (SQM.US)$ The world's second-largest lithium producer, characterized by low mining costs and strong profitability.

$Rio Tinto (RIO.US)$ The world's third-largest lithium miner, which last year announced a $6.7 billion acquisition of U.S.-based lithium company Arcadium. Through this acquisition, Rio Tinto will gain access to lithium mines in Argentina and Australia, as well as secure customers such as Tesla, BMW, and General Motors.

$Sigma Lithium (SGML.US)$ A lithium exploration and development company incorporated in Canada, with its primary assets located in Brazil. The company holds multiple lithium deposits within its Brazilian mining rights areas and focuses on extracting lithium mica ore and processing it into battery-grade lithium concentrate.

$Atlas Lithium (ATLX.US)$ An American mineral exploration and mining company that owns one of the largest lithium and other battery mineral exploration projects in Brazil, focusing specifically on lithium exploration.

$Ioneer Ltd (INR.AU)$ The Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron deposit in Nevada is the only commercial-grade lithium-boron deposit in North America. It has secured a $190 million loan from the Department of Energy, with provisions allowing for 'loan-to-equity conversion.'

$Standard Lithium (SLI.US)$ A leading pre-commercial lithium development company focused on sustainably developing large-scale, high-grade lithium brine resources in the United States. The company's flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation in Arkansas and Texas, which represents a world-class lithium brine asset.

Uranium – 'The food for nuclear power plants'

Mineral resources are an essential material foundation for human society's survival and development. Due to its significance, uranium resources are often metaphorically referred to as the food for nuclear power plants. In today's era of rapid nuclear power expansion, the importance of uranium resources continues to grow.

Compared to traditional fossil fuels, nuclear power generation can provide more efficient, cheaper, and cleaner electricity, making it one of the main energy sources for many countries.

Uranium-related stocks in the U.S. market include:

$Centrus Energy (LEU.US)$ The sole uranium enrichment producer in the United States, this company is among the few globally capable of commercially producing High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU). HALEU is a key fuel for powering next-generation advanced reactors, including many small modular reactors (SMRs), and the global supply currently depends heavily on it. Its monopolistic position makes it a critical bottleneck and cornerstone in advancing nuclear power technology.

$Energy Fuels (UUUU.US)$ A leading critical minerals company headquartered in the United States, its operations have successfully expanded from traditional uranium mining into rare earth elements (REE) and heavy mineral sands (HMS). With its unique vertical integration capabilities, the strategically important White Mesa plant in Utah, and a diversified product portfolio, the company holds a favorable market position amid the current 'nuclear renaissance' and the broader context of global supply chain restructuring.

$Cameco Corp (CCO.CA)$ The world's largest publicly listed uranium mining company, headquartered in Canada, primarily engages in the exploration, extraction, milling, and trading of uranium. The company owns world-class uranium assets and serves as a key supplier of uranium within the United States.

$Uranium Energy (UEC.US)$ A uranium mining company focused on the exploration, extraction, and processing of uranium and titanium concentrates.

In addition, uranium stocks also include $Anfield Energy (AEC.US)$ 、 $Uranium Royalty (UROY.US)$ 、 $Ur-Energy (URG.US)$ 、 $Denison Mines (DNN.US)$ 、 $IsoEnergy (ISOU.US)$ 、 $NexGen Energy (NXE.US)$ 、 $Encore Energy (EU.US)$ 。

Copper — “The New Oil of the AI Era”

Copper, known as 'the lifeblood of the economy,' is used in key sectors such as electric vehicles, data centers, residential construction, and power grid infrastructure. Its skyrocketing price not only impacts the raw materials market but could also cascade into manufacturing costs, housing prices, and inflation.

Copper-related stocks in the U.S. market include:

$Southern Copper (SCCO.US)$ : A global leading integrated copper producer with businesses covering the exploration, mining, smelting, and sales of metals such as copper, molybdenum, silver, and zinc, focusing its core operations on a full-process layout across the copper industry chain;

$Freeport-McMoRan (FCX.US)$ : A global leading mining company primarily engaged in the mining, processing, and sales of copper, gold, and molybdenum. It is the world's largest publicly traded copper producer and the largest molybdenum producer in the United States;

In addition, copper-related stocks also include $Taseko Mines (TGB.US)$ 、 $Hudbay Minerals (HBM.US)$ 、 $Ivanhoe Electric (IE.US)$ 、 $Ero Copper (ERO.US)$ 。

Graphite – 'Black Gold'

Graphite is a naturally occurring mineral composed of carbon elements and serves as a foundational mineral material for various industries. Known as the 'industrial seasoning' and 'black gold,' it is widely used in metallurgical chemicals, machinery equipment, new energy vehicles, nuclear power, aerospace, and defense sectors, making it an important strategic mineral resource.

