In this article, we will look at the 10 Best Metal Stocks to Buy Right Now.
It’s a race against time as nations rush to secure supplies of metals crucial to the next industrial revolution. Canada has already announced plans to buy stakes in projects that will produce and process key metals to reduce reliance on China. The US on its part is making strategic investments in Lithium mines as it seeks to reduce its dependence on China for metals it deems vital to national security.
Amid the protection measures, tariffs, and shaky consumer confidence have also proved to be tailwinds for US material stocks. Metal companies in the US are benefiting from a significant price spike driven by the US tariff war and protectionist measures. Bloomberg Intelligence data already shows that material stocks could see a 20% lift on earnings in 2026.
Companies active in the metals and packaging industries are poised to receive the biggest lift as trade protections strengthen steel prices. According to BI analyst Richard Bourke, tariffs on US steel imports give domestic producers a pricing advantage.
“US mills should continue to displace imports as long as 50% Section 232 tariffs remain in place,” Bourke said. The analyst expects the current trade policy to lead to continued gradual improvement in business conditions for metal companies.
Federal Reserve rate cuts are also expected to aid the materials sectors, with chemicals seen returning to growth after three years of shrinking. The construction materials sector is also likely to reverse last year’s contraction.
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Our Methodology
To create our list of the best metal stocks to buy now, we analyzed popular metal and mining ETFs that cover industrial metals such as copper, steel, and aluminum, diversified mining companies, and precious metals including gold, silver, and platinum. Key funds in this space are the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME), Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX), iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK), and VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX). We focused on stocks that analysts believe possess the potential for growth, boasting of positive upside potential. Finally, we ranked the best metal stocks to buy right now based on the number of hedge funds that hold stakes in them in the third quarter of 2025.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research shows we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
Note: The upside potential data is as of January 13, 2026.
Best Metal Stocks to Buy Right Now
10. NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ:NB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ:NB) is one of the best metal stocks to buy right now. On December 22, the company’s board approved the Mine Portal Project, paving the way for the development of the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project.
The approval paves the way for the establishment of the main entrances to the Elk Creek project’s underground mine, which is expected to serve as the access point for personnel, equipment, and materials. Work is to begin in the first quarter and is likely to result in a capital cost of about $44.6 million.
“Approval of the Portal Project is a significant milestone for NioCorp,” said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Chairman of NioCorp. “This initiative allows us to advance one of the critical path schedule items for the project as we continue working toward securing the remaining financing needed for the Elk Creek Project. We greatly appreciate the strong support shown by Nebraskans and our project partners as we continue advancing.”
Meanwhile, on December 8, H.C. Wainwright reiterated a Buy rating and increased the price target to $9.50 from $8.25. The Buy rating comes on the company completing an $8.4 million acquisition of FEA Materials LLC, which will bolster its ability to produce aluminum scandium master alloy in the US.
Earlier on December 4, NioCorp Developments Ltd. announced it had acquired the manufacturing assets and intellectual property of Massachusetts-based FEA Materials LLC, a move that will support U.S. production of aluminum-scandium master alloy as demand rises. Once its Nebraska mine and processing facility are funded and operational, the deal positions NioCorp to build the nation’s first fully integrated scandium supply chain, spanning mining, oxide production, and alloy manufacturing for defense and commercial markets.
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ:NB) is a U.S. mineral Development Company focused on bringing the Elk Creek Project in Nebraska online to mine crucial materials Niobium, Scandium, and Titanium, along with potential Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
9. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ:USAR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30
USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ:USAR) is one of the best metal stocks to buy right now. On December 10, the company affirmed the acceleration of the commercialization timeline for its Round Top heavy rare-earth deposit in Texas. The company is now focused on commencing commercial production in late 2028, two years earlier than anticipated.
The acceleration comes as the company achieves promising results from solvent-extraction piloting, enabling it to operate its Hydromet demonstration facility in Colorado this year. The facility is to run five solvent extraction circuits continuously and generate operational data for commercial plant design.
The milestones underscore that the company is on track to begin extracting value from the Round Top deposit, one of the US’s known deposits of the heavy rare-earth elements gallium and beryllium.
“We’re challenging ourselves to innovate and pursue creative solutions that accelerate our timeline for securing, restoring, and growing the U.S. rare earth value chain,” said Barbara Hampton, Chief Executive Officer of USA Rare Earth. “Beginning commercial production at Round Top two years earlier than anticipated would be an exciting milestone made possible by the team’s technical capabilities, process knowledge, and ingenuity. As global demand for rare earth magnets continues to rise and geopolitical risks escalate, accelerating domestic production is essential for securing the long-term competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing.”
Analysts at Benchmark have already reiterated that the stock is a Buy with a $15 price target. The positive stance affirms the research firm’s confidence that the company is advancing a horizontally integrated concept” through its acquisition of LCM.
USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ:USAR) builds a domestic U.S. supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and magnets, developing the Round Top mine in Texas for minerals like Dysprosium and Terbium, and constructing a magnet manufacturing plant in Oklahoma, aiming to reduce reliance on China for critical components used in defense, EVs, electronics, and green energy.
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