Investment expected to increase long-term system capacity alongside development of River Bend AI data center campus
, /PRNewswire/ -- Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq, TSX: HUT) ("Hut 8" or the "Company"), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases, today announced an agreement with West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, to invest approximately $16 million to expand local water system capacity in connection with the development of its River Bend AI data center campus. The investment includes the construction of a new water well, approximately eight miles of water main, and other system enhancements, which will be transferred to the parish upon completion, expected in the second half of 2026, at no cost to taxpayers.
These improvements are expected to expand system capacity and reliability across West Feliciana Parish, with the potential to benefit more than 4,000 households and more than 200 employer establishments, based on U.S. Census Bureau data1. The investment aligns with broader efforts across Louisiana to strengthen water infrastructure, including the state's $750 million Water Sector Program, established to fund repairs and upgrades to community water systems. By expanding core system capacity through private investment, the project is also expected to help preserve public funding capacity for other infrastructure priorities across the parish.
The River Bend campus is expected to deliver significant economic impact to the Capital Region. Phase 1 alone represents a multibillion-dollar capital investment, ranking among the largest planned private infrastructure projects in the state's history. At peak construction, Hut 8 anticipates approximately 1,000 construction workers on-site. Once operational, Phase 1 is expected to support at least 75 direct permanent jobs and approximately 193 indirect jobs, or 268 jobs in total.
At River Bend, Hut 8 is expanding the local water system while designing its facilities to minimize demand on it. The campus will use a closed loop cooling system that significantly reduces ongoing water requirements and relies on water outside the residential aquifer, with no impact to the local water supply.
Asher Genoot, Chief Executive Officer of Hut 8, said: "We build infrastructure for communities, not just for ourselves. At River Bend, that means strengthening the water system the parish depends on rather than straining it. As the United States scales AI infrastructure, we believe this approach will set the standard for how AI infrastructure is developed in communities across the country."
Kenny Havard, Parish President of West Feliciana Parish, said: "This is a real investment in the infrastructure our parish needs. It will strengthen our water system and expand service in areas that need it most without adding cost for our residents. It puts us in a position to handle future growth in the right way while protecting the resources our community depends on."
The River Bend campus is part of Hut 8's integrated North American energy and digital infrastructure platform, developed in partnership with public and private sector stakeholders.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-Year Estimates, Table DP02, and County Business Patterns 2023, Table CB2300CBP About Hut 8
Hut 8 is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies such as AI, high-performance computing, and ASIC compute. The Company develops, commercializes, and operates industrial-scale energy and data center infrastructure through a power-first, innovation-driven approach. For more information, visit hut8.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the terms, value, features and expected benefits of the water infrastructure investment, including the expected completion and timing of the infrastructure improvements, the expected system capacity, impact and benefits to West Feliciana Parish and the Capital Region of Hut 8's water infrastructure investment and the River Bend project, Hut 8's potential expansion plans for the River Bend site, the Company's development pipeline, and the Company's future business strategy, competitive strengths, expansion, and growth of the business and operations more generally, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "allow," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "can," "might," "potential," "is designed to," "likely," or similar expressions.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the construction of new data centers, including cost overruns, delays, supply chain issues, permitting or regulatory hurdles, unexpected technical challenges, and dependency on contractors; risks relating to the financing of new data centers, including the potential dilutive impact of equity issuances (if any), access to capital markets, timing and cost of financing, and market conditions such as increases in interest rates, declining equity valuations, volatility in credit markets, or tightening lending standards; risks impacting our ability to expand the power capacity at the River Bend campus, such as limitations of transmission and/or generation resources; failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; failing to grow hashrate; purchasing miners; relying on third-party mining pool service providers; uncertainty in the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; Bitcoin halving events; competition from other methods of investing in Bitcoin; concentration of Bitcoin holdings; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company's recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company's EDGAR profile at sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at sedarplus.ca.
This marks Pizza Hut's latest crust innovation alongside new "For the Love of Hut Crust" program offering consumers a chance to win big
, /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pizza Hut announces its latest innovation in crust as part of its Hut Crust platform. Introducing the new Crispy Parm Pan Pizza, available nationwide at participating locations starting at $101 for a medium, 1-topping pizza. This all-new pizza takes Pizza Hut's iconic Original Pan Pizza that fans have loved since 1980 and makes it even more indulgent with the addition of crispy parmesan on the outer crust and extra cheese on the entire pizza. It's crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, highly craveable and unmistakably Pizza Hut.
PIZZA HUT DEBUTS NEW CRISPY PARM PAN PIZZA AND TURNS CRUST LEAVERS INTO CRUST LOVERS When it comes to pizza, crust might just be the ultimate hot take. On one side: the crust lovers who savor every bite. On the other: those who leave it behind - with nearly 19% of consumers saying they skip the crust altogether2. Pizza Hut believes the right crust can change minds, and the new Crispy Parm Pan Pizza is poised to do just that. To celebrate its new crust innovation, Pizza Hut is launching "For the Love of Hut Crust," a new program inviting crust lovers and crust leavers to officially declare where they stand when it comes to crust preferences. Share your take on social media with an Instagram or TikTok post and head to www.pizzahutcrust.com for a chance to win free crust for a year.3
The "For the Love of Hut Crust" debut builds upon Pizza Hut's Hut Crust platform, celebrating the bold, recognizable crusts that have defined the brand for generations. Pizza Hut recently introduced its first-of-its-kind Hut Crust Connoisseur awarded to the ultimate crust lover. Now, the brand aims to convert crust leavers into crust lovers with a chance to win free pizza and an array of delicious crust options.
"Crust has always been at the heart of what makes Pizza Hut iconic. With its bold, parmesan-baked edge, we are confident the Crispy Parm Pan Pizza is a crust that can change minds and turn everyone into a crust lover," said Melissa Friebe, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut. "As we continue to build our Hut Crust platform, 'For the Love of Hut Crust' celebrates crust lovers everywhere, from lifelong fans to new converts discovering what they've been missing."
The Crispy Parm Pan Pizza is available to order now starting at $101 for a medium, 1-topping pizza on the Pizza Hut app, online, or in-store at participating locations nationwide. For the latest announcements and promotions from Pizza Hut, visit https://www.pizzahut.com/ and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @PizzaHut.
1 Limited time offer at participating locations only. Additional charge for extra toppings, extra cheese, and recipe pizza upgrade. Includes medium pizza. Available in large for additional cost. Product availability, prices & participation vary. Priced higher in some locations, including CA. Taxes, tip & fees extra.
3 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C. 18+ years or older. Begins 5:00 a.m. ET on May 27, 2026 and ends at 7:00 p.m. ET on June 15, 2026. Prize/Odds: Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received. Subject to Official Rules located at https://www.pizzahutcrust.com/rules
About Pizza Hut®
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, and is a global leader in the pizza category with nearly 20,000 restaurants in more than 110 markets and territories. The brand has earned a reputation as a trailblazer in innovation with the creation of icons like Original Pan® and Original Stuffed Crust® pizzas. In 1994, Pizza Hut pizza was the very first online food order, and today Pizza Hut continues leading the way in the digital and technology space with over half of transactions worldwide coming from digital orders. In addition, Pizza Hut has Hut Rewards®, the brand's loyalty program in the U.S. that offers points for every dollar spent on food any way you order. Leveraging its global presence, Pizza Hut also works to positively impact restaurant employees, the communities they serve and the environment through commitments across three priority areas: More Equity, Less Carbon and Better Packaging.
Media Contact:
ALISON BROD MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
[email protected]
Eidelman most recently led investor relations at NextEra Energy after 17 years in corporate and investment banking at J.P. Morgan
Appointment follows the contracting of $16.8 billion in data center lease revenue and the closing of a landmark investment-grade construction bond issuance as the Company pursues a corporate investment-grade rating
, /PRNewswire/ -- Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq, TSX: HUT) ("Hut 8" or the "Company"), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies, today announced the appointment of Mark Eidelman as Head of Investor Relations and Senior Vice President of Strategic Finance. Eidelman will report to CFO Sean Glennan and lead the Company's strategic finance and investor relations functions.
Mark Eidelman, Head of Investor Relations and Senior Vice President of Strategic Finance at Hut 8 Before joining Hut 8, Eidelman led investor relations at NextEra Energy, where he owned the company's equity narrative and global investor relationships. He was ranked #2 Investor Relations Professional in Utilities on Extel's 2025 All-America Executive Team. Prior to that role, he led the M&A and joint ventures team at NextEra Energy Transmission.
Eidelman has 17 years of experience in corporate and investment banking at J.P. Morgan, most recently as a managing director. In that role, he led the execution of more than $75 billion in debt, equity, and structured financings and advised public and private clients on capital structure, M&A, and strategic transactions, primarily in the power, utility, and renewables industries.
Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8, said: "Our ambition is to build one of the defining businesses of this era at the intersection of energy and technology. As we advance our power-first strategy, contracting institutional-grade infrastructure at scale and pursuing a corporate investment-grade rating, our priority is to deepen institutional sponsorship and lower our cost of capital over time. That demands a leader who has operated at the highest levels of both infrastructure finance and institutional capital markets. Mark is that leader, and his appointment reflects the strength of what we have built and the scale of what we intend to build."
Sean Glennan, CFO of Hut 8, said: "What distinguishes Mark is the full arc of his career — from structuring some of the most complex transactions in the power sector at J.P. Morgan to representing NextEra Energy's investment case to the most sophisticated institutional capital in the world. His experience on both sides of the capital markets relationship gives him a fluency not only in how to present a capital story but also in how to engage rating agencies as we pursue a corporate investment-grade rating, how to build relationships with long-duration capital, and how to establish a company's position in the institutional capital markets. We could not be more confident in his ability to lead that work for Hut 8."
Mark Eidelman, Head of Investor Relations and Senior Vice President of Strategic Finance at Hut 8, said: "Growing demand for power across AI and other energy-intensive technologies is reshaping infrastructure markets and creating new opportunities for differentiated platforms. I believe Hut 8 is uniquely positioned to continue to capitalize on this structural shift. I look forward to working closely with Asher, Sean and the rest of the leadership team as we execute on the Company's growth strategy and continue building long-term shareholder value."
About Hut 8
Hut 8 is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies such as AI, high-performance computing, and ASIC compute. The Company develops, commercializes, and operates industrial-scale energy and data center infrastructure through a power-first, innovation-driven approach. For more information, visit hut8.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the Company's strategic priorities, institutional capital markets strategy, efforts to strengthen its credit profile, pursuit of a corporate investment-grade rating, capital allocation and financing initiatives, access to capital, cost of capital, development pipeline, future business strategy, competitive strengths, expansion and growth plans more generally, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "allow," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "can, "might," "potential," "is designed to," "likely," or similar expressions.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the construction of new data centers, including cost overruns, delays, supply chain issues, permitting or regulatory hurdles, unexpected technical challenges, and dependency on contractors; risks relating to the financing of new data centers, including the potential dilutive impact of equity issuances (if any), access to capital markets, timing and cost of financing, and market conditions such as increases in interest rates, declining equity valuations, volatility in credit markets, or tightening lending standards; risks impacting our ability to expand the power capacity at the River Bend campus, such as limitations of transmission and/or generation resources; failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; failing to grow hashrate; purchasing miners; relying on third-party mining pool service providers; uncertainty in the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; Bitcoin halving events; competition from other methods of investing in Bitcoin; concentration of Bitcoin holdings; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company's recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company's EDGAR profile at sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at sedarplus.ca.
Fully amortizing project financing due 2042; non-recourse to Hut 8 Corp.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq, TSX: HUT) ("Hut 8" or the "Company"), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Beacon Point DC LLC (the "Issuer"), has priced a $4.25 billion private offering (the "Offering") of 6.129% senior secured notes due 2042 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be offered to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S thereunder. The Offering is expected to close on June 9, 2026, subject to market and other conditions. There can be no assurance that the Offering will be completed on the terms described herein or at all.
The Issuer intends to use the proceeds from the Offering to (i) finance (1) the development and construction of a turnkey data center, comprising six data halls with a combined total of 352 megawatts of critical IT capacity, to be built on an approximately 521-acre property in Nueces County, Texas (the "Property") and (2) the construction of the substation located on the Property (together, the "Project"), which data center facility will be leased to a tenant that is a high-investment-grade company (i.e., rated AA- or higher) as of the date hereof (the "Tenant") pursuant to the Data Center Lease Agreement (as amended by the First Amendment to Data Center Lease Agreement, the "Lease"), (ii) fund debt service reserves, and (iii) pay fees and expenses in connection with the Offering.
The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 6.129% per annum payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on May 30 and November 30 of each year, beginning on November 30, 2026 and will mature on November 30, 2042. The Notes will be fully amortizing with amortization payments payable semi-annually beginning on May 30, 2030.
The Notes will constitute senior secured obligations of the Issuer and will be secured by first-priority liens on substantially all assets of the Issuer, other than certain excluded property, as well as a pledge of the equity interests in the Issuer held by Beacon Point Holding LLC, the direct parent company of the Issuer. The Notes are non-recourse to Hut 8.
The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S thereunder.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Hut 8
Hut 8 is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies such as AI, high-performance computing, and ASIC compute. The Company develops, commercializes, and operates industrial-scale energy and data center infrastructure through a power-first, innovation-driven approach.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company and the Issuer expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the Project and the terms of the Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Company's development pipeline, and the Company's future business strategy, competitive strengths, expansion, and growth of the business and operations more generally, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "allow," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "can," "might," "potential," "is designed to," "likely," or similar expressions.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the construction of new data centers (including the Project), including cost overruns, delays, supply chain issues, permitting or regulatory hurdles, unexpected technical challenges, and dependency on contractors; risks relating to the financing of new data centers (including the Project), including the potential dilutive impact of equity issuances (if any), access to capital markets, timing and cost of financing, and market conditions such as increases in interest rates, declining equity valuations, volatility in credit markets, or tightening lending standards; risks impacting our ability to expand the power capacity at the Beacon Point AI data center campus, such as limitations of transmission and/or generation resources; failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company's recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Information in this press release is as of the dates and time periods indicated herein, and neither the Company nor the Issuer undertake to update any of the information contained in these materials, except as required by law.
New Hut Originals Platform Celebrates the Fans Who Grew Up with Pizza Hut and the Return of Iconic Moments All Summer Long IYKYK: Hut Originals Can Bring Back Their Classic BOOK IT! Button on June 10 for a Free Personal Pan Pizza®* Pizza Hut and Box Tops for Education Team Up to Bring Back BOOK IT!® Summer of Stories™ with New Ways for Families to Earn Cash for Schools , /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Pizza Hut is celebrating the fans who made the brand iconic with the launch of Hut Originals, a new platform dedicated to Pizza Hut's iconic food, fun and fans. From the unmistakable red roof, red cups and checkered tablecloths to birthday parties, arcade tables and summers spent earning free pizza through BOOK IT!®, Hut Originals is a celebration of the generations of fans who grew up with Pizza Hut.
