<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>TMC The Metals Company stock has sunk 35% over the past month.</li><li>Management is confident that the company will secure its deep-sea mining permit in the next year.</li><li>For those uninterested in a more speculative investment, a metals ETF is a smart investment option.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than TMC The Metals Company ›</li></ul>It's been choppy waters for TMC The Metals Company (NASDAQ: TMC) recently. While shares of the deep-sea mining company have buoyed as high as $11.35 over the past year, they've plunged 35% (as of this writing) over the past month, and they're now sitting just over $4.While the market's sentiment for The Metals Company stock may have soured recently, the fact remains that copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese -- the metals the company plans to produce when it starts operations -- remain in high demand due to the vital importance they serve in the defense and tech industries. Those with multiyear investing horizons, therefore, should consider dipping their toes in the deep-sea mining investment waters.Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MjkwOC9jb25mdXNlZC13b21hbi1zY3JhdGNoZXMtaGVyLWhlYWQuanBnJnc9NzAw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MjkwOC9jb25mdXNlZC13b21hbi1zY3JhdGNoZXMtaGVyLWhlYWQuanBnJnc9NzAw"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>This disruptive mining company is sailing in the right direction</h2>With the recent decline in The Metals Company stock, it's logical to speculate that the company has hit some formidable obstacle that has compromised its ability to commence operations -- especially since the company is in uncharted waters. There are currently no companies engaged in commercial deep-sea mining operations for critical minerals.But the decline in the company's stock is more a feature of the bearish sentiment pervading the market now -- not a reflection of the company, per se.In fact, the company's path toward commencing commercial operations seems clearer than ever. While red tape has hindered the company's progress in the past, the company announced in early March that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had found the company's application for an exploration license and commercial recovery permit under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act &#34;is in substantial compliance with the requirements of the Act and its implementing regulations.&#34;During its recent fourth-quarter 2025 financial results presentation, management elucidated the importance of NOAA's evaluation of the application, stating that its &#34;confidence in our ability to secure the permit within a year is high.&#34;The metals that The Metals Company anticipates producing, copper, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, all appear on the U.S. Geological Survey's Critical Minerals list. Moreover, the Trump administration has made the shoring up of the domestic supply of critical minerals a priority. In April 2025, President Trump signed executive orders to spur the development of the deep-sea mining industry and secure the United States' supply of minerals essential to its security.<h2>For those with a high tolerance for risk, now's the time to click the buy button</h2>With the recent market sell-off, investors have a great opportunity to load up on growth stocks at a discount to their previous valuations -- such is the case with The Metals Company. Those considering investments in the deep-sea mining company must be comfortable with the higher risk, as there's no guarantee the company will commence commercial operations or generate a profit after operations begin.On the other hand, investors seeking a more conservative approach to critical minerals exposure will find an investment in a metals exchange-traded fund (ETF) to be a more prudent option.<h2>Should you buy stock in TMC The Metals Company right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in TMC The Metals Company, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and TMC The Metals Company wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $518,530!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,069,165!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 915% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 1, 2026. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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The Metals Company (TMC) stock has dropped 35% recently, now trading just over $4. Despite this decline, management is optimistic about securing a deep-sea mining permit within a year, as the demand for critical minerals like copper and nickel remains high. Investors with a long-term perspective may find this a good entry point, while those seeking lower risk might consider metals ETFs instead. Analysts have identified other stocks with potentially higher returns than TMC.

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The Metals Company Is Under $5. Here's Why Long-Term Investors Should Pay Attention.