Forget Rare Earth Metals, Check Out Technology Metals

by Fred Fuld III

You should be looking at the technology metals, sometimes called minor metals, strategic materials, and critical materials. Don’t confuse them with Rare Earth Metals. These include such elements as Gallium, Germanium, Hafnium, Indium, and Rhenium, and are essential for:

  • Semiconductors,
  • Solar panels,
  • Aerospace components,
  • Telecommunications,
  • Batteries and energy storage.

Technology metals are a group of elements critical to modern, high-tech industries. They are essential for manufacturing advanced electronics, semiconductors, telecommunications equipment, renewable energy systems, and aerospace components. Unlike base metals (like copper or iron), technology metals are typically used in small quantities but enable key functions in cutting-edge devices, including smartphones, solar panels, electric vehicles, fiber optics, and jet engines. Their strategic importance stems from limited supply chains, specialized extraction, and the lack of viable substitutes in many applications.

Industrial Uses of Five Key Technology Metals

Gallium
Gallium is primarily used in semiconductors, especially in the compound gallium arsenide (GaAs), which is essential for high-speed electronics, solar cells, and LEDs. It also plays a key role in 5G networks, radar systems, and satellite communications. Gallium is not mined directly—it is typically extracted as a byproduct of aluminum or zinc processing. Since Jan 2020 Gallium is up over 235%.

Germanium
Germanium is crucial in fiber optics, infrared optics, and semiconductor technology. It’s used in photodetectors, thermal imaging devices, and solar panels (especially in space applications). Germanium is also added to alloys to improve conductivity and corrosion resistance. Like gallium, it’s a byproduct—mainly from zinc refining. Since Jan 2020 Germanium is up over 110%.

Hafnium
Hafnium is used in nuclear reactors due to its ability to absorb neutrons without swelling or becoming brittle. It’s also vital in the aerospace industry, where it improves the heat resistance of superalloys used in jet engines and space vehicles. In microelectronics, hafnium oxide is used as a high-k dielectric material in advanced transistors, enabling smaller and faster computer chips. Since Jan 2020 Hafnium is up over 169%.

Indium
Indium is best known for forming indium tin oxide (ITO), a transparent conductor used in touchscreens,LCDs, solar panels, and smartphone displays. It’s also used in low-melting solders and thermal interface materials. Indium is rare and primarily obtained as a byproduct of zinc mining, making its supply vulnerable to fluctuations in base metal markets. Since Jan 2020 Indium is up over 135%.

Rhenium
Rhenium is a rare and heat-resistant metal used mainly in superalloys for jet engine turbines and rocket components, where it enhances strength at high temperatures. It’s also used in platinum-rhenium catalysts for refining high-octane gasoline. Due to its extremely high melting point and scarcity, rhenium is both strategic and expensive, often recycled from spent catalysts and alloy scrap. Since Jan 2020 Rhenium is up over 69%.

Technology Metals Stocks

There are several publicly traded companies involved in the mining and production of technology metals such as gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, and rhenium. While few companies focus exclusively on these metals, many extract them as byproducts of other mining operations or are expanding into these areas due to increasing demand.

Publicly Traded Companies Involved in Technology Metals

1. Rio Tinto (RIO)

Rio Tinto is a global mining giant that has recently ventured into gallium production. In collaboration with Indium Corporation, they successfully extracted their first primary gallium at Indium Corp’s R&D facility in New York. The project aims to scale up gallium production to pilot levels, with plans to produce up to 40 tonnes annually at their Quebec refinery, potentially contributing 5%-10% of the global supply. 

The company has a $97.3 billion market cap, trades at 8.5 times trailing earnings, and a 6.72% forward dividend yield.

2. MTM Critical Metals (MTMCF)

An Australian company, MTM Critical Metals has achieved a breakthrough in recovering gallium and germanium from semiconductor industry waste. Their proprietary FJH technology has achieved recovery rates of approximately 90% for gallium and 80% for germanium, positioning them as a potential key player in sustainable sourcing of these critical materials.

