The importance of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) used in technologies from Smart phones and AVs to National Defense and Space Tech, cannot be overstated!

 

A small, retail investor looking to gain exposure to rare earth materials might consider MP Materials (MP) and Avalon Advanced Materials (AVL/AVLNF) or Ucore (UCU.t)

Here is how I am approaching the investment, with strategies tailored to risk profile, capital allocation, and market timing.

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🧾 Step-by-Step Investment Approach

1. Understand Their Profiles

Company	Ticker	Exchange	Stage	Region	Risk Level
MP Materials	MP	NYSE (USA)	Mature	USA	Low-to-Medium
Avalon Advanced Materials	AVL	TSX-V (Canada) / OTCQB (AVLNF)	Early-stage	Canada	High (speculative)

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2. Diversified Allocation Strategy (Example for $10,000 Portfolio)

Risk Appetite	MP Materials	Avalon (AVL)	Cash / Other
Conservative	$7,000 (70%)	$1,000 (10%)	$2,000 (20%)
Balanced	$5,000 (50%)	$3,000 (30%)	$2,000 (20%)
Aggressive	$3,500 (35%)	$5,000 (50%)	$1,500 (15%)

Why?

• MP Materials gives you stability, cash flows, and policy tailwinds.

• AVL offers asymmetric upside if Canada builds its rare earth value chain and AVL scales successfully.

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3. Entry Strategy

✅ MP Materials (MP):

• Buy in tranches on pullbacks or near $16–$18 (historical support levels).

• Consider:

  • Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) monthly.

  • DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) if/when dividends resume (none currently).

  • Long-term hold (5+ years), especially as magnet plant comes online in Texas (2025–2026).

✅ Avalon (AVL / AVLNF):

• Higher volatility—treat as venture capital–style bet.

• Entry near lows (e.g., <$0.20 CAD) may offer multi-bagger potential if milestones hit.

• Buy small initial position; increase only after:

  • Major partner/funding announcement.

  • Processing milestones with Saskatchewan Research Council.

  • Government contracts or grant programs.

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4. Monitor These Catalysts

MP Materials	Avalon / Nechalacho
U.S. DoD magnet plant progress	Financing or JV for full-scale processing
Q4/Q1 financials (growth + margins)	Offtake agreements for heavy REEs
EV/OEM contracts (GM, Tesla, etc.)	Indigenous partnerships & ESG momentum
REE price trends (Nd-Pr especially)	Federal critical mineral program funding (Canada)

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5. Alternative / Supplementary Exposure

If you want a broader REE basket, consider:

• ETFs (Note: very few pure-play REE ETFs exist):

  • 🟢 REMX – VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF

    • MP is a top holding. AVL may be included in future if it grows.

    • Includes Lynas (AUS), Iluka, China Northern Rare Earth, etc.

    • Ucore Rare Metals (constructing a heavy REE separation plant in Louisiana)

• Battery Metals ETFs – Broader exposure but with lithium/cobalt/nickel too.

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🔚 Final Thoughts

Recommendation	MP Materials	Avalon Advanced Materials
Buy if you want...	Stability + growth + U.S. policy exposure	High-risk, high-reward REE growth
Best time to enter	On dips below $20	Sub-$0.25 CAD on good volume
Exit horizon	Hold through 2030	Re-evaluate after 12–24 months

Conclusion:
🔒 Use MP Materials as your anchor investment in rare earths—de-risked, policy-supported, with upside from magnet integration.

MPs new Magnet plant in Texas

🔥 Use AVL as a speculative levered bet on Canada’s REE independence and heavy rare earth supply growth. 

Ongoing Projects & Goals

• Avalon continues advancing its lithium strategy via its Separation Rapids lithium JV (with Sibelco), its Snowbank lithium deposit, and Lilypad lithium-caesium claims in Ontario.

• Concurrently, they’re progressing work on the Nechalacho rare earths & zirconium project in the Northwest Territories, which is important for tech and defense supply chains as it is North America's largest deposit of "Heavy" REE's or HREE's . The Northern Miner+6

• A key focus is the development of Ontario’s first mid‑stream lithium hydroxide processing plant, based in Thunder Bay, to create a supply link between northern lithium resources and battery producers in southern markets.

Update July 21st 2025

Bought...

