What are lithium ETFs?
Lithium is a light metal used mainly in rechargeable batteries. Three US-listed ETFs focus on it, and all three own shares of companies rather than the metal itself. Albemarle Corporation is the one stock held by all three funds. Lithium Argentina, Lithium Americas, Sigma Lithium, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, PLS Group and Mineral Resources each appear in two of the three.
All three are index funds. That means each follows a published, rules-based list of stocks rather than a manager's picks. None uses leverage, inverse bets or options. The main difference is breadth. LIT, from Global X, tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index and reaches beyond mining into battery technology. Rio Tinto is its largest holding at 22.89%, followed by NAURA Technology, Panasonic and TDK. LITP, from Sprott, tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Lithium Miners Index. ILIT, from iShares, tracks an index of companies mainly engaged in lithium ore mining or making lithium compounds. LITP is the most concentrated: its 10 largest holdings make up 71.13% of the fund, against 66.07% for LIT and 58.4% for ILIT.
Costs sit in a narrow band. The median expense ratio (the yearly fee, charged as a share of fund assets) is 0.65%, which is LITP's fee. ILIT is the cheapest at 0.47% and LIT the most expensive at 0.75%.
The money is lopsided. The three funds hold about $1.57 billion in all, and LIT, launched in July 2010, accounts for about $1.51 billion of it. LITP, launched in February 2023, has about $46 million, and ILIT, launched in June 2023, about $18 million.
Lithium ETF holdings: the stocks most funds own
The stocks that show up most often among the largest positions of the 3 biggest lithium ETFs with holdings reports, from their latest N-PORT filings.
| Stock | Funds holding it | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|
| Albemarle Corporation | 3 of 3 | 7.16% |
| Lithium Argentina Ag | 2 of 3 | 4.36% |
| Lithium Americas Corp | 2 of 3 | 4.14% |
| Sigma Lithium Corp | 2 of 3 | 3.32% |
| Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. | 2 of 3 | 3.13% |
| Pls Group Limited | 2 of 3 | 2.81% |
| Mineral Resources Limited | 2 of 3 | 2.27% |
Typical weight is the median share of each fund’s assets in the stock, among the funds that hold it in their 25 largest positions.
The largest lithium ETFs, side by side
Swipe the table to see all 3 funds.
| LIT | LITP | ILIT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets | $1.51B | $45.5M | $18.4M |
| Expense ratio | 0.75% | 0.65% | 0.47% |
| Holdings | 47 | 39 | 41 |
| In the 10 largest | 66.07% | 71.13% | 58.4% |
| Biggest holding | Rio Tinto plc (22.89%) | Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile Sa (10.89%) | Mineral Resources Limited (8.02%) |
| Yield | 0.8% | 11.61% | 2.91% |
| 1-year return | +6.2% | -17.4% | -15.7% |
| 3 years, a year | +10.0% | -10.0% | -9.0% |
| 5 years, a year | -6.2% | — | — |
| Worst drop, past year | -33.5% | -60.8% | -55.9% |
| Launched | 2010 | 2023 | 2023 |
The largest ordinary funds by net assets (leveraged and inverse funds are listed further down). Holdings from each fund’s latest N-PORT report; returns include reinvested distributions, as of Oct 27, 2026.
Head to head
LIT vs LITP
LIT is the older, larger and broader fund: 47 holdings across lithium mining and battery technology, led by Rio Tinto at 22.89%. LITP holds 39 lithium miners, led by Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile at 10.89%, and its top 10 make up 71.13% against LIT's 66.07%. Just 13.6% of their assets overlap. LITP charges 0.65% a year, LIT 0.75%. As of October 27, 2026, LIT gained 6.2% over one year, with a worst drop of 33.5%; LITP lost 17.4% and fell as much as 60.8%. LIT may suit investors wanting the wider battery chain, LITP those wanting miners only.
LITP vs ILIT
These two miner-only funds overlap the most: 41% of their assets sit in shared holdings, though only 7 stocks are common to both. ILIT is cheaper at 0.47% against LITP's 0.65%, and less concentrated, with its top 10 at 58.4% versus 71.13%. ILIT's largest holding is Mineral Resources at 8.02%; LITP's is Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile at 10.89%. As of October 27, 2026, ILIT lost 15.7% over one year and LITP 17.4%, with worst drops of 55.9% and 60.8%. Both may suit investors wanting lithium producers only. Both are small, at about $18 million for ILIT and $46 million for LITP.
