Yesterday on the podcast, we dug into three copper stocks that could help lead the next major bull market. But copper won’t be the only winner in the coming year.
Every EV, every grid-scale battery, and every AI data center build-out depends on a whole suite of critical materials working together behind the scenes.
That’s where today’s focus comes in.
Lithium. Nickel. Graphite. Manganese. These aren’t just commodities — they’re the building blocks of the global energy transition.
Over the last two days, we focused on copper — the metal at the center of data centers, electric vehicles (EV), AI infrastructure, and the electrified grid. Today, we’re expanding the lens to the other metals powering the most important industrial shift since the invention of the internal combustion engine.
I’m talking about battery metals — the essential ingredients of the batteries that power EVs, stationary storage systems, renewable energy projects, drones, robotics, and tomorrow’s AI-driven world.
This isn’t a fad. This is a decades-long transformation.
And battery metals are the irreplaceable foundation.
Why Battery Metals Matter So Much in 2026
Global EV sales continue rising – 25% of all vehicle sales in 2026 expected to be EVs. Utility companies are deploying large-scale storage. Solar and wind installations are hitting all-time highs. And AI-driven data centers — which require unprecedented amounts of electricity — are forcing a global push toward clean, reliable energy.
Every one of those trends depends on the same thing:
A reliable supply of high-quality battery metals.
Lithium, nickel, graphite, manganese, and cobalt go into nearly every serious battery chemistry. Without them, the energy transition simply cannot happen.
But here’s the catch…
Battery Metal Supply Chains Are Stretched Thin
Demand for battery metals has surged far faster than new mines, refineries, or processing plants can be built.
Lithium demand is projected to triple by 2030.
Nickel demand for EVs continues to soar, as Indonesia restricts raw nickel exports.
Graphite supply is heavily concentrated in China — a strategic vulnerability for the U.S. and Europe.
Manganese and cobalt face geopolitical risks and limited new investment.
There is no quick fix. Opening a new mine takes 7–15 years. Processing capacity takes billions in capital. Environmental and political hurdles slow everything down.
This imbalance creates enormous opportunities for well-positioned miners.
📅 2026 Market Outlook LIVE – December 16th
Want my full game plan for 2026 — including copper, biotech, AI, metals, and the sectors I believe could lead the next leg of this bull market?
Join me live on December 16th at 4:00 p.m. ET for a special 2026 Market Outlook Webinar.
No cost to attend — just click “Notify Me” after using the link below.
A Massive Global Rewiring Is Underway
Governments worldwide are now pushing to secure non-China supply chains:
The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivizes North American battery metal production.
The Trump administration has been a big proponent of reshoring American mining of industrial and battery metals
Europe is building its own battery ecosystem to reduce reliance on Asia.
Automakers are signing billion-dollar supply agreements directly with miners.
This is not cyclical demand — this is structural, policy-backed demand.
The Biggest Winners: High-Quality, Low-Cost Producers
Tomorrow, I’ll highlight several battery-metal stocks that stand out for 2026 and beyond — including:
A leading lithium producer with undervalued assets and a global production footprint
A North American graphite company with strategic importance to the U.S. battery supply chain
A nickel producer positioned to benefit from EV demand and supply tightening outside Indonesia
These companies aren’t just mining materials.
They’re building the backbone of the next energy system.
Talk soon,
Matt McCall
Founder, NXT Wave Research