3. MP Materials (MP)

MP Materials owns and operates the Mountain Pass mine, the only operating rare earth mine and processing facility in the United States. While their primary focus is on neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) used in magnets for electric vehicles and wind turbines, their operations also yield other rare earth elements that are critical in various high-tech applications. 

The company has a $3.8 billion market cap, and is currently generating negative earnings.

4. Teck Resources Ltd (TECK)

Teck Resources Ltd, traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B, and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol TECK, is a prominent Canadian resource company. The company stands as one of the world’s largest integrated producers of germanium. Teck Resources processes germanium-bearing concentrates at its fully integrated lead/zinc refinery situated in Trail, British Columbia. Through this established refining process, Teck Resources has solidified its position as a significant and primary producer of germanium within the global market. 

The company has a $16.7 billion market cap, a very high price to earnings ratio of 675, and a forward dividend yield of 1.03%.

5. Tronox Holdings plc (TROX)

Tronox Holdings plc, traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker TROX, is a leading global producer of high-quality titanium products, which includes titanium dioxide pigment, specialty-grade titanium dioxide products, high-purity titanium chemicals, and notably, zircon. Tronox engages in the mining of titanium-bearing mineral sands and operates upgrading facilities to produce various high-grade materials. The company reports a substantial zircon production capacity of 117,000 metric tons per year from its operations located in Australia. Similar to Iluka Resources, Tronox’s significant production of zircon establishes it as a primary miner of hafnium, given the consistent association of hafnium with zircon within mineral sands deposits. The company has a market cap of $775 million, is generating negative earnings, and has a forward dividend yield of 9.42%.

6. Adex Mining Inc. (ADXDF)

Adex Mining Inc, traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol ADE and over the counter [OTC] as ADXDF, is a mining exploration company actively engaged in the development of its Mount Pleasant Mine property located in Canada. The Mount Pleasant deposit is recognized as “North America’s largest tin deposit and the world’s largest reserve of indium”. While Adex Mining’s exploration activities target tin, zinc, molybdenum, and tungsten in addition to indium, the sheer scale of the indium reserves at its flagship project strongly suggests a primary focus on the potential mining of this technology metal, although the project is currently in the exploration and development phase. This is a $4.9 million micro cap, micro penny stock.

7. Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (NAK)

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol NDM and on the NYSE American under the symbol NAK, is a mineral exploration and development company primarily focused on the Pebble Project in Alaska. The Pebble deposit is reported to contain a significant resource of rhenium, in addition to substantial quantities of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver. In fact, the Pebble Project has been described as hosting the world’s most significant rhenium resource. While the Pebble Project is currently in the development phase and is subject to regulatory processes, the immense rhenium resource it holds positions Northern Dynasty Minerals as a potential primary miner of rhenium in the future, should the project proceed to operation. The company has a $568 million market cap and is currently generating negative earnings.

If you are looking for an ETF, VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) is an ETF that provides exposure to companies involved in producing, refining, and recycling rare earth and strategic metals globally. 

Technology metals are a high-potential but niche investment category, driven by growing demand from semiconductors, clean energy, and aerospace, yet constrained by limited supply and geopolitical risk. This industry is well worth taking a closer look.

Source for metals returns: https://strategicmetalsinvest.com/current-strategic-metals-prices/

Please note: Many of the above stocks are penny stocks and should be considered extremely speculative.

Disclosure: Author didn’t own any of the above at the time the article was written.

Are College Degrees a Bad Investment?

by Fred Fuld III

Is College Worth It?

As graduation approaches, many families face one of the biggest decisions of a young person’s life: Should I go to college? For decades, the answer was automatic—college was seen as the surest path to success. But with rising tuition costs, student debt, and alternative career paths gaining traction, students and parents alike are asking a new question: Is a college degree really worth the investment?

Here’s a balanced look at the advantages and disadvantages of getting a college degree, tailored for families weighing both the personal and financial implications.

