Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to "Strong Sell"

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen downgraded Lithium Americas from “sell” to “strong sell.” Other analyst views are mixed, leaving the stock with a consensus “hold” rating and an average price target of $5.08.
• The shares were down 8.9% and opened at $1.49, near their 12-month low of $1.48. The company also reported a quarterly loss of $0.05 per share, missing analysts’ estimate of a $0.03 loss.
• Thacker Pass construction is progressing, but its Phase 1 capital estimate has risen to $3.83 billion, raising concerns about project economics and funding. Phase 1 is targeted for completion in late 2027, with production ramp-up expected in 2028.

Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "sell" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note issued on Saturday, Wall Street Zen reports.

Several other brokerages have also commented on LAC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Lithium Americas from $6.00 to $5.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Lithium Americas from a "hold" rating to a "speculative buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. BMO Capital Markets set a $3.50 price objective on shares of Lithium Americas in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Lithium Americas in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Lithium Americas currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $5.08.

Lithium Americas Trading Down 8.9%

LAC stock opened at $1.49 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 5.47 and a quick ratio of 5.47. Lithium Americas has a twelve month low of $1.48 and a twelve month high of $6.96. The company's 50 day moving average is $2.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.75.

Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 12th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.03) by ($0.02). As a group, equities research analysts expect that Lithium Americas will post -0.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lithium Americas

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of LAC. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in shares of Lithium Americas by 70.0% during the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 6,724,736 shares of the company's stock worth $17,706,000 after acquiring an additional 2,768,972 shares during the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp raised its position in Lithium Americas by 37.2% in the 3rd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 510,480 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,345,000 after purchasing an additional 138,459 shares during the last quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance purchased a new stake in Lithium Americas in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Bogart Wealth LLC raised its position in Lithium Americas by 666.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 23,002 shares of the company's stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its stake in Lithium Americas by 62.9% during the 3rd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 42,500 shares of the company's stock worth $112,000 after purchasing an additional 16,417 shares during the period.

Lithium Americas News Summary

Here's some of the latest news about LAC:

• Positive Sentiment: Lithium Americas said construction at Thacker Pass is progressing, with equipment procurement more than 90% complete. Phase 1 is targeted for completion in late 2027, with ramp-up expected in 2028; the company also highlighted its strong cash position. Article: Lithium Americas Reports Q3 Results and Strong Cash Position
• Negative Sentiment: Thacker Pass Phase 1’s capital estimate is now US$3.83 billion, raising investor concern about project economics and funding needs. The project is planned to produce 40,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually at scale. Article: Lithium Americas Q3 2026: Thacker Pass Cost Blows Past $3.8 Billion
• Negative Sentiment: The company reported a third-quarter loss of $0.05 per share, missing analysts’ estimate of a $0.03 loss. The reported narrowing of its loss may be a partial offset, but the earnings miss adds near-term pressure. Article: Lithium Americas Q3 Loss Per Share Narrows

Lithium Americas Company Profile

Lithium Americas Corp. is a Canadian company focused on developing lithium resources in North America. Its principal project is Thacker Pass, a lithium deposit in Humboldt County, Nevada, where the company plans to mine and process lithium-bearing claystone. The planned operation is designed to produce lithium carbonate for use in electric-vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. The project is intended to serve the North American battery supply chain; Lithium Americas is developing the resource rather than operating it as a producing mine.

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