$IONR

From June 2-26, 2026, the US committed about $2.9B in direct federal funding to expand rare earths and permanent magnet supply chains outside China, led by Commerce’s CHIPS Act. Companies added $1.4B. DOD and DOE also issued loans and ARPA-E research funding, while the Army opened bases for processing. USA Rare Earth, Energy Fuels, Phoenix Tailings, Empire State Mines, EnergyX, Ioneer, and REalloys were named.

The ASX 200 fell 34.2 points (0.39%) to 8,714.5 on Friday, extending a weak week, as lithium stocks dropped and the U.S. dollar strengthened on hawkish Fed signals from new chair Kevin Warsh. Chinese lithium carbonate futures were down 6.3% and nearly 10% for the week. Judo Capital shares fell after a 2026 earnings downgrade; Core Lithium proposed an ASX spin-off.

Ioneer Ltd. has filed a transition Form 20-F detailing progress and risks for its Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada. The company secured a US$996 million loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy, while the total project capital expenditure is now estimated at US$1,683.2 million, more than double the 2020 estimate. The report highlights permitting completion, ongoing legal challenges, the need for further funding, and various risk factors including cost inflation and environmental challenges.

Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR, NASDAQ: IONR) announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada upheld the approval of its Rhyolite Ridge mine plan. This ruling dismisses challenges to the project, which aims to mine lithium and boron in Nevada, strengthening the U.S. supply chain for critical minerals. The court found that federal agencies complied with environmental acts in their review, paving the way for the project to advance.

The article provides a valuation analysis of ioneer Ltd (IONR), indicating it is currently in the "Fair zone" based on its forward P/S ratio compared to its five-year average. It details various valuation metrics such as P/B, FCF Yield, P/E, and P/S ratios, comparing them to historical averages and industry benchmarks. The analysis suggests that while some metrics imply a premium that might be unsustainable, the stock's fair value is within a specified range according to relative valuation methods.

Ioneer Ltd's market capitalization recently dropped by AU$201 million, significantly impacting its individual investors who hold a 60% stake, as well as institutional investors. The ownership structure shows individual investors as the largest group, followed by institutions with 17%, and private companies holding 16%, with the top 25 shareholders owning less than half of the company. Despite the recent drop, analysts suggest there is room for increased coverage of the stock, and the company's insiders hold AU$28 million worth of shares, indicating some alignment with shareholder interests.

Ioneer Ltd and Empire Southwest, a Caterpillar dealer, have formed a Master Service Agreement to support the development and operation of the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, USA. This partnership will provide sales, services, technology, and equipment rental, aiming to leverage Cat's automated haul trucks for mining operations. The Rhyolite Ridge project is set to begin construction in 2026, with commercial operations planned for 2029, and is anticipated to be a significant producer of critical minerals.

The Trump administration's recent move to acquire up to a 10% equity stake in Lithium Americas Corp ( NYSE: LAC ) has sent shockwaves through the mining sector.