Specifically, graphite-related stocks in the US market include:

$NOVONIX (NVX.US)$ is an Australian battery technology company focused on developing and supplying high-performance materials, equipment, and services for the global lithium-ion battery industry. Its core businesses include manufacturing battery testing equipment and producing synthetic graphite anode materials for electric vehicles and energy storage.

$Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG.US)$ is a Canadian graphite mining company primarily engaged in mineral exploration, development, and the production of battery-grade anode materials based on natural graphite. The company focuses on graphite projects in Quebec and is advancing its operations through the Matawinie mine project and battery materials plant project.

$Westwater Resources (WWR.US)$ It is an energy technology company focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite materials. The company's main project is the construction of the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant in central-east Alabama, and it also owns other development assets, such as the Kusagrande Graphite Project.

Antimony — 'The Jack of All Trades' in Industry

Antimony is a very rare metalloid element, primarily found in the sulfide mineral stibnite in nature. Its abundance in the Earth’s crust is only 0.0001%, making it non-renewable and difficult to recycle. Known for its unique 'thermal contraction and expansion' property, antimony is widely used in industrial and military fields and is referred to as 'the jack of all trades' in industry.

Antimony is extensively utilized in defense and high-tech sectors, including ammunition, batteries, flame retardants, and special military alloys. U.S. defense officials have identified it as a major vulnerability within the industrial system. Currently, over 90% of America's antimony raw material supply relies on imports.

Specifically, antimony-related stocks in the U.S. market include:

$United States Antimony (UAMY.US)$The sole antimony smelter in the United States,Operates the only two antimony smelters in North America, with long-term expertise in metal processing. It previously secured an exclusive five-year contract from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, worth up to $245 million, to supply antimony metal ingots for national defense reserves.

$Nova Minerals (NVA.US)$ A company focused on advancing the exploration and development of gold, antimony, and critical minerals at the Estelle project. The company recently announced that it has obtained land use permits for its proposed antimony refinery in Alaska, bringing it one step closer to becoming a key supplier of critical minerals in the United States.

Cobalt — 'Barometer' of New Energy Vehicles

Cobalt is an extremely scarce minor metal resource and an important strategic asset for nations. Cobalt salts and intermediates are mainly used in the production of hard alloys, high-temperature alloys, cobalt catalysts, and more. Applications span across power vehicles, electric vehicles, and 3C products, playing a crucial role in industries such as electronics, telecommunications, and renewable energy.

Specifically, cobalt-related stocks in the U.S. market include:

$GLENCORE PLC (GLNCY.US)$ ：One of the largest cobalt producers globally,with substantial cobalt mineral resources and mining operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

$Electra Battery Materials (ELBM.US)$ ：The only large-scale battery-grade cobalt refining plant in North America,Its cobalt sulfate refining plant is the first of its kind in North America for both cobalt sulfate and nickel sulfate. It aims to supply critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and copper to the North American electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain through battery recycling and black mass processing.

$Trilogy Metals (TMQ.US)$ A mining company primarily engaged in resource exploration and development in the Upper Kobuk region of northern Alaska. Its project, UKMP, focuses on mining rare metals such as copper, zinc, gold, silver, and cobalt.

Beryllium – 'The King of Materials'

Beryllium, as a strategic rare metal and a key material in cutting-edge fields, is known as 'The King of Materials.' With its unique physical and chemical properties, beryllium plays an irreplaceable role in advanced sectors such as aerospace, nuclear energy, electronics, and defense.

$Materion (MTRN.US)$ As the world's largest beryllium supplier, it holds a 70% share of the global market and supplies all Western countries. The company’s products span multiple end markets, including semiconductors, industrial applications, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, consumer electronics, as well as telecommunications and data centers.

Summary

Overall, while the resources sector is set to benefit from global economic growth and the rise of emerging industries, ushering in a new development cycle, recent uncertainties sparked by policies of the Trump administration are turning this field into a high-risk game. Investors should remain highly cautious.

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