PIZZA HUT ANNOUNCES THE SUMMER OF HUT ORIGINALS – A NEW PLATFORM CELEBRATING THE ICONIC FOOD, EXPERIENCES AND FANS THAT MADE THE BRAND
PIZZA HUT ANNOUNCES THE SUMMER OF HUT ORIGINALS – A NEW PLATFORM CELEBRATING THE ICONIC FOOD, EXPERIENCES AND FANS THAT MADE THE BRAND To kick off the Summer of Hut Originals, Pizza Hut put a new spin on one of its most iconic menu items with the launch of the new Crispy Parm Pan Pizza, available now at participating Pizza Hut locations nationwide*. Hut Originals should also keep an eye out all summer long for fan-favorite menu items offered at throwback value, unexpected merch partnerships and collections, Pizza Hut Classic location experiences and more.
And because no Pizza Hut memory is more iconic than earning free pizza for reading, Pizza Hut is celebrating generations of BOOK IT! fans with a one-day-only reward. On Wednesday, June 10, guests who bring in a BOOK IT! button from any year to participating Pizza Hut locations can receive a free Personal Pan Pizza®*. Whether you earned yours in the '80s, '90s, 2000s or beyond, Pizza Hut is inviting fans to relive one of the brand's most beloved traditions. See full offer terms at: https://www.pizzahut.com/c/content/book-it-personal-pan-pizza-event.
Pizza Hut is also bringing back its beloved BOOK IT!® Summer of Stories™ program running June through August, inviting parents with children in pre-K through sixth grade to set monthly reading goals through the BOOK IT! mobile app. Once goals are met, kids can earn a free Personal Pan Pizza® from participating Pizza Hut locations, bringing back a nostalgic tradition loved by generations while encouraging reading all summer long.
Additionally, for the first time ever, Pizza Hut is teaming up with General Mills and Box Tops for Education to give families an easy way to support local schools. Families can earn Box Tops for eligible schools by scanning receipts from Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! Family Meal** — which includes one medium one-topping pizza and two one-topping Personal Pan Pizzas for $14.99. For every BOOK IT! Family Meal purchased, a portion of proceeds will go towards supporting the BOOK IT! program and educational literacy. Together, BOOK IT! and Box Tops encourage families to unplug, create impactful summer memories and support literacy at home and in classrooms nationwide.
"After seeing so much excitement from customers around our Classic locations and the Pizza Hut originals people still know and love today, we knew it was the perfect time to launch Hut Originals," said Melissa Friebe, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut. "The platform celebrates the moments, memories and menu items generations of fans share with Pizza Hut. BOOK IT! continues to be one of the most beloved and talked-about programs tied to the brand, and this summer we're excited to bring fans new partnerships, experiences and nostalgic moments all summer long."
Parents can sign their children up to participate in Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! Summer of Stories by downloading the BOOK IT! app for free on the App Store or Google Play and setting reading goals for their child throughout June, July and August. To learn more about Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! Program, visit www.bookitprogram.com and for the latest brand announcements and promotions visit www.pizzahut.com and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @PizzaHut. Families can also earn cash for their schools by downloading the Box Tops for Education app for free on the App Store or Google Play.
* No Purchase Necessary. Offer ends 11:00 p.m. CT 6/10/26, or when supplies are exhausted, whichever is sooner. Open to individuals who are (1) legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia at least the age of majority in their state of residence at time of entry; and (2) Book It! Pin owners prior to 6/10/26. Void where prohibited. Subject to full Terms and Conditions: https://www.pizzahut.com/c/content/book-it-personal-pan-pizza-event. Sponsored by Pizza Hut, LLC, 7100 Corporate Dr., Plano, TX 75024.
** Additional charge for extra toppings, Pan, and extra cheese. Product availability, combinability of discounts and specials, prices, and participation vary. Priced higher in some locations, including CA. Taxes, tip and delivery fees not included.
About Pizza Hut®
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, and is a global leader in the pizza category with nearly 20,000 restaurants in more than 110 markets and territories. The brand has earned a reputation as a trailblazer in innovation with the creation of icons like Original Pan® and Original Stuffed Crust® pizzas. In 1994, Pizza Hut pizza was the very first online food order, and today Pizza Hut continues leading the way in the digital and technology space with over half of transactions worldwide coming from digital orders. In addition, Pizza Hut has Hut Rewards®, the brand's loyalty program in the U.S. that offers points for every dollar spent on food any way you order. Leveraging its global presence, Pizza Hut also works to positively impact restaurant employees, the communities they serve and the environment through commitments across three priority areas: More Equity, Less Carbon and Better Packaging.
About Box Tops for Education
Box Tops for Education, founded by General Mills in 1996, is a school earnings program that enables families to support their local schools through everyday purchases. By using the Box Tops app, families can earn cash for schools by scanning receipts or linking store accounts. To date, schools have earned nearly $1 billion through the program. For more information, visit www.boxtops4education.com.
About General Mills
General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to boldly build its brands, relentlessly innovate, unleash its scale and stand for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names like Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Totino's, Annie's, Wanchai Ferry and more. General Mills generated fiscal 2025 net sales of U.S. $19 billion. In addition, the company's share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1 billion. For more information, visit www.generalmills.com.
Media Contact:
ALISON BROD MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
[email protected]
Hut 8's second investment-grade data center construction bond — fully amortizing, non-recourse, and non-dilutive — rated Baa2 and priced 20 basis points inside the River Bend notes issuance spread
Substantially oversubscribed, broadening Hut 8's institutional credit investor base and bringing cumulative project-level, investment-grade data center construction financing to $7.5 billion
, /PRNewswire/ -- Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq: HUT) (TSX: HUT) ("Hut 8" or the "Company"), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies, today announced the closing of a $4.25 billion offering (the "Offering") of 6.129% senior secured notes due 2042 (the "Notes") issued by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Beacon Point DC LLC (the "Issuer"). The Notes are rated Baa2 by Moody's Ratings, one notch above the BBB− assigned by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings to Hut 8's River Bend financing in April 2026.
The Issuer intends to use the proceeds from the Offering to (i) finance (1) the development and construction of a turnkey data center, comprising six data halls with a combined total of 352 megawatts of critical IT capacity, to be built on an approximately 521-acre property in Nueces County, Texas and (2) the construction of the substation located on the property, which data center facility will be leased to a tenant that is a high-investment-grade company (i.e., rated AA− or higher) as of the date hereof pursuant to the data center lease agreement, (ii) fund debt service reserves, and (iii) pay fees and expenses in connection with the Offering.
Offering Highlights
Demonstrates the repeatability of an investment-grade financing model that preserves balance-sheet strength: The Offering marks the second execution of a financing model that is non-recourse to Hut 8, fully funded at the project level, and non-dilutive to existing shareholders, with no expected equity issuance by Hut 8 to fund the project. The fully amortizing structure eliminates refinancing risk at the project level, while its non-recourse profile allows Hut 8 to maintain zero recourse debt at the parent level, leaving its balance sheet unconstrained. Reflects disciplined, first-principles execution marked by improved rating, pricing, and scale: The Offering improves upon the first execution of the model at River Bend across rating and spread. At T+165 basis points, the Notes priced 20 basis points inside the River Bend notes issuance spread. These terms establish the Offering as the largest, tightest-priced, and highest-rated investment-grade bond issued to date in a single-sponsor data center construction financing. Across successive executions, this progression supports Hut 8's pursuit of a corporate investment-grade profile. Confirms broadening institutional endorsement of Hut 8's development financing model: Investor demand validates Hut 8's model of financing investment-grade, construction-stage development. The Offering was substantially oversubscribed and attracted both repeat investors and new investors who did not participate in the River Bend offering, broadening Hut 8's institutional credit investor base. Together, River Bend and Beacon Point represent $7.5 billion of investment-grade capital raised for construction-stage data center development, a credit standard rarely achieved prior to commercial operations. Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8, said: "The investment-grade market has historically not been available to finance project-level data center construction. Together with our River Bend offering, this Offering establishes the ability of our data center projects to access investment-grade financing markets and demonstrates a repeatable model for funding construction-stage development. We believe this structure, which eliminates refinancing risk and protects shareholder value, can support a durable competitive advantage as we continue to scale."
Sean Glennan, CFO of Hut 8, said: "The hallmark of this financing model is repeatability. What enables us to deliver superior outcomes over time, however, is rigor of execution. Each term of the Offering was structured from first principles rather than inherited from the prior offering. Beacon Point improves on River Bend across key financing metrics, including rating and spread. We intend to bring that same discipline to future transactions."
J.P. Morgan acted as lead bookrunner for the Offering. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as a bookrunner for the Offering.
About Hut 8Hut 8 is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive technologies such as AI, high-performance computing, and ASIC compute. The Company develops, commercializes, and operates industrial-scale energy and data center infrastructure through a power-first, innovation-driven approach. For more information, visit hut8.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, the development and construction of the Beacon Point project, the expected benefits and repeatability of the Company's financing model, the Company's pursuit of a corporate investment-grade profile, the Company's development pipeline, and the Company's future business strategy, competitive strengths, expansion, and growth of the business and operations more generally, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "allow," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "can, "might," "potential," "is designed to," "likely," or similar expressions.
Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the construction of new data centers, including cost overruns, delays, supply chain issues, permitting or regulatory hurdles, unexpected technical challenges, and dependency on contractors; risks relating to the financing of new data centers, including the potential dilutive impact of equity issuances (if any), access to capital markets, timing and cost of financing, and market conditions such as increases in interest rates, declining equity valuations, volatility in credit markets, or tightening lending standards; risks impacting our ability to expand the power capacity at the River Bend campus, such as limitations of transmission and/or generation resources; failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company's recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company's EDGAR profile at sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at sedarplus.ca. Information in this press release is as of the dates and time periods indicated herein, and neither the Company nor the Issuer undertake to update any of the information contained in these materials, except as required by law.
Hut 8 Corp (HUT) is executing a power-first, repeatable AI infrastructure model, securing power before tenants to de-risk and monetize capacity flexibly. HUT's Beacon Point and River Bend projects demonstrate rapid scaling, with $16.8B in contracted revenue and long-term, triple-net, take-or-pay leases underpinning predictable cash flows. The recent $4.25B project-level, non-recourse debt for Beacon Point, backed by an AA-rated tenant, signals institutional confidence and reduces refinancing risk.
It has been a tough run for Oklo (OKLO +4.42%) investors. Since 2026 began, the share price of the nuclear stock has fallen by around 14%. From their highs set last October, share prices are down a whopping 61%.
There are several reasons for the downfall. For instance, a lack of major announcements is part of it. While Oklo did sign a major agreement with Meta Platforms in January for a 1.2-gigawatt small modular reactor (SMR) system, actual construction of any project in its pipeline has not seen much news. This lack of real-world traction has undeniably weighed on the stock.
But the company -- and thus its shares -- could receive a timely momentum boost in July from a positive announcement.
Image source: Getty Images.
Expect this positive announcement from Oklo in July In March, Oklo announced that its Groves Isotopes Test Reactor -- which it acquired earlier this year through its Atomic Alchemy acquisition -- received important regulatory approvals that will help the reactor reach criticality by a deadline of July 4.
What exactly is criticality? According to the U.S. Department of Energy:
We say a nuclear reactor is 'critical' when it is perfectly stable. That happens when each uranium atom that splits via fission releases enough neutrons to cause one additional atom to split. That stable 'chain reaction' is what keeps nuclear power plants generating electricity around the clock.
While this Texas facility is more focused on medical and industrial radioisotopes versus electricity generation, getting its first reactor to criticality should provide a much-needed positive update for Oklo. "This plant will help us gather critical data, refine our processes, and apply those lessons to subsequent licensing submissions and future deployments," Oklo's CEO said in a statement. "Groves is helping show what a faster model for nuclear asset deployment can look like," he later added.
Why the July 4 deadline? The date was actually chosen by the U.S. government, not Oklo.
According to reports, the Department of Energy wants to reach criticality for multiple test reactors in the U.S. on that date to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary. The Groves reactor was fast-tracked by the Trump administration and put under its Energy Reactor Pilot Program, which speeds up approval and regulatory times for nuclear systems to reach commercial licensing. The Groves site was one of three nuclear reactors chosen nationwide.
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William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer is bullish on Oklo stock given how friendly regulators have been to the company. "While we recognize the inherent risks of a pre-revenue business, we view Oklo as a leader among advanced reactors and making significant progress under the more favorable nuclear and regulatory environment," he wrote in an update to clients after reaffirming his outperform rating.
To be clear, it will still be years until we learn whether Oklo's SMR systems are commercially viable at scale. But its Atomic Alchemy division appears on the fast track to achieving its first revenue.
Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Nuclear energy is ready to explode. That's the conclusion of Bank of America analysts following the publication of their new report on nuclear energy.
"[N]uclear energy has, in many ways, been recently 'rediscovered' amid surging electricity demand," the bank's analysts observe. "Compared with other energy sources, it offers reliable baseload power, a smaller carbon footprint, and a higher energy return on investment."
How big will the nuclear energy renaissance be? In total, nuclear energy is a $10 trillion opportunity that could hold "the answer to the world's power shortages," the bank concluded.
Morgan Stanley analysts largely agree, though with slightly differing forecasts. "Global nuclear capacity could more than double to 860 gigawatts (GW) by 2050," a recent Morgan Stanley report predicts. "Investments in the nuclear value chain could reach $2.2 trillion in the next 25 years."
Image source: Getty Images.
Bank of America cited "surging electricity demand" as a reason for building more nuclear power plants. And there's one major reason for this rise in demand: artificial intelligence. U.S. electricity use hit new highs last year, with 2026 and 2027 also expected to reach record highs. "Demand is surging due in large part to data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence," concludes a recent Reuters report.
If you're invested in AI stocks or data center stocks, you'll want to pay very close attention to nuclear energy. That's because without nuclear, it may be difficult for the AI and data center industries to source new power generation, limiting overall growth potential. There are two nuclear stocks in particular that I'd monitor closely.
AI investors should monitor these two nuclear energy stocks Oklo (OKLO +4.42%) is the most obvious nuclear company for AI investors to track. The company is backed by Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI. Altman was an early investor in the company, acting as chairman for a number of years.
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Oklo specializes in small modular reactors, or SMRs. Oklo calls them "microreactors." The miniature nuclear power plants can be co-located directly with data center infrastructure, allowing these data centers to operate for decades without refueling or needing to rely on grid power. Oklo already has an impressive list of data center customers in its pipeline, including a major deal with Meta Platforms.
NuScale Power (SMR +2.80%) also specializes in SMRs. Its customer acquisition strategy differs, however. Whereas Oklo is focused on closing deals directly with AI and data center companies, NuScale is focused on larger systems that tie in directly to the grid. Its customer base, therefore, is comprised mostly of electric utilities.
Importantly, neither NuScale nor Oklo have any plants currently in operation. Construction on NuScale's biggest project, however -- its 6 gigawatt system in the eastern U.S. in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA -- could begin later this year. "We're hopeful that TVA can come across the line at some point later this year," NuScale's CFO commented in May.
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SMR technology may be years away from attaining a fully commercialized and operational facility in the U.S. But interest is growing quickly among data center operators, electric utilities, and AI companies.
Oklo (OKLO +4.42%) and NuScale (SMR +2.80%) are both targeting the next wave of nuclear power demand, but their paths are very different. NuScale has the regulatory head start, while Oklo's ownership model could create decades of recurring power revenue if it can execute.
