BUZZ-MP Materials rises on smaller-than-expected Q4 loss, brokerages raise PT

Updates

** Rare earths producer MP Materials' MP.N shares rise 5.4% to $24.43

** Company reported Q4 loss of 12 cents per share on Thursday vs est loss of 13 cents per share - data compiled by LSEG

** MP produced 11,478 metric tons of rare earth oxides (REO) in concentrate, 24% up from a year earlier

** Company produced 413 metric tons of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, 175% up from last year

** Jefferies raises price target to $30 from $26; a 29.4% upside to the stock's last close

** "Positive momentum in REO concentrate and NdPr prices and solid execution in addressing bottlenecks suggest investors should focus on the shift towards integrated magnet production and potential policy support" - brokerage says

** BofA raises PT to $26 from $22; a 12.2% upside to the stock's last close

** "For Q1, MP guided for higher sequential production with pricing flat and continues to see line of sight to positive midstream gross margins (GM) exiting Q1" - brokerage says

** Including session's moves, stock up 54.9% YTD

(Reporting by Pooja Menon in Bengaluru)

((Pooja.Menon@thomsonreuters.com;))