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Can the Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) Reach $40?

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A.I.Advisor
Aug 26, 2026

Can the Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) Reach $40?

Key Takeaways

  • The Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) trades near $33, roughly 20% below its 52-week high of $40.55 reached in early 2026.
  • A return to the $40 round-number level represents both a psychological milestone and a reclaiming of the fund's prior peak.
  • Bullish support comes from exposure to copper, uranium, rare earths, lithium, and silver — materials tied to electrification and the energy transition.
  • The biggest obstacles are commodity-price volatility, supply gluts in lithium, and China's outsized influence on rare-earth markets.
  • Wall Street's consensus on the fund's underlying holdings points to an average 12-month target of roughly $41.91, modestly above $40.
  • Reaching $40 appears plausible but not guaranteed; it would likely require a sustained recovery in key mined commodities rather than broad-market momentum alone.

What Is the Sprott Critical Materials ETF?

SETM is a non-diversified exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Critical Materials Index. The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in companies deriving a meaningful share of revenue or assets from mining, exploration, production, recycling, refining, or smelting of energy-transition materials. Launched in February 2023, it carries a net expense ratio of 0.65%.

The portfolio is heavily weighted toward basic materials (roughly 75%) and energy (about 24%). By material exposure, copper leads at around 26.6%, followed by uranium (about 25.2%), lithium (19.1%), silver (14.6%), and rare earths (11.4%), with smaller allocations to nickel, manganese, and graphite. Top holdings include copper producer Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX), uranium names Kazatomprom and Cameco Corporation (CCJ), rare-earth miner Lynas Rare Earths, lithium producers Albemarle Corporation (ALB) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), and diversified miner Teck Resources Limited (TECK).

Why $40 Is the Level to Watch

The $40 price target matters because it sits just beneath SETM's 52-week high of $40.55, printed in late January 2026. For much of the past year the ETF surged on enthusiasm for electrification and nuclear power, only to give back a substantial portion of those gains as commodity prices cooled. With the fund now trading near $33, the question investors are asking is whether it can reclaim that prior peak.

Psychologically, $40 is a clean round number that also lines up closely with analyst consensus. Because the fund has already traded above $40 once, the level is not a fantasy target — but it is not currently within reach either, sitting roughly 20% above the latest price.

Current Market Position

SETM's 52-week range spans from a low near $18.21 to the $40.55 high. After peaking in January 2026, the fund corrected sharply, dipping toward the $28 area by mid-July before recovering to around $33 in August. This volatility reflects the cyclical nature of the underlying miners, whose revenues rise and fall with spot prices for copper, uranium, lithium, and rare earths.

On a technical basis, the fund currently trades below its 50- and 100-day moving averages but above its longer-term 200-day average — a profile consistent with a fund consolidating after a steep pullback rather than establishing a fresh uptrend.

What Could Drive a Move Back to $40

Several durable themes support the bullish case. Copper remains central to grid expansion, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, while uranium demand has been reinforced by renewed interest in nuclear power and the growing electricity needs of data centers. Rare-earth exposure ties the fund to magnets used in wind turbines, EVs, and defense applications, and silver benefits from both industrial and investment demand.

If these commodities sustain an upswing, the earnings of SETM's largest holdings would likely improve, lifting the fund's net asset value and market price. A broad rotation back into energy-transition and critical-materials equities could provide the catalyst needed to retest the $40 zone.

What Could Prevent the Move

The clearest risk is commodity-price volatility. Lithium, in particular, has faced periods of oversupply that pressure producers such as Albemarle and SQM. Rare-earth pricing is heavily influenced by Chinese policy and export controls, creating uncertainty for names like MP Materials. Any renewed softness in copper or uranium prices could keep SETM range-bound below its prior high.

As a non-diversified ETF concentrated in a single theme, SETM is also more sensitive to sector-specific shocks than a broad-market fund. A single down-cycle in critical minerals could delay any return to $40.

Analyst Price Targets

Analyst coverage of an ETF typically reflects the ratings assigned to its underlying stocks rather than the fund itself. Based on consensus ratings across the stocks SETM holds, the aggregate view is a Moderate Buy, with the average 12-month price target near $41.91. The range is wide, spanning roughly $33.78 on the low end to $49.37 on the high end. That consensus average sits just above the $40 level, suggesting Wall Street's collective outlook on the underlying miners is broadly consistent with the fund reclaiming its high — though the wide dispersion underscores the uncertainty involved.

Technical Levels That Matter

Key support for SETM sits near the $28–$29 zone, which marked the July 2026 pullback low. Below that, the 52-week low near $18.21 provides a deeper floor. On the upside, the fund must first clear resistance near $35, an area that has acted as a ceiling during recent consolidation, before a move toward the $40 psychological level becomes realistic. A decisive break above $40 would open the door to a fresh 52-week high.

AI Daily Buy/Sell Signals

Traders monitoring whether SETM can reclaim $40 may also find value in automated tools such as Tickeron's AI Daily Buy/Sell Signals. This product uses artificial intelligence to continuously scan thousands of stocks and ETFs and generate Buy, Sell, or Hold signals based on shifting market conditions, technical behavior, and AI-driven analysis. Investors can use these signals to surface new opportunities, track existing positions, and identify evolving market trends more efficiently. For those following the critical-materials space closely, the platform offers a way to stay informed as conditions change.

Final Assessment

A return to $40 for the Sprott Critical Materials ETF appears realistic but far from certain. The fund has already demonstrated it can trade at that level, and analyst consensus on its holdings points to an average target slightly above $40. Copper, uranium, and rare-earth demand provide a credible fundamental backdrop.

However, the path depends heavily on sustained strength in mined commodities, which have been volatile. Resistance near $35 must be cleared first, and any renewed weakness in lithium or rare-earth pricing could keep SETM range-bound. Investors should monitor copper and uranium prices, rare-earth policy developments, and the fund's ability to hold support near $28–$29 as they evaluate whether $40 is attainable.

Disclaimer

The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.

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SETM and ETFs

Correlation & Price change

A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SETM has been closely correlated with XME. These tickers have moved in lockstep 87% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SETM jumps, then XME could also see price increases.

1D
1W
1M
1Q
6M
1Y
5Y
Ticker /
NAME
Correlation
To SETM
1D Price
Change %
SETM100%
-0.96%
XME - SETM
87%
Closely correlated
+0.20%
BATT - SETM
76%
Closely correlated
-1.05%
NLR - SETM
72%
Closely correlated
+0.64%
CUT - SETM
54%
Loosely correlated
+0.53%
PHO - SETM
45%
Loosely correlated
-0.41%
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