Stock prices used were the market prices of May 22, 2026. The video was published on May 30, 2026.
Rick Orford has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends NuScale Power. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The Global X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (MLPX +0.36%) provides a lower-cost, high-yield alternative to the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR +3.94%), which focuses on growth-oriented nuclear power and mining companies.
Investors seeking energy sector exposure often choose between stable income and thematic growth. These two funds represent distinct corners of the market: the steady midstream infrastructure of master limited partnerships versus the specialized, high-growth potential of the global nuclear power industry and uranium mining companies. This analysis examines how their underlying strategies and risk profiles differ.
Snapshot (cost & size)MetricNLRMLPXIssuerVanEckGlobal XExpense ratio0.52%0.45%1-yr return (as of May 29, 2026)40.50%24.60%Dividend yield2.29%4.13%Beta0.810.58AUM$4.9 billion$3.5 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
With an expense ratio of 0.45%, the Global X fund is slightly more affordable than the VanEck fund. Income-focused investors may prefer the Global X fund for its 4.20% distribution yield, which significantly outpaces the 2.40% yield of its nuclear-focused peer.
Performance & risk comparisonMetricNLRMLPXMax drawdown (5 yr)(30.50%)(19.70%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$2,754$2,668What's insideThe Global X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (MLPX +0.36%) concentrates almost entirely on the energy sector at 99.00%, specifically targeting midstream companies and master limited partnerships. This fund tracks a Solactive index of infrastructure providers, holds 30 positions, and was launched in 2013. Its largest positions include TC Energy (TRP +1.31%) at 8.54%, Enbridge (ENB +0.86%) at 8.50%, and Williams Cos (WMB +0.12%) at 8.03%. The fund has a trailing-12-month dividend of $3.04 per share and manages $3.5 billion in assets under management (AUM).
In contrast, the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR +3.94%) is more diversified across sectors, with 46.00% in energy, 37.00% in utilities, and 15.00% in industrials. This older fund, launched in 2007, and holds 29 positions. Its top holdings include Constellation Energy (CEG +1.69%) at 8.07%, Cameco (CCJ +3.78%) at 8.07%, and BWX Technologies (BWXT +4.44%) at 6.46%. It paid $3.17 per share over the trailing 12 months and manages $4.9 billion in AUM.
For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.
Which looks like the better buyThe Global X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (MLPX) and the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) are both energy sector exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Here’s how they match up with one another.
First, there’s MLPX. This fund focuses on midstream energy companies. These are the companies that transport, store, and process energy products such as crude oil and natural gas. Top holdings for the fund include Kinder Morgan (KMI 0.30%), Enterprise Products Partners (EPD 0.32%), and Energy Transfer (ET 0.26%). Income-seeking investors will appreciate the fund’s stout 4.1% dividend yield. However, the fund’s expense ratio of 0.45% might be higher than some cost-conscious investors would prefer.
Then, there’s NLR. This fund focuses on the nuclear energy sub-sector. Its top holdings include Oklo (OKLO +4.42%) and NuScale Power (SMR +2.80%). NLR has an expense ratio of 0.52% and a dividend yield of 2.3%.
As for performance, NLR has been the clear winner over the last five years. Since 2021, NLR has delivered a total return of 146%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.7%. MLPX, meanwhile, has posted a total return of 106%, with a CAGR of 15.5%. Both funds have bested the S&P 500, which has recorded a total return of 80% over this same period, with a CAGR of 12.5%.
In summary, both funds have performed well. Strictly income-focused investors may prefer MLPX given its much higher dividend yield. However, those with a keen interest in the nuclear subsector, or simply those who prefer growth to value, may prefer NLR given its better long-term track record.
Jake Lerch has positions in Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends BWX Technologies, Cameco, Constellation Energy, Enbridge, and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners, NuScale Power, and Tc Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Oklo (NYSE:OKLO | OKLO Price Prediction) is the ticker dominating retail feeds right now, riding a 14 GW pipeline of non-binding data-center letters of intent and a wave of small modular reactor euphoria.
The fundamentals tell a different story than the price action.
The Oklo Trade Is a Speculative Story With No Underlying Business Oklo reported $0 in revenue for FY2024 and posted a $73.62 million net loss, with operating cash burn of $38.39 million against just $275.30 million in cash and marketable securities. The company carries a market cap near $11.46B, trailing EPS of -$0.84, and no P/E because there are no earnings to divide into. Its own filings warn the company is a “Pre-revenue company with no commercial operations to date” with a “Potential need for additional financing to construct plants.”
The timeline is the kill shot. First power from the Aurora powerhouse is targeted for late 2027 to early 2028, and the 12 GW Switch Master Power Agreement and Equinix 500 MW LOI remain non-binding letters of intent that generate no cash today.
The macro is openly hostile to this profile. The 10-Year Treasury yield sits at 4.57%, in the 98th percentile of the past year, and new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is defending a high-for-longer bond yield environment. Pre-revenue stories funded by equity raises face brutal discount-rate math and catastrophic dilution risk. Oklo shares are already down 15.32% from the January open and 9.02% over the past month. The air is leaking from the trade.
Southern Company Is Already Selling the Electrons Southern Company (NYSE:SO) sells the same data-center thesis, except it monetizes the thesis right now under regulated rate structures. Three points make the case.
The data-center growth is already in the financials. Q1 2026 adjusted EPS came in at $1.32, up from $1.23 a year earlier, on revenue of $8.40B (+8.0% YoY). Wholesale kWh sales rose 12.9%, Southern Power revenue climbed 20.1%, and Southern Company Gas expanded 19.1%. CEO Chris Womack cited “projected significant growth in electricity demand driven primarily by data centers and other large load customers” as the primary growth driver.
The scale gap dwarfs the comparison. Southern serves 9.037 million customers, generated $29.553B in FY2025 revenue (+10.59% YoY), and commands a $106.59B market cap. FY2025 EPS of $4.30 beat the $4.2869 consensus, and Q4 2025 revenue topped estimates by 15.61%. The forward P/E is 21 with a beta of 0.357, the low-volatility profile that retirement portfolios are built around.
The dividend is real. The board raised the quarterly payout to $0.76 from $0.74 (ex-dividend May 18, 2026), extending a 78-year streak of uninterrupted quarterly payments. The annual payout of $2.96 yields roughly 3.14%. Oklo pays zero and its filings warn of further equity dilution.
What to Watch Next SO is up 10.19% YTD while OKLO has given ground, and Wall Street’s $101.76 average target on Southern points to more room. With SO trading near $94.55, the regulated, dividend-compounding utility is already monetizing the data-center buildout that Oklo is still pitching.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $OKLO #advancedfission--Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) ("Oklo"), an advanced nuclear technology company, today announced that it has acquired ARMEC, a precision manufacturing and engineering firm based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The acquisition expands Oklo's in-house capabilities for its advanced reactor and fuel-manufacturing programs, supports faster design-to-manufacturing feedback, and provides additional control over key elements of Oklo's deployment timeline. ARMEC brings more than two.
Oklo Inc (NYSE:OKLO) has acquired ARMEC, a manufacturing and engineering firm specializing in high-precision machining and prototyping for the nuclear industry, the company announced, in a move that further integrates engineering, manufacturing, and deployment capabilities across its operations.
ARMEC brings more than two decades of nuclear industry experience to Oklo, spanning high-precision machining, prototyping, fabrication, inspection, procurement support, and mechanical engineering, along with an established network of nuclear supply chain relationships.
ARMEC had already been working alongside Oklo on maturing nozzle manufacturing processes, including drawing development, inspection planning, quality assurance procedures, and supplier troubleshooting.
The firm generated positive free cash flow in its most recent fiscal quarter, which Wedbush analysts say will add a catalyst to Oklo's margin profile going forward.
"We view this as an accretive acquisition that adds complementary capabilities to OKLO's focus on its existing nuclear buildout while bringing new customer and supplier relationships to the company, which will further position OKLO in a better spot as nuclear energy projects see incremental demand," Wedbush wrote.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Oklo, which held $2.54 billion in cash and marketable securities as of the first fiscal quarter of 2026. Wedbush noted the company has sufficient liquidity to pursue additional M&A over the coming quarters as it looks to expand its nuclear capabilities and solidify its supply chain ahead of rising demand from both federal and commercial customers.
Oklo Inc (NYSE:OKLO) has acquired ARMEC, a manufacturing and engineering firm specializing in high-precision machining and prototyping for the nuclear industry, the company announced, in a move that further integrates engineering, manufacturing, and deployment capabilities across its operations.
ARMEC brings more than two decades of nuclear industry experience to Oklo, spanning high-precision machining, prototyping, fabrication, inspection, procurement support, and mechanical engineering, along with an established network of nuclear supply chain relationships.
ARMEC had already been working alongside Oklo on maturing nozzle manufacturing processes, including drawing development, inspection planning, quality assurance procedures, and supplier troubleshooting.
The firm generated positive free cash flow in its most recent fiscal quarter, which Wedbush analysts say will add a catalyst to Oklo's margin profile going forward.
"We view this as an accretive acquisition that adds complementary capabilities to OKLO's focus on its existing nuclear buildout while bringing new customer and supplier relationships to the company, which will further position OKLO in a better spot as nuclear energy projects see incremental demand," Wedbush wrote.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Oklo, which held $2.54 billion in cash and marketable securities as of the first fiscal quarter of 2026. Wedbush noted the company has sufficient liquidity to pursue additional M&A over the coming quarters as it looks to expand its nuclear capabilities and solidify its supply chain ahead of rising demand from both federal and commercial customers.
Key Takeaways Oklo acquired ARMEC to bring manufacturing and engineering capabilities in-house for reactor deployment.ARMEC adds precision machining, fabrication, inspection & engineering expertise to support project execution.ARMEC's supplier network and free-cash-flow generation support Oklo's growth and execution plans. Advanced nuclear technology company Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) has strengthened its path toward commercialization through the acquisition of ARMEC, a precision manufacturing and engineering firm based in Oak Ridge, TN. The move reflects Oklo’s strategy of bringing critical manufacturing capabilities in-house as it advances from reactor design to deployment. By integrating engineering, fabrication, inspection and procurement capabilities under one roof, Oklo is positioning itself to execute projects more efficiently and maintain greater control over key milestones.
The acquisition is particularly significant as the company seeks to accelerate the development of its advanced reactor and fuel-manufacturing programs while reducing reliance on external suppliers.
OKLO Expands Manufacturing & Engineering ExpertiseWith ARMEC’s acquisition, Oklo is gaining more than two decades of experience in precision manufacturing and engineering. ARMEC’s team of engineers, machinists, welders, fabricators and technical specialists brings extensive expertise in supporting nuclear and advanced energy projects.
The company’s capabilities include high-precision machining, prototyping, fabrication, inspection, procurement support and mechanical engineering. These skills complement Oklo’s existing operations and provide valuable resources for advancing reactor development and fuel-related initiatives.
By adding this experienced workforce, Oklo gains direct access to specialized manufacturing knowledge that can help streamline production processes and improve execution across its projects.
OKLO Enhances Vertical Integration & Operational ControlOne of the key benefits of the acquisition is the increased level of vertical integration it provides. Advanced nuclear projects often require close coordination between design teams and manufacturing partners. Bringing ARMEC into the organization enables faster feedback between engineering and production, helping identify and resolve issues earlier in the development process.
ARMEC has already demonstrated value through its work with Oklo’s engineering teams, helping refine nozzle manufacturing processes, inspection planning, quality assurance procedures and supplier troubleshooting. These capabilities can improve manufacturing consistency while reducing delays and execution risks.
Greater operational control may also help Oklo manage deployment schedules more effectively as it moves closer to commercial reactor deployment.
OKLO Strengthens Supply-Chain VisibilitySupply-chain challenges remain one of the most significant hurdles for many advanced energy projects. ARMEC’s established network of customers, suppliers and industry partners provides Oklo with deeper visibility into potential supply constraints.
These relationships can help the company identify bottlenecks earlier, coordinate more effectively with vendors and secure critical components required for reactor construction and fuel manufacturing. Improved supply-chain management may enhance project execution and reduce uncertainty as Oklo scales its operations.
The acquisition also creates opportunities for stronger collaboration across the nuclear industry, supporting efforts to address broader manufacturing and supply-chain limitations.
OKLO Supports Long-Term Growth With Proven CapabilitiesARMEC has built a strong reputation across nuclear, energy, defense and research markets. The company has contributed to high-precision manufacturing programs, including U.S. ITER components for the international fusion project in France.
Importantly, ARMEC was a free-cash-flow-generating business during its most recent fiscal year. This financial strength highlights the value of its specialized capabilities and suggests that the acquisition can contribute not only operational benefits but also economic value to Oklo over time.
With ARMEC’s leadership remaining in place, Oklo can preserve critical technical expertise, customer relationships and supplier partnerships while integrating the business into its broader growth strategy.
Final Thoughts on OKLOOklo’s acquisition of ARMEC represents more than a manufacturing expansion—it is a strategic move aimed at strengthening execution capabilities, improving supply-chain coordination and accelerating commercialization efforts. The addition of skilled talent, specialized manufacturing expertise and established industry relationships enhances Oklo’s ability to manage key aspects of reactor and fuel production internally.
As demand for advanced nuclear technologies continues to grow, the ARMEC acquisition positions Oklo to move forward with greater operational efficiency, stronger manufacturing capabilities and increased confidence in its long-term deployment plans.
OKLO’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksOklo is an advanced nuclear energy company focused on developing, owning and operating small nuclear power plants under its Aurora product line. Currently, OKLO has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the nuclear energy sector may consider some better-ranked stocks like Bloom Energy Corporation (BE - Free Report) and Crescent Energy Company (CRGY - Free Report) . Bloom Energy and Crescent Energy sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Bloom Energy generates and distributes renewable energy. It supplies electricity to the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BE’s 2026 earnings indicates 151.3% year-over-year growth.
Crescent Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company that acquires, explores, develops, exploits and produces crude oil and natural gas properties, primarily in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRGY’s 2026 earnings indicates 39.4% year-over-year growth.
Key Takeaways OKLO acquired Oak Ridge-based ARMEC, adding ~40 specialists in nuclear machining and engineering.Oklo brings nozzle manufacturing workflows in-house to cut design-production feedback loops.OKLO popped ~4% premarket and 1.5% in hours after the deal, though still down ~18% YTD. Oklo Inc.’s (OKLO - Free Report) acquisition of ARMEC gives the company a more direct grip on one of the biggest challenges in advanced nuclear development, turning reactor designs into manufacturable systems. ARMEC is an Oak Ridge-based precision manufacturing and mechanical engineering firm with more than two decades of experience in nuclear-related machining, prototyping, fabrication, inspection and procurement support. The deal adds roughly 40 engineers, machinists, welders, fabricators and technical specialists to OKLO’s platform, strengthening its internal capacity at a time when execution speed and supply-chain control are becoming critical investor concerns.