UCU - TSX
UCORE RARE METALS INC-NEW
Recent news:
"Ucore Launches US Department of Defense Funded $18.4 Million Commercial Rare Earth Refining Project in Louisiana"

From GROK Ai

(MP's) Mountain Pass mine alone may not suffice to meet future needs, making additional mining capacity a strategic priority.

UCore Rare Metals brings advanced separation technology to the table, designed to process rare earth concentrates at high efficiency and low cost.

Ed Note:

Ucore's strengths are, it's separation technology is designed for "Heavy" REEs (Unlike MP) and it's 

Bokan-Dotson Ridge property (Alaska) is rich in Heavies.

See...Ucore.com/Bokan for more information on that project!

As genetic medicine technology continues to advance, we own both BEAM and CRSPR for their cutting edge tech!

Business & Investment Report: 

Combined Investment Strategy in Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP)

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Executive Summary: Beam Therapeutics and CRISPR Therapeutics are at the forefront of gene editing, offering complementary but distinct technologies with transformative medical potential. Investing in both provides a blended exposure to early-stage innovation and commercialized gene therapies. This report outlines the rationale for a combined investment, technological differences, clinical advances, and projected value for the healthcare sector.

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1. Company Overview

Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BEAM)

• Specializes in base editing, a refined form of CRISPR technology that enables precise, single-base DNA changes without causing double-stranded breaks.

• Early-stage pipeline with flagship candidate BEAM-302, targeting Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD).

• Holds ~$1B in cash with clinical runway through 2027.

CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP)

• A leader in CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, focused on gene knockouts and repair via double-stranded breaks.

• First to market with an FDA- and EMA-approved gene therapy: CASGEVY (exa-cel) for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.

• Backed by strong partnerships, particularly with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

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2. Technological Comparison:       Base Editing vs. CRISPR/Cas9

Feature	Beam Therapeutics (Base Editing)	CRISPR Therapeutics (CRISPR/Cas9)
Mechanism	Precise base substitutions (no DNA breaks)	Gene knockout/repair (via DNA cutting)
Safety	Lower risk of off-target effects	Higher off-target risk; immune response possible
Precision	Single-base changes	Larger edits or gene disruptions
Use Cases	Point mutation diseases (e.g., AATD, sickle cell)	Gene knockout therapies (e.g., sickle cell, cancer)

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3. Clinical Pipeline & Progress

Beam Therapeutics

• BEAM-302 (AATD):

  • FDA-cleared IND (March 2025)

  • RMAT designation (May 2025) for potential curative single-dose therapy

  • Early Phase 1/2 data shows dose-dependent correction of AAT protein levels

• BEAM-101 (sickle cell): preclinical

• Expanding pipeline in liver, hematologic, and ocular genetic diseases

CRISPR Therapeutics

• CASGEVY (Exa-cel):

  • FDA + EMA approved for sickle cell and beta-thalassemia

  • Commercial launch ongoing with Vertex (60/40 profit split)

• CTX130 (CAR-T for renal cell carcinoma): Phase 1

• Diabetes Program: with Vertex (VX-880, VX-264) – gene-edited pancreatic cells

• Broad ex vivo and in vivo pipeline including oncology and regenerative medicine

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4. Financials & Valuation

Metric	BEAM	CRSP
Market Cap	~$1.4B	~$5.8B
Cash Reserves	~$1B	~$1.6B
Revenue	Minimal	Yes (Vertex partnership + CASGEVY)
Profitability	No	No (revenue generating but not profitable)

Commentary: BEAM trades near its cash value after a 75% decline from its 2021 peak. CRSP has begun generating revenue but is still early in its commercialization phase. BEAM represents high-upside speculative value, while CRSP offers more de-risked exposure.

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5. Value to the Medical Community

• BEAM (Base Editing) offers future potential for highly specific gene correction therapies with fewer side effects—ideal for treating genetic diseases caused by single-point mutations.

• CRSP (Cas9) brings scalable solutions to market today, with transformative therapies for blood disorders and cancer.

• Complementary Impact: CRSP addresses urgent medical needs now; BEAM could deliver more refined, next-generation solutions in the near future.

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6. Investment Rationale: Blended Strategy

Portfolio Blend Recommendation:

• 60% CRSP: Stronger near-term catalysts and commercial success

• 40% BEAM: High-risk/high-reward innovation with upside from BEAM-302

Why this split?

