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With a clear, discovery-focused strategy, Terra Clean Energy is advancing one of the most unique near-surface uranium opportunities in the Athabasca Basin while expanding its portfolio through the acquisition of past-producing uranium assets in the United States. The company is targeting rapid resource growth and meaningful re-rating potential through continuous exploration, aggressive drilling, and disciplined capital deployment across both its Canadian and US projects.

Overview

Terra Clean Energy (CSE:TCEC,OTCQB:TCEFF,FSE:C9O0) is unlocking value from its wholly owned South Falcon East project in the southeastern Athabasca Basin while expanding its North American footprint through the acquisition of past-producing uranium mines in Utah. The company is now positioned as a unique shallow-uranium developer with assets in two historic uranium districts.

With a historical uranium resource of nearly 7 million lbs U₃O₈ at Fraser Lakes Zone B and strong results from the 2025 winter drill program confirming wider and higher-grade mineralized zones, Terra is advancing toward an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate. The project’s position along the Way Lake Conductor – a folded, fertile structural corridor – continues to offer exceptional discovery potential, with new targets emerging from recent drilling and geological modeling.

In addition, Terra’s newly acquired assets in Utah include nine past-producing mines within the San Rafael Swell, where historical outputs and recent radiometric readings indicate strong potential for remaining uranium resources. These assets offer near-surface mineralization in a highly supportive US jurisdiction and represent an important second growth pillar for the company.

As global nuclear buildout accelerates and supply deficits widen, Terra offers investors a compelling combination of shallow resource potential, multi-jurisdiction exposure, and a robust pipeline of exploration catalysts.

Company Highlights

  • Unique, Shallow Uranium Systems (Canada + US): Terra is advancing shallow uranium assets across both the Athabasca Basin and the San Rafael Swell in Utah, each offering reduced exploration and potential development costs.
  • Pounds-in-the-ground Upside: South Falcon East hosts a historical inferred resource of 6.96 Mlbs U₃O₈ and 5.34 Mlbs ThO₂, with expansion potential from recent drilling, while the Utah assets include nine past-producing mines with recorded grades up to 1 percent U₃O₈.
  • Prime Locations: South Falcon East lies 55 km east of the Key Lake Mill, within reach of world-class Athabasca infrastructure, while the Utah projects benefit from established roads, utilities and regional uranium processing infrastructure.
  • Strong Technical Leadership: Terra’s leadership includes uranium exploration veterans, capital markets professionals, and newly added board members with deep nuclear industry and operational experience.
  • Resource Update Underway: Results from the 2025 winter and fall programs will support Terra’s path toward an NI 43-101 compliant resource update.

Key Project

South Falcon East – Fraser Lakes B Deposit

South Falcon East is Terra Clean Energy’s flagship project in the southeastern Athabasca Basin, covering 12,234 hectares and hosting the Fraser Lakes B deposit, which contains a historical inferred resource of 6.96 Mlbs U₃O₈ and 5.34 Mlbs ThO₂. Located 55 km east of the Key Lake mill, the project benefits from shallow mineralization, strong infrastructure and a geological setting consistent with basement-hosted unconformity uranium systems.

The deposit sits along the central limb of the 25 km Way Lake Conductor, a folded and fertile structural corridor that remains largely underexplored. Recent geological modeling highlights the convergence of clay alteration, graphitic metasediments, pegmatites and key structural trends – features that collectively support significant expansion potential beyond the historical resource footprint.

Terra’s 2025 winter drill program materially advanced the project, returning the widest and highest-grade intervals ever recorded on the property and confirming an open northwest-trending mineralized corridor. A follow-up program is planned to further evaluate these newly defined zones and continue advancing the project toward a future NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate.

2025 Winter Drill Program Highlights:

  • Seven holes, 1,927 m drilled
  • Six of seven holes intersected uranium mineralization
  • Four holes returned the project’s widest and highest-grade intervals to date
  • Minerized trend confirmed open to the northwest, defining a new expansion corridor

San Rafael Swell – Utah Uranium Projects

In 2025, Terra Clean Energy expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of two shallow, past-producing uranium claim groups – Wheal Anne and the Green Vein Mesa – within the San Rafael Swell of Emery County, Utah. The district is one of the most historically productive uranium regions in the United States and offers excellent year-round access, supportive infrastructure and a clear permitting pathway. Together, the claim groups host nine past-producing mines, providing Terra with a complementary US platform to advance shallow uranium targets alongside its Athabasca Basin flagship.

These results demonstrate multiple stacked mineralized horizons over widths up to 65 m, open to depth and laterally.

In early 2024, Terra’s Phase 1 drill program confirmed the presence of uranium-bearing pegmatites in close proximity to historical intercepts. Hole SF-0059 intersected 13.5 m of mineralization, including 0.07 percent eU₃O₈ over 1.1 m, while SF-0060 returned intervals such as 0.02 percent eU₃O₈ over 1.3 m at 142.15 m. These intercepts confirm the extension of mineralization along strike and at depth from FP-15-05 and support the hypothesis of lateral continuity and stacked mineralized bodies.

Planning for an extensive summer 2025 drill program is underway, which consists of approximately 2,500 meters. The program will test areas identified during the winter 2024 program, where it is interpreted that a north-northwest trending brittle structure, a north dipping structure with strong clay alteration, and mineralized pegmatites with hydrothermal hematite alteration hosted in graphitic pelitic gneiss all intersect.

Management Team

Greg Cameron – President, CEO and Director

A seasoned capital markets professional, Greg Cameron has two decades of experience in business development, strategy and M&A. He is a former senior banker at Canaccord Genuity and Macquarie, and managing director at Colby Capital. He brings transactional and restructuring expertise critical to junior exploration growth.

C. Trevor Perkins – VP, Exploration

A professional geologist, C. Trevor Perkins has a track record in uranium exploration, including major results in the Athabasca Basin. He also serves as VP exploration for Azincourt Energy and has led exploration strategy and drill execution across multiple high-impact programs.

Jon Li – CFO

Jon Li brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience, with a specialty in the mining, technology, and financial services sectors. As vice-president of WD Numeric, a full-service accounting firm providing financial and operational support to public and private companies, Jon leads process improvement initiatives, conducts quality control reviews, and delivers outsourced CFO services across a diverse client portfolio. Previously, Li served as

financial controller at Strategic Pricing Management Group (SPMG), where he oversaw all financial operations, including general ledger systems, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and financial reporting.

