NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NB) Shares Surge After Analyst Flags Government Support and Elk Creek Asset Quality

We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Rare Earth Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. NioCorp Developments Ltd. is one of the best rare earth stocks on our list.

TheFly reported on January 7, 2026, that Freedom Capital Markets analyst Vitaly Kononov initiated coverage on NB with a Buy rating and a price target of $8.70. Following the announcement, NB’s stock jumped approximately 6%, reaching an intraday high of $6.86.

Freedom Capital Markets initiated coverage on NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ:NB) with a Buy rating, citing strong government support, high-quality Elk Creek assets, and long-term revenue visibility. The rating follows NB’s shift from exploration to development, including the Mine Portal Project (construction beginning Q1 2026) and the acquisition of FEA Materials LLC assets, which strengthens vertical integration in aluminum-scandium alloy production.

NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NASDAQ:NB) is a U.S. critical minerals development company focused on advancing the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in southeast Nebraska. The company is developing what is expected to become one of North America’s most significant sources of strategic minerals, including niobium, scandium, titanium, and potentially rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium.

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