• CRSP's 60% allocation balances the portfolio with a company already generating revenue from approved therapies, strong partnerships, and a broad, maturing pipeline. This reduces overall volatility and provides more immediate return potential.

• BEAM's 40% allocation captures the promise of base editing, which could be transformative but remains in early human trials. With the stock trading near cash value and a strong balance sheet, it presents an attractive speculative opportunity with asymmetric upside.

Alternative Allocations:

• Aggressive investors may tilt 60% BEAM / 40% CRSP for higher potential returns.

• Defensive investors could consider 75% CRSP / 25% BEAM and optionally include Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) for indirect exposure.

Catalyst Watch:

• BEAM-302 clinical updates (late 2025)

• CASGEVY revenue performance

• VX-880 (CRSP/Vertex) trial results for diabetes

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7. Final Assessment

Investing in both BEAM and CRSP offers:

• Diversified exposure to today’s gene editing therapies and tomorrow’s precision medicines

• A hedge between early innovation and regulatory-approved commercialization

• Long-term upside in a sector poised to transform medicine over the next decade

Conclusion: For investors with a multi-year horizon and an interest in healthcare disruption, a BEAM + CRSP combined portfolio is a strategic play on the future of genetic medicine. The suggested allocation strategy allows for tailored risk exposure depending on the investor’s goals and conviction in each platform’s long-term success.

June 2025

How Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) in collaboration with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia saved baby KJ

We've been collecting these smallcap biotech and healthcare stocks this year! Here's why!

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IONQ is moving fast to position itself at the forefront of a Quantum Internet!

IonQ's recent announcements to acquire Capella Space and Lightsynq Technologies mark significant strides in its mission to pioneer the quantum internet. These strategic acquisitions are poised to enhance IonQ's capabilities in quantum networking and computing, potentially positioning the company at the forefront of secure global quantum communications.

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🔍 Strategic Acquisitions: Capella Space & Lightsynq Technologies

Capella Space: Enabling Space-Based Quantum Communications 

IonQ has entered into an agreement to acquire Capella Space, a leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology. This acquisition aims to facilitate the development of a space-based quantum key distribution (QKD) network, leveraging Capella's satellite constellation to enable secure, global quantum communications. The integration of Capella's assets is expected to bolster IonQ's position in quantum networking technologies and expand its partnerships with U.S. government agencies. PayloadPressReleaseDistribution.com+4IonQ+4GovCon Wire+4GovCon Wire

Lightsynq Technologies: Advancing Quantum Networking Infrastructure

IonQ also plans to acquire Lightsynq Technologies, a Boston-based startup specializing in quantum memory and photonic interconnects. Founded by former Harvard and AWS quantum networking experts, Lightsynq's technology is anticipated to accelerate IonQ's quantum computing and networking roadmaps, particularly in scaling quantum systems through photonic interconnects and long-distance repeators.

  

Business Overview & Financial Performance

• Q1 2025 Financials: IonQ reported $7.6 million in revenue, slightly above analyst expectations, with a net loss of $32.3 million, an improvement from the previous year. Barron's+1Investor's Business Daily+1

• Revenue Projections: The company forecasts full-year revenue between $75 million and $95 million, indicating significant growth potential. Barron's

• Stock Performance: Despite a 30% decline year-to-date, IonQ's stock has experienced a 168.6% surge over the past year, reflecting investor optimism in its long-term prospects. Investor's Business Daily+4TradingView+4Entrepreneur+4

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🧠 Technological Innovations

• Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing: IonQ utilizes trapped-ion technology, which offers advantages in qubit stability and coherence times, essential for reliable quantum computations.MarketWatch+5Wikipedia+5investors.ionq.com+5

• Quantum Networking: Through acquisitions like Qubitekk and ID Quantique, IonQ is enhancing its capabilities in quantum-safe networking and detection systems. Barron's+3IonQ+3Constellation Research Inc.+3

• Cloud Accessibility: IonQ's quantum systems are accessible via major cloud platforms, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, broadening its user base. investors.ionq.com

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🤝 Partnerships & Collaborations

• Intellian Technologies: IonQ has signed a memorandum of understanding with Intellian to explore secure quantum networking through satellite communications. IonQ+2GovCon Wire+2Constellation Research Inc.+2

