Rare earth elements have become one of the hottest topics in U.S. politics. These 17 metallic elements are challenging to obtain yet crucial to a variety of high-tech products, including defense and aerospace applications. Currently, China dominates this market, accounting for nearly 70% of the world's supply of these resources.
The United States is moving quickly to hedge against the risks of relying on a potential adversary for such scarce materials, recently announcing a significant investment in USA Rare Earth (USAR 6.40%), a pre-revenue materials stock that aims to lead domestic rare earth element production.
Should investors buy, sell, or hold USA Rare Earth stock?
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New funding deals raise the floor, but lower the ceiling
USA Rare Earth is currently developing a massive deposit in Texas and building a processing facility in Oklahoma. By 2030, management is targeting daily extraction of 40,000 metric tons of rare earth and critical minerals, which it will refine into materials, metals, and magnets for the federal government, defense companies, and other customers.
The U.S. government received 16.1 million shares of common stock and another 17.6 million stock warrants as part of the deal. While the government's backing dramatically increases the likelihood of USA Rare Earth's long-term survival, it also dilutes shareholders as the total share count expands. Additionally, USA Rare Earth tapped private markets for another $1.5 billion in funding, further increasing the total share count by 69.8 million shares.
All in, these funding deals could ultimately increase the share count by as much as 75%. In other words, each existing USA Rare Earth share would be worth almost 43% less than before, since it now represents a smaller stake in the business.
Shares of USA Rare Earth have fallen by more than 25% since the funding announcements
NASDAQ: USAR
Key Data Points
Even though the deals increase USA Rare Earth's odds of long-term success, it's crucial to remember that the government acts in the national interest, not necessarily in the interests of corporate shareholders. The market is essentially weighing the company's improved financials versus the dilution resulting from those funding deals. That's why the stock has gone down, not up, since the announcements.
Investors may want to refrain from rushing to buy the dip here. Even after the decline, USA Rare Earth now has a market cap of $4.2 billion. Again, the company doesn't generate any revenue yet. Management expects to begin commercial production at its Round Top deposit (Texas) by late 2028, so the company is likely still more than two years away from generating enough revenue to justify the stock's current valuation.
Buying or owning the stock at this point means accepting numerous risks. For instance, what if the government changes its mind about backing USA Rare Earth due to eventual political turnover or another reason? What if the company fails to meet its target dates or its 40,000-metric ton production goal?
Since the dilution offsets the stock's recent decline, it's still hard to see compelling value in USA Rare Earth. That makes the stock a sell today.