The strategic value lies in vertical integration. ARMEC has already worked with OKLO’s engineering teams on nozzle manufacturing, helping move early test-fit hardware toward more controlled workflows involving drawings, inspection planning, quality procedures and supplier troubleshooting. By bringing these capabilities in-house, OKLO can shorten feedback loops between design and production, improve visibility into manufacturing constraints and reduce dependence on outside suppliers for specialized nuclear components. Importantly, ARMEC was free-cash-flow positive in its latest fiscal year, suggesting that the acquisition may add capability without becoming a major operating drain.
The market response highlights why this deal matters. OKLO shares reportedly rose about 4% in premarket trading after the announcement and were up 1.5% during market hours, even though the stock remained down almost 18% year to date. That mixed reaction implies that investors see the ARMEC acquisition as a useful execution step, but not yet a full answer to broader concerns around deployment timing, capital intensity and regulatory progress.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
OKLO is not alone in using acquisitions to solve execution and supply-chain challenges. Other nuclear companies are also buying technology, logistics and manufacturing capabilities to strengthen their platforms and prepare for rising demand.
Nuclear Operators Use Deals to Build Execution Strength
NANO NuclearEnergy (NNE - Free Report) is using acquisitions to build a stronger, more complete nuclear platform. NANO Nuclear acquired patents from USNC that can support its ZEUS, ODIN, KRONOS MMR and LOKI Micro Modular Reactor (“MMR”) reactor programs. NANO Nuclear also acquired Secured Transportation Services, giving it in-house nuclear fuel logistics and transport skills. This helps NANO Nuclear protect key technology, improve deployment planning, support fuel-cycle needs and reduce dependence on outside partners as it moves toward commercialization.
Meanwhile, BWX Technologies (BWXT - Free Report) is using acquisitions to expand its role in U.S. nuclear manufacturing. BWX Technologies agreed to acquire Precision Components Group, including Precision Custom Components and DC Fabricators. The deal gives BWX Technologies more heavy-manufacturing space, skilled workers and capabilities in pressure vessels, heat exchangers, machining, welding and fabrication. For BWX Technologies, this strengthens its ability to serve rising commercial nuclear demand with more speed, capacity and control over complex component production.
The Zacks Rundown on OKLO
From a valuation standpoint, OKLO trades at a price-to-book ratio of 3.89, above the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
OKLO currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.96 on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 23 brokerage firms.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for OKLO’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Over the last six months, pressure has mounted on Oklo (OKLO +4.42%), with shares dropping 44% as of this writing. The company keeps burning cash, and with no meaningful revenue, there hasn't been much to be excited about.
What's needed for shares to rally is more positive updates, which can reignite investor confidence. We just saw an example of that on May 26, as Oklo says it's in advanced negotiations to be a part of a new government program.
Image source: Getty Images.
Used fuel equals opportunity In addition to setting up reactors, Oklo's business plans also include fuel recycling. "The more than 94,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel stored at power plant sites around the country contain considerable reserves of recyclable fuel. The energy that can be unlocked from this material via recycling is equivalent to about 1.3 trillion barrels of oil, or five times the reserves of Saudi Arabia," Oklo said in a press release.
Its solution to that issue will be the construction of a $1.6 billion nuclear fuel recycling facility in Tennessee. Initial construction is expected to begin in 2027, with commissioning starting by the early 2030s.
Getting reactors up and running sooner On May 26, Oklo announced that it had been selected, along with four other companies, by the U.S. Department of Energy for advanced negotiations under the government's Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program.
Under the program, the plutonium would be turned into fuel for advanced reactors. If selected, Oklo will work with the European nuclear reactor developer, newcleo. Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte said in the announcement that the material could serve as "bridge fuel," helping to "bring more reactors online sooner."
On the day of the announcement, the news was well received, and the Oklo stock price opened 9% above its previous close. The excitement quickly fizzled out, however, and the stock price has dropped noticeably since that quick rally.
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It's still an early-stage investment Broadly, there's plenty of promise and upside with Oklo, as evidenced by its partnership with Meta Platforms and its potential involvement in more U.S. government initiatives. But Oklo is still in the early stages of becoming operational, which is what makes the stock so volatile. Just looking at its projected timeline for its fuel recycling facility, construction alone isn't expected to start until 2027, and it's still in advanced talks for that plutonium program with no official deal locked down. If the company is selected to participate in the program, it may help create a short-term price spike in the stock, as it did on May 26, but it's unlikely to lead to a sustained rally to reverse the recent losses.
The bigger issue is that the company does not generate revenue, and for its 2026 first-quarter results, its net loss increased from $9.8 million in the prior year to over $33 million. For shares to find their footing, investors will need to see more signs that Oklo's potential is translating into actual revenue. The upside is there if Oklo executes on its ambitions, but the risk is also sky-high as it continues to prove itself.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $OKLO #advancedfission--Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) (“Oklo”), an advanced nuclear technology company, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Idaho Operations Office has approved the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for Oklo's Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) under DOE's Reactor Pilot Program (RPP). The PDSA is a major step under DOE's RPP authorization pathway and represents a detailed review of the preliminary safety basis for Auro.
A rendering of Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse, which is set to be constructed on the grounds of Idaho National Laboratory. ((COURTESY OKLO, INC.))
Nuclear start-up Oklo has taken another step toward commercializing its technology, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for its coming Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 22.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Oklo Inc. due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
OKLO’s Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Interest Income LiftOklo Inc.delivered a first-quarter of 2026 loss of 19 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 20 cents, reflecting a 5.0% earnings surprise. Quarterly revenue was $0 million, in line with expectations.
The quarter’s results reflected continued investment across power, fuel and isotopes, supported by a sizable liquidity position and interest income generation alongside active project execution.
OKLO Keeps Building Across Three VerticalsOKLO continued pushing its integrated strategy spanning power, fuel and isotopes, with multiple projects advancing in parallel. Management emphasized that the company’s narrative is shifting from long-range strategy to execution, with asset development now central to progress.
Across the platform, OKLO highlighted ongoing work at Aurora-INL, the Aurora-Ohio campus development, the Eielson Air Force Base cogeneration project, and isotope initiatives tied to the Groves test reactor and Idaho radiochemistry capabilities.
OKLO Advances Fuel Fabrication and Recycling PathwaysOKLO’s Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility at Idaho National Laboratory, known as A3F, moved forward with early construction activities and completion of final design deliverables. The company framed the next major execution step as awarding a construction contract.
In Tennessee, Oklo’s Advanced Fuel Center continued through site preparation, ongoing technology development and an NRC application readiness review. Management positioned the facility as an important step toward long-term fuel optionality through used fuel recycling.
OKLO Expands Fuel Optionality With Bridge SourcesOKLO discussed pursuing multiple near-term fuel pathways, including continued work with enrichment providers and longer-standing relationships in the supply chain. Management also described growing opportunity around government-provided materials that could support early deployments.
The company highlighted interest in using plutonium-bearing fuels as a “bridge” option for certain deployments, emphasizing that fast-reactor systems can accommodate multiple fuel sources and potentially ease early supply constraints before broader commercial supplies and recycling capabilities mature.
OKLO Moves Aurora Projects Through Key MilestonesOKLO reported progress at Aurora-INL, including ongoing Department of Energy authorization work and continued engagement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The company highlighted NRC approval of its Principal Design Criteria topical report as a step that could support future licensing efforts and repeatable deployments.
For Aurora-Ohio, Oklo noted that it submitted PJM interconnection applications as part of site development and timeline planning for its proposed 1.2-gigawatt campus with Meta. Management also pointed to ongoing coordination to support permitting readiness and stakeholder engagement in Ohio.
OKLO Nears Groves Criticality and Isotope Commercial StepsOKLO said it completed construction activities at the Groves isotope test reactor facility and received a certificate of substantial completion, underscoring the pace of execution for the greenfield build. The company is now focused on final equipment installation, integrated system testing and fuel delivery, with a target of achieving criticality by July 4, 2026.
Separately, Oklo highlighted its Idaho Radiochemistry Laboratory as an NRC-authorized capability supporting early isotope activities. Management said its first commercial isotope contract is pending, positioning the lab as a pathway to initial commercial offtake as customer engagement advances.
OKLO Ends Q1 With Strong Liquidity and Heavy DeploymentOKLO reported a first-quarter net loss of $33.1 million, which included a $51.2 million loss from operations and $3.2 million of income tax expense, partially offset by $21.3 million of net interest and dividend income. Cash used in operating activities totaled $17.9 million, reflecting the net loss adjusted primarily for non-cash stock-based compensation of $15.6 million.
The company ended the quarter with $2.5 billion in cash and marketable securities, including $1.6 billion of cash and cash equivalents and $0.9 billion of marketable securities. Oklo also reported $359.0 million of cash used in investing activities, including $321.2 million tied to purchases of marketable securities and $32.8 million of capital spending supporting property, plant and equipment growth across its three business units.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
The consensus estimate has shifted 12.74% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Oklo Inc. has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, Oklo Inc. has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerOklo Inc. is part of the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry. Over the past month, Ormat Technologies (ORA - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 2.5%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended March 2026 more than a month ago.
Ormat Technologies reported revenues of $403.91 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +75.8%. EPS of $1.30 for the same period compares with $0.68 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Ormat Technologies is expected to post earnings of $0.28 per share, indicating a change of -41.7% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -9.8% over the last 30 days.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Ormat Technologies. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / April 6, 2026 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB) announced voting result details from the election of directors at its 2025 Annual General Meeting (the "AGM"), held on April 6, 2026 in Denver, CO.
At the AGM, the following six nominees were elected as Directors of the Company to serve until its next annual meeting of shareholders, or until their successors are elected or appointed: Tony Fulton, Nilsa Guerrero-Mahon, Dean Kehler, Michael Maselli, Peter Oliver and Mark A. Smith.
Shareholders also voted in favor of: (i) setting the number of directors at six; (ii) appointing Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's auditors for the ensuing year; (iii) approving, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers; (iv) approving the amendment and restatement of the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan; and (v) approving the amendment and extension of the Company's Shareholder Rights Plan until its 2027 AGM.
NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including aluminum scandium alloy; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the SEC and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's ability to consummate the Offering; NioCorp's ability to use the net proceeds of the Offering in a manner that will increase the value of shareholders' investment; NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an entity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the authority of the U.S. Department of Defense; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining and scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, development, or scandium alloy production activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's intellectual property rights; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Reaching a Definitive Agreement Positions NioCorp to Potentially Sell All of its Planned Critical Minerals Products for the First 10 Years of Operations
Agreement Envisions a Separate Potential Strategic Investment by Traxys of up to $30 Million in NioCorp
Traxys Plays a Key Role in President Trump's Project Vault, a Strategic U.S. Government-Industry Partnership to Facilitate Sales of Critical Minerals Between Producers and Large Manufacturers
CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / April 9, 2026 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp ," "our ," or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB), a leading U.S. developer of critical minerals, today announced that it has entered into a non-binding agreement (the "Term Sheet") with Traxys North America LLC ("Traxys") outlining a long-term marketing and offtake arrangement for NioCorp's remaining planned critical minerals products from its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the "Elk Creek Project").
Subject to a definitive contract being executed between NioCorp and Traxys, NioCorp would be positioned to sell out of its planned critical minerals products for the first 10 years of operation, following the successful completion of project financing and commencement of commercial production. NioCorp has already placed under contract 75% of its planned ferroniobium production and 12% of its planned scandium oxide production.
Traxys could also become a shareholder of NioCorp, while also playing a key role in President Trump's recently announced Project Vault, which aims to facilitate sales of critical minerals between large manufacturers and critical minerals producers.
"Upon execution of definitive agreements with Traxys, we believe that this initiative moves NioCorp closer to securing full project financing for the Elk Creek Project," said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp. "Together with our existing offtake agreement with ThyssenKrupp for 50% of our planned ferroniobium production during the first 10 years of operations, a definitive deal with Traxys would lead to the sale of all our remaining planned products for the first 10 years of operations. This would address one of the key remaining due diligence items in the Export-Import Bank of the United States ("EXIM") review of our proposed debt financing package."
Mr. Smith said: "As Traxys is one of the world's leading physical commodities traders and a key participant in Project Vault, this alignment has significance beyond a typical marketing deal. We could not be more proud to expand our partnership with the Traxys organization and its leadership."
"The Elk Creek Project represents a key future source of critical minerals for U.S. and allied markets," said Mark Kristoff, CEO of Traxys. "The United States currently has no primary domestic production of niobium or scandium. Aside from limited production of the magnetic rare earths neodymium and praseodymium, the U.S. remains 100% dependent on foreign producers of heavy magnetic rare earth elements. Bringing new domestic supplies of these critical minerals into the market is strategically and commercially vital for the United States. Expanding our marketing role with NioCorp further supports that goal. As a Project Vault participant, we are fully aligned with the national effort to strengthen U.S. critical mineral supply chains using products sourced domestically from the Elk Creek Project in Nebraska."
The Term Sheet provides for Traxys to become the exclusive global marketing partner and sales channel for a wide range of products expected to be produced at NioCorp's Elk Creek Project, including but not limited to: ferroniobium (FeNb), niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅), scandium oxide (Sc₂O₃), scandium metal, aluminum-scandium master alloys, titanium dioxide (TiO₂), titanium chloride, and potentially various rare earth elements such as dysprosium, praseodymium, neodymium-praseodymium alloy, samarium, europium, gadolinium, and terbium (collectively, the "Products"). 1
Traxys currently has commercial offtake agreements covering 25% of the Company's planned ferroniobium production and up to 12% of its planned scandium production, both over the first 10 years of NioCorp's operations. Under the proposed offtake agreement, this relationship would be expanded to include an additional 25% of the planned ferroniobium production on a take-or-pay basis and the remaining scandium production, as well as 100% of planned production of all other Products, on a best-efforts basis for the first ten years of operations, subject to specified obligations and other terms.
If definitive agreements are executed, this expanded arrangement, together with the Company's existing ferroniobium offtake agreement with Thyssen Metallurgical Products GmbH ("ThyssenKrupp"), would result in all planned production from the Elk Creek Project being subject to offtake arrangements for the first ten years of operations.
The Term Sheet also contemplates a potential strategic equity investment by Traxys of up to $30 million in NioCorp, subject to due diligence, negotiation, and execution of definitive agreements, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
Traxys is a key participant in Project Vault, an initiative aimed at strengthening U.S. critical minerals supply chains backed by EXIM. NioCorp is also working with EXIM on a potential debt financing package for its Elk Creek Project. Although the Term Sheet is separate from these initiatives, NioCorp, EXIM, and Traxys share a focus on developing domestic supply chains for critical minerals.
Key Commercial Terms
The Term Sheet envisions that Traxys will serve as the exclusive offtake and marketing partner for all planned production from the Elk Creek Project during the first ten years of operation, except for the 50% of ferroniobium allocated pursuant to NioCorp's existing offtake agreement with ThyssenKrupp.
Products will be priced at current market rates or according to mutually agreed indices or pricing formulas, with standard deductions for marketing, logistics, and financing costs, as well as commissions. Ferroniobium volumes are expected to be subject to take-or-pay obligations, while other products will be marketed on a best-efforts basis.
Subject to the execution of definitive agreements, the offtake arrangement would have an initial term of ten years, starting upon reaching nameplate production capacity, with provisions for extension. Commercial production is expected to begin within a set period after execution, contingent on receiving project financing and other customary conditions.
