NioCorp shares surge 14.49% intraday after HC Wainwright sets $11.25 price target.

NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ: NB) surged 14.49% intraday following an analyst upgrade and a new $11.25 price target set by HC Wainwright on January 13, 2026. The upgrade, coupled with renewed focus on government support for critical minerals and positive assay results from the Elk Creek project earlier in the month, fueled optimism about the company’s prospects in the rare earths sector. Recent developments, including a Pentagon-funded partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop scandium-based defense technology and ongoing pre-production updates for Elk Creek, further reinforced investor confidence in the company’s strategic positioning amid global demand for critical minerals.