Idaho Copper Splits Stock, Eyes NYSE Amid Critical Minerals Boom

BOISE, ID – December 16, 2025 – In a decisive move to elevate its standing in the financial markets, critical minerals developer Idaho Copper Corp. (OTC: COPR) has executed a 1-for-20 reverse stock split, which took effect at the market open on December 15. The corporate action is a cornerstone of the company's ambitious strategy to meet the stringent listing requirements of the NYSE American exchange and transition away from the over-the-counter market.

As a result of the split, every twenty shares of the company's common stock have been consolidated into a single share. The stock will trade under the temporary ticker symbol “COPRD” for the next 20 business days before reverting to its original “COPR” symbol. This maneuver is designed to increase the per-share trading price, a critical hurdle for uplisting to a major national exchange. Proportional adjustments were also made to the company's authorized share count and outstanding equity awards, ensuring no change to any stockholder's percentage ownership.

Andrew Brodkey, Chief Executive Officer of Idaho Copper, framed the move as a crucial step forward. "This corporate action has been in the works for some time, and is an important step towards moving onto the NYSE American," Brodkey stated. "We would like to thank our many partners and stakeholders for their help in the process as we strive to create sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders.”

A Calculated Leap to the Big Leagues

The reverse split is more than a simple accounting adjustment; it is a strategic gambit aimed at unlocking significant new opportunities. To gain a coveted spot on the NYSE American, companies must meet a host of quantitative standards, most notably a minimum share price, which can range from $2 to $4. Prior to the split, Idaho Copper's stock was trading around $0.40, well below the required threshold. The 1-for-20 consolidation is engineered to mechanically boost the share price into compliance.

This move is part of a broader, multi-faceted push to prepare the company for the major leagues. In October 2025, Idaho Copper filed an S-1 registration statement with the SEC, signaling its intent to raise up to $5 million through a public offering tied to its uplisting plan. The entire process of moving from the OTC market to a national exchange like the NYSE is a complex undertaking that typically takes 8 to 12 months, involving rigorous financial audits and corporate governance enhancements.

The potential rewards for a successful uplisting are substantial. A listing on the NYSE American would dramatically increase Idaho Copper’s visibility, improve trading liquidity, and make the stock accessible to a much larger pool of institutional investors and mutual funds, many of which are prohibited from investing in lower-priced OTC stocks. This enhanced access to capital is fundamental to the company's ultimate goal: funding the development of its flagship asset.

Fueling the Future with Critical Metals

At the heart of Idaho Copper's strategy lies the CuMo Project, a massive undeveloped mineral deposit in Boise County, Idaho. A 2020 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) identified the site as one of the largest undeveloped copper resources in the Western Hemisphere, holding an estimated 4 billion pounds of copper. It is also believed to be the world's largest undeveloped deposit of molybdenum, with 1.6 billion pounds, alongside significant quantities of silver, rhenium, and tungsten.

These are not just any metals; they are critical minerals essential to the global energy transition and modern technology. Copper is indispensable for electric vehicles, which require up to four times more of the metal than traditional cars, as well as for renewable energy infrastructure, grid modernization, and the data centers powering the AI revolution. Market analysts are forecasting a significant copper supply deficit in the coming years, with some projecting prices could surge past $12,000 per metric ton in 2026.

Molybdenum, a key component in high-strength steel and specialty alloys, is equally vital for aerospace, defense, and renewable energy technologies. Its market is also experiencing tight supply and strong demand, with prices expected to remain elevated. The CuMo project's vast resources position Idaho Copper to become a key domestic supplier of these strategic materials at a time of heightened geopolitical focus on securing reliable supply chains.

To advance the project, the company is working towards a bankable feasibility study and has invested in advanced ore-sorting studies that could significantly improve the project's economic viability. An updated PEA with improved economics is anticipated by the end of 2025. The capital raised from a successful uplisting would be instrumental in funding these next critical phases of development.

Navigating Risk and Resistance

Despite the strategic rationale, the path forward for Idaho Copper is not without significant obstacles. Reverse stock splits, while often a necessary tool for uplisting, can be viewed with skepticism by investors, sometimes perceived as a cosmetic fix for a struggling stock rather than a sign of fundamental strength. The company, which is in the pre-revenue exploration stage, reported a net loss of $2.25 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2025, underscoring its reliance on capital markets to fund its operations.

Beyond financial market perceptions, the CuMo project itself faces entrenched local opposition and legal challenges. In March 2025, the company celebrated a major milestone when the U.S. Forest Service approved its four-year exploration plan. However, that victory was short-lived. By June, a coalition of environmental non-governmental organizations had filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the decision, citing concerns over potential environmental impacts. This is the latest in a series of legal battles that have stalled the project for over a decade, with federal courts striking down previous approvals in 2012 and 2016.

While Idaho Copper remains confident that it will prevail in the current litigation and begin drilling in 2026, the ongoing legal fight creates uncertainty and risk. Adding another layer of complexity is a recent shift in the company's ownership structure. A late 2024 sheriff's sale resulted in a Hong Kong-based investment company becoming the new majority shareholder, a development that has raised concerns among some conservation groups about the new owner's commitment to environmental stewardship.

Idaho Copper now stands at a pivotal juncture, balancing a sophisticated financial strategy against formidable on-the-ground realities. The reverse split is a bold and necessary step in its quest to join the NYSE American, but the company must simultaneously convince investors of its long-term value while navigating a complex web of legal, regulatory, and environmental hurdles. For Idaho Copper, the success of this financial maneuver will ultimately be measured not by its new share price, but by its ability to finally unlock the immense mineral wealth buried in the mountains of Boise County.