January 23, 2026
Finance

USA Rare Earth Advances Texas Mining Project Amid Mixed Stock Signals

Engineering Partnerships and Drilling Plans Mark Progress While Stock Exhibits Volatile Momentum

Summary

USA Rare Earth Inc is progressing its Sierra Blanca, Texas, mining project through new engineering partnerships and preparatory activities. The company aims to produce heavy rare earth oxides commercially by late 2028. Concurrently, the stock shows strong short-term momentum but exhibits technical indicators that warrant cautious investor consideration.

Key Points

USA Rare Earth has engaged Fluor Corporation and WSP Global Inc as partners to accelerate development of its Sierra Blanca mining project in Texas.
The company aims for commercial production of heavy rare earth oxides by late 2028 and anticipates completing 2,000 continuous hours at its Colorado demonstration plant by October 2026.
Technical stock indicators show strong short-term momentum with the share price significantly above key moving averages, yet RSI signals an overbought condition advising caution.
Analysts maintain a Buy consensus on USAR stock with price targets up to $23, awaiting next earnings report projected for February 15.

USA Rare Earth Inc (NASDAQ: USAR) reported notable developments in its efforts to advance its rare earth mining project in Sierra Blanca, Texas. The company revealed the formation of strategic partnerships with engineering firms Fluor Corporation and WSP Global Inc to undertake engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) functions. These collaborations are intended to accelerate the mine's development, targeting commercial production of heavy rare earth oxides by the latter part of 2028.

Alongside these partnerships, USA Rare Earth continues operations at its demonstration facility located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The plant is slated to complete an anticipated cumulative 2,000 continuous run hours by October 2026, serving as a critical step in validating the processing technology relevant to the mining project.

Preparatory work for enhanced mine design and engineering is also underway, with plans to conduct confirmatory and geotechnical drilling at the Round Top site during the first half of 2026. These drilling activities will support engineering efforts aligned with finalizing the mine plan.

Market Technicals and Price Action

On the market front, USA Rare Earth's shares displayed notable strength, rising 2.51% to $23.29 at the time of the latest trade update. However, technical indicators suggest an intricate momentum profile. The stock price is currently trading approximately 36.5% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 23.3% above its 100-day SMA, reflecting pronounced short-term upward momentum.

Despite this surge, the relative strength index (RSI) stands at 70.63, a level classified as overbought territory. Additionally, the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) indicator remains above its signal line, signaling ongoing bullish momentum. The simultaneous presence of an overbought RSI combined with bullish MACD readings often precedes a potential momentum reversal, advising investors to exercise caution.

Key technical support and resistance levels are identified at $20.00 and $23.00 respectively, indicating critical price thresholds for traders monitoring the stock.

Analyst Perspectives and Forward Outlook

Market analysts anticipate the company's forthcoming earnings announcement scheduled for February 15. Consensus estimates predict a reported loss of seven cents per share (EPS estimate -$0.07) for the period. The prevailing analyst consensus assigns a Buy rating to USA Rare Earth shares, with an average price target near $18.00.

Recent analyst activities include Canaccord Genuity’s upgrade, raising their price target to $23.00 on November 7, 2025, and William Blair’s initiation of coverage with an Outperform rating announced on October 20, 2025. These ratings reflect confidence in the company's strategic direction and growth prospects despite current earnings estimates.

Investment Considerations

USA Rare Earth exhibits characteristics of a high-momentum asset, categorized within Benzinga’s market signal framework as a “High-Flyer.” While momentum indicators reflect a strong trend to the upside, the absence of complementary value and growth scores indicates potential volatility and underscores the need for judicious evaluation by investors.

The company’s methodical approach to project advancement, encompassing partnerships for EPCM services, demonstration plant operation, and geological drilling, demonstrates a thorough progression toward operational readiness. However, the extended timeline toward anticipated commercial production and ongoing losses present inherent risks affecting valuation and investor sentiment.

Risks
  • The stock's RSI indicates overbought conditions which may precede downward momentum or a market correction.
  • Projected earnings report expects a loss per share, reflecting ongoing operational costs and absence of profitability to date.
  • The timeline to commercial production extends to late 2028, introducing execution and market risk over the development period.
  • Despite momentum, the lack of strong value and growth metrics suggests cautious investment appraisal is warranted.
Disclosure
Education only / not financial advice
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