American Rare Earths Advances Halleck Creek Amid U.S. Policy Tailwinds
2/10/2026 | United States | Australia
American Rare Earths Limited has reported key technical milestones at its Halleck Creek project, including rare earth oxide production and test mining, while targeting a 2026 Pre-Feasibility Study and mining permit submission. Mixed price reactions persist despite positive news, buoyed by rising rare earth prices and U.S. critical minerals support.
American Rare Earths Limited has made significant strides at its flagship Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming, as outlined in the company's recent 2025 AGM Chairman's Address and CEO Mark Wall's shareholder letter. Key developments include the successful production of mixed rare earth oxalate and oxide from project ore, advances in atmospheric tank leaching, and impurity removal processes using magnesium oxide. The company also completed test mining of 3,080 tonnes at the Cowboy State Mine in September 2025, bolstering its JORC resource estimate of 2.63 billion tonnes at 3,292 ppm TREO. These milestones position Halleck Creek as a scalable U.S.-based source of critical magnet metals, with potential to supply domestic needs for over 100 years.
Trading activity has shown muted responses to these announcements, with recent volumes below 20-day averages and prices trading 57% below 52-week highs but 144% above lows. For instance, the December technical milestone triggered a 2.5% price dip, while the CEO appointment in early December led to a 5.2% decline, highlighting a pattern of divergence between positive news and share price movements. Market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, supported by Wyoming's strong mining jurisdiction ranking and the company's plans for a potential U.S. listing in 2026, alongside pursuits of government funding and offtake agreements.
Analyst updates reflect growing confidence, with a consensus 'BUY' rating and an average price target implying over 64% upside from recent levels around 0.3950 AUD. Coverage emphasizes strategic alignment with U.S. critical minerals policy, though execution risks around permitting and scale-up temper enthusiasm. The sector's rising rare earth prices, hitting three-year highs for metals like neodymium and praseodymium, provide a favorable backdrop, driven by EV demand and supply constraints, even as ASX peers have lagged.
In recent months, broader events have influenced rare earths stocks, including U.S. government funding pursuits via expanded Tetra Tech mandates and policy shifts favoring domestic supply chains. The company's website underscores fast-track permitting on state land and long-term expansion potential, reinforcing its role in national security and manufacturing. However, volatile commodity prices and permitting timelines continue to impact trading, underscoring the need for milestone delivery amid a tightening global market.