Advantages of a College Degree

1. Better Job Prospects and Earning Potential
College graduates tend to earn more over their lifetimes. Many well-paying professions—like engineering, medicine, law, and finance—require a degree to even get in the door. A degree can also open up more stable, long-term career paths with benefits like healthcare and retirement plans.

2. Professional and Personal Growth
College isn’t just about lectures and exams. It helps students develop critical thinking, communication, and time-management skills. Living away from home can also foster independence, resilience, and social maturity.

3. Networking Opportunities
College campuses are full of future colleagues, business partners, mentors, and job leads. Professors, alumni networks, and internship programs often become valuable stepping stones into competitive industries.

4. Access to Careers That Require a Degree
Some jobs—especially in education, healthcare, and science—legally or practically require a college education. Without a degree, these paths are not accessible.

Disadvantages of a College Degree

1. High Costs and Student Debt
Tuition, housing, books, and fees can add up to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many students graduate with significant debt that takes years—or even decades—to repay. For parents, college can mean dipping into retirement savings or taking on loans themselves.

2. Not Always Necessary for Success
Tech, trades, arts, and entrepreneurship often reward skills, experience, and creativity more than diplomas. Self-taught developers, digital marketers, electricians, and business founders have all built successful careers without a degree.

3. Delayed Entry into the Workforce
Spending four or more years in college means delaying full-time employment and income. Meanwhile, others may start apprenticeships, gain hands-on experience, or launch businesses straight out of high school.

4. Mismatch Between Degree and Job Market
A college degree doesn’t guarantee a job. Some graduates find themselves underemployed or working in fields unrelated to their majors. The job market favors candidates with relevant skills and experience—sometimes more than formal education.

Questions Families Should Ask

  • What is the student passionate about, and does that path require a degree?
  • Is there a clear return on investment (ROI) for the school and major being considered?
  • Are there lower-cost options—like community college, state schools, or scholarships?
  • Could internships, certifications, or trade programs offer a faster, cheaper path?

So can you really become successful without a college degree? Look at Steve Jobs, who dropped out of Reed College and became the co-founder and former CEO of Apple (AAPL). Then there is Bill Gates, who co-ounded Microsoft (MSFT). He dropped out of Harvard.  Kevin Murphy started as a front-service clerk at Publix in 1984 and became CEO in 2024. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, left school at 16 (SPCE).

Here’s a list of notable founders and CEOs of large publicly traded companies who either did not attend or did not complete college. Despite lacking a degree, they went on to lead or found some of the most influential companies in the world:

Tech and Internet

NameCompanyRoleEducation Status
Steve JobsAppleCo-founder, former CEODropped out of Reed College
Bill GatesMicrosoftCo-founderDropped out of Harvard
Mark ZuckerbergMeta (Facebook)Co-founder, CEODropped out of Harvard
Michael DellDell TechnologiesFounder, CEODropped out of University of Texas
Larry EllisonOracleCo-founder, former CEODropped out of University of Illinois and University of Chicago
Evan WilliamsTwitter (now X Corp.)Co-founder, former CEODropped out of University of Nebraska
Daniel EkSpotifyCo-founder, CEODropped out of KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden)

Retail and Consumer

NameCompanyRoleEducation Status
Richard SchulzeBest BuyFounderDropped out of college
Amancio OrtegaInditext (Zara)Founder, former chairmanNo formal higher education
Do Won ChangForever 21Co-founderNo college education

Industry and Other Sectors

NameCompanyRoleEducation Status
Howard HughesHughes Aircraft, aviation and media mogulFounderDropped out of Rice University
Travis KalanickUberCo-founder, former CEODropped out of UCLA

Industry Trends

The trend of valuing skills and experience over formal education is gaining traction. Companies like IBM, Google, GM, and Apple have moved away from requiring degrees for certain positions. Initiatives like Peter Thiel’s fellowship program offer $100,000 grants to young entrepreneurs who choose to skip or leave college to pursue business ventures.