Alex Klenman – Director

Alex Klenman is a veteran junior mining executive with 30+ years’ experience, including uranium-specific roles. He is the CEO and director of Azincourt Energy, and has raised more than $18 million for Athabasca exploration. Klenman brings deep investor relations and financing expertise.

Tony Wonnacott – Director

Tony Wonnacott is a Toronto-based securities lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in capital markets. Instrumental in multiple successful listings and over $1 billion in financings and M&A transactions.

Michael Gabbani – Director

Michael Gabbani is an accomplished engineer with decades of experience in the nuclear industry. He possesses a high level of understanding of where the industry is going and the contacts to allow the Company to position itself to benefit.

Brian Polla – Director

Brian Polla is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned veteran of the capital markets. As a significant shareholder of Terra, he brings extensive expertise to help steer the company forward.

Jordan Trimble – Technical Advisor

Jordan Trimble is the CEO of Skyharbour Resources and a leading voice in the uranium investment community. He brings global capital markets insight and technical expertise, enhancing Terra’s industry reach and credibility.

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Investor Insight

With its combination of robust resources, permitted infrastructure and significant exploration potential – both for critical minerals and gold – Nuvau Minerals offers exposure to a world-class, highly defined mining district with top-tier infrastructure and a long history of base-metal mining, now complemented by the discovery of gold and a substantial upside still to be realized.

Overview

Nuvau Minerals (TSXV:NMC) is a Canadian metals exploration company dedicated to revitalizing production in Quebec’s Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world’s most prolific mining regions. The company’s flagship Matagami Mining Camp offers an exceptional combination of historical production, district-scale exploration potential and existing infrastructure. Historically, the camp has produced nearly 60 million tons (Mt) of ore over 60 years, primarily zinc and copper, and was last operated by Glencore until June 2022.

While the company’s core focus remains on critical minerals – with the Caber Complex preliminary economic assessment supporting a near-term restart and a robust resource base – recent exploration success has revealed a new dimension: gold. In July 2025, Nuvau drilled its first gold-focused target at Matagami, intersecting visible gold in what appears to be an orogenic lode system close to existing mine workings. This highlights the untapped precious metals potential alongside its established base metals endowment.

Nuvau has an earn-in agreement with Glencore for the Matagami property; the three year earn-in has been completed and the company is working through the final steps of closing the property transfer. With full ownership of the property and an option to acquire the mill, Nuvau is positioned to re-establish Matagami as a multi-metal production hub. Backed by a skilled technical team, strong institutional investors, and the support of local communities and government, Nuvau is on track to deliver near-term production potential while unlocking the district’s broader resource opportunities.

Company Highlights

  • Flagship Asset: Matagami Mining Camp – Agreement to acquire 100 percent of the property from Glencore after completing a three-year, $30 million earn-in. The camp has a 60-year operating history with nearly 60 million tons mined across 12 past mines.
  • District Scale with Established Infrastructure – Covers over 1,300 sq km with more than 2,400 claims, a fully permitted 3,000-ton-per-day processing facility, rail and road access, and power.
  • Exploration Upside – Multiple high-grade base metal zones (Renaissance, McLeod Extension) and gold anomalies remain open in all directions.

Key Asset

Matagami Mining Camp (Flagship)

The Matagami Mining Camp is Nuvau Minerals’ cornerstone asset, representing a unique combination of large-scale land position, prolific production history and exceptional potential for both base and precious metals. Located in Quebec’s Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the most productive mining regions in the world, the camp has produced nearly 60 Mt of ore from 12 past mines over six decades, making it a proven mineral district with established infrastructure and skilled local labor.

Project Highlights

District Scale and Strategic Location

  • Covers more than 1,300 sq km and more than 2,500 mineral claims, giving Nuvau a dominant landholding in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction.
  • Excellent year-round access via road, rail and air, with nearby hydroelectric power and water supply.
  • Situated near other significant mining operations in the Abitibi, providing opportunities for synergies and potential district-scale consolidation.

World-class Infrastructure

  • Fully permitted 3,000 tpd concentrator with two float circuits, maintained in excellent condition by Glencore until its closure in June 2022.
  • Existing rail loading facility, core processing facility, administration offices and alternative tailings storage options with no inherited liabilities.
  • The Bracemac McLeod mine infrastructure remains in place, with underground development to 1,400-meter depth.

Established Resource Base & Robust Economics

  • Caber Complex (Caber, Caber Nord, PD1):
    • Measured and Indicated: 3.36 Mt @ 5.18 percent zinc 1.10 percent copper, 14.3 grams per ton (g/t) silver, 0.16 g/t gold
    • Inferred: 7.32 Mt @ 2.43 percent zinc, 1.28 percent copper, 11.5 g/t silver, 0.09 g/t gold
    • PEA (July 2023): 9.5-year mine life, base-case after-tax NPV (8 percent) C$115.9 million, IRR 20 percent (base case), low initial CAPEX of C$172.3 million due to existing infrastructure.
  • Bracemac McLeod Mine:
    • Past production: 8.1 Mt @ 6.1 percent zinc, 0.9 percent copper, 24 g/t silver, 0.5 g/t gold
    • Remaining resources in McLeod Deeps and new high-grade McLeod Extension discovery (2023: 16.4 m @ 14.22 percent zinc, 2.72 percent copper).
    • Low-cost restart potential with metallurgy and mine plan well understood.

Exploration Upside

  • Over 80 geophysical targets identified in the Northern Domain alone.
  • Multiple high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) systems, including the Renaissance Zone discovery – the first VTEM anomaly drilled by Nuvau, hosting massive and semi-massive sulphides with high-grade precious metals.
  • Significant gold potential, including:
    • Visible gold intercept in the first-ever gold-focused drill hole at Matagami, near Bracemac McLeod.
    • Regionally significant gold till anomaly with over 2,000 gold grains per 10 kg sample – potentially the highest recorded in the Abitibi – indicating a nearby source.
  • Additional underexplored zones adjacent to historical mines, where lower historical metal prices left mineralized extensions untouched.