The Term Sheet also envisions that Traxys will serve as the marketing intermediary for other product sales, including certain third-party commercial agreements identified by NioCorp, with the parties working in good faith to structure and carry out such transactions.
NioCorp and Traxys plan to work together in good faith to negotiate and finalize definitive agreements based on the terms outlined in the Term Sheet; however, there is no guarantee that these agreements will be signed or that the transactions will be completed.
NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, NioCorp's expectation of reaching a definitive agreement with Traxys; statements regarding the terms of the potential definitive agreement with Traxys; statements regarding a separate potential strategic investment by Traxys in NioCorp; statements regarding the expected benefits of the Term Sheet, and the potential definitive agreement, with Traxys, including that a definitive deal with Traxys could lead to the sale of all of NioCorp's remaining planned products for the first 10 years of operations; statements regarding the Company's debt financing application process with EXIM; NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's confidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as well as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an entity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the authority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining and scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's intellectual property rights; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
1 The Company's current Mineral Resource includes rare earth elements and NioCorp is currently working to add rare earths to its Mineral Reserve.
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) closed the last trading session at $5.14, gaining 4.1% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $11.23 indicates an 118.5% upside potential.
The average comprises three short-term price targets ranging from a low of $8.70 to a high of $15.00, with a standard deviation of $3.33. While the lowest estimate indicates an increase of 69.3% from the current price level, the most optimistic estimate points to a 191.8% upside. More than the range, one should note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in NB. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why NB Could Witness a Solid UpsideAnalysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 19.3% over the past month, as two estimates have gone higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, NB currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much NB could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
NioCorp CEO Mark Smith to Participate in a Fireside Chat at 10:00 AM ET and a Critical Minerals to Alloys & Vertical Integration Panel at 1:00 PM ET
CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / April 15, 2026 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp," "our," or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB), a leading U.S. developer of critical minerals, is pleased to announce that Executive Chairman and CEO Mark A. Smith will participate in Maxim Group's virtual "Mining The Industrial Supply Chain" conference on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Mr. Smith will participate in a virtual fireside chat at 10:00 AM ET, where he is expected to highlight the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project and NioCorp's ongoing efforts to establish a secure domestic U.S. supply chain for niobium, scandium, titanium, and magnetic rare earth elements.
Mr. Smith also will participate in the Critical Minerals to Alloys & Vertical Integration panel discussion at 1:00 PM ET, where he is expected to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the U.S. as it works to establish secure domestic supply chains for these elements to support defense and industrial applications.
Hosted by Tate Sullivan, Senior Research Analyst at Maxim Group, the all-day virtual conference will feature conversations on the future of critical mineral production and the industrial supply chain. Topics are expected to include the availability of private capital, including bank debt and industrial customer investments, for critical mineral projects, with a focus on price floor indications and backstop capital from the U.S. government, as well as vertical integration opportunities as mining companies explore producing solvents and specialty alloys for defense and industrial applications. The conference will be held live on Maxim Group's digital platform.
Individuals can register for the free virtual conference here: https://digital.maximgrp.com/events/mining-the-industrial-supply-chain-04212026.
NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements made during the live webcast and conference, NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's confidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as well as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an entity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the authority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining and scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's intellectual property rights; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
State to Provide ~$200 Million in Potential Tax Incentives for NioCorp Over First 10 Years of Operations Upon NioCorp Meeting the Program's Job Creation and Investment Requirements
Signing of Legislation Supports Elk Creek Project Delivering ~450 Permanent Jobs, ~$6.59 Billion in Operating Expenses Over Project Life, and Hundreds of Millions in New State and Local Tax Revenue to Nebraska
CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / April 20, 2026 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp," "our," or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB), a leading U.S. critical minerals developer, today announced that the State of Nebraska has enacted legislation designed to give NioCorp greater flexibility in qualifying for approximately $200 million over 10 years in state tax benefits in return for NioCorp investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Nebraska and creating approximately 450 full-time equivalent jobs in the state.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed the legislation into law on April 16 after the Nebraska legislature enacted it on April 10, 2026. The bill included a range of tax incentives for businesses and projects statewide. For NioCorp, the legislation extends the period during which companies like NioCorp must meet Tier 6 Nebraska Advantage Act employment and investment requirements.
"Projects like Elk Creek don't come along often for rural Nebraska, and when they do, we need to make sure the state is doing everything it can to help them succeed," said Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse, NE. "Nebraska wants to be a place where companies invest and grow, and this legislation reinforces that commitment. For southeast Nebraska, that means hundreds of good-paying jobs and lasting economic growth for communities that have been waiting a long time for this kind of opportunity. I was proud to sponsor this provision and grateful to my colleagues and Governor Pillen for getting it across the finish line."
"If we want to grow our economy, create new high-paying, high-skill jobs, and attract the kinds of industries that generate multi-generational revenue and opportunities for our citizens, as NioCorp's Elk Creek Project promises, we need to be able to compete with other states that aggressively court these companies," said Nebraska State Senator Brad von Gillern, Chairman of the Nebraska Unicameral's Revenue Committee. "Getting a strong return on our investment from these state incentives programs is absolutely essential, and that has been my number one priority for these types of legislative initiatives. That is why I was pleased to support LB 1165 and the provisions aimed at providing more flexibility to NioCorp and other companies to grow their businesses in Nebraska."
"I want to thank Governor Pillen, Revenue Committee Chairman Brad von Gillern, Senator Hallstrom, and members of the Nebraska Unicameral for supporting this effort," said Mark A. Smith, Chairman and CEO of NioCorp. "Nebraska has stood behind the Elk Creek Project from the very beginning, and this is another clear demonstration of that commitment. The support we continue to receive from the state, from Nebraska's federal delegation, and from the communities of southeast Nebraska means a great deal to our team and strengthens our resolve to deliver on what this project promises: good-paying jobs, lasting economic growth for the region, and a reliable domestic supply of the critical minerals that American manufacturers and our national defense depend on."
Mr. Smith added: "Nebraska continues to invest its confidence in this project, and we are fully committed to delivering on that."
The signing of this legislation is the latest in a series of actions by Nebraska's state government in support of the Elk Creek Project, which is expected to create approximately ~450 permanent direct jobs in southeast Nebraska, generate significant new tax revenue for the state and its counties, and support an estimated 2,100 additional jobs throughout the broader Nebraska economy.
NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding shifts in the policy environment, objectives, expectations and actions of the U.S. government; NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's confidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as well as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an entity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the authority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining and scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's intellectual property rights; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Notes:
2022 Elk Creek Technical Report. Estimates account for tax benefits NioCorp expected to receive from the Nebraska Advantage program.
Additional jobs created or supported were estimated using the Economic Policy Institute's Employment Multiplier for Metal Ore Mining, https://www.epi.org/publication/updated-employment-multipliers-for-the-u-s-economy/
For those looking to find strong Basic Materials stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Basic Materials peers, we might be able to answer that question.
NioCorp Developments Ltd. is one of 248 individual stocks in the Basic Materials sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #14 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. NioCorp Developments Ltd. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NB's full-year earnings has moved 16.9% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
According to our latest data, NB has moved about 20.8% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, stocks in the Basic Materials group have gained about 19.9% on average. This means that NioCorp Developments Ltd. is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
One other Basic Materials stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Silvercorp (SVM - Free Report) . The stock is up 49.2% year-to-date.
Over the past three months, Silvercorp's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 46.8%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
To break things down more, NioCorp Developments Ltd. belongs to the Mining - Miscellaneous industry, a group that includes 72 individual companies and currently sits at #145 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have gained 25.5% this year, meaning that NB is slightly underperforming its industry in terms of year-to-date returns. Silvercorp is also part of the same industry.
Going forward, investors interested in Basic Materials stocks should continue to pay close attention to NioCorp Developments Ltd. and Silvercorp as they could maintain their solid performance.
Key Takeaways USAR commissioned Phase 1a magnet line, targeting NdFeB output and 600 metric tons' capacity by 2026.NioCorp is advancing the Elk Creek Project, investing $44.6M and securing funding to move toward production.Both USAR and NB face rising costs, ongoing losses and dilution risks despite a strong demand outlook. USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) and NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) are U.S.-based companies that are engaged in the exploration and mining of minerals and metals, primarily in North America. Both companies operate in the Zacks Mining - Miscellaneous industry.
Both companies operate in capital-intensive mining sectors with long development timelines, complex regulatory approvals and substantial investments in infrastructure and advanced technologies. However, rising demand for minerals critical to electric vehicles and renewable energy is strengthening their long-term growth outlook. Geopolitical tensions, including the Iran-Israel conflict, are further tightening global markets by disrupting supply chains and constraining oil availability.
The Case for USARUSAR has reached a key milestone with the commissioning of Phase 1a of its commercial magnet production line at its Stillwater, OK, facility. Backed by this development, the company will be able to begin fulfilling customer orders for sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets starting in the second quarter of 2026.
The commissioning confirms the facility’s ability to operate a complex, multi-step manufacturing process at a commercial scale. The production process involves the transformation of rare earth and metallic elements into ultra-fine powder, refining it through jet milling in a controlled environment and then shaping, coating and magnetizing the material into NdFeB magnets. These high-performance magnets are used in defense, aerospace, automotive and other high-growth industries.
Phase 1a is expected to ramp up to an annual run rate capacity of 600 metric tons by the end of 2026. In the quarters ahead, the addition of Phase 1b is expected to double the Stillwater facility’s total capacity to 1,200 metric tons per annum by the first quarter of 2027. Once fully operational, the Stillwater facility is expected to be one of the first large-scale NdFeB magnet plants in the United States, helping strengthen the country’s domestic rare earth supply chain.
USA Rare Earth also bolstered its balance sheet through PIPE financing and warrant exercises. It is worth noting that the company completed the $1.5 billion PIPE financing in January 2026. This funding is being used to make upgrades at the Stillwater plant, expand magnet-finishing capabilities and complete Line 1b to increase total NdFeB magnet-producing capacity.
In April 2026, USAR inked a deal with InfraVia to acquire approximately a 12.5% stake in a France-based rare earth processing company, Carester SAS. Also, in the same month, the company entered into an agreement to acquire Serra Verde Group, which is the owner of Brazil-based Pela Ema rare earth mine and processing facility. The deal adds an operational rare earth mine with significant output of critical heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium. The transaction is anticipated to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
In March 2026, USA Rare Earth inked a deal to acquire Texas Mineral Resources Corp. in an all-stock deal worth about $73 million. This will give the company full ownership and operational control of the Round Top Project. USAR expects commercial production at Round Top to begin in 2028, with a target to process around 40,000 metric tons of rare earth and critical mineral feedstock per day by 2030. Also, USAR completed the acquisition of Less Common Metals in November 2025, which will supply critical metal and alloy feedstock for the Stillwater plant. It is worth noting that in April 2026, USA Rare Earth achieved its first commercial production of high-purity yttrium metal through Less Common Metals, marking a key step in building a rare earth supply outside China.
However, since its inception, the company has remained in the exploration and research stages, incurring losses. Amid its project development phase, USAR has been grappling with rising operational expenses, adversely impacting its margins and profitability. In fourth-quarter 2025, its selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $18.5 million from $4.5 million in the year-ago quarter due to a rise in legal & consulting costs, higher headcount & recruiting fees and other costs.
Research and development expenses rose to $7.2 million compared with $1.4 million reported in the year-ago quarter due to an increase in employee-related expenses. Elevated expenses resulted in a loss of 19 cents per share in the fourth quarter.
The Case for NioCorpNioCorp is advancing its Elk Creek Project in Nebraska toward production, targeting the extraction of niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth elements. These critical minerals are vital for applications in electric vehicles, clean energy systems and defense technologies. In February 2026, NB started constructing the main underground portal for its Elk Creek Project, marking a shift from planning to pre-construction. The company is investing about $44.6 million in this phase and has already raised around $500 million to advance the project.
In January 2026, NioCorp signed a non-binding term sheet with Traxys to market and sell minerals from its Elk Creek Project. If finalized, Traxys would act as NB’s global marketing partner, covering nearly all planned production for the first 10 years.
In November 2025, NioCorp acquired additional land in Johnson County, NE, related to the Elk Creek Project. With the acquisition, NB currently owns a square mile of land at the site, which will be used to host both its surface processing facility and underground critical minerals mine.
Niocorp’s deal with the U.S. Department of Defense will also support its engineering and drilling activities at the site. These initiatives will facilitate NioCorp in launching the Elk Creek Project and take it to the commercial operation phase.
However, NB raised about $100 million through public offerings in February 2026 to fund its progress. Although its long-term growth initiatives hold positive, selling shares might cause its dilution, potentially having an adverse impact on earnings per share.
How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for USAR & NB?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USAR’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 71 cents per share. Also, the company’s consensus estimate for the 2027 bottom line is pegged at a loss of $1.31 per share.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NB’s fiscal 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 57 cents per share. Also, the company’s consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 45 cents per share.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance and Valuation of USAR & NBIn the past year, USAR’s shares have surged 110%, while NB stock has soared 137.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
USA Rare Earth is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of negative 23.31X, while NioCorp’s forward earnings multiple sits at negative 13.04X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Final TakeUSAR recently commissioned Phase 1a of its commercial magnet production line at its Stillwater, OK, facility. The company has also strengthened its strategy through the acquisition of Less Common Metals and its planned purchase of Serra Verde Group and Texas Mineral Resources. However, despite these advances, USAR remains in an early commercial stage with rising operating and R&D expenses, which are expected to weigh on the near-term performance.
In contrast, NioCorp is advancing its Elk Creek Project with portal construction, land expansion and support from the government, moving closer to commercial production. The company has also signed a potential long-term marketing deal with Traxys North America LLC that could cover most of its output for the first 10 years.
Given these factors, NB seems a better pick for investors than USAR currently. While NioCorp sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, USA Rare Earth has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Shares of NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) have gained 22.9% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $5.58, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $11.23 indicates a potential upside of 101.3%.
The mean estimate comprises three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $3.33. While the lowest estimate of $8.70 indicates a 55.9% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 168.8% to reach $15.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in NB. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You May Not Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why NB Could Witness a Solid UpsideAnalysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 18.7% over the past month, as one estimate has gone higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, NB currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much NB could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
NioCorp Developments secures a 10-year non-binding offtake agreement with Traxys, validating Elk Creek's sales channel and supporting a Strong Buy rating. NB's vertically integrated, non-open-pit mining model targets six minerals, with rare earth elements and scandium purity offering significant revenue upside. NB's $419 million cash position and active $800 million EXIM debt application are pivotal for funding the $1.2 billion Elk Creek CAPEX, mitigating dilution risk.
A six-week sequence — DIBC application, Plutus mandate, CMETC-eligible flow-through financing — drops under eight months before the U.S. defense procurement cliff for Chinese tungsten
, /PRNewswire/ -- American News Group News Commentary — The tungsten market has stopped trading like a niche industrial input. Rotterdam ammonium paratungstate (APT) — the benchmark intermediate — is changing hands near US$3,185 per metric tonne unit, up roughly 350% year-to-date and approximately 900% over the trailing twelve months.[1] China still controls roughly 80% of global tungsten supply, and the U.S. Department of War's tungsten procurement cliff — codified in DFARS 252.225-7052 and effective January 1, 2027 — prohibits Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean tungsten from defense supply chains. Either new Western tungsten mines come online, or the entire downstream Western tungsten market contracts. There is no third option.
