At a glance
ILIT charges 0.47% a year, below the 0.7% average of the