Management Team

Steven Bowles – Chair of the Board

Steven Bowles has extensive experience in the mining and metals sector, encompassing private equity investment, project management and operations management. He currently serves as managing director at Nebari Partners. Prior to this role, he was the senior director of investment in natural resources and energy within Investment Quebec’s private equity group. Throughout his career, Bowles has led development teams on numerous large-scale mining projects, guiding them from study phases to construction and commissioning in various regions, including the Canadian Arctic, the Middle East and Latin America. He has been recognized for his outstanding leadership and was awarded the Bedford Canadian Young Mining Leaders Awards.

Peter van Alphen – President, CEO and Director

Peter van Alphen has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles within the mining industry, encompassing all aspects from construction projects to production. Most recently, he served as the chief operating officer at Premier Gold Mines, managing the company’s mining and development endeavors. Prior roles include country manager for Canada at Pan American Silver, vice-president of operations at Tahoe Resources and Lake Shore Gold, and various management positions at FNX Mining in Sudbury, Ontario. Van Alphen holds a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Steve Filipovic – Chief Financial Officer

Steve Filipovic is a chartered professional accountant with more than 23 years of financial management and oversight experience. He was a founding executive team member and chief financial officer at Premier Gold Mines, playing an integral role in transitioning the company from explorer to producer until its acquisition by Equinox Gold in 2021. Prior to that, he served as chief financial officer of Zinifex Canada and was vice-president, finance of Wolfden Resources, until its acquisition by Zinifex in 2007. Filipovic holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Lakehead University and is an ICD.D designated member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Gilles Roy – Director of Exploration

Gilles Roy is a highly skilled geologist with over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration across various countries, including Canada, Peru, Chile, Kazakhstan, Australia and Burkina Faso. Specializing in base metal deposits in volcanic host rocks, he spent much of his career at Glencore, leading exploration programs that resulted in the discovery of the McLeod deposit in 2004 and the Bracemac deposit in 2006. Roy holds a Bachelor of Science in geology from Université du Québec à Montréal and is a member of the Ordre des géologues du Québec.

Bastien Fresia – Technical Services Director

Bastien Fresia brings over 15 years of international experience in geology, mine planning, and resource development to Nuvau Minerals, where he serves as technical services director. He previously held senior technical roles at Glencore Zinc, leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering strategic studies across Canada, Burkina Faso, Peru, Bolivia and Kazakhstan. His accomplishments include the discovery of satellite deposit extensions in Matagami and Perkoa, as well as the implementation of technical frameworks that significantly improved business performance in Peru and Kazakhstan.

At Nuvau, Fresia leads the company’s technical planning, integration, and execution. He holds two M.Sc. degrees in Geosciences and an MBA in Strategy and Risk Management, and is a registered professional geologist with the Ordre des Géologues du Québec and a chartered professional (Mining) with the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Philippe Rio Roberge – Director of Project Development

Philippe Rio Roberge is a project management professional with 19 years of experience in the mining sector. With a strong background from the consultation world, he is specialized in geotechnics, tailings and water management, as well as in project management and construction. He has been involved in multiple feasibility studies for greenfield and brownfield projects and has overseen heavy earthwork construction projects. Roberge has been involved in the full life cycle of mine waste management facilities, from design through permitting and construction to closure and reclamation. While doing so, he has ensured the strategic development and integration of projects in a sensitive environmental and economic context. Philippe holds a degree in civil engineering from Université de Sherbrooke

Christina McCarthy – Director

Christina McCarthy is a geologist with over 15 years of experience in the resource capital markets. She is the former president and CEO of Paycore Minerals, which was acquired by i-80 Gold Corp for a $90 million valuation. Previously, she was vice-president of corporate development for New Oroperu Resources, acquired by Anacortes Mining in 2021. McCarthy also served as director of corporate development for McEwen Mining from 2014 to 2019. She has held various management and board roles, including positions in equity research at Euro Pacific and institutional sales at Haywood Securities. Prior to entering the resource capital markets, she managed exploration programs in Scandinavia for a junior exploration company. McCarthy holds a Bachelor of Science in geology.

Ewan Downie – Director

Ewan Downie is a successful company builder and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the mining industry. He currently serves as the chief executive officer of i-80 Gold. Previously, he was the president and CEO of Premier Gold Mines, and is now serving as non-executive chairman and director of Wolfden Resources, as well as a director of Clean Air Metals. Throughout his career, Downie has been part of several gold and base metal discoveries, earning recognition for his achievements, including being awarded the 2003 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s “Bill Dennis Prospector of The Year.”

Michael Vitton – Director

Michael Vitton served as the executive managing director and head of US equity at BMO Capital Markets, where he was instrumental in originating and executing over US$200 billion worth of public and secondary offerings and M&A transactions across all sectors. In the metals and mining sector, he has been involved in numerous significant deals as a seed investor, lead/co-lead underwriter, or in an M&A capacity. Vitton holds a degree from the University of Michigan Business School and has served as a seat holder on the NYSE, and president of the New York Society of Metals Analysts.

Fariah Mir – Director

Fariah Mir is currently the senior manager, accounting policy & advisory at TD Bank Group. Prior to that, Mir worked as a senior accountant, assurance advisory at Deloitte LLP, and as a senior financial analyst at IAMGOLD Corporation. Mir holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Honours Accounting from York University. She is also a member in good standing with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

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Red Metal Resources Ltd. (CSE: RMES,OTC:RMESF) (OTC Pink: RMESF) (FSE: I660) (‘Red Metal’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce a financing.

Private placement offering

Red Metal announces a non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of up to C$750,000 for an aggregate of up to 12,500,000 units (the ‘Offering‘).

The Company intends to raise up to $750,000 by issuing an aggregate of up to 12,500,000 units at a price of $0.06 per unit (the ‘Units’). Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a ‘Share‘) and one Common Share purchase warrant (each a ‘Warrant‘). Each Warrant entitles the subscriber to purchase one additional Share of the Company ( a ‘Warrant Share’) for a period of three years at a price of CDN$0.09 per Warrant Share in the first year following the close of the financing, CDN$0.12 per Warrant Share in the second year following the close of the financing, CDN$0.15 per Warrant Share in the third year following the close of the financing.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Units to finance general working capital requirements and exploration on Carrizal, its flagship Chilean copper property.

States CEO Caitlin Jeffs, ‘With a pro-business and mining government in Chile, and with copper reaching record prices, we believe now is the time to focus on our Chile copper project. We intend to use the funds to advance exploration on Carrizal and for general working capital.’

All securities to be issued under the Offering will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Red Metal Resources Ltd.

