Every decade has its wealth-making story. In the 1990s, internet stocks created millionaires. In the 2000s, real estate did the same. In the 2010s, Big Tech stocks reshaped portfolios.
Now, in the 2020s, a new opportunity is quietly emerging in America: rare earth metals and critical minerals.
This isn’t just another headline for a finance newsletter—it’s one of the most important industrial moves in decades. The U.S. government is preparing to pour $5 billion into this sector, and early investors could ride the wave before Wall Street fully notices.
Why Rare Earths Matter More Than Ever
Rare earths may sound obscure, but they are the backbone of modern life:
Electric Vehicles: Every EV motor uses rare-earth magnets.
Renewable Energy: Wind turbines and solar panels depend on these metals.
AI & Data Centers: Advanced chips and servers require them.
Defense Systems: From drones to fighter jets, they’re irreplaceable.
Everyday Tech: Even your iPhone and headphones use them.
And demand is about to explode. Analysts expect the global need to triple or even quadruple in the next decade.
This is exactly the kind of story seasoned readers expect from a daily finance newsletter—a massive, fast-growing market most people aren’t paying attention to yet.
The China Problem
Here’s why the U.S. is moving so aggressively: China controls the game.
Mines about 60% of global rare earths.
Processes nearly 90% of the supply chain.
Already showed its power in 2010 by restricting exports to Japan during a dispute.
That move rattled governments worldwide. Today, the U.S. imports most of its rare earths from China, making it dangerously dependent on its biggest rival.
For Washington, this isn’t just economics. It’s national security. Without rare earths, America can’t build EVs, run AI data centers, or supply its military.
That’s why the government is stepping in with billions.
What the U.S. Is Doing
The U.S. is preparing a $5 billion fund to build its own rare earth industry. This is being called the largest industrial initiative since the Manhattan Project.
Here’s what’s happening:
Direct Funding: Billions flowing directly into U.S. mining companies.
Guaranteed Contracts: The government promises to buy whatever they produce.
Price Floors: Companies are guaranteed a set minimum price.
Fast-Track Approvals: New permitting rules speed up mining projects.
DoD & DoE Backing: The Pentagon invested $400M into MP Materials; the Department of Energy is deploying $1B in innovation funds.
In short: Washington is removing risk and becoming the number one customer. That’s the kind of government push that can turn small-cap stocks into wealth-making giants—a key insight you’d expect from any stockmarket newsletter.
The Global Market Outlook
The numbers are staggering:
Global rare earth market = $11B in 2023.
Expected by analysts to grow to $25–30B by 2030.
EVs alone could double demand by 2035.
Renewable energy projects and AI infrastructure are adding billions more in future demand.
For readers of an investment newsletter, this is a textbook case: supply is tight, demand is surging, and the government is guaranteeing success.
Why Wall Street Isn’t In Yet
Here’s the surprising part: big institutions are mostly on the sidelines. Data shows almost zero institutional trades in these companies last month.
Why? Because they’re too small. A $10 billion fund can’t allocate $500M into a company worth $700M without owning the entire thing.
That leaves the field open for individual investors—a rare moment when retail can act before Wall Street.
Seven Companies Leading the Charge
This wouldn’t be a complete newsletter stock analysis without naming names. Here are the companies to watch:
MP Materials (MP): Runs America’s only active rare earth mine. Partnered with GM and Apple. Got $400M from the Pentagon.
Energy Fuels (UUUU): Focused on uranium and rare earths. Debt-free with strong cash.
Neo Corp (NB): Developing a massive Nebraska project. Pentagon-funded drilling.
USA Rare Earths (USAS): Largest U.S. deposit of defense-critical minerals. Partnered with Apple.
Perpetual Resources (PTA): Produces antimony, vital for ammo & batteries. Fast-tracked for national security.
Critical Metals (CRML): Greenland project nearing feasibility—potential long-term Western supply.
Materion (MTRN): Already profitable. Produces alloys & beryllium used in aerospace, defense, and semiconductors.
These are the stocks early readers of a stockmarket newsletter want to keep on their watchlist.
The Risks You Shouldn’t Ignore
No opportunity is risk-free:
Mining projects can take years to turn profitable.
Some firms are still in pre-production stages.
China could try to flood the market and crash prices.
That’s why the smarter play is diversification: spreading investments across different companies and minerals instead of betting on just one.
Retail Investor Takeaways
Whether you follow crypto stocks, tech stocks, or defense plays, the lessons here are clear:
The U.S. government is going all-in on rare earths.
Demand is set to surge for the next decade.
Wall Street isn’t in yet—retail has an unusual first-mover advantage.
Diversify your bets across multiple names.
Only invest what you can afford to risk—it’s still volatile.
Final Word
The U.S. missed its chance to dominate rare earths decades ago. Now, with billions in government backing, it’s trying to catch up—and investors who spot the shift early could ride one of the most powerful wealth-creation waves of the 2020s.
This story shows how governments can shape entire industries—and how investors who move early can benefit.
The only question is: will you notice before everyone else does?