Final Thoughts

College can be a powerful investment in a student’s future—but it’s not the only one. It’s essential for students and parents to look beyond tradition and emotion, and weigh the financial and personal implications carefully. Success doesn’t always come with a diploma—it comes with purpose, effort, and choosing the path that fits best.

One thing to keep in mind. Although the above business leaders never received a college degree (excluding honorary degrees), many of them did attend college, and a few of them met their friends there who became co-founders of their company. So another consideration is trying college for a while without being concerned about finishing or getting that degree.

Disclosure: Author may own shares in the above described companies.

Stocks Going Ex Dividend in May 2025

The following is a short list of some of the many stocks going ex-dividend during the next month, which can be helpful for traders and investors interested in the stock trading technique known as “Buying Dividends” or “Dividend Capture.” This strategy involves purchasing stocks before the ex dividend date and selling them shortly after the ex-date at a similar price, while still being eligible to receive the dividend payment.

Although this dividend capture strategy generally proves effective in bull markets and flat or choppy markets, it is advisable to exercise caution and consider avoiding this strategy during bear markets. To qualify for the dividend, it is necessary to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date and refrain from selling it until on or after the ex-date.

However, it is important to note that the actual dividend may not be paid for several weeks, as the payment date may not be until two months after the ex-dividend date.

For investors seeking a comprehensive list of stocks going ex-dividend in the near future, WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable list containing numerous dividend-paying companies. Here are a few examples showcasing the stock symbol, ex-dividend date, periodic dividend amount, and annual yield.

CompanyEx DateAmountYield
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)5/2/20251.300.53%
SiriusXM Holdings Inc. (SIRI)5/9/20250.274.96%
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)5/15/20250.830.85%
Amgen Inc. (AMGN)5/16/20252.383.36%
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)5/16/20250.612.91%
Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT)5/22/20250.461.22%
T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS)5/30/20250.881.49%

To access the entire list of over 100 ex-dividend stocks, subscribers will receive an email in the next couple days with the full list. If you are not already a subscriber, you can sign up using the provided signup box below. Don’t miss out on this valuable information, and the best part is that it’s free!

Dividend Definitions

To better understand the dividend-related terms, let’s define them:

Declaration date: This refers to the day when a company announces its intention to distribute a dividend in the future.
Ex-dividend date: On this day, if you purchase the stock, you would not be eligible to receive the upcoming dividend. It is also the first day on which a shareholder can sell their shares and still receive the dividend.
Record date: This marks the day when you must be recorded on the company’s books as a shareholder to qualify for the dividend. Typically, the ex-dividend date is set two business days prior to the record date.
Payment date: This is the day on which the dividend payment is actually made to the eligible shareholders. It’s important to note that the payment date can be as long as two months after the ex-date.

Before implementing the “Buying Dividends” technique, it is crucial to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the respective company to ensure accuracy and avoid any unexpected changes.

In conclusion, being aware of the stocks going ex-dividend can be advantageous for traders and investors employing the “Buying Dividends” strategy. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com provides a convenient resource to access a comprehensive list of such stocks, allowing individuals to plan their investment decisions effectively. Remember to stay informed and consider market conditions before employing any investment strategy.

Disclosure: Author may own some of the above at the time the article was written.

Warren Buffett: Rich at 26

Did you know that when Warren Buffett was 26 years old, he had $174,000 in savings?

That same year, he created Buffett Partnership Ltd. in 1956 and his investment firm eventually acquired a textile manufacturing firm, Berkshire Hathaway, assuming its name to create a diversified holding company.

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First Stock Traded Under the Buttonwood Tree

The Bank of New York was the first corporate stock traded under the Buttonwood tree in 1792, and the first listed company on the NYSE.

The first bank in the U.S. was the Bank of North America in Philadelphia, which was chartered by the Continental Congress in 1781; Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were among its founding shareholders. In February 1784, The Massachusetts Bank in Boston was chartered.

The shipping industry in New York City chafed under the lack of a bank, and investors envied the 14% dividends that Bank of North America paid, and months of local discussion culminated in a June 1784 meeting at a coffee house on St. George’s Square which led to the formation of the Bank of New York company.