Red Metal Resources is a mineral exploration company focused on growth through acquiring, exploring and developing clean energy and strategic minerals projects. The Company’s current portfolio include the 100% owned Ville Marie claims in Quebec, Canada as well as Company’s Chilean projects which are located in the prolific Candelaria iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) belt of Chile’s coastal Cordillera. Red Metal is quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol RMES, on OTC Link alternative trading system on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol RMESF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol I660.

For more information, visit www.redmetalresources.com

Contact:
Red Metal Resources Ltd.
Caitlin Jeffs, President & CEO
1-866-907-5403
invest@redmetalresources.com
www.redmetalresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements – All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation statements related to the Offering and expected use of proceeds. Red Metal provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the ability to raise adequate financing, receipt of required approvals, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Red Metal’s public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Red Metal has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Red Metal disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279761

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Investor Insight

E-Power Resources offers investors high-grade exposure to the rapidly expanding flake graphite sector through one of Québec’s most promising districts. With a strategic land position, near-surface discoveries, and a leadership team experienced in exploration and capital markets, E-Power is positioned to help supply North America’s critical battery materials chain.

Overview

E-Power Resources (CSE:EPR) is a Montréal-based company focused on advancing its flagship Tetepisca graphite property in Québec’s North Shore region. The company’s mission is to delineate and develop a high-grade, near-surface flake-graphite resource capable of supplying future North American battery-anode demand.

Since entering the Tetepisca district in 2019, E-Power has systematically advanced its project from regional geophysics to mapping, sampling, drilling and metallurgical testing. This disciplined exploration pipeline has confirmed the presence of district-scale, high-purity graphite mineralization within the same geological sequence that hosts neighboring deposits such as Focus Graphite’s Lac Tetepisca and Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Uatnan, which together hold more than 120 million tons (Mt) measured + indicated at approximately 14 percent Cg.

Graphite demand is accelerating globally as electric-vehicle production and energy-storage capacity expand. Québec’s hydroelectric grid, pro-mining policy environment, and rapidly developing anode-manufacturing infrastructure make it a world-class jurisdiction for low-carbon graphite development. Within this setting, E-Power’s land position, grade profile and technical results uniquely position the company to become a core participant in Canada’s graphite-to-battery supply chain.

Company Highlights

  • Flagship project in Québec’s premier graphite district: 100-percent-owned Tetepisca Property, 234 contiguous claims covering ≈ 12,840 ha, the largest land position in the district
  • Exceptional grades: 2025 surface sampling returned up to 68.7 percent Cg (carbon in graphite form) at the Graphi-Centre target, among the highest reported globally
  • High-purity metallurgy: 2024 bulk sampling produced concentrates grading up to 96.4 percent Cg, validating commercial potential.
  • Strategic infrastructure advantage: ~220 km from Baie-Comeau and within trucking distance of a planned 200,000 tons per year (tpy) graphite-anode facility, anchoring Québec’s battery-materials hub.
  • Surging Market Demand: With global battery production accelerating, the graphite market is forecast to soar, positioning E-Power to benefit from one of the most dynamic growth trends in the energy materials sector.
  • Led by Experience: Backed by a strong, technically skilled management team, E-Power is strategically positioned to advance North American graphite independence and capture growing demand in the energy transition economy.

Key Project

Tetepisca Graphite Project

The Tetepisca graphite property is approximately 220 km north of Baie-Comeau, covering 234 contiguous claims (~12,840 ha) in the heart of the Tetepisca Graphite District (TGD). The property is 100-percent-owned by E-Power and hosts the same graphitic metasedimentary units that define the district’s producing and feasibility-stage assets.

District-Scale Opportunity

The TGD is an emerging flake-graphite camp that now hosts more than 120 Mt of measured and indicated resources averaging ~14 percent Cg across nearby projects such as Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Uatnan and Focus Graphite’s Lac Tetepisca deposits.

E-Power controls the largest contiguous land position in the district, strategically covering the same graphitic metasedimentary horizons that host these deposits. The district’s proximity to the planned 200,000 tpy graphite-anode facility in Baie-Comeau creates a unique alignment of resource, infrastructure and processing capability, positioning E-Power as a potential key upstream feed source for Québec’s integrated graphite-to-anode supply chain.

2024–2025 Exploration Results

E-Power’s work since 2021 has validated the property’s high-grade, near-surface potential.

  • The 2025 Phase 1 program returned grab samples up to 68.7 percent Cg at the Graphi-Centre target, one of the highest surface graphite grades reported globally.
  • New discoveries on the northern claim block (N3 and N4 targets) yielded multiple samples exceeding 20 percent Cg, extending graphite mineralization across more than 330 meters of strike within continuous conductive trends.
  • The Syndicate Trend, a 12 km linear conductor in the southwest, produced a new showing with grades of 54.7 percent Cg within a broader corridor that includes a historical drill intercept of 12.74 percent Cg over 9.55 meters.
  • Metallurgical test work from 2024 bulk sampling confirmed high-purity concentrates of up to 96.4 percent Cg, with additional mineralogy and flake-size distribution studies underway to define commercial product potential.

E-Power’s 2025–2026 work program will focus on advancing the Tetepisca property toward an initial resource estimate. Key activities include expanded fieldwork and metallurgical testing at the Graphi-Centre, Captain Cosmos and Syndicate showings; follow-up ground and drone-borne geophysical surveys to refine drill targets; and a focused drilling campaign designed to define near-surface, high-grade graphite zones. In parallel, the company is initiating early environmental baseline and access studies to support future development and potential partnerships within Québec’s growing graphite-to-anode supply chain.

Management Team

Jean-Michel Gauthier – Chief Executive Officer

Jean-Michel Gauthier contributes significant expertise in capital markets, corporate development and strategic positioning within the resource sector. His focus will be on ensuring the optimal deployment of capital and maximizing the inherent value of the Tetepisca Project as it advances through key de-risking stages.

Mark Billings – Chairman of the Board

Mark Billings is a highly respected finance professional in the Canadian resource sector, bringing extensive investment banking and corporate finance experience. His prior roles, including VP corporate finance at Desjardins Securities, provide a crucial foundation for guiding E-Power’s capital formation and strategic financing plans necessary for the Tetepisca Project’s development phases.

