Highlights
- Lynas Rare Earths achieved record quarterly production, with NdPr output increasing 17% above market consensus.
- Macquarie Group issued an ‘underperform’ rating, suggesting the stock is overvalued at current NdPr price projections.
- The company’s share price is sensitive to rare earth pricing, with potential volatility based on global demand and market conditions.
Lynas Rare Earths (opens in a new tab) (ASX: LYC) reported record quarterly production last week, with NdPr output hitting 2,080 tonnes—up 5% from internal forecasts and 17% above market consensus. Total rare earth oxide (REO) production jumped 68% quarter-over-quarter, boosting revenue to AU$170.2 million, a 38% increase. The news sent Lynas shares surging 5%, extending their 2025 rally to 64% year-to-date.
However, as reported by The Motley Fool Australia (opens in a new tab) (Bart Bogacz, July 28), Macquarie Group (opens in a new tab) has issued a more cautious note. While applauding Lynas’ operational performance and margin improvement—driven by a shift toward higher NdPr content (65% of REO mix)—Macquarie placed an “underperform” rating on the stock. The broker warned that current valuations imply NdPr pricing near US$100/kg, far above the current spot level (~US$66–$75/kg). Macquarie’s 12-month price target for Lynas is AU$9, suggesting a 16% downside from recent highs. Of course, that spot level means a peg to a Chinese price, not the nascent “ex-China” market.
Note, according to the piece, the investment bank (Macquarie) “… remains bullish on rare earths prices in the coming months, anticipating a tightening market in the second half of the year. It projects the NdPr price to surpass US$75 per kilogram throughout the remainder of 2025, and to rise to more than US$90 per kilogram next year. However, the broker considers Lynas to be trading at a valuation that implies NdPr prices of about US$100 per kilogram – or about 50% higher than current levels. In other words, it believes the company to be fully valued. As a result, Macquarie set a 12-month target price for Lynas of $9 per share.
This suggests a potential downside of 16% from Friday’s closing price of $10.73.”
Some critical questions for investors:
- Can NdPr prices sustainably reach the levels now priced into Lynas’ share valuation?
- How much of Lynas’ production uplift is structural vs. temporary (e.g., operational efficiencies or favorable geology)?
- How will China’s recent easing of rare earth export restrictions affect pricing in the second half of 2025?
REEx notes that while Lynas’ results reinforce its position as the Western world’s leading rare earth producer, valuation sensitivity to basket pricing is rising. Retail investors should watch both global pricing trends and downstream demand signals—especially from the EV and wind energy sectors—before chasing the rally.
Lynas is a Western rare‑earth standout—but its share price hinges heavily on sustained NdPr pricing and demand. Retail investors should watch pricing trends, output consistency, and follow‑through on downstream demand before chasing the rally. Will the U.S Department of Defense and MP Materials deal establishing $110 kg for NdPr be applied outside of that deal?
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