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How You Considered Investing in Watches? How About Neil Armstrong’s Omega Speedmaster?

by Fred Fuld III

Two years ago, we wrote about a Patek Philipe watch that sold for over $5 million. If you missed out on that one, you have another great opportunity. How about an iconic watch from an iconic astronaut celebrity?

RR Auction is auctioning off Neil Armstrong’s Omega Speedmaster Professional 18K Gold 1969 Apollo 11 Commemorative Watch.

The starting bid is $1,2000,000 with an estimated sales price of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000.

The watch will be sold LIVE at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at 6 PM ET on April 17, 2025, with online bidding through Invaluable.

Half of the proceeds will be donated to charities.

Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who, in 1969, became the first person to walk on the Moon. He was also a naval aviator, test pilot, and university professor.

Armstrong was born and raised near Wapakoneta, Ohio. He entered Purdue University, studying aeronautical engineering, with the U.S. Navy paying his tuition under the Holloway Plan. He became a midshipman in 1949 and a naval aviator the following year. He saw action in the Korean War, flying the Grumman F9F Panther from the aircraft carrier USS Essex. After the war, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Purdue and became a test pilot at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) High-Speed Flight Station at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was the project pilot on Century Series fighters and flew the North American X-15 seven times. He was also a participant in the U.S. Air Force’s Man in Space Soonest and X-20 Dyna-Soar human spaceflight programs.

Armstrong joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in the second group, which was selected in 1962. He made his first spaceflight as command pilot of Gemini 8 in March 1966, becoming NASA’s first civilian astronaut to fly in space. During this mission with pilot David Scott, he performed the first docking of two spacecraft; the mission was aborted after Armstrong used some of his re-entry control fuel to stabilize a dangerous roll caused by a stuck thruster. During training for Armstrong’s second and last spaceflight as commander of Apollo 11, he had to eject from the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle moments before a crash.

On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM) pilot Buzz Aldrin became the first people to land on the Moon, and the next day they spent two and a half hours outside the Lunar Module Eagle spacecraft while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit in the Apollo Command Module Columbia. When Armstrong first stepped onto the lunar surface, he famously said: “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was broadcast live to an estimated 530 million viewers worldwide. Apollo 11 was a major U.S. victory in the Space Race, by fulfilling a national goal proposed in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy “of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth” before the end of the decade. Along with Collins and Aldrin, Armstrong was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon and received the 1969 Collier Trophy. President Jimmy Carter presented him with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1979, and with his former crewmates received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009.

After he resigned from NASA in 1971, Armstrong taught in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati until 1979. He served on the Apollo 13 accident investigation and on the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. In 2012, Armstrong died because of complications resulting from coronary bypass surgery, at the age of 82.

Photo courtesy of RR Auction and Invaluable.

First Black NYSE Member

The first African American member of the NYSE was Joseph L. Searles III, who became a member on February 12, 1970.

Joseph Louis Searles III (January 2, 1942 – July 26, 2021) was the first black floor member and floor broker in the New York Stock Exchange.
He was a member of the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club and the New York Young Republican Club. He worked as a floor partner in the firm of Neuberger, Loeb and Company. In February 1970, he became the first black member of the NYSE. He later earned a law degree from Georgetown University.

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Should You Invest in Rare Earth Elements?

by Fred Fuld III

Rare earth elements (REEs)—also sometimes called rare earth metals, rare earth minerals, or strategic metals—are a group of 17 chemically similar elements that have become critical to modern technology. Though not truly rare in terms of Earth’s crust abundance, they are rarely found in economically exploitable concentrations, and their extraction and refinement are complex and environmentally challenging.

These metals are indispensable in the production of high-tech devices, renewable energy technologies, defense systems, and advanced manufacturing. With rising global demand for electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and military hardware, the strategic importance of rare earth elements has surged.

This growing demand, coupled with supply chain vulnerabilities—particularly the concentration of production in China—has prompted investors to take a closer look at rare earths as a potentially lucrative sector.

