Mining and energy companies feature prominently in the recently released OTCQX Best 50 2026 list, with eight resource-focused firms among the top 10 performers for this year’s edition.
The rankings evaluate companies based on a combination of one year total return and average daily dollar volume growth, offering investors insight into companies delivering strong performance across diverse sectors.
Below is a closer look at the eight mining companies that secured top 20 positions on the OTCQX Best 50 list for 2026, starting with the highest-ranked name on this year’s list.
1. Ucore Rare Metals (TSXV:UCU,OTCQX:UURAF)
Ucore Rare Metals claimed the top overall position on this year’s OTCQX Best 50 list.
Ucore is focused on developing downstream rare earths separation and refining infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on heavy rare earths used in permanent magnets for defense, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Central to that strategy is the company’s planned Strategic Metals Complex in Louisiana, US, which is being developed with backing from the Department of Defense and the state of Louisiana.
In August, Ucore moved to strengthen its future feedstock supply by signing a non-binding letter of intent with Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML) for a proposed 10 year offtake arrangement tied to the Tanbreez rare earths project in Southern Greenland. Deliveries will start in in 2027 or upon commercial production — whichever is later.
The company has also advanced the technical and financial foundations of its US refining plans. In mid-2025, Ucore and representatives of the defense department completed the formal project kickoff for an US$18.4 million Phase 2 award to support construction of the company’s first commercial-scale RapidSX separation system at the Louisiana site.
The Phase 2 funding focuses on demonstrating the effectiveness of Ucore’s proprietary technology in separating key rare earth elements, including dysprosium, a critical input for high-performance permanent magnets.
2. Discovery Silver (TSX:DSV,OTCQX:DSVSF)
Discovery Silver ranked third overall on this year’s OTCQX Best 50 list, capping a year marked by a major acquisition that repositioned the company as a Canada-based gold producer.
In early 2025, Discovery reached an agreement with Newmont (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) to acquire the Porcupine operation in Ontario for total consideration of US$425 million. The deal represented the final phase of Newmont’s divestiture program as it streamlined its portfolio to focus on tier-one assets.
Located in Ontario’s Timmins Mining Camp, the Porcupine Complex is one of Canada’s most prolific gold-producing districts, with approximately 70 million ounces of gold produced since 1910.
The assets acquired by Discovery include the Hoyle Pond underground mine, one of North America’s highest-grade gold mines with more than 4 million ounces produced since the late 1980s.
Following completion of the acquisition, Discovery said it intends to continue both production and exploration activities across the Porcupine Complex as part of its broader growth strategy.
3. Andean Precious Metals (TSX:APM,OTCQX:ANPMF)
Andean Precious Metals placed fourth on this year’s list.
In November 2025, Andean secured a new US$40 million revolving credit facility with National Bank of Canada, enhancing its financial flexibility as it advances its strategic and operational priorities. Andean said the facility improves liquidity and provides a more efficient cost of capital compared with its previous arrangements.
Earlier in the year, the company entered into a long-term agreement with Corporación Minera de Bolivia (COMIBOL) to purchase up to 7 million tonnes of oxide ore from mining concessions located within a 250 kilometer radius of Andean’s San Bartolomé processing facility. The 10 year agreement provides Andean with a potential long-term source of feedstock, subject to economic viability under prevailing market conditions.
4. Rio2 (TSXV:RIO,OTCQX:RIOFF)
Taking the fifth spot is Rio2, which in December of last year completed its acquisition of Southern Peaks Mining’s 99.1 percent interest in the Condestable mine in Peru, valued at US$241 million.
Condestable, a well-established underground copper-gold operation, is forecast to produce approximately 27,000 metric tons per year of copper equivalent (around 80,000 ounces gold equivalent) and has a reserve life of over 10 years.
The company is also advancing its flagship Fenix gold project in Chile, where first gold production is scheduled for this month. Early gold recovery is expected within 30 to 40 days, and the project includes long-term expansion potential up to 300,000 ounces annually over 10 years.
5. Lundin Gold (TSX:LUG,OTCQX:LUGDF)
Lundin Gold secured the seventh spot in this year’s OTCQX Best 50 list. It operates the Fruta del Norte gold mine in Southeast Ecuador, one of the highest-grade gold operations in the world.
In 2025, the company was named to the TSX30 list of top-performing companies, ranking second with a dividend-adjusted share price appreciation of 775 percent over the three years ended on June 30.
The year also brought a leadership transition, with Ron Hochstein stepping down as president and CEO after 10 years of leadership. Jamie Beck, former CEO of Filo, assumed the role effective November 2025.
6. Graphite One (TSXV:GPH,OTCQX:GPHOF)
Claiming the eight spot on the OTCQX Best 50 list is Graphite One, which in November of last year confirmed the presence of rare earths at its Graphite Creek deposit, located north of Nome, Alaska. Geochemical analysis of drill core samples identified elevated levels of heavy rare earths, as well as all five principal permanent magnet rare earths.
Graphite One is currently advancing a fully integrated, US-based graphite supply chain, encompassing mining at Graphite Creek, transport through the port of Nome, and downstream processing at a planned advanced graphite and battery materials facility in Warren, Ohio. The Ohio complex is also designed to include a co-located recycling facility intended to reclaim graphite and other battery-related materials. The project has received significant federal backing, including a US$37.5 million Defense Production Act Title III grant.
7. G Mining Ventures (TSX:GMIN,OTCQX:GMINF)
G Mining Ventures placed ninth on this year’s OTCQX Best 50 list.
In 2025, shares of G Mining were added to several major equities indexes, including the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (INDEXNYSEGIS:GDM), the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index, the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) and the iShares MSCI Canada ETF (ARCA:EWC).
The company is anchored by the Tocantinzinho gold mine in Brazil and the Oko West gold project in Guyana. A key development came this past December, when the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission granted G Mining a 20 year mining license for its 100 percent owned Oko West project.
The mining license followed the issuance of a final environmental permit in September and the company’s formal construction decision in October. Early works that began under an interim environmental permit have continued under the final approval, allowing construction activities to progress without interruption.
8. Heliostar Metals (TSXV:HSTR,OTCQX:HSTXF)
Gold producer Heliostar Metals comes in at number 10 on the OTCQX Best 50 list.
Heliostar’s growth strategy is centered on its portfolio of Mexican assets, including two producing mines and four development-stage projects, which have become the foundation of its expansion plan. Ana Paula is its flagship development project, with a feasibility study scheduled for completion in H1 2027.
Alongside Ana Paula, Heliostar is focused on increasing production and extending mine life at its La Colorada and San Agustin operations in Mexico.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.