The Metals Company Inc. Just Got Incredible News from the NOAA. Here's What It Means for Investors.

By Reuben Gregg Brewer – Apr 5, 2026 at 10:15AM ESTKey PointsThe Metals Company is attempting to build a deep-sea mining operation.Regulators have developed a new process for permitting deep-sea mining.The Metals Company (TMC +1.77%) isn't doing something new, per se. After all, the start-up is just trying to build a mining business. However, the location of the mining operation is a bit unique. This is why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is involved. In March, The Metals Company got some incredible news from NOAA. And investors still need to treat the stock with extreme caution. Here's what you need to know. NOAA is still figuring out the rules The Metals Company is attempting to build a deep-sea mining operation. Deep-se mining has been done before, but it just wasn't economically sustainable.

The Metals Company has been developing new technology, which it believes will enable it to generate profits despite the unusually harsh conditions under which its mine will operate. All of the pieces are slowly starting to come together. Image source: Getty Images. One of the biggest hurdles, however, is getting regulatory approval. Only the path toward regulatory approval was just changed to speed the process. So, in a sense, everyone involved is kind of making this up as they go, given the new rules.

When The Metals Company submitted its application, there was no way for it to know if it was giving NOAA exactly what it wanted. Which is why it was such positive news for NOAA to tell The Metals Company that its application was in "substantial compliance." In simple terms, NOAA said it will continue to consider The Metals Company's application without any back-and-forth redrafts.

The Metals Company still has a lot of work to do There is no question that the NOAA update is a positive outcome. However, it is still just the first step in getting the regulatory approvals The Metals Company needs. So investors need to take the news with a grain of salt. In fact, even after the miner obtains all the approvals it needs, it still has a long and difficult road ahead. ExpandNASDAQ: TMCTMC The Metals CompanyToday's Change(1.77%) $0.08Current Price$4.59Key Data PointsMarket Cap$2.0BDay's Range$4.26 - $4.6152wk Range$1.60 - $11.35Volume4.9MAvg Vol8M Building a standard mining operation is a major undertaking and entails high costs. With much of The Metals Company's work taking place underwater, the job is even harder. And it is worth noting that the company isn't currently generating any revenue. Its income statement actually started with operating expenses of $140 million in 2025. The bottom line was a loss of $0.83 per share. Given this start-up's still-early stage of development, only the most aggressive investors should consider The Metals Company, even after the positive news from NOAA.Read NextApr 5, 2026 •By Keith NoonanTMC Stock Is Up With Retail Investors as the U.S. and Japan Team Up to Challenge China's Grip on Critical MineralsApr 2, 2026 •By Courtney CarlsenTMC Got the Green Light From NOAA to Explore the Pacific Ocean Floor for Battery MetalsApr 1, 2026 •By Scott LevineThe Metals Company Is Under $5. Here's Why Long-Term Investors Should Pay Attention.Mar 17, 2026 •By Steven PorrelloShould You Invest $500 in TMC The Metals Company Right Now?Mar 16, 2026 •By Steven PorrelloShould You Buy The Metals Company Stock While It's Below $7?Mar 14, 2026 •By Steven PorrelloPrediction: The Metals Company Stock Is a Buy Before March 26About the AuthorReuben Gregg Brewer is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, utilities, REITs, and consumer staples. He is the former director of research at Value Line Publishing, where he rose from mutual fund analyst to equity analyst before leading all research operations. Reuben holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Purchase, a master’s in social work from Columbia University, and an MBA from Regis University. He has been featured as a financial expert on CNBC and in the Financial Times, Barron’s, and InvestmentNews.TMFReubenGBrewerStocks MentionedTMC The Metals CompanyNASDAQ: TMC$4.59(+1.77%)+$0.08*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.