Returns: Most Commonly Traded REEs versus Gold and Silver
Dysprosium31.47%
Neodymium47.23%
Praseodymium32.06%
Terbium196.91%
Gold98.40%
Silver76.60%
As of April 8, 2025
Source: strategicmetalsinvest.com

Below is an overview of the 17 rare earth elements, each with a brief description of their industrial applications:

1. Scandium (Sc)
Scandium is used primarily in aerospace components and sports equipment. When alloyed with aluminum, scandium enhances strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability, making it ideal for lightweight structural components. It also finds application in solid oxide fuel cells and high-intensity lamps.

2. Yttrium (Y)
Yttrium is key in producing red phosphors for color television and LED screens. It is also used in superconductors, cancer treatment (radioisotope therapy), and ceramic materials that withstand high temperatures, including in jet engines.

3. Lanthanum (La)
Lanthanum is used in camera and telescope lenses for its optical clarity, as well as in batteries—especially nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries used in hybrid vehicles. It also plays a role in refining crude oil by acting as a catalyst.

4. Cerium (Ce)
Cerium is the most abundant rare earth and is widely used in catalytic converters, glass polishing powders, and UV filters. It is also involved in fuel cells and in stabilizing ceramics for advanced manufacturing.

5. Praseodymium (Pr)
Praseodymium is used to produce strong permanent magnets when alloyed with neodymium. It’s also used in aircraft engines, studio lighting, and to color glass and enamel green.

6. Neodymium (Nd)
One of the most commercially valuable rare earths, neodymium is crucial for making powerful magnets used in electric motors, wind turbines, headphones, and hard disk drives. These neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are essential for many green technologies.

7. Promethium (Pm)
A radioactive element, promethium has limited but specialized uses, including in nuclear batteries and luminous paint. Its scarcity and radioactivity make it less commercially widespread but potentially important for niche energy applications.

8. Samarium (Sm)
Samarium is used in high-strength magnets that can withstand higher temperatures than neodymium magnets. It also plays a role in nuclear reactors and cancer treatment through samarium-153, a radioactive isotope used in targeted therapy.

9. Europium (Eu)
Europium is essential for producing red and blue phosphors in televisions and LED lighting. It’s also used in anti-counterfeiting applications such as Euro banknotes and high-security identification cards.

10. Gadolinium (Gd)
Gadolinium is widely used as a contrast agent in MRI scans due to its magnetic properties. It’s also used in neutron capture applications in nuclear reactors and in specialized alloys for electronic components.

11. Terbium (Tb)
Terbium is used in green phosphors for color displays and energy-efficient lighting. It also enhances the performance of magnets and is used in solid-state devices and fuel cells.

12. Dysprosium (Dy)
Dysprosium is used to improve the performance of high-temperature magnets, making it crucial for electric vehicles and wind turbines. It’s also used in nuclear reactor control rods due to its ability to absorb neutrons.

13. Holmium (Ho)
Holmium has the highest magnetic strength of any element and is used in nuclear control rods and magnetic flux concentrators. It’s also used in certain types of lasers and solid-state computing.

14. Erbium (Er)
Erbium is used in fiber optic communication systems as a signal amplifier, in lasers for dermatology and dentistry, and in alloying with metals to improve strength.

15. Thulium (Tm)
Thulium is rare and expensive, used primarily in portable X-ray machines and lasers. Its isotope, Tm-170, is a radiation source for medical applications.

16. Ytterbium (Yb)
Ytterbium is used in stainless steel production, as a doping agent in fiber optics, and in earthquake monitoring equipment due to its sensitivity to stress and strain.

17. Lutetium (Lu)
Lutetium is the rarest and most expensive of the rare earths, used in positron emission tomography (PET) scan detectors, catalysts in petroleum refining, and specialized medical treatments.