• General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT): A partnership aimed at developing quantum solutions for U.S. government agencies, focusing on applications like quantum AI and anomaly detection. PressReleaseDistribution.com

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🧩 Vision for the Quantum Internet

IonQ's strategic acquisitions and partnerships underscore its commitment to building a scalable, secure quantum internet. By integrating advanced satellite technology with quantum networking infrastructure, IonQ aims to establish a global QKD network, facilitating unhackable communications across vast distances. This vision positions IonQ as a potential leader in the next era of internet technology, where quantum mechanics underpin secure data transmission.IonQ+2SpaceNews+2Constellation Research Inc.+2 

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📊 Investment Considerations

While IonQ's advancements present promising opportunities, investors should consider the inherent risks associated with emerging technologies. The company's path to profitability remains a long-term endeavor, with projections extending to 2030. However, IonQ's robust growth strategy, technological innovations, and strategic partnerships contribute to its potential as a transformative player in the quantum computing landscape.EntrepreneurEntrepreneur+2Barron's+2Barron's+2

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Related articles:

Quantum Computing Leadership: Here is a "Deep Dive" look at IONQ 10 years after it was founded in 2015

IonQ is not only a premier quantum computing stock but also a potential linchpin of the future quantum internet.

Why we bought GitLab Shares! Consistent "growth" and an expanding enterprise customer base.

 

GitLab Inc. (NSDQ: GTLB) – Business Report

1. Executive Summary

GitLab Inc. is a leading provider of a complete DevOps platform, enabling software development, security, and operations teams to collaborate effectively. Founded on an open-source core in 2011 and incorporated in 2014, GitLab’s “single application” strategy differentiates it from competitors, driving consistent growth and an expanding enterprise customer base.

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2. Recent Stock Performance

• Ticker: GTLB - 71.85 at this writing
• Market Cap
  $10.5B
  Shares Outstanding 162.3M
  P/E Ratio -221.7x
  Price/Sales (TTM) 14.8
  Operating Margin -23.48%
• Revenue (TTM) $711.6M

Valuation Considerations

• Price-to-Sales (P/S) Ratio: As a high-growth tech stock, GitLab typically exhibits a premium P/S ratio compared to more established software peers. Investors pay attention to revenue growth rates and net retention as key indicators of whether the premium is justified.
• Forward-Looking Metrics: Analysts often look to GitLab’s Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate to gauge the sustainability of growth.

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3. Analyst Recommendations

While individual analyst opinions vary, recent consensus trends include:

• Strong Buy/Outperform Ratings: Many analysts are bullish, pointing to GitLab’s strong revenue growth, expanding enterprise adoption, and high net retention.
• "Artificial intelligence will likely remain a "compelling secular theme" in 2025, but GitLab appears to be strides ahead of the competition", Macquarie analyst Steve Koenig said. 
• He reiterated an Outperform rating on the stock and named it his top software pick for the year.
  
  Koenig maintains a price target of $90 on the shares, indicating a potential upside of 47% and is joined in that assessment by other analysts

Key Factors for Analyst Optimism

1. Sticky Business Model: DevOps tools integrate deeply into development processes, leading to high switching costs.
2. Upsell Potential: GitLab’s suite of security, compliance, and collaboration tools encourages customers to upgrade to higher-tier subscriptions.
3. Remote-First Culture: Expansive talent acquisition across regions fuels innovation and operational efficiency.

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4. Technology Advances

GitLab differentiates itself by offering a single, integrated DevOps platform covering:

1. Source Code Management (SCM): Based on Git, with robust version control and collaboration features.
2. Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD): Automated pipelines for building, testing, and deploying applications.
3. Security & Compliance (DevSecOps): Tools for Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), container scanning, and more—seamlessly integrated into the CI pipeline.
4. Observability & Monitoring: Integrations with logging and monitoring tools; fosters proactive performance tracking.
5. Planning & Collaboration: Issues, merge requests, wikis, and other project management features for distributed teams.

Notable Technological Innovations

• Kubernetes Integration: Direct integration with Kubernetes clusters supports streamlined container-based deployments and rollbacks.
• AI and Automation: Continuous improvements in automation (including some AI-driven code suggestions) reduce manual overhead in testing, security scanning, and code reviews.
• Open Source & Extensions: Large developer community extends GitLab with custom runners, plugins, and integrations, accelerating platform enhancements.