Jamie Lavigne – Chief Operating Officer

Jamie Lavigne is a professional economic geologist with over 30 years of experience in exploration and mine development. He has worked with major Canadian and Australian mining companies and several junior explorers and operates his own consulting firm. Lavigne holds a B.Sc. from Memorial University and an MSc. from the University of Ottawa. He is a member of L’Ordre des Géologues du Québec and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists.

Paul Haber – Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Paul Haber brings over 20 years of experience in corporate finance and capital markets. He has served as CFO, board member, and audit chair for numerous public and private companies, including XTM (CSE:PAID), South American Silver (TSX:SAC), and Migao Corporation (TSX:MGO). A CPA and CA, Haber began his career at Coopers & Lybrand and holds an Honours B.A. in Management from the University of Toronto. He also holds a Chartered Director designation from the DeGroote School of Business and the Conference Board of Canada.

Christian Falk – Advisory Board Member

Christian Falk is co-founder of Camet AG, Zug Switzerland and Vega Metals Trading in Montreal, Canada. He offers more than 16 years of global mining and metals trading experience, including significant tenure with Glencore International AG. His expertise in global graphite and critical metals markets will be critical in formulating E-Power’s downstream commercial strategy and understanding customer specifications.
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Alain Corbani, head of mining at Montbleu Finance and manager of the Global Gold and Precious Fund, sees the gold price reaching US$5,000 per ounce in the near term.

He sees real interest rates and the US dollar as the key factors to watch, but noted that other elements are also adding tailwinds.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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The copper price climbed to a fresh record on Tuesday (January 6), with persistent supply disruptions and trade uncertainty pushing the metal to a nearly 30 percent rally since October.

Benchmark three month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose as much as 3.1 percent in early trading to an all‑time high of US$13,387.50 per metric ton before settling slightly lower, but still above US$13,200.

The jump marks another milestone in a rally that first saw copper breach US$12,000 late in December last year.

Copper is widely used across the industrial economy, from construction and power infrastructure to electric vehicles and data centers that support artificial intelligence growth. Analysts attribute the gains to a combination of production setbacks at major mines and heightened concerns that prospective US trade tariffs could further disrupt flows.

Large copper-mining operations such as Freeport-McMoRan’s (NYSE:FCX) Grasberg complex in Indonesia have faced challenges since last year, while a strike at Capstone Copper’s (TSX:CS,ASX:CSC,OTC Pink:CSCCF) Mantoverde mine in Chile has reduced output prospects in one of the world’s top copper‑producing nations.

The threat of new tariffs under the Trump administration has also shaped expectations. Traders have moved to ship refined copper into the US ahead of any potential levies, tightening supply elsewhere. Furthermore, data show copper stocks in Comex warehouses have jumped to more than 450,000 metric tons, well above last year’s levels.

Copper outlook for 2026

Market watchers expect many of the forces that drove copper through 2025 to persist.

Supply constraints are expected to remain acute this year as aging mines and capacity shortfalls weigh on availability. New projects such as Arizona Sonoran Copper Company’s (TSX:ASCU,OTCQX:ASCUF) Cactus project and the long‑anticipated Resolution mine in the US are still years from significant output.

Copper demand is projected to grow as the global energy transition accelerates.

“A huge amount of this tightness has to do with US tariff concerns,” she said.

China, the world’s largest copper consumer, is also shaping the outlook. Despite weakness in its property sector, the country posted economic growth and is expected to prioritize copper‑intensive sectors under its new five year plan.

Longer‑term projections from industry groups suggest structural demand growth will outpace supply additions.

A UN report estimates that copper demand could rise 40 percent by 2040, requiring substantial investment and new mines just to keep pace. Likewise, Wood Mackenzie forecasts that copper demand will increase 24 percent by 2035, while the International Copper Study Group predicts a refined copper deficit of 150,000 metric tons in 2026 alone.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Discoveries made by companies in the genetics sector help support every other life science industry in a variety of ways.

One of the genetic sector’s major contributions is the discovery of new genetic drivers of diseases. Genetic testing has grown substantially over the last few years, thanks to advances in technology; growth has also been spurred by an increase in chronic diseases and the continuing development of test kits for therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs.

Gene therapy is also a huge driver of growth in the overarching genetics market. This important segment of the life science market is focused on how genes can help treat or prevent serious conditions in patients. This includes the potential for healthcare professionals to implement gene therapy at the cellular level instead of using medication or surgery, replacing ‘faulty’ genes with new ones to potentially cure diseases.

Pharma and biotech companies often dabble in genetics along with their core disciplines, meaning that some firms may also have operations in other areas.

The top NASDAQ genetics stocks listed below have products related to gene therapy, genetic testing, genetically defined cancers and rare genetic diseases.

Data for this list of genetics stocks on the NASDAQ was collected on December 31, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener, and stocks with market caps above US$50 million were considered.

1. Avidity Biosciences (NASDAQ:RNA)

Year-over-year gain: 143.8 percent
Market cap: US$10.87 billion
Share price: US$72.14

Avidity Bioscience is a biopharma firm developing a new form of RNA therapy called antibody oligonucleotide conjugates (AOC) that target the genes causing rare muscle diseases.

Through its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity developed programs for three rare muscle diseases: AOC 1001 for myotonic dystrophy type 1, AOC 1044 for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and AOC 1020 for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. The company is also working to expand its pipeline into cardiology and immunology.

In October 2025, Avidity entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Novartis (NYSE:NVS), which will include the company’s late-stage neuromuscular programs (AOC 1001, 1020, 1044) and the AOC platform, for US$12 billion.

Avidity’s early-stage precision cardiology programs will spin off into a new public company prior to closing in H1 2026. The spin-off will also have rights to use and develop the AOC platform for cardiology applications.

2. Wave Life Sciences (NASDAQ:WVE)

Year-over-year gain: 36.52 percent
Market cap: US$3.13 billion
Share price: US$17.12

Wave Life Sciences is another clinical-stage firm focused on unlocking insights from human genetics to deliver RNA-based medicines. The company’s PRISM platform is targeting both rare and prevalent disorders. Its pipeline includes clinical programs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Huntington’s disease, as well as a preclinical program for WVE-007 in obesity.

Wave Life Sciences advanced its PRISM RNA platform across multiple programs in 2025. It is also performing a Phase 1 trial testing its WVE-007 obesity candidate, which is an investigational INHBE GalNAc-siRNA using Wave’s proprietary SpiNA design.