Inside that structural setup, Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) has, over a roughly six-week stretch, executed a sequence that reads less like a junior explorer's standing news flow and more like a deliberate effort to price into the reshoring trade through both U.S. defense procurement channels and the Canadian tax and listing infrastructure: a U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) application targeting tungsten, a twelve-month European investor relations mandate with Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH commencing May 1, 2026, and a non-brokered flow-through financing eligible for the Canadian Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (CMETC).[2]
The DIBC Submission, And Why Past-Producing Status Matters
On May 1, 2026, Western Star Resources announced that it had submitted its application in response to a solicitation from the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium to provide the United States a reliable supply of critical minerals, focusing on tungsten (WO₃).[3]
In February 2026, the DIBC issued a new request for project proposal (RPP) focused on strategic critical minerals. The DIBC is managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI) on behalf of the U.S. Department of War (DoW), and aims to expand and diversify the defense industrial base in the U.S., enabling private-sector businesses to work in partnership with the U.S. government.[3]
The DoW has prioritized identification of supply chain alternatives for defense-critical minerals used in the production of aircraft, missiles, semiconductors, and other defense technologies.[3] Western Star's submission focuses on tungsten and is anchored to the past-producing Rowland property in the Jarbidge mining district of Nevada — a U.S. asset with documented historical production that fits the geographic profile the DoW is now actively underwriting.[2]
Past-producing status matters in the current procurement context. Brownfield assets with documented historical production face materially lower permitting complexity and shorter pathways to production than greenfield development projects. The Company has indicated that extensive historical workings are expected to classify the project as previously disturbed, which is expected to streamline the permitting process.[2] CEO and President Blake Morgan put it directly in the May 1 release: "Western Star Resources is pleased to support DIBC initiatives focusing on strategic critical minerals. Our team will be traveling to Washington in May for meetings to discuss our past-producing tungsten asset. We believe this asset offers significant upside and look forward to demonstrating its potential as we approach our maiden drill program in 2026."[3]
Rowland: Historical Grades, Skarn Geology, And A 2026 Maiden Drill Program
The Rowland property is the flagship of Western Star's portfolio — a past-producing tungsten asset located approximately 6 miles southwest of Jarbidge, Nevada. Historical Rowland production, as reported in Western Star's news releases dated November 5, 2025 and April 9, 2026, consists of 4.5 tons of ore at 3.38% WO₃ shipped in 1943, and approximately 1,000 tons of ore at 0.5–1.0% WO₃ produced from 1954–56.[2] A LiDAR review has identified over 17 historical open pits, trenches, shafts, and adits across the property.[2] The Rowland property is road accessible, and tungsten mineralization has been traced over 2 kilometres — the full length of the existing property package.[2]
Mineralization at Rowland is hosted in skarn zones up to 100 feet wide, developed along intrusive contacts, with scheelite as the primary tungsten mineral alongside molybdenite, powellite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite within a garnet-epidote skarn system.[2] On March 23, 2026, Western Star disclosed preparations to mobilize for the first modern exploration program at the past-producing Rowland Tungsten Property.[2]
The 2026 spring work program is designed to advance the project toward drill targeting and includes rock sampling of all historically disturbed areas identified through LiDAR analysis to verify historical grades and define mineralized zones.
Morgan framed the timing directly on March 23: "With the start of the spring field season coinciding with strong tungsten prices, we are ideally positioned to initiate the maiden exploration program at Rowland."[2] The Company has noted that since acquiring the project, tungsten prices have moved materially higher — a tailwind that improves both the after-tax economics of the exploration program and the institutional appetite for funding tungsten exploration capital.
The European Channel: Plutus, And A €200,000 Mandate Into Q1 2027
Alongside the DIBC submission, Western Star announced on May 1, 2026 that it had entered into a twelve-month investor relations and marketing services agreement with Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH of Bremen, Germany, dated April 28, 2026 and commencing May 1, 2026.[3]
The services to be provided by Plutus include consultation regarding advertorial marketing and public relations strategies, and designing and implementing an advertisement-based investor awareness campaign focused on the European investment market across financial-news portals, investor newsletters, social-media platforms, paid digital advertising networks, and sponsored articles and video interviews on investor-relations portals.[3]
The Company has agreed to pay Plutus a fee of €200,000 payable on the commencement of services. The Plutus Agreement was negotiated through arm's length negotiations and terminates April 30, 2027.[3]
The European channel is a deliberate piece of the architecture. Tungsten reshoring is a U.S. policy story but the metal's industrial customer base spans Europe heavily — and the European procurement context around critical minerals supply security has moved aggressively in parallel with the U.S. policy track. The Plutus mandate positions the Company for European market awareness during the back half of 2026 and through Q1 2027 — precisely the window during which the January 1, 2027 U.S. federal procurement rule will be taking effect and Western Star's maiden drill program will be generating its first modern technical results from Rowland.[2]
CMETC Eligibility: How The Canadian Tax Architecture Subsidizes The Trade
The financing component of Western Star's recent sequence is structurally interesting. CMETC eligibility broadens the pool of Canadian investors willing to fund critical-mineral exploration by attaching enhanced after-tax economics — a 30% non-refundable tax credit on top of the standard 100% Canadian Exploration Expense (CEE) deduction — to the subscription.
The timing of WSR's financing aligns it with a recent, specific policy change: tungsten was added to the CMETC's list of eligible critical minerals on November 4, 2025 (Budget Day 25), with the expansion enacted into law when Bill C-15 (the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1) received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026.[2] The expanded list — which also added bismuth, cesium, chromium, fluorspar, germanium, indium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, and tin — applies to flow-through share agreements entered into after Budget Day 25 and on or before March 31, 2027.[2] Western Star's flow-through agreement, entered into in the run-up to its May 1, 2026 announcement, sits squarely inside that window.
The combination matters because it stacks three independent capital and procurement tailwinds onto the same project: U.S. defense procurement engagement through the DIBC submission, European market awareness through the Plutus mandate, and Canadian after-tax economics through the CMETC-eligible flow-through financing. Few junior tungsten explorers in 2026 are positioned across all three channels simultaneously.
Where WSR Sits Inside The Tungsten And Critical Minerals Reshoring Universe
Group 6 Metals Limited (ASX: G6M) owns and operates the Dolphin Tungsten Mine on King Island, Tasmania — described as the highest-grade tungsten deposit of significant size in the Western world, with a JORC 2012 compliant Mineral Reserve of 4.43Mt at a grade of 0.92% WO₃ and total resources of 9.6 Mt at 0.90% WO₃.[4] Group 6 has recently signed a binding three-year underground mining contract with HMR Drilling Services valued at approximately A$110–120 million for Dolphin development and production services.[5]
Group 6 also turned profitable for the first half of FY26 and announced a long-term Traxys offtake agreement promising 10,000 tonnes of WO₃ in scheelite concentrate deliveries worth a minimum US$1.75 billion over six to eight years at current APT spot prices.[6] Group 6 represents the producer-end comparable for a past-producing Western tungsten asset that has successfully redeveloped into commercial production — the precedent path Western Star's Rowland asset is now positioned to evaluate.
EQ Resources Ltd. (ASX: EQR) owns the Barruecopardo tungsten mine in Spain and the Mt Carbine tungsten mine in Northern Queensland — the largest producing tungsten mine in Australia. The Company has grown approximately 500% over the past year and trades at a valuation near A$1.5 billion as the broader tungsten reshoring trade has repriced the Western producer base aggressively.[6] EQ's management has publicly observed that current tungsten prices are not sustainable, but has indicated they expect elevated prices for three to five years given the absence of immediate major new Western supply sources.[6] EQ Resources represents the producer comparable that frames the institutional repricing of Western tungsten production capacity that is now actively underway.
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ: NB) is advancing the Elk Creek niobium-scandium-titanium critical minerals project in Nebraska, and represents one of the cleanest North American critical-minerals-reshoring comparables for Western Star's positioning. NioCorp priced a US$100 million public offering at US$5.00 per share on February 24, 2026, closing the offering on February 25, 2026, with Maxim Group as lead bookrunner.[7] The Company has begun excavation of its Mine Portal ($44.6 million), announced a non-binding ten-year offtake agreement with Traxys on April 9, 2026, and has a $780 million Export-Import Bank financing under consideration. NioCorp offers the broader U.S. critical minerals reshoring comparable for a small-cap, single-project exposure to a structurally undersupplied critical mineral inside the U.S. supply security framework — the same broader thesis Western Star is positioned inside on tungsten.
MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) operates the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California — the only large-scale operating rare earth mine in the Western Hemisphere — and is the highest-profile public-market expression of the broader U.S. critical-minerals-reshoring investment thesis. MP Materials has been one of the central public-market beneficiaries of the structural U.S. policy push to bring critical minerals supply chains back inside Western jurisdictions, with a market capitalization that reflects the institutional view that strategically essential critical-minerals producers operating inside U.S. borders carry a procurement and security premium that did not exist five years ago. MP Materials provides the broadest reshoring comparable for the strategic-minerals-procurement framework Western Star's Rowland program is positioned inside.
Across all four comparables, the recurring pattern is unmistakable: critical-minerals capacity inside Western jurisdictions has been repriced aggressively across 2025 and 2026, with the producers and near-producers experiencing the cleanest re-ratings, and the developers next in the queue carrying the next layer of asymmetric exposure as the procurement cliff and the tax architecture both tighten in the same direction. Western Star sits at the developer end of that spectrum with a past-producing U.S. asset, an active DIBC engagement, a European IR mandate, and a CMETC-eligible flow-through financing — all dropping inside the same eight-month window before the procurement cliff takes force.
The Window Ahead
Western Star's near-term catalyst window is well-defined. The 2026 spring field season is now in motion at Rowland, with rock sampling of historically disturbed areas underway and a maiden modern exploration program designed to advance the project toward drill targeting.[2]
The DIBC application has been filed, with Washington meetings scheduled in May to discuss the past-producing tungsten asset.[3] The Plutus mandate is live through April 30, 2027 — covering exactly the window during which the January 1, 2027 procurement rule takes effect and the first modern Rowland technical results are expected to land. The CMETC-eligible flow-through financing structure sits inside the agreement window through March 31, 2027.[2]
For investors who have read the procurement cliff, the tax architecture, the European procurement context, and the trajectory of APT prices across the past twelve months, Western Star Resources offers a small-cap exposure to a past-producing U.S. tungsten asset operating with explicit U.S. defense procurement engagement, European investor outreach, and Canadian flow-through subscription economics — all in the same window. The macro is now structural. The procurement is now compulsory by federal regulation. The capital-markets architecture is now subsidized. The question for Western Star is execution of the maiden modern drill program — and the next reads on that question arrive across the back half of 2026.
Contact
American News Group
[email protected]
604-265-2873
Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. AmericanNewsGroup.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has previously been paid a fee for Western Star Resources Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly which has since expired. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares Western Star Resources Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. Previous compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ do not own any shares of Western Star Resources Inc. but reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Western Star Resources Inc. at any time hereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation in the future as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through further private placements and/or investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2840019/Equity_Insider_Logo.jpg
A six-week sequence — DIBC application, Plutus mandate, CMETC-eligible flow-through financing — drops under eight months before the U.S. defense procurement cliff for Chinese tungsten
, /PRNewswire/ -- American News Group News Commentary — The tungsten market has stopped trading like a niche industrial input. Rotterdam ammonium paratungstate (APT) — the benchmark intermediate — is changing hands near US$3,185 per metric tonne unit, up roughly 350% year-to-date and approximately 900% over the trailing twelve months.[1] China still controls roughly 80% of global tungsten supply, and the U.S. Department of War's tungsten procurement cliff — codified in DFARS 252.225-7052 and effective January 1, 2027 — prohibits Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean tungsten from defense supply chains. Either new Western tungsten mines come online, or the entire downstream Western tungsten market contracts. There is no third option.
Inside that structural setup, Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) has, over a roughly six-week stretch, executed a sequence that reads less like a junior explorer's standing news flow and more like a deliberate effort to price into the reshoring trade through both U.S. defense procurement channels and the Canadian tax and listing infrastructure: a U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) application targeting tungsten, a twelve-month European investor relations mandate with Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH commencing May 1, 2026, and a non-brokered flow-through financing eligible for the Canadian Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (CMETC).[2]
The DIBC Submission, And Why Past-Producing Status Matters
On May 1, 2026, Western Star Resources announced that it had submitted its application in response to a solicitation from the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium to provide the United States a reliable supply of critical minerals, focusing on tungsten (WO₃).[3]
In February 2026, the DIBC issued a new request for project proposal (RPP) focused on strategic critical minerals. The DIBC is managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI) on behalf of the U.S. Department of War (DoW), and aims to expand and diversify the defense industrial base in the U.S., enabling private-sector businesses to work in partnership with the U.S. government.[3]
The DoW has prioritized identification of supply chain alternatives for defense-critical minerals used in the production of aircraft, missiles, semiconductors, and other defense technologies.[3] Western Star's submission focuses on tungsten and is anchored to the past-producing Rowland property in the Jarbidge mining district of Nevada — a U.S. asset with documented historical production that fits the geographic profile the DoW is now actively underwriting.[2]
Past-producing status matters in the current procurement context. Brownfield assets with documented historical production face materially lower permitting complexity and shorter pathways to production than greenfield development projects. The Company has indicated that extensive historical workings are expected to classify the project as previously disturbed, which is expected to streamline the permitting process.[2] CEO and President Blake Morgan put it directly in the May 1 release: "Western Star Resources is pleased to support DIBC initiatives focusing on strategic critical minerals. Our team will be traveling to Washington in May for meetings to discuss our past-producing tungsten asset. We believe this asset offers significant upside and look forward to demonstrating its potential as we approach our maiden drill program in 2026."[3]
Rowland: Historical Grades, Skarn Geology, And A 2026 Maiden Drill Program
The Rowland property is the flagship of Western Star's portfolio — a past-producing tungsten asset located approximately 6 miles southwest of Jarbidge, Nevada. Historical Rowland production, as reported in Western Star's news releases dated November 5, 2025 and April 9, 2026, consists of 4.5 tons of ore at 3.38% WO₃ shipped in 1943, and approximately 1,000 tons of ore at 0.5–1.0% WO₃ produced from 1954–56.[2] A LiDAR review has identified over 17 historical open pits, trenches, shafts, and adits across the property.[2] The Rowland property is road accessible, and tungsten mineralization has been traced over 2 kilometres — the full length of the existing property package.[2]
Mineralization at Rowland is hosted in skarn zones up to 100 feet wide, developed along intrusive contacts, with scheelite as the primary tungsten mineral alongside molybdenite, powellite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite within a garnet-epidote skarn system.[2] On March 23, 2026, Western Star disclosed preparations to mobilize for the first modern exploration program at the past-producing Rowland Tungsten Property.[2]
The 2026 spring work program is designed to advance the project toward drill targeting and includes rock sampling of all historically disturbed areas identified through LiDAR analysis to verify historical grades and define mineralized zones.