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5. Partnerships and Ecosystem

GitLab actively cultivates partnerships to bolster its ecosystem and reach:

1. Cloud Providers: Collaborations with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure, making it easier to deploy and manage GitLab within cloud-native infrastructures.
2. Technology Alliances: Integrations with Atlassian, VMware, Red Hat, and others in the DevOps and security domains.
3. Systems Integrators & Consulting Firms: Strategic relationships with global consultancies (e.g., Deloitte, Accenture, etc.) to drive adoption among large enterprises undergoing digital transformation.
4. In 2024, GTLB reported a strong year-on-year revenue growth of 33%, highlighting their continued business momentum. GitLab's CEO, Sid Sijbrandij, mentioned that large enterprise customers are standardizing on GitLab. They've also seen a 31% increase in customers with Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of over \$100,000. 
5. These new customers span various industries, using GitLab's AI-powered DevSecOps platform to improve their software development efficiency and security. Some examples:

6. • NVIDIA:  uses GitLab to support their innovative projects in AI and graphics.

   • Siemens: Utilizes GitLab in their digital industries division for efficient project management and DevSecOps.

   • Airbnb: Employs GitLab for streamlined development workflows and security integrations.

   These companies leverage GitLab's robust features to enhance their software development processes and maintain high security standards.

These partnerships increase GitLab’s visibility in enterprise transformation projects and create synergy with complementary products and services.

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6. Key Clients and Customer Base

GitLab’s clients range from small startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. While not all customers are publicly disclosed, notable examples have included:

• Technology & Software: NVIDIA, IBM, and other large-scale software-driven enterprises seeking robust DevOps pipelines.
• Financial Services: Multiple leading banks and fintech firms that prioritize compliance, security, and auditability.
• Telecommunications & Media: Companies like T-Mobile and Ticketmaster (publicly mentioned in various case studies), leveraging GitLab for CI/CD in high-transaction environments.
• Public Sector Organizations: Various government and educational institutions adopting DevOps for modernizing IT infrastructure.

Customer Retention & Upselling: GitLab boasts strong dollar-based net retention rates, indicating existing customers often expand their usage by adding more users, projects, or upgrading to premium tiers.

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7. Growth Prospects

Several factors underpin GitLab’s positive growth outlook:

1. Growing DevOps Market: As DevOps adoption continues to accelerate, GitLab is well-positioned to capture new customers with its integrated platform.
2. DevSecOps Demand: Security integration within development pipelines is a priority for enterprises, presenting opportunities for GitLab’s advanced security features.
3. Remote-First Advantage: GitLab’s all-remote model enables access to global talent, reduced overhead, and a well-documented operational playbook.
4. Expansion into Compliance & Observability: Potential for adding compliance-driven workflows (e.g., regulated industries) and deeper observability features to compete in adjacent markets.
5. Enterprise Upselling: Large corporations, once committed to GitLab’s platform, often scale usage across divisions, driving ARR growth.

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8. Risks and Considerations

• Competition: Microsoft’s GitHub, Atlassian’s Bitbucket, and other emerging DevOps tools may create pricing pressure and slow market share gains.
• Macro Environment: Economic slowdowns can lead to tightening IT budgets, possibly lengthening sales cycles for new contracts.
• Valuation Risks: High-growth technology stocks can experience volatility, and GitLab’s valuation depends heavily on future revenue expansion and profitability trajectory.
• Open-Source Challenges: Balancing community-driven innovations with commercial offerings requires careful product differentiation and license management.

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9. Conclusion and Outlook

GitLab stands out in the DevOps market due to its single-platform approach, robust security features, and strong developer community. Many analysts remain bullish, citing positive revenue trends and high customer retention. Its partnerships with major cloud providers and consultancies, along with an expanding set of enterprise clients, underscore GitLab’s foothold in mission-critical software delivery processes.

Despite potential competition and valuation concerns, the long-term fundamentals—driven by continuing digital transformation and DevOps adoption—suggest GitLab is poised to remain a key player in the enterprise software arena.

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Disclaimer

This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Investors should conduct their own research, consult with professional advisors, and review the latest filings (e.g., Form 10-K, 10-Q) before making any investment decisions. Stock prices and valuations can fluctuate significantly, and the data presented here may be out of date. Always refer to real-time financial information and official company disclosures.