MP Materials Corp (NYSE: MP) shares rose 9.3% to $60.16 on Friday, outperforming the broader market as the Materials sector emerged as the day’s strongest performer, gaining 2.09%.

The rally was driven by a combination of policy support and technical breakout momentum. The U.S. Department of Energy recently selected seven projects aimed at expanding critical mineral processing and battery manufacturing capacity, aligning with President Donald Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” executive order.

Sector Momentum and Policy Tailwinds

MP Materials significantly outperformed its peer group as investors reacted to the federal government’s continued push to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals. The company operates Mountain Pass, the only rare earth mining and processing site of scale in North America.

This development builds on earlier trade and defense initiatives, including tariffs on foreign-made drones and expanded agreements with defense primes Boeing and RTX to scale interceptor missile production. These measures reinforce the long-term demand outlook for rare earth elements, which are essential for high-performance permanent magnets used in military ordnance and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Technical Breakout

Technically, MP moved above its 100-day and 200-day simple moving averages, trading well above its 20-day and 50-day averages. Momentum indicators improved, with the MACD above its signal line and a positive histogram, suggesting strengthening buying pressure.

However, the longer-term trend remains in recovery mode. The stock formed a “death cross” in July when its 50-day moving average fell below its 200-day average. Resistance sits near $61, while support is around $53.50. Holding above these longer-term moving averages is critical for sustaining the breakout.

Government Equity and Strategic Focus

The federal government is backing this magnet push with significant capital. The Department of Defense holds a 15% equity stake in MP Materials via a $400 million investment, guaranteeing a 10-year offtake agreement and price floor for its Texas magnet facility. Similarly, the administration acquired a 10% equity stake in USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR) as part of a $1.6 billion package.

President Trump recently urged the industrial base to “Do magnets,” highlighting the national security need for domestic rare earth permanent magnet production, a market currently dominated by Chinese manufacturing.

Analyst Outlook and ETF Exposure

Analysts maintain a Buy consensus rating with an average price forecast of $71.79. Recent adjustments include:

• JPMorgan: Maintained Overweight, lowered forecast to $60 on July 29.
• Needham: Maintained Buy, cut forecast to $73 on July 22.
• Barclays: Maintained Overweight, lowered forecast to $65 on July 16.

MP Materials has significant exposure through ETFs, including the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (NYSEARCA: REMX) with a 6.27% weighting, and the Sprott Critical Materials ETF (NASDAQ: SETM) with a 3.19% weighting. ETF flows can create additional buying pressure in heavily weighted holdings.

What the Numbers Show

MP Materials’ 9.3% single-day gain contrasts sharply with its 19.26% decline over the last year and 8.95% year-to-date rise. This divergence highlights how specific policy catalysts—such as the DOE project selections and defense mandates—can temporarily override longer-term technical weaknesses, such as the July “death cross,” driving sharp intraday reversals in critical minerals stocks.

MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Ryan Corbett, will present at Canaccord Genuity’s 46th Annual Growth Conference on August 12, 2026. The session is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time and offers investors an opportunity to engage directly with executive management regarding the company’s strategic direction and operational performance. This appearance provides market participants with timely insights into the rare earth producer’s outlook amid evolving global supply chain dynamics.

Conference Details

The event will be conducted virtually, allowing broad accessibility for investors and analysts. To participate, interested parties must register through MP Materials’ official investor relations website at https://investors.mpmaterials.com/ . Upon successful registration, participants will receive an email containing a direct link to the live broadcast.

For those unable to attend in real-time, a replay of the presentation will be made available on the same platform following the conclusion of the conference. The company has not disclosed specific topics beyond the general scope of the annual growth conference, but historical precedents suggest discussions will likely cover production metrics, magnet manufacturing progress, and financial guidance.

About MP Materials

MP Materials operates as America’s only fully integrated rare earth producer, managing capabilities across the entire supply chain from mining and processing to advanced metallization and magnet manufacturing. The company extracts and refines materials from one of the world’s richest rare earth deposits located in California. Its products include permanent magnets described as the world’s strongest and most efficient, enabling innovation in critical sectors such as transportation, energy, robotics, defense, and aerospace.

Investors seeking further information can contact the company’s investor relations team at ir@mpmaterials.com . Media inquiries should be directed to media@mpmaterials.com . Additional corporate details are available at https://mpmaterials.com/ .