Morgan framed the timing directly on March 23: "With the start of the spring field season coinciding with strong tungsten prices, we are ideally positioned to initiate the maiden exploration program at Rowland."[2] The Company has noted that since acquiring the project, tungsten prices have moved materially higher — a tailwind that improves both the after-tax economics of the exploration program and the institutional appetite for funding tungsten exploration capital.
The European Channel: Plutus, And A €200,000 Mandate Into Q1 2027
Alongside the DIBC submission, Western Star announced on May 1, 2026 that it had entered into a twelve-month investor relations and marketing services agreement with Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH of Bremen, Germany, dated April 28, 2026 and commencing May 1, 2026.[3]
The services to be provided by Plutus include consultation regarding advertorial marketing and public relations strategies, and designing and implementing an advertisement-based investor awareness campaign focused on the European investment market across financial-news portals, investor newsletters, social-media platforms, paid digital advertising networks, and sponsored articles and video interviews on investor-relations portals.[3]
The Company has agreed to pay Plutus a fee of €200,000 payable on the commencement of services. The Plutus Agreement was negotiated through arm's length negotiations and terminates April 30, 2027.[3]
The European channel is a deliberate piece of the architecture. Tungsten reshoring is a U.S. policy story but the metal's industrial customer base spans Europe heavily — and the European procurement context around critical minerals supply security has moved aggressively in parallel with the U.S. policy track. The Plutus mandate positions the Company for European market awareness during the back half of 2026 and through Q1 2027 — precisely the window during which the January 1, 2027 U.S. federal procurement rule will be taking effect and Western Star's maiden drill program will be generating its first modern technical results from Rowland.[2]
CMETC Eligibility: How The Canadian Tax Architecture Subsidizes The Trade
The financing component of Western Star's recent sequence is structurally interesting. CMETC eligibility broadens the pool of Canadian investors willing to fund critical-mineral exploration by attaching enhanced after-tax economics — a 30% non-refundable tax credit on top of the standard 100% Canadian Exploration Expense (CEE) deduction — to the subscription.
The timing of WSR's financing aligns it with a recent, specific policy change: tungsten was added to the CMETC's list of eligible critical minerals on November 4, 2025 (Budget Day 25), with the expansion enacted into law when Bill C-15 (the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1) received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026.[2] The expanded list — which also added bismuth, cesium, chromium, fluorspar, germanium, indium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, and tin — applies to flow-through share agreements entered into after Budget Day 25 and on or before March 31, 2027.[2] Western Star's flow-through agreement, entered into in the run-up to its May 1, 2026 announcement, sits squarely inside that window.
The combination matters because it stacks three independent capital and procurement tailwinds onto the same project: U.S. defense procurement engagement through the DIBC submission, European market awareness through the Plutus mandate, and Canadian after-tax economics through the CMETC-eligible flow-through financing. Few junior tungsten explorers in 2026 are positioned across all three channels simultaneously.
Where WSR Sits Inside The Tungsten And Critical Minerals Reshoring Universe
Group 6 Metals Limited (ASX: G6M) owns and operates the Dolphin Tungsten Mine on King Island, Tasmania — described as the highest-grade tungsten deposit of significant size in the Western world, with a JORC 2012 compliant Mineral Reserve of 4.43Mt at a grade of 0.92% WO₃ and total resources of 9.6 Mt at 0.90% WO₃.[4] Group 6 has recently signed a binding three-year underground mining contract with HMR Drilling Services valued at approximately A$110–120 million for Dolphin development and production services.[5]
Group 6 also turned profitable for the first half of FY26 and announced a long-term Traxys offtake agreement promising 10,000 tonnes of WO₃ in scheelite concentrate deliveries worth a minimum US$1.75 billion over six to eight years at current APT spot prices.[6] Group 6 represents the producer-end comparable for a past-producing Western tungsten asset that has successfully redeveloped into commercial production — the precedent path Western Star's Rowland asset is now positioned to evaluate.
EQ Resources Ltd. (ASX: EQR) owns the Barruecopardo tungsten mine in Spain and the Mt Carbine tungsten mine in Northern Queensland — the largest producing tungsten mine in Australia. The Company has grown approximately 500% over the past year and trades at a valuation near A$1.5 billion as the broader tungsten reshoring trade has repriced the Western producer base aggressively.[6] EQ's management has publicly observed that current tungsten prices are not sustainable, but has indicated they expect elevated prices for three to five years given the absence of immediate major new Western supply sources.[6] EQ Resources represents the producer comparable that frames the institutional repricing of Western tungsten production capacity that is now actively underway.
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ: NB) is advancing the Elk Creek niobium-scandium-titanium critical minerals project in Nebraska, and represents one of the cleanest North American critical-minerals-reshoring comparables for Western Star's positioning. NioCorp priced a US$100 million public offering at US$5.00 per share on February 24, 2026, closing the offering on February 25, 2026, with Maxim Group as lead bookrunner.[7] The Company has begun excavation of its Mine Portal ($44.6 million), announced a non-binding ten-year offtake agreement with Traxys on April 9, 2026, and has a $780 million Export-Import Bank financing under consideration. NioCorp offers the broader U.S. critical minerals reshoring comparable for a small-cap, single-project exposure to a structurally undersupplied critical mineral inside the U.S. supply security framework — the same broader thesis Western Star is positioned inside on tungsten.
MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) operates the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California — the only large-scale operating rare earth mine in the Western Hemisphere — and is the highest-profile public-market expression of the broader U.S. critical-minerals-reshoring investment thesis. MP Materials has been one of the central public-market beneficiaries of the structural U.S. policy push to bring critical minerals supply chains back inside Western jurisdictions, with a market capitalization that reflects the institutional view that strategically essential critical-minerals producers operating inside U.S. borders carry a procurement and security premium that did not exist five years ago. MP Materials provides the broadest reshoring comparable for the strategic-minerals-procurement framework Western Star's Rowland program is positioned inside.
Across all four comparables, the recurring pattern is unmistakable: critical-minerals capacity inside Western jurisdictions has been repriced aggressively across 2025 and 2026, with the producers and near-producers experiencing the cleanest re-ratings, and the developers next in the queue carrying the next layer of asymmetric exposure as the procurement cliff and the tax architecture both tighten in the same direction. Western Star sits at the developer end of that spectrum with a past-producing U.S. asset, an active DIBC engagement, a European IR mandate, and a CMETC-eligible flow-through financing — all dropping inside the same eight-month window before the procurement cliff takes force.
The Window Ahead
Western Star's near-term catalyst window is well-defined. The 2026 spring field season is now in motion at Rowland, with rock sampling of historically disturbed areas underway and a maiden modern exploration program designed to advance the project toward drill targeting.[2]
The DIBC application has been filed, with Washington meetings scheduled in May to discuss the past-producing tungsten asset.[3] The Plutus mandate is live through April 30, 2027 — covering exactly the window during which the January 1, 2027 procurement rule takes effect and the first modern Rowland technical results are expected to land. The CMETC-eligible flow-through financing structure sits inside the agreement window through March 31, 2027.[2]
For investors who have read the procurement cliff, the tax architecture, the European procurement context, and the trajectory of APT prices across the past twelve months, Western Star Resources offers a small-cap exposure to a past-producing U.S. tungsten asset operating with explicit U.S. defense procurement engagement, European investor outreach, and Canadian flow-through subscription economics — all in the same window. The macro is now structural. The procurement is now compulsory by federal regulation. The capital-markets architecture is now subsidized. The question for Western Star is execution of the maiden modern drill program — and the next reads on that question arrive across the back half of 2026.
Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. AmericanNewsGroup.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has previously been paid a fee for Western Star Resources Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly which has since expired. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares Western Star Resources Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. Previous compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ do not own any shares of Western Star Resources Inc. but reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Western Star Resources Inc. at any time hereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation in the future as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through further private placements and/or investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.
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Shares of NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB - Free Report) have gained 2.7% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $5.73, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $11.5 indicates a potential upside of 100.7%.
The mean estimate comprises three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $3.04. While the lowest estimate of $9.50 indicates a 65.8% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 161.8% to reach $15.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in NB. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in NBAnalysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current year, one estimate has moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 0.9%.
Moreover, NB currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much NB could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
Beijing's Current Heavy Rare Earth Restrictions Are a Permanent Strategic Shift, Not a Temporary Bargaining Tactic, Smith Warns
Trump Administration is Moving Aggressively to Accelerate the Build-Out of Domestic Mine-to-Manufacturer Supply Chains
Industry and the Pentagon Still Face Dangerous Shortages Until the US Production Comes Online, Including NioCorp's Elk Creek Project in Nebraska
CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / June 1, 2026 / FoxNews.com today published an opinion-editorial by Mark A. Smith, Chairman and CEO of NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB), warning that China's current export restrictions on heavy rare earth exports are not a temporary negotiating tactic but a permanent strategic decision. U.S. companies and the Pentagon face severe shortages that will not be addressed until U.S. production comes online.
The op-ed can be seen here: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/west-still-doesnt-grasp-danger-chinas-rare-earth-endgame.
In the op-ed, Mr. Smith argues that Western leaders are misreading Beijing's intentions when they treat each new export restriction as leverage to be traded away at the next summit.
"Some Western leaders keep treating each new Chinese export restriction as a bargaining chip," Mr. Smith writes. "That is the wrong way to read what is happening. China is methodically executing a long-term economic and military plan to stop shipping these materials abroad altogether."
Heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium are essential to high-performance permanent magnets that power modern jet aircraft, advanced weapons systems, and hybrid and electric vehicles. A small fraction of these elements by weight allows magnets to withstand intense heat without losing strength. These magnets, along with samarium-cobalt rare earth permanent magnets, help steer cruise missiles, point fighter-jet radars, and drive the silent propulsion in America's submarines. For more than a decade, China has been the world's near-sole supplier but Beijing effectively shut that door to Western defense companies in April of last year.
"A kilogram of dysprosium shipped abroad as a powder earns China a few hundred dollars and employs a handful of miners," Mr. Smith writes. "The same kilogram, tucked inside the motor of an electric car, helps roll a $40,000 vehicle off a Chinese assembly line." Multiplied across the millions of vehicles, wind turbines, drones, and industrial robots China exports each year, the incentive to keep the entire mine-to-magnet-to-manufacturer chain inside its borders becomes overwhelming, a strategy Beijing laid out in its Made in China 2025 blueprint.
Against that backdrop, Mr. Smith credits the Trump Administration with moving decisively to build domestic alternatives. "President Trump clearly sees where this is headed," he writes. "His Administration is working furiously to develop mine-to-manufacturer supply chains in the U.S., including the Pentagon's early investments in the domestic scandium supply chain."
Go here to see Mr. Smith's op-ed: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/west-still-doesnt-grasp-danger-chinas-rare-earth-endgame
For more information on NioCorp and the Elk Creek Project, please visit: https://www.niocorp.com.
NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's confidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as well as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve the required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement under the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an entity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the authority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement or other agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms, or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to negotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements, on favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining and scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's intellectual property rights; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Falling more than 2% from its Friday closing price, NioCorp Developments (NB +8.68%) shares are bouncing back today after an analyst initiated coverage of the mineral development company and set a bullish price target.
As of 1:53 p.m. ET, shares of NioCorp are up 0.5%, tumbling from an earlier gain of 6.6%.
Image source: Getty Images.
A lower-risk project has this firm enthused Initiating coverage with a buy rating, B. Riley has set a $12 price target on NioCorp stock. According to Thefly.com, B. Riley analysts predicated the outlook on the belief that the company's Elk Creek project is "one of the most de-risked critical minerals development projects in the U.S."
Today's Change
(
8.68
%) $
0.42
Current Price
$
5.26
With NioCorp stock closing at $4.99 yesterday, B. Riley's $12 price target represents 140% upside.
Located in Nebraska, the Elk Creek project contains a variety of critical minerals such as scandium oxide and ferroniobium, two minerals that aren't produced in the United States. In addition, NioCorp has identified rare-earth minerals at Elk Creek, including neodymium-praseodymium oxide and dysprosium oxide.
Is now the time to buy NioCorp stock before it rockets higher? With the auspicious price target that B. Riley assigned to NioCorp stock, it's unsurprising that investors leaped at the chance to buy shares earlier today -- but that doesn't mean investors were smart to do so. Granted, the high price target is alluring, but NioCorp is still developing the asset, and there's no certainty that the project will come to fruition -- let alone be a profitable endeavor if it does commence commercial operations.
At this point, an investment in NioCorp should be left to those with high risk tolerances. Fortunately for those seeking more conservative options, there are plenty of other compelling mining stocks to consider.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ITALY, DENMARK, JAPAN, THE UNITED STATES, OR TO ANY NATIONAL OF SUCH JURISDICTIONS
St Peter Port, Guernsey 11 June 2026
NB Private Equity Partners Limited (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that at the Annual General Meeting of its Class A Shareholders held at 2.00 p.m. on 11 June 2026, each of the Resolutions tabled were duly passed without amendment.
All resolutions as set out in the Notice of AGM, of which resolutions 1-12 were proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 13-15 were proposed as special resolutions, were voted on by way of a poll and the results were as follows:
ResolutionVotes For% votes castVotes Against% votes castVotes Withheld*1. To receive the Audited Financial Statements and Directors Report for the year ended 31 December 2025.27,744,24399.984,9180.026912. To approve the Directors Remuneration Report as set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025.27,720,61799.9126,0060.093,2293. That the Directors’ Remuneration Policy as set out in the Notice be re-approved.27,719,66699.9028,9110.101,2754. To re-elect William Maltby as a Director of the Company.25,714,63999.7758,5990.231,976,6145. To re-elect Pawan Dhir as a Director of the Company27,735,93499.9610,7440.043,1746. To re-elect Wilken von Hodenberg as a Director of the Company.25,714,63999.7758,5990.231,976,6147. To re-elect Louisa Symington-Mills as a Director of the Company.27,739,39499.977,8110.032,6478. To elect Caroline Chan as a Director of the Company.27,740,17499.986,1500.023,5289. That KPMG Channel Islands Limited be re-appointed as auditor of the Company.27,740,49899.978,3430.031,01110. That the Directors may determine the remuneration of the auditors.27,743,18799.985,9410.0272411. That the interim dividend paid on 27 February 2026 of $0.47 per share be approved and ratified.27,581,90699.40166,1790.601,76712. That the limit on the aggregate amount paid to each Director by way of fees be increased to £550,000.0025,442,59491.692,304,9648.312,29413. That the Company be authorised in accordance with Section 315 of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) to make market acquisitions of its ordinary shares in accordance with the terms set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting.27,742,38599.986,2880.021,17914. That the Directors be authorised to allot and issue (or sell from treasury) equity securities for cash, up to an aggregate amount not exceeding 9.99% of the Ordinary Shares in issue.27,195,30298.01552,4791.992,07115. The name of the Company be changed to “Neuberger Private Equity Partners Limited” and the existing Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation of the Company be amended to replace all references to “NB Private Equity Partners Limited” with “Neuberger Private Equity Partners Limited”27,732,03399.9612,4320.045,387 * A vote withheld is not a vote in law and has not been counted in the votes for and against a resolution.