LIT vs ILIT
LIT is the biggest fund and ILIT the cheapest. LIT charges 0.75% a year, ILIT 0.47%. LIT's 47 holdings include battery and technology companies, and Rio Tinto alone is 22.89% of the fund. ILIT's 41 holdings are miners and lithium chemical makers, led by Mineral Resources at just 8.02%. Their top 10s make up 66.07% and 58.4%, and 23.5% of their assets overlap. As of October 27, 2026, LIT gained 6.2% over one year and ILIT lost 15.7%; their worst drops were 33.5% and 55.9%. ILIT may suit cost-focused investors wanting miners; LIT may suit those wanting a broader mix.
How much do the largest lithium ETFs overlap?
Owning two funds that hold the same stocks adds little diversification. Overlap here is the share of assets two funds have in common: for each stock both own, the smaller of its two weights, added up.
From each fund’s full holdings in its latest N-PORT report.
How have lithium ETFs performed?
The five largest ordinary funds: growth from the start of the range, distributions reinvested. The dashed gray line is the S&P 500 (SPY).
How lithium ETFs did in past market crashes
| Fund | 2008 crash | 2020 crash | 2022 drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIT | not yet launched | -44.7% | -23.7% |
| LITP | not yet launched | not yet launched | not yet launched |
| ILIT | not yet launched | not yet launched | not yet launched |
| S&P 500 (SPY) | -55.2% | -33.7% | -24.5% |
Total return from the stock market’s peak to its low in each fall, distributions reinvested.
What drives lithium ETFs?
Lithium companies depend heavily on the price of lithium, a commodity that can swing sharply as supply and demand shift. Demand comes mainly from rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, electronics and power storage, so car sales and factory output matter. Supply depends on how quickly new mines and processing plants open. Mining carries high fixed costs, so a falling price can erase profits quickly. Interest rates affect how cheaply miners can fund new projects. Government rules on mining permits, royalties and electric-vehicle incentives can shift profits too. LIT's battery and technology holdings tie it to manufacturing demand as well as to the metal.
That sensitivity shows in the record. In the 2020 COVID crash, LIT fell 44.7%, more than the S&P 500's 33.7% drop. In the 2022 bear market, a long, broad slide in stock prices, LIT lost 23.7%, close to the S&P 500's 24.5%. LIT launched in 2010, after the 2008 financial crisis in which the S&P 500 fell 55.2%. LITP and ILIT launched in 2023, so they have no record in these downturns. In the year to October 27, 2026, their worst drops were 60.8% and 55.9%, against 33.5% for LIT.
Lithium ETFs with the lowest expense ratios
| # | Fund | Expense ratio | On $10,000 | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ILIT iShares Lithium Miners and Producers ETF | 0.47% | $47 a year | $18.4M |
| 2 | LITP Sprott Lithium Miners ETF | 0.65% | $65 a year | $45.5M |
| 3 | LIT Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF | 0.75% | $75 a year | $1.51B |
Ordinary funds with at least $10 million in net assets. The median ordinary lithium ETF charges 0.65% a year; leveraged and inverse funds usually charge more.
Do lithium ETFs pay dividends?
3 of the 3 ordinary lithium ETFs with a page here paid distributions over the last 12 months, with a median yield of 2.91%.
| Highest yields | Yield | Net assets |
|---|---|---|
| LITP Sprott Lithium Miners ETF | 11.61% | $45.5M |
| LIT Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF | 0.8% | $1.51B |
Distributions over the last 12 months divided by the price; funds with at least $25 million in net assets.
How to choose a lithium ETF
- Yearly fees run from 0.47% to 0.75%. ILIT charges 0.47% a year, LITP 0.65% and LIT 0.75%, the highest of the three. Over many years the gap adds up, but these funds also hold quite different stocks, so cost is only part of the comparison.
- Miners only or the battery chain. LIT tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index, which adds battery and technology firms such as Panasonic, TDK and NAURA Technology. LITP and ILIT track indexes limited to lithium miners and producers, so they are more tightly tied to lithium itself.
- How much rides on a few stocks. LIT puts 22.89% in one stock, Rio Tinto. LITP's 10 largest holdings make up 71.13% of the fund. ILIT is the most spread out, with 58.4% in its top 10 and no holding above 8.02%.
- Size and track record. LIT launched in July 2010 and holds about $1.51 billion. LITP and ILIT both launched in 2023 and hold about $46 million and $18 million. Smaller funds can be costlier to trade and are more likely to close.
- Non-US companies and currencies. All three hold companies based outside the US. LIT's index is global, ILIT's covers US and non-US stocks, and LITP's largest holding is Chile's Sociedad Quimica y Minera. Foreign stocks add currency swings and country-specific rules.
- Payouts vary widely. As of October 27, 2026, LITP's yield was 11.61%, ILIT's 2.91% and LIT's 0.8%. Trailing yields reflect past payouts, which can include one-off distributions, so a figure as high as LITP's may not repeat.