Investment Potential and Market Considerations

Investing in rare earth elements presents both opportunities and risks. The increasing demand for high-tech and green energy applications makes these metals a long-term strategic asset. Governments, especially in the U.S., EU, and Japan, are investing in rare earth supply chains to reduce dependence on China, which currently controls over 80% of global production. This geopolitics-fueled movement could benefit mining companies outside China, especially those in Australia, Canada, and the U.S.

Rare earth investments can take several forms: direct investment in mining stocks, rare earth ETFs, or companies that manufacture rare-earth-based technologies. However, the market is highly volatile, subject to geopolitical tensions, environmental regulation, and technological shifts. Investors should be aware of these factors and consider diversification within the broader strategic metals space.

Rare Earth Mining Companies

There are a few companies involved in the mining of REEs. Unfortunately, most are not generating positive earnings and have very low market caps. Most trade Over-the-Counter.

Australian Strategic Materials (ASMMF) is a West Perth, Australia based mining company. The stock has a market cap of $37 million, and is selling at 39% of book value. It is currently generating negative earnings. It recently generated $4.16 in revenues, has $32.6 million in cash, and $16.8 million in debt.

Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU) is a United States based producer of rare earth elements and uranium. The stock has a market cap of $725 million, and is selling at close to book value with a P/B ratio of 1.37. It is currently generating negative earnings. This debt free company has $119 million in cash.

Aclara Resources (ARAAF) is involved in mining magnetic rare earths. The stock has a market cap of $81 million and is selling at 63% below book value. It is currently generating negative earnings.

American Rare Earths (ARRNF) is a Sidney, Australia based mining company. The stock has a market cap of $81 million. It is currently generating negative earnings.

Arafura Rare Earths (ARAFF) is another Australia based mining company. The stock has a market cap of $236 million. It is currently generating negative earnings.

In conclusion, rare earth elements are small in atomic weight but mighty in influence. Their industrial indispensability, coupled with growing geopolitical awareness and technological reliance, makes them a compelling—if complex—investment opportunity in the 21st century.

First Female NYSE Member

The first female member of the NYSE was Muriel Siebert, who became a member on December 28, 1967

Muriel Faye Siebert (September 12, 1928 – August 24, 2013) was an American businesswoman who was the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and the first woman to head one of the NYSE’s member firms. She joined the 1,365 male members of the exchange on December 28, 1967. Siebert is sometimes known as the “first woman of finance”.

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The Significance of xAI acquiring X

The significance of xAI acquiring X lies in the strategic integration of a cutting-edge AI company with a massive social media platform, creating a synergy that could reshape technology, data usage, and user experience. On March 28, 2025, Elon Musk announced that xAI acquired X in an all-stock deal, valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion (or $45 billion including $12 billion in debt). This move intertwines the futures of both entities, combining xAI’s advanced AI capabilities with X’s vast user base and data resources.

One key aspect is the potential for xAI to leverage X’s data—generated by over 600 million active users—to enhance its AI models, particularly its chatbot, Grok. This real-time, diverse dataset could accelerate xAI’s mission to “understand the true nature of the universe” and give it a competitive edge over rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. In return, X could benefit from AI-driven improvements, such as smarter algorithms for personalization, content moderation, and user engagement, potentially revitalizing a platform that has struggled financially since Musk’s $44 billion acquisition in 2022.

Financially, the deal reflects a complex maneuver. X’s valuation has dropped significantly from its purchase price, with estimates as low as $9.4 billion in 2024, due to advertiser exodus and operational challenges. By folding X into xAI, which has seen rapid growth and investor enthusiasm (raising $6 billion in December 2024 alone), Musk may be consolidating his ventures to offset X’s losses, manage its debt, and unlock new value. This could also protect X from hostile takeovers and align resources more efficiently across his ecosystem of companies.

The broader implications are significant: this merger could set a precedent for how AI and social media converge, raising questions about privacy, data ethics, and market dominance. It might enhance user experiences with more intelligent features, but it also risks amplifying concerns about centralized control under Musk’s vision. The long-term impact depends on execution—whether this bold integration delivers innovation or stumbles under its own complexity.