Ms. Trudi Clark retired from the Board upon the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, and Ms. Chan takes the role of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee Chair and Management Engagement Committee Chair.
Change of Company Name Update
Following the passing of Resolution 15, the Company will seek to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the proposed change and will confirm the effective date for the change of name in due course.
About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.
LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77
About Neuberger
Neuberger is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with approximately 3000 employees across 27 countries. The firm manages $563 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger's investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. The firm is proud to be recognized for its commitment to its two constituents, clients and employees. Again in 2025, Neuberger was named Best Asset Manager for Institutional Investors in the US (Crisil Coalition Greenwich) and the #1 Best Place to Work in Money Management (Pensions & Investments, firms with more than 1,000 employees). Neuberger has no corporate parent or unaffiliated external shareholders. Visit www.nb.com for more information, including www.nb.com/disclosure-global-communications for information on awards. Data as of 31 December 2025.
This press release appears as a matter of record only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any security.
NBPE is established as a closed-end investment company domiciled in Guernsey. NBPE has received the necessary consent of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. This document is not intended to constitute legal, tax or accounting advice or investment recommendations. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of NBPE's investment manager. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Additionally, this document contains "forward-looking statements." Actual events or results or the actual performance of NBPE may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such targets or forward-looking statements.
Nordea Investment Management AB cut its position in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE: SW) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,450,082 shares of the company's stock after selling 324,141 shares during the period. Nordea Investment
Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA cut its holdings in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report) by 10.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 676,222 shares of the company’s stock after selling 81,664 shares during the quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA owned 0.13% of Smurfit Westrock worth $26,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 113.3% in the 3rd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter worth $33,000. Rexford Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the second quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Groupe la Francaise acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the second quarter worth $51,000. 83.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling at Smurfit Westrock In other Smurfit Westrock news, CFO Ken Bowles sold 10,000 shares of Smurfit Westrock stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.26, for a total transaction of $512,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 151,644 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,773,271.44. The trade was a 6.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Anthony P. J. Smurfit sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.54, for a total transaction of $2,061,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,642,610 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $84,660,119.40. The trade was a 2.38% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Smurfit Westrock Price Performance SW stock opened at $40.18 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.48. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $40.83. The company has a market capitalization of $21.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.21 and a beta of 1.06. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a 52-week low of $32.73 and a 52-week high of $52.65.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter. Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.10% and a net margin of 2.24%.The firm had revenue of $7.58 billion during the quarter. Research analysts expect that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a $0.4523 dividend. This represents a $1.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This is an increase from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Smurfit Westrock’s payout ratio is currently 136.09%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on SW shares. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Citigroup upped their price target on Smurfit Westrock from $48.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Truist Financial set a $60.00 price target on Smurfit Westrock in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $51.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Smurfit Westrock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $55.73.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Smurfit Westrock
Smurfit Westrock Company Profile (Free Report)
Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Smurfit Westrock Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report).
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BIP Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 62,379 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,412,000.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the fourth quarter valued at about $341,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its holdings in Smurfit Westrock by 79,790.6% in the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 127,825 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,459,000 after buying an additional 127,665 shares during the last quarter. Ascent Group LLC increased its holdings in Smurfit Westrock by 223.8% in the fourth quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 16,977 shares of the company’s stock valued at $657,000 after buying an additional 11,734 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd increased its holdings in Smurfit Westrock by 131.1% in the fourth quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 16,288 shares of the company’s stock valued at $630,000 after buying an additional 9,239 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FNY Investment Advisers LLC increased its holdings in Smurfit Westrock by 75.0% in the fourth quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 3,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $135,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares during the last quarter. 83.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Insider Activity at Smurfit Westrock In other news, CFO Ken Bowles sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.26, for a total transaction of $512,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 151,644 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,773,271.44. The trade was a 6.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Anthony P. J. Smurfit sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.54, for a total value of $2,061,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 1,642,610 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $84,660,119.40. This represents a 2.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.46% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently weighed in on SW. Barclays lowered their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a report on Tuesday, March 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $49.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Argus decreased their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $55.00 to $45.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $51.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Smurfit Westrock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $55.73.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Smurfit Westrock
Smurfit Westrock Stock Performance Shares of SW stock opened at $39.30 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The business has a 50 day moving average of $43.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.68. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a 52 week low of $32.73 and a 52 week high of $52.65. The company has a market cap of $20.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.55 and a beta of 1.06.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $7.58 billion during the quarter. Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.10% and a net margin of 2.24%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 EPS for the current year.
Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a dividend of $0.4523 per share. This is a boost from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.6%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. Smurfit Westrock’s payout ratio is presently 136.09%.
Smurfit Westrock Company Profile (Free Report)
Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.
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Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report) by 43.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 49,064 shares of the company’s stock after selling 36,945 shares during the quarter. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Smurfit Westrock were worth $1,897,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. grew its position in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 113.3% during the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter valued at about $33,000. Rexford Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the second quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter valued at about $55,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.38% of the company’s stock.
Smurfit Westrock Trading Down 0.2% SW opened at $42.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $22.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.73 and a beta of 1.06. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a 12 month low of $32.73 and a 12 month high of $52.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $43.31 and a 200 day moving average of $40.70.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $7.58 billion during the quarter. Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.10% and a net margin of 2.24%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 EPS for the current year.
Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a $0.4523 dividend. This is an increase from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. Smurfit Westrock’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 136.09%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on SW. Citigroup raised their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $48.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. They set a “buy” rating and a $49.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial set a $60.00 price objective on Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $51.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Smurfit Westrock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $55.73.
Get Our Latest Report on Smurfit Westrock
Insider Activity In other Smurfit Westrock news, CEO Anthony P. J. Smurfit sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.54, for a total value of $2,061,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,642,610 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $84,660,119.40. This trade represents a 2.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Ken Bowles sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.26, for a total transaction of $512,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 151,644 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,773,271.44. The trade was a 6.19% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
About Smurfit Westrock (Free Report)
Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Smurfit Westrock Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report).
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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smurfit Westrock plc (NYSE:SW; LSE:SWR) plans to release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6.30 am ET (11.30 am BST). Smurfit Westrock's earnings release and related materials will be available at smurfitwestrock.com. At 7.30 am ET (12.30 pm BST) on the same day, Smurfit Westrock's senior management team will host a webcast for analysts and institutional investors. The webcast will be available at https://inv.
Benson Investment Management Company Inc. bought a new position in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 164,665 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,368,000. Smurfit Westrock comprises about 2.2% of Benson Investment Management Company Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position.
Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 113.3% in the 3rd quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the period. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter worth $55,000. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the 2nd quarter valued at about $63,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the company’s stock.
Smurfit Westrock Stock Performance NYSE SW opened at $42.28 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $22.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.79 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a twelve month low of $32.73 and a twelve month high of $52.65. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $43.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $40.66.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter. Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.10% and a net margin of 2.24%.The firm had revenue of $7.58 billion for the quarter. Sell-side analysts expect that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 EPS for the current year.
Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a $0.4523 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This is a positive change from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.3%. Smurfit Westrock’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 136.09%.
Insider Transactions at Smurfit Westrock In other news, CFO Ken Bowles sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.26, for a total value of $512,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 151,644 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,773,271.44. The trade was a 6.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Anthony P. J. Smurfit sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.54, for a total value of $2,061,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 1,642,610 shares in the company, valued at $84,660,119.40. The trade was a 2.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.46% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Analysts Set New Price Targets SW has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $59.00 to $53.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. They set a “buy” rating and a $49.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 6th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $53.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $53.91.
Read Our Latest Report on Smurfit Westrock
Smurfit Westrock Company Profile (Free Report)
Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Smurfit Westrock
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Prior to March 31, 2026, my REaders mentioned 40 equities in their comments. Some bad-news investments (ROgues) mixed with (mostly) FAvorites. Thus, readers spoke-up about their ReFa/Ro. Top ten ReFa/Ro Dogs are projected to deliver 24.15% to 63.09% net gains by March 2027, with an average estimated gain of 35.47%. All top ten ReFa/Ro Dogs currently have share prices below projected annual dividends from a $1k investment, meeting strict yield-based criteria.
Exane Asset Management increased its holdings in shares of Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW – Free Report) by 63.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 564,938 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 219,545 shares during the period. Smurfit Westrock makes up approximately 5.0% of Exane Asset Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Exane Asset Management owned 0.11% of Smurfit Westrock worth $21,846,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. grew its holdings in Smurfit Westrock by 113.3% in the third quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter valued at $33,000. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter valued at $55,000. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the second quarter valued at $63,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the company’s stock.
Insider Buying and Selling at Smurfit Westrock In other news, CFO Ken Bowles sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.26, for a total value of $512,600.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 151,644 shares in the company, valued at $7,773,271.44. This represents a 6.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Anthony P. J. Smurfit sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.54, for a total value of $2,061,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,642,610 shares in the company, valued at $84,660,119.40. This represents a 2.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have weighed in on SW shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a report on Tuesday, March 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $49.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 6th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $58.00 target price on Smurfit Westrock in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada set a $54.00 target price on Smurfit Westrock and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $53.91.
Read Our Latest Report on SW
Smurfit Westrock Stock Up 0.1% Shares of NYSE:SW opened at $42.28 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a 52-week low of $32.73 and a 52-week high of $52.65. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $43.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $40.63. The company has a market capitalization of $22.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.79 and a beta of 1.06.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 27th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.10% and a net margin of 2.24%.The business had revenue of $7.58 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 3.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a $0.4523 dividend. This is an increase from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. Smurfit Westrock’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 136.09%.
Smurfit Westrock Company Profile (Free Report)
Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Smurfit Westrock
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The market expects Smurfit Westrock (SW - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on April 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis paper and packaging company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.50 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -31.5%.
Revenues are expected to be $7.76 billion, up 1.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 10.97% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Smurfit Westrock?For Smurfit Westrock, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -28.31%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Smurfit Westrock will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Smurfit Westrock would post earnings of $0.46 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.34, delivering a surprise of -26.09%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Smurfit Westrock doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerInternational Paper (IP - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Paper and Related Products industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.23 for the quarter ended March 2026. This estimate points to no change from the year-ago quarter. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $6.05 billion, up 2.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for International Paper has been revised 16.6% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -19.66%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that International Paper will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company could not beat consensus EPS estimates in any of the last four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Key Takeaways Smurfit Westrock is set to post Q1 results, with revenues rising 1.4% but EPS expected to fall y/y.SW sees stable demand from essentials and e-commerce, but weak Europe volumes and box demand weigh.Smurfit Westrock faces merger costs, though pricing actions and cost cuts may offset some pressure. Smurfit Westrock PLC (SW - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 30, before market open.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $7.76 billion, indicating 1.4% growth from the year-ago quarter's reported figure.
The consensus mark for earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at 50 cents, indicating a year-over-year dip from 73 cents. The bottom-line estimate has moved 26.4% south in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Smurfit Westrock’s Earnings Surprise HistoryThe company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed in the other three, delivering an average negative surprise of 12.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Factors Likely to Shape SW’s Q1 ResultsDemand for corrugated packaging and containerboard used to package essential items, such as food, beverages and medicines, has been stable. Strong growth in e-commerce and rising demand for paper as a sustainable packaging solution have favored the industry. These trends are expected to get reflected in Smurfit Westrock’s first-quarter 2026 results.
However, some of these gains are likely to have been offset by weak volumes in Europe and lower box demand. This is expected to hurt Smurfit Westrock’s quarterly results.
The merger-related costs are expected to have affected SW’s quarterly performance and free cash flow margin. Pricing actions and cost-saving initiatives are likely to have negated some of these headwinds.
Smurfit Westrock’s Q1 Segmental ProjectionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Europe, MEA and APAC’s revenues is pegged at $2.79 billion for the first quarter, indicating an increase from the $2.58 billion reported in the first quarter of 2025. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA is pegged at $424 million. In the prior-year quarter, the segment reported adjusted EBITDA of $389 million.
The estimates for the North America segment’s first-quarter 2026 revenues are pegged at $4.45 billion compared with the $4.58 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s adjusted EBITDA is pegged at $624 million, suggesting a 20% year-over-year dip.
The LATAM segment’s revenue estimate is pegged at $524 million, suggesting year-over-year growth from $502 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s adjusted EBITDA is pegged at $121 million, indicating a rise from the $115 million reported in the prior-year quarter.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for SW StockOur model does not predict an earnings beat for Smurfit Westrock this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is not the case here.
SW’s Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Smurfit Westrock is 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
SW’s Zacks Rank: SW currently has a Zacks Rank #3.
Smurfit Westrock Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of the company have lost 2% in the past year compared with the industry’s 10.9% decline. During this time, the Basic Materials sector has jumped 49.8%, whereas the S&P 500 has grown 35.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks Poised to Beat EstimatesHere are some Basic Materials stocks, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) , scheduled to release first-quarter earnings on May 6, has an Earnings ESP of +1.07% and flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CF Industries’ earnings estimates for the first quarter have moved up 11.4% over the past 60 days. The estimate is pegged at $2.35 cents per share, indicating an increase of 27% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. CF Industries has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 13.1%.
Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) , scheduled to release first-quarter earnings on May 6, has an Earnings ESP of +20.12%. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Albemarle’s earnings for the first quarter is pegged at $1.24, indicating a turnaround from the loss of 18 cents incurred in the year-ago quarter. Albemarle has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 57.8%.
Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC - Free Report) , slated to release first-quarter 2026 earnings on April 29, has an Earnings ESP of +7.07% and a Zacks Rank #3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinross Gold’s earnings for the first quarter is pegged at 68 cents, indicating a year-over-year upsurge of 126%. Kinross Gold has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 26.1%.
Smurfit Westrock offers compelling value as management targets margin expansion to PKG-like levels, with a disciplined, plant-level profitability focus. SW trades at a significant discount to peers, with a forward EV/EBITDA near 6.6x and a 4.5% yield, making it attractive for value investors. Management's strategy to exit low-margin contracts and empower local managers is driving margin improvement, aiming for 20% North American EBITDA margins by 2030.
In its upcoming report, Smurfit Westrock (SW - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $0.36 per share, reflecting a decline of 50.7% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $7.76 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.4%.
The current level reflects a downward revision of 11% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance, exploring analysts' projections for specific key metrics can offer valuable insights.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Smurfit Westrock metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Net sales (unaffiliated customers)- Europe, MEA and APAC' will reach $2.80 billion. The estimate points to a change of +8.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Analysts forecast 'Net sales (unaffiliated customers)- LATAM' to reach $524.52 million. The estimate points to a change of +4.5% from the year-ago quarter.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Net sales (unaffiliated customers)- North America' will reach $4.45 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -2.8%.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Adjusted EBITDA- North America' should come in at $624.10 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $785.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts predict that the 'Adjusted EBITDA- LATAM' will reach $121.62 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $115.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts expect 'Adjusted EBITDA- Europe, MEA and APAC' to come in at $424.25 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $389.00 million in the same quarter last year.
View all Key Company Metrics for Smurfit Westrock here>>>
Shares of Smurfit Westrock have experienced a change of +1.8% in the past month compared to the +12.2% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), SW is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
