MP Materials takes aim at China

Article Excerpt

China currently dominates rare-earth production due in part to higher labour costs and tighter environmental restrictions in the U.S. However, politicians and government officials in the U.S. are now trying to promote production in the U.S. MP Materials should benefit from that effort. The stock is a Power Buy. MP MATERIALS CORP., $45.24, is a buy. The company (New York symbol MP; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (www.mpmaterials.com; Shares o/s: 177.5 million; Market cap: $8.4 billion; No divds.) is the owner and operator of the Mountain Pass mine, the only significant rare-earth commercial mining and processing site in North America. Rare-earth elements are used in a variety of modern devices and applications: magnets in small and large motors; glass additives and glass polishing compounds; rechargeable batteries; television and computer screens; lighting; X-ray machines; and lasers. The Mountain Pass mine, located in San Bernardino County, California, was discovered in 1949 and went into operation in 1952. However, due to environmental concerns and competitive pressure from China, it closed in 2002. In…