What are the risks of lithium ETFs?
- One commodity drives results. Lithium miners' profits rise and fall with the lithium price. LITP and ILIT hold only miners and producers, and Albemarle sits in all three funds, so a price slump tends to hit the whole group at once.
- Large swings and deep drops. As of October 27, 2026, one-year volatility (how widely prices swing) was 53.1% for LITP, 43.8% for ILIT and 31.3% for LIT. Their worst falls from a peak over that year were 60.8%, 55.9% and 33.5%.
- A few stocks carry each fund. The 10 largest holdings make up 58.4% to 71.13% of each fund. Rio Tinto alone is 22.89% of LIT, so news at a single company can move the whole fund.
- Losses can last for years. As of October 27, 2026, LITP and ILIT had three-year returns of -10% and -9%. LIT, the only fund with a longer record, had a five-year return of -6.2% despite gaining 10% over three years.
- Small funds can close. LITP holds about $46 million and ILIT about $18 million. Small ETFs can cost more to trade, and if one shuts down, shareholders are paid out in cash, possibly with a taxable gain at an awkward time.
List of all lithium ETFs, by size
Questions investors ask about lithium ETFs
What is the largest lithium ETF?
LIT, the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF, is the largest by far, with about $1.51 billion in net assets. It launched in July 2010 and tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index. The other two US-listed lithium ETFs are much smaller: Sprott's LITP has about $46 million and iShares' ILIT about $18 million. LIT is also the broadest, holding battery and technology companies alongside miners.
What is the cheapest lithium ETF?
ILIT, the iShares Lithium Miners and Producers ETF, has the lowest expense ratio at 0.47% a year. The expense ratio is the yearly fee taken from fund assets. Sprott's LITP charges 0.65% and Global X's LIT 0.75%. ILIT is also the smallest of the three, at about $18 million. It holds only miners and lithium chemical makers, so it differs from LIT in what it owns, not just in cost.
LIT vs LITP: what's the difference?
LIT is broader and much larger; LITP holds only lithium miners. LIT owns 47 stocks, including battery and technology companies, with Rio Tinto at 22.89%. LITP owns 39, led by Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile at 10.89%. Just 13.6% of their assets overlap. LITP costs 0.65% a year against LIT's 0.75%. As of October 27, 2026, LIT gained 6.2% over one year while LITP lost 17.4%.
Do lithium ETFs pay dividends?
Yes, all three pay distributions, though amounts vary widely. As of October 27, 2026, LITP's yield was 11.61%, ILIT's 2.91% and LIT's 0.8%. These are trailing yields, based on past payouts, which can include one-off distributions, so a figure as high as LITP's may not repeat. Payouts from mining companies also tend to rise and fall with commodity prices.
Which lithium ETFs hold Albemarle?
All three. Albemarle Corporation is the only stock held by every lithium ETF. It makes up 9.66% of LITP, 7.16% of ILIT and 4.53% of LIT. Several other lithium companies appear in two of the three funds, including Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, Lithium Americas, Lithium Argentina, Sigma Lithium, PLS Group and Mineral Resources.
How many lithium ETFs are there?
Three US-listed ETFs focus on lithium: Global X's LIT, Sprott's LITP and iShares' ILIT. None comes from Vanguard. LIT has the longest record, dating to July 2010; LITP launched in February 2023 and ILIT in June 2023. Together they hold about $1.57 billion, nearly all of it in LIT.
Can you invest in lithium metal through an ETF?
Not through these funds. All three US-listed lithium ETFs own company shares, not the metal. LITP and ILIT hold lithium miners and producers such as Albemarle, Mineral Resources and Liontown. LIT adds battery and technology companies such as Panasonic and TDK, and its largest holding is Rio Tinto. Company shares can move differently from the lithium price because of costs, debt and management decisions.
How have lithium ETFs performed?
Results have been uneven and volatile. As of October 27, 2026, LIT gained 6.2% over one year and 10% over three years, but its five-year return was -6.2%. LITP lost 17.4% over one year and ILIT 15.7%, and their three-year returns were -10% and -9%. In the 2020 COVID crash, LIT fell 44.7%, more than the S&P 500's 33.7% drop.
Is there a Vanguard, Fidelity or Schwab lithium ETF?
No. None of the three offers a lithium ETF. The largest lithium ETFs come from Global X (LIT), Sprott (LITP) and iShares (ILIT), and customers of all three firms can buy other companies’ ETFs in their brokerage accounts. For a broader fund, VAW (Vanguard Materials ETF) and FMAT (Fidelity MSCI Materials Index ETF) are covered in our materials ETF guide.