In December, the company reported positive interim data from the WVE-007 trial, which showed that a single dose resulted in sustained Activin E reduction, supporting infrequent dosing. Target engagement updates and body composition readouts are planned for Q1 2026.

3. UniQure (NASDAQ:QURE)

Year-over-year gain: 33.15 percent
Market cap: US$1.47 billion
Share price: US$23.86

UniQure is a gene therapy company focused on patients with severe medical needs. In November 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company’s gene therapy Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec), which is the world’s first gene therapy for hemophilia B.

Today, uniQure’s proprietary gene therapy pipeline includes treatments for patients with Huntington’s disease, refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, ALS and Fabry disease.

Its gene therapy pipeline advanced in 2025, with positive Phase I/II topline data for Huntington’s disease candidate AMT-130 showing 75 percent slowing of disease progression at three years via cUHDRS, alongside 60 percent functional capacity preservation.

While data from the Phase I/II study led the FDA to grant AMT-130 breakthrough therapy designation in April, in December the agency told UniQure it believes the data may not be adequate to support a pre-biologics license application under the accelerated approval pathway. The company is pursuing a follow-up meeting.

4. Stoke Therapeutics (NASDAQ:STOK)

Year-over-year gain: 186.96 percent
Market cap: US$1.81 billion
Share price: US$31.74

Stoke Therapeutics is another biotech company with a focus on developing RNA medicine. With its proprietary research platform TANGO, which stands for targeted augmentation of nuclear gene output, the company is developing antisense oligonucleotides to selectively restore protein levels.

Stoke’s first product candidate, zorevunersen (STK-001), is in clinical testing for the treatment of Dravet syndrome, a severe form of genetic epilepsy. The company is also developing STK-002 for the treatment of autosomal dominant optic atrophy, an inherited optic nerve disorder.

Both candidates advanced in 2025, with STK-001 enrolling patients in Phase 3 after positive long-term data showed seizure reductions and cognitive gains. Likewise, STK-002’s clinical development program is being informed by results, presented in October, of a Phase 1 two year natural history study on the disease progression of autosomal dominant optic atrophy.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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2025 marked a turning point for investment in the cannabis sector, shifting the focus toward operational resilience and consolidation after a sluggish 2024.

Key market drivers included an upswing in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity as stronger multi-state operators (MSOs) acquired distressed assets, alongside pivotal regulatory developments.

The central theme for the year was the expected US federal shift to Schedule III, a policy rollercoaster that culminated in an executive order to expedite rescheduling, focusing investor flows into scaled, cashflow-positive MSOs.

Internationally, incremental legalization in Europe, particularly the momentum in Germany, broadened the global footprint and provided new export channels for North American producers.

Within market trends, profitability pivoted away from bulk flower to high-margin consumables, with infused pre-rolls and edibles driving category growth and supporting a rerating of resilient operators.

US cannabis rescheduling a core shift

After 2024’s punishing drawdowns, cannabis navigated a high-stakes policy rollercoaster in 2025.

The sector bottomed in Q1 as anticipated US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rescheduling hearings were delayed, but ignited in late Q3 and Q4 as the narrative shifted toward a decisive executive-led reclassification.

This momentum culminated in US President Donald Trump’s December 18 executive order, which expedites rescheduling and CBD access. It triggered a parabolic surge followed by a violent ‘sell the news’ correction.

“Cannabis is not just a volatile sector or industry. It is the most volatile place,” said Dan Ahrens, managing director and portfolio manager of the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (ARCA:MSOS). “It just proves the point, once again, that we really, really need this federal reform to be officially completed.”

Indeed, 2025 brought plenty of ups and downs. The year opened with Schedule III buzz, which came after prior Department of Health and Human Services recommendations and initial DEA scheduling proposals from late 2024; however, proceedings ground to a halt after the DEA postponed a key January hearing by over 180 days due to administrative turnover, bias claims and leadership gaps post-election. These disruptiosn kept Section 280E tax penalties in place and banking access frozen, keeping margins for MSOs compressed.

Meanwhile, House spending bills included language prohibiting the Department of Justice (DoJ) from spending any funds on rescheduling efforts, while Senate Farm Bill revisions redefined hemp to exclude intoxicating derivatives like delta-8 THC, capping them at trace levels and effectively imposing a nationwide hemp ban on high-potency alternatives.

The MSOS ETF’s portfolio construction exemplified the broader trend of investor flows concentrating into scaled, cash-flow-positive MSOs amid reform volatility. The fund’s top three holdings — Curaleaf Holdings (CSE:CURA,OTCQX:CURLF), Trulieve Cannabis (CSE:TRUL,OTCQX:TCNNF) and Green Thumb Industries (CSE:GTII,OTCQX:GTBIF) — accounted for over 68 percent of its total holdings as of December 31, underscoring confidence in these operators as resilient proxies for US cannabis maturation while smaller single-state players face dilution.

MSOS managers reinforced the shift in the year’s third quarter by trimming three underperformers from the ETF: 4Front Ventures (CSE:FFNT), Lowell Farms (CSE:LOWL) and Gold Flora.

Despite stalls in momentum, Trump kept hope alive in the cannabis sector throughout the year.

In September, he called cannabis reform an “80-20 issue” with broad public backing, and posted a Truth Social video promoting CBD for seniors and suggesting Medicaid coverage.

Those moves, alongside Representative Greg Steube’s (R-FL) Marijuana 1-to-3 Act, aimed at legislatively shifting cannabis to Schedule III, drove a surge in Q3 without any underlying procedural progress.

As mentioned, the December 18 executive order injected fresh life into the sector, directing the DoJ and DEA to expedite cannabis rescheduling to Schedule III, while launching a CMS Innovation Center pilot for federal health programs to cover hemp-derived CBD as early as April 2026, with up to US$500 annual reimbursement for eligible patients.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz previously endorsed Medicare reimbursement for CBD therapies during his confirmation hearings, framing them as “low-risk, high-impact” options for age-related ailments.

European cannabis legalization and international growth

2025 brought incremental legalization or medical frameworks in multiple jurisdictions, including Czechia, Malta, Poland, Switzerland and Luxembourg, broadening the investable global footprint.

This continental momentum has directly boosted North American producers through export ramps and licensing deals, with Canadian licensed producers capturing 43 percent of Germany’s Q2 imports alone.

