In this article, we will look at the 8 Best Rare Earth Stocks to Buy Right Now.
Rare earth mineral stocks are on the spot amid growing demand for critical minerals used in clean energy and advanced electronics. Geopolitical tensions are also fueling demand as nations move to secure supplies and reduce reliance on other nations.
The transition to renewable energy also requires vast stores of critical minerals.
“Wind turbines, solar batteries and ESS units, as well as consumer goods like electric vehicles, need minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earths to function. Demand for many critical minerals is being shaped by the energy transition.” noted Virginia Martin Heriz, global coordinator of Sustainable Investing Research at J.P. Morgan.
China dominates the rare earth industry, accounting for about 60% of global production. It also controls nearly 90% of the world’s processing capacity. The monopoly gives Beijing tremendous power and control over key industries.
Early last year, China imposed restrictions on the export of seven key rare-earth elements, citing national security concerns. It also added another five earth elements to the list and issued restrictions on the export of refining equipment. The restrictions are part of a retaliatory response to US trade restrictions.
Similarly, the US rare earth sector is rapidly expanding amid a push to break dependence on China, driven by government funding and new domestic demand. The government has already purchased stakes in some of the largest rare-earth companies in response to Chinese export controls.
The US Pentagon is also ramping up the procurement of rare earths and specialized minerals. The Defense Logistics Agency plans to establish a $1 billion reserve of essential minerals, including cobalt, antimony, tantalum, and scandium, all of which are necessary for the development of defense systems.
As clean tech buildout and supply chain restoration look set to remain multiyear themes, rare earth exposure stands to benefit from durable tailwinds. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best rare earth stocks to buy now.
Our Methodology
To compile the list of rare earth stocks to buy now, we scanned ETFs to compile a list of mining companies focused on rare earth minerals. Next, we selected stocks with upside potential of more than 5% as of April 22, 2026. Additionally, we checked the Insider Monkey database to identify stocks that are favored by hedge funds as of Q4 2025. Finally, the stocks are ranked in ascending order based on price upside potential.
While not all companies on this list are pure-play rare earth producers, we included select critical minerals companies with meaningful exposure to strategically important materials used in electrification, defense, and domestic supply chains
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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
Best Rare Earth Stocks to Buy Right Now
8. Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU)
Stock Upside Potential: 9.43%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) is one of the best rare earth stocks to buy right now. On April 18, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) announced that directors J. Birks Bovaird and Alexander G. Morrison will not seek re‑election at the June 24, 2026, annual meeting. The company noted their decision was unrelated to any disagreements, and the board thanked them for their service.
On March 25, Energy Fuels Inc. announced a significant milestone in producing the first kilogram of terbium oxide at its White Mesa Mill in Utah. It marks the company’s first production of the heavy rare earth material in decades.
The production process achieved 99.9% terbium oxide purity at pilot scale using monazite ore sourced from Florida and Georgia. The milestone also comes on the heels of the company producing 30 kilograms of 99.9% pure dysprosium oxide, a key rare earth metal used in permanent magnets. According to Chief Executive Officer Mark Chalmers, the milestone underscores the company’s ability to process and produce high-purity heavy rare earth oxides.
Consequently, Energy Fuels remains focused on producing terbium oxide at about 1 kilogram per week through the pilot circuit. It also plans to expand its rare-earth element production capacity while aiming for commercial-scale recovery of dysprosium, terbium, samarium, europium, and gadolinium.
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) is a leading U.S.-based critical minerals company primarily focused on mining and processing uranium to supply carbon-free nuclear energy. They operate the White Mesa Mill in Utah—the only conventional uranium mill in the U.S.—along with several uranium mines and ISR projects.
7. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP)
Stock Upside Potential: 16.24%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is one of the best rare earth stocks to buy right now. On April 20, analysts at Wedbush initiated coverage of MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) with an Outperform rating and a $90 price target.
The coverage comes as MP Materials is the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the US, backed by its Mountain Pass Mine in California. It acquired the mine out of bankruptcy in 2018 for $20.5 million and has expanded downstream through midstream separation. The company also owns an independent magnet manufacturing facility in Texas.
Wedbush has touted the company’s long-term prospects, noting that Mountain Pass is a low-cost producer of rare-earth concentrate outside China. The mine consists of the highest-grade bastnaesite deposit in the Western world. The research firm expects the company to become a national champion amid renewed efforts to reduce the US’s reliance on China for rare-earth supplies.
MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is the leading American producer of rare earth materials, focused on restoring the full supply chain to the U.S. by mining, refining, and manufacturing high-strength neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. It supplies critical materials for electric vehicles, defense systems, robotics, and clean energy technologies.
6. Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC)
Stock Upside Potential: 16.55%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19
Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC) is one of the best rare-earth stocks to buy right now. On April 20, Wedbush initiated coverage of Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC) with a Neutral rating and a $8 price target. According to the research, the company’s flagship Thacker Pass project has evolved from a mining development project into a national security asset. That’s in part because the project boasts of the world’s largest known measured lithium resource.
Additionally, the Thacker Pass project is supported by a $2.23 billion Department of Energy Loan and a General Motors joint venture. According to Wedbush, 2026 will be a key year for the Thacker Pass build-out, given the favorable geopolitical backdrop for domestic lithium production.
Lithium Americas has made significant progress on the development of the Thacker Pass project, with a target for mechanical completion in 2027. Peak construction is expected in 2026 as Lithium Americas Corp positions Thacker Pass to play a central role in securing the US’s national security and future energy needs.
Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC) is a North American-focused resource company developing the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, which is the largest known lithium resource in the US. It aims to supply battery-quality lithium carbonate for electric vehicles and renewable energy, with a major project phase scheduled for completion around 2027.
While we acknowledge the potential of LAC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LAC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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