Rare earth elements (REEs) are not quite as rare as their name suggests. This group of 17 minerals is found all over the world. What makes them special is not their rarity, but their complexity: rare earth elements typically occur together in mineral deposits, making their separation and refinement expensive and technically demanding.
Despite their ambiguous names, these items have become indispensable to modern life. They enable the magnets, inductors, and phosphors that power smartphones, electric vehicles, medical imaging devices, and even advanced defense systems. Their unique magnetic and conductive properties make them the invisible backbone of 21st century innovation, from clean energy to artificial intelligence and robotics.
Why are rare earth elements suddenly in the spotlight?
As the global economy continues to shift toward electrification and decarbonization, demand for rare earth elements has risen. They are needed to build high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and hydrogen fuel cells, technologies that are at the heart of the clean energy transition.
At the same time, terrestrial entities are of critical importance to the defense and artificial intelligence sectors. Advanced missiles, fighter aircraft and guidance systems rely on rare earth magnets for thermal stability and accuracy. Robotics, automation, and machine learning infrastructure also rely on REE-enabled sensors and actuators to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and speed. In short, rare earth elements are as crucial to the next generation of intelligent machines as oil once was to industrial growth.
Here comes China’s role. China currently dominates the rare earth industry, producing nearly as much 60% of the global supply of rare earth elements And control nearly 90% of the world’s processing capacity. This monopoly gives Beijing enormous influence over key global industries. As geopolitical tensions intensify between the United States and China, rare earths have emerged as a strategic vulnerability and national priority for Western governments.
In response, the United States and its allies are racing to rebuild domestic supply chains, from mining to refining, to reduce dependence on China. The result has been a massive wave of investment and growing momentum in rare earth stocks and important minerals.
Here are three leading rare earth names that have captured the attention of both institutions and the US government in 2025.
MP Materials: US REE Power
MP materials today
MP materials
- 52 week range
- $15.56
▼
$100.25
- Price target
- $77.80
MP materials New York Stock Exchange: Rep He became the face of the rare earth resurgence in the United States. The company operates the Mountain Pass mine in California, the only active rare earth mine in North America, and is the largest producer of rare earth materials in the Western Hemisphere. It mainly produces neodymium and praseodymium oxides, which are the main components of high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, drones and F-35 fighter jets.
MP stock is up more than 500% year to date, buoyed by renewed government support and trade tensions. After China restricted exports of rare earth elements earlier this year, the US Department of Defense and the Trump administration were quick to impose restrictions. Announced an investment in MP To secure domestic supplies in the long term. With strong geopolitical support and growing demand for clean energy and defense, MP Materials is firmly positioned at the center of America’s critical minerals strategy.
Lithium Americas: Securing the future of American lithium
Lithium Americas Today
Americas Lithium
- 52 week range
- $2.31
▼
$10.52
- Price target
- $5.30
While Lithium Americas Corp is known for its focus on lithium. New York Stock Exchange: Latin America and the Caribbean It is a vital part of the biomaterials landscape in the United States. Its Thacker Pass project in Nevada represents one of the largest known lithium deposits in North America, and it attracts powerful allies.
Two weeks ago, the US Department of Energy acquired a 5% stake in both Lithium Americas and its Thacker Pass joint venture with General Motors, signaling Washington’s commitment to securing domestic lithium supplies.
The stock has risen by 183% year to date, reflecting investor enthusiasm about its strategic importance. As demand for electric vehicles accelerates and the United States moves to land-based battery production, Lithium Americas is emerging as a cornerstone of the country’s energy independence drive.
Critical Minerals Corporation: A rising force in strategic mining
Critical minerals today
As of 10/15/2025 at 04:00 PM ET
- 52 week range
- $1.23
▼
$32.15
Critical Metals Company Nasdaq:CRML It quickly gained recognition as one of the fastest growing names in the sector. The company focuses on the mining, exploration and development of lithium and other important minerals through its projects in Wolfsberg and Tanbriz.
Its shares have risen more than 240% this year, driven by growing investor appetite for diversified exposure to the rare earths and batteries market.
With assets spanning key regions and growing interest from both retail and institutional investors, Critical Metals will benefit from the accelerating global shift towards resource security and sustainable development.
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