The country’s CanG framework and adult‑use reform, which came into effect in April 2024, have made it Europe’s most important legal market, with 2025 medical sales expected to see explosive year-on-year growth.

Cannabis company trends in 2025

In 2025, cannabis companies pivoted toward operational resilience and product innovation amid persistent commoditization pressures. After 2024’s wholesale flower price declines, down roughly 32 percent since 2021 by some estimates, stronger MSOs like Tilray Brands (TSX:TLRY,NASDAQ:TLRY) are demonstrating pricing power through branded products and category expansion into edibles, vapes and infused pre-rolls.

Deal flow rebounded from 2024’s US$1.17 billion trough, with US transactions reaching US$2.1 billion.

Against that backdrop, cash-rich MSOs pursued distressed roll-ups in oversupplied states like California and New York, with Vireo Growth’s (CSE:VREO,OTCQX:VREOF) acquisitions in Minnesota and New York exemplifying the trend, achieving critical mass with premium valuations amid hemp restrictions.

Private equity and creative deal structures dominated in the cannabis market, preparing operators for federal reform, while consolidating fragmented retail.

Investor takeaway

2025 marked a transformative year for cannabis, with regulatory breakthroughs and market maturation set against the backdrop of volatility. Trump’s execuctive order has brought new life into the sector in the US with the promise of not only banking and tax relief, but also bipartisan momentum for normalization; however, investors remain cautious.

“Everybody is waiting for it to be real and for it to be completed. Because even though we think the executive order was huge … nothing’s complete yet. Nothing’s official yet,” explained Ahrens.

Looking to 2026, he emphasized that the path forward for cannabis isn’t a straight line, but rather a series of volatile ‘waves’ tied to incremental regulatory milestones. Ahrens anticipates that while the finalization of Schedule III should trigger an initial move, it is merely the first domino; subsequent upside depends on the DoJ providing clear guidance for state-legal adult-use programs and the eventual passage of banking reform.

While he does foresee cannabis stocks uplisting to major exchanges, and Big Pharma companies beginning to make acquisitions in the space, Ahrens remains cautious about timing, noting that even with a signed order, large institutional banks will likely keep the ‘blockade’ in place until the legal ink is truly dry.

Ultimately, while 2025’s executive action has established a concrete foundation for federal reform in the US, the cannabis sector remains poised in a state of high-stakes volatility, with its full maturation dependent on official completion of milestones in 2026 and beyond.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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The global lithium market weathered a tough 2025, as persistent oversupply and softer-than-expected electric vehicle demand pushed prices for the battery metal to multi-year lows.

Lithium carbonate prices in North Asia fell below US$9,550 per metric ton in February — their weakest level since 2021 — prompting production cuts and project delays, particularly in Australia and China.

While brief rallies later in the year offered momentary relief, the market continued to struggle under the weight of rapid supply growth between 2021 and 2024.

Volatility defined the second half of the year. Prices spiked in July on speculation of supply cuts, briefly lifting carbonate above US$12,000, before retreating as those expectations faded. Policy uncertainty in the US and regulatory signals from China further weighed on sentiment.

Despite the downturn, analysts increasingly view 2026 as a potential turning point. Lithium equities reflected that shift, staging a sharp H2 rebound in 2025 as improving fundamentals and rising spot prices rekindled investor interest — a backdrop that continues to shape the outlook for Canadian lithium stocks.

1. Stria Lithium (TSXV:SRA)

Year-to-date gain: 708.33 percent
Market cap: C$19.11 million
Share price: C$0.48

Stria Lithium is a Canadian exploration company focused on developing domestic lithium resources to support the growing demand for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. The company’s flagship Pontax Central lithium project spans 36 square kilometers in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.

Cygnus Metals (TSXV:CYG,ASX:CY5,OTCQB:CYGGF) has an earn-in agreement with Stria to earn up to a 70 percent interest in Pontax Central. Cygnus completed the first stage in July 2023, acquiring a 51 percent interest by investing C$4 million in exploration and issuing over 9 million shares to Stria.

In May 2025, Stria and Cygnus agreed to extend the second stage of Cygnus’s earn-in agreement on the Pontax Central lithium project by 24 months. The second stage involves a further C$2 million in exploration spending and C$3 million in a cash payment.

Through its joint venture with Cygnus, Stria has outlined a JORC-compliant maiden inferred resource for Pontax Central of 10.1 million metric tons grading 1.04 percent lithium oxide.

In March, Stria closed a non-brokered private placement for C$650,000. The funds will be used in part for the evaluation of new mineral opportunities, according to the company.

Shares of Stria registered a year-to-date high of C$0.50 on December 30, 2025, coinciding with lithium carbonate prices rising to a near 24 month high.

2. Consolidated Lithium Metals (TSXV:CLM)

Year-to-date gain: 350 percent
Market cap: C$20.51 million
Share price: C$0.045

Consolidated Lithium Metals is focused on acquiring, developing and advancing lithium projects in Québec. Its properties — Vallée, Baillargé, Preissac-LaCorne and Duval — are located within the spodumene-rich La Corne Batholith area, near the restarted North American Lithium mine, a key area in Canada’s growing lithium sector.

Consolidated Lithium started the year with a C$300 million private placement earmarked for working capital and general corporate purposes.

In July, the company commenced a summer exploration program at the Preissac project, excavating a 100 by 30 meter trench in an area with a known lithium soil anomaly, uncovering an 18 meter wide pegmatite body at surface.

At the end of August, Consolidated Lithium signed a non-binding letter of intent with SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Québec, to acquire an option to earn up to an 80 percent interest in the Kwyjibo rare earths project.

The project is located roughly 125 kilometers northeast of Sept-Îles in Québec’s Côte-Nord region.

Under the deal, which was finalized in November, Consolidated Lithium will become operator of the project and can earn an initial 60 percent stake over five years through a combined C$23.15 million in cash payments, share issuances and project expenditures.

A significant portion of those funds will be invested in advancing Kwyjibo through stages including negotiating and finalizing an agreement with the Innu of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, a metallurgical study and environmental permitting.

Upon completion, the partners will form a joint venture, and Consolidated will have the option to increase its interest to 80 percent by investing C$22 million over a further three years.

An uptick in lithium prices in October helped Consolidated shares rally to a year-to-date high of C$0.06 several times between October 22 and November 3.

