Lithium Americas jumps as J.P. Morgan upgrades on improved long-term lithium outlook (LAC:NYSE)

J.P. Morgan upgraded Lithium Americas (LAC) to overweight with a $6 (C$8) target, implying 100% upside. The bank expects lithium market deficit and confidence in Thacker Pass execution. Other analysts have lower targets, citing construction risk and supply overhang. LAC is developing Thacker Pass, a major lithium project with GM and U.S. government involvement.

Market futures declined Wednesday due to U.S.-Iran tensions and rising oil prices. Qualcomm (QCOM) rose 1.4% premarket after a partnership with Amazon. ServiceTitan (SBT) fell 19% despite beating Q2 earnings due to weak revenue forecasts. Chime Financial (CHM) jumped 11% after a $590M acquisition. Lithium Americas (LAC) climbed 5% on a JPMorgan Overweight rating with a $6 price target.

Lithium Americas Corp (LAC) rose 3.3% in pre-market trading after JPMorgan upgraded it to Overweight with a $6.00 price target, citing higher lithium price assumptions and a supply deficit. The company's Thacker Pass project is 95% engineered and 80% procured. LAC has lost 35% over six months but gained today on analyst optimism.

Lithium Argentina and Ganfeng signed agreements to form a joint venture for the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium projects. Ganfeng will invest $180m in Lithium Argentina via a convertible note, holding 67% of the JV. The project aims for 150,000t annual lithium production. Proceeds will repay Lithium Argentina's $259m debt due in 2027. Completion is expected in September 2026, with Millennial Lithium overseeing the projects. Ganfeng owns 9.6% of Lithium Argentina.

President Trump announced a $3B federal investment in critical minerals projects, including a $1.4B loan to Sila Nanotechnologies for battery materials and $435M to Lithium Americas for its Thacker Pass lithium project. The funding aims to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on China, with implications for EV and clean energy sectors. Other recipients include Westwater Resources and Niron Magnetics. The initiative follows Project Vault, a $12B public-private effort to stockpile critica

The Trump administration announced a $3 billion federal investment in U.S. critical-minerals projects tied to EV and battery supply chains, including a $1.4 billion conditional Pentagon loan to Sila Nanotechnologies for silicon anode materials. Lithium Americas received the first $435 million draw from a $2.23 billion DOE loan for Thacker Pass. Other funding includes graphite and magnet projects.