The Smartest Mining Stock to Buy With $100 Right Now
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By Steven Porrello – Dec 14, 2025 at 7:45AM ESTKey PointsMP controls one of the only scalable rare earth mines in the U.S. The company has inked strategic deals with the Department of Defense and Apple. After a 266% burst on the year, the stock's valuation leaves little margin for error. These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NYSE: MPMP MaterialsMarket Cap$10BToday's Changeangle-down(-5.58%) $3.35Current Price$56.66Price as of December 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM ETMP Materials is soaring on policy tailwinds.Mining stocks aren't usually growth stocks, or at least don't often experience the kind of explosive gains you see in fast-growing tech start-ups. And yet for rare earth metal miner MP Materials (MP 5.58%), a triple-digit gain in the last year has turned it into one of the market's darlings. ExpandNYSE: MPMP MaterialsToday's Change(-5.58%) $-3.35Current Price$56.66Key Data PointsMarket Cap$10BDay's Range$55.76 - $59.7552wk Range$15.56 - $100.25Volume7.2MAvg Vol15MGross Margin-2627.54% Of course, MP isn't like other mining stocks. In fact, it sits on one of the only scalable rare earth metal mines in the U.S., the Mountain Pass mine in California. In a world where China dominates the rare earth metals market, that mining asset has put MP not only at the heart of the U.S.'s efforts to rebuild its domestic supply chain but also on the radar of forward-looking investors. Why MP looks like a smart mining stock to buy MP Materials' appeal starts with its geography.Advertisement Image source: MP Materials. Mountain Pass is the only large-scale rare earth mine and processing facility currently operating in the U.S. The ore that MP extracts is rich in key rare earth elements like neodymium and praseodymium. Both elements are critical in making high-performance magnets, which are themselves found in everything from fighter jets to EV motors. To highlight the opportunity, one recent study projects that the Nd-Pr oxide market could grow 11-fold by 2035, mainly because of its use in permanent magnets. MP's appeal, however, goes beyond diggers and ore. In addition to mining, the company is also producing these high-performance magnets itself. Already, MP has garnered support from some big players, not the least of which is the Department of Defense (DOD). In July, the DOD became MP's biggest shareholder with the signing of a $400 million deal. A few weeks later, MP signed a supply agreement with Apple (AAPL +0.09%) worth $500 million. That said, the stock's magnificent run and rich valuation leave little room for error. But for investors who can stomach volatility, early exposure to this rare earths miner could be worth a small, speculative play.About the AuthorSteven Porrello is a contributing writer at The Motley Fool covering publicly traded companies in the materials, energy, and industrials sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Steven worked in the personal finance space and wrote for other financial publications. He holds a dual B.A. in English and Religion & Philosophy from LaGrange College and is pursuing an MFA from Rutgers University-Newark.TMFsaporrelloRead NextDec 8, 2025 •By Steven PorrelloShould You Buy MP Materials Stock While It's Under $65?Dec 8, 2025 •By Steven PorrelloShould You Invest $100 in MP Materials Right Now?Dec 5, 2025 •By Courtney CarlsenAfter Falling 41% From Its Recent Peak, Is MP Materials Stock a Buy?Dec 1, 2025 •By Steven PorrelloIf You'd Invested $100 in MP Materials 5 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have TodayNov 29, 2025 •By Steven PorrelloLast Call: Why You Need to Buy This Rare-Earth Metal Stock Before Everyone Else Catches OnNov 28, 2025 •By Lee SamahaHere's Why MP Materials Stock Surged Higher This Week