3. Lithium South Development (TSXV:LIS)

Year-to-date gain: 330 percent
Market cap: C$48.76 million
Share price: C$0.43

Canada-based Lithium South Development currently owns 100 percent of the HMN lithium project in Argentina’s Salta and Catamarca provinces, situated in the heart of the lithium-rich Hombre Muerto Salar.

The project lies adjacent to South Korean company POSCO Holdings’ (NYSE:PKX,KRX:005490) billion-dollar lithium development to the east.

Exploration has defined a resource of 1.58 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at an average grade of 736 milligrams per liter lithium, with the majority in the measured category. A preliminary economic assessment outlines the potential for a 15,600 metric ton per year lithium carbonate operation.

In January 2024, Lithium South and POSCO signed an agreement to jointly develop the HMN lithium project. Under the deal, the companies will share production 50/50 from the Norma Edith and Viamonte blocks in Salta and Catamarca, resolving overlapping claims.

As for 2025, in June Lithium South’s shares tripled to C$0.30 after it received positive news regarding its environmental impact assessment.

Lithium South shared a huge update in July that changed its trajectory; the company received a non-binding cash offer of US$62 million from POSCO to purchase its lithium portfolio, including the HMN project.

POSCO would acquire Lithium South’s wholly owned subsidiary NRG Metals Argentina, which holds the HMN project and all of Lithium South’s other concessions, namely the Sophia I–III and Hydra X–XI claims.

The 60 day due diligence period concluded in late September, and on November 12, Lithium South announced a share purchase agreement to sell its Argentinian lithium portfolio to POSCO Argentina for US$65 million.

Company shares climbed to C$0.44 the next day, while its highest close of the year, C$0.45, came on December 24.

Lithium South officially signed the deal on December 8, with its closing subject to several approvals. Following the transaction’s completion, Lithium South plans to de-list from the TSXV and begin dissolution proceedings.

In connection with the news, the company intends to buy back all common shares at a price of C$0.505.

4. Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI)

Year-to-date gain: 190 percent
Market cap: C$1.47 billion
Share price: C$6.15

Standard Lithium is a US-focused lithium development company advancing a portfolio of high-grade lithium brine projects with an emphasis on sustainability and commercial-scale production.

The company employs a fully integrated direct lithium extraction process and is developing its flagship Smackover Formation assets in Arkansas and Texas, including the South West Arkansas project. The projects are a partnership with Equinor ASA, under the 55/45 joint venture subsidiary Smackover Lithium.

In April, its South West Arkansas project was one of 10 US critical minerals projects designated for fast tracking under FAST-41.

On September 3, Standard Lithium reported results of its definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the South West Arkansas project. The DFS notes an initial capacity of 22,500 metric tons per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with first production targeted for 2028. The study outlines an operating life of over 20 years based on average lithium concentrations of 481 milligrams per liter, supported by detailed resource and reserve modeling. The company filed the DFS on October 14.

In late October, Standard Lithium reported the unanimous approval of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for the company’s Integration Application for the project’s Reynolds brine unit, which is where the initial commercial phase of production is planned.

Standard is also actively exploring additional lithium brine opportunities in East Texas through the joint venture, and in November, Smackover Lithium filed the maiden inferred resource report for the Franklin project. The report highlights 2.16 million metric tons of LCE, 15.41 million metric tons of potash and 2.64 million metric tons of bromide contained in 0.61 square kilometers of brine volume.

The resource stands at an average lithium grade of 668 milligrams per liter, including a grade of 806 milligrams per liter at the Pine Forest 1 well, which the company states is North American’s highest concentration of lithium-in-brine.

The project covers roughly 80,000 acres, with 46,000 acres leased, and is poised to become the first phase in a broader East Texas expansion. Smackover Lithium ultimately aims to produce over 100,000 metric tons of lithium chemicals annually from its Texas operations.

On October 20, Standard closed a US$130 million underwritten public offering for 29,885,057 common shares, which will fund capital expenditures at the South West Arkansas project and the Franklin project.

Standard and Equinor ended the year advancing project financing for its South West Arkansas project, targeting up to US$1.1 billion in senior secured debt. The company has received over US$1 billion in combined interest from major export credit agencies, including the US EXIM Bank and Norway’s Eksfin.

The potential funds, alongside a US$225 million grant from the US Department of Energy, would support Phase 1 construction, which has an estimated US$1.45 billion in capital expenditures, FEED and feasibility study costs, and typical financing contingencies.

After climbing steeply starting in late September, the company’s shares hit a year-to-date high of C$7.64 on October 16.

5. Q2 Metals (TSXV:QTWO)

Year-to-date gain: 144.87 percent
Market cap: C$363.79 million
Share price: C$1.97

Exploration firm Q2 Metals is exploring three lithium properties — Cisco, Mia and Stellar — in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada. Contained within the portfolio is the Mia trend, which spans over 10 kilometers, while the Stellar lithium property comprises 77 claims and located 6 kilometers north of the Mia property.

In 2024, Q2 Metals acquired Cisco lithium property and spent the rest of the year exploring the area. The work led to Q2 acquiring a 100 percent interest in 545 additional mineral claims, tripling its land position at the Cisco lithium property.

A subsequent company update reported that metallurgical testing on drill core from its 2024 exploration work confirmed that spodumene is the primary lithium-bearing mineral within pegmatite at the project.

The company performed multiple drill campaigns in 2025, including a winter diamond drilling program. Over the course of the year, Q2 defined an exploration target and reported a series of positive results from test work and drilling at the project.

The most recent announcement, released December 3, singled out results from drill hole 44 as the ‘widest continuous spodumene pegmatite interval’ identified at the property. The hole intersected 457.4 meters of continuous mineralization with an average grade of 1.65 percent lithium oxide.

‘Drill hole 44 further showcases the Cisco project as a globally significant hard rock lithium discovery. The results to date will underpin the inaugural Mineral Resource Estimate, which we expect to announce in the first quarter of 2026, as we continue to advance Cisco,’ wrote Alicia Milne, president and CEO of Q2 Metals.

The company’s share price began climbing in late October following the news that it added Keith Phillips, CEO of Piedmont Lithium from 2017 to 2025, to its board of directors.

Propelled by the board addition and the drilling results results, shares of Q2 Metals ended 2025 on a high note, registering a year-to-date high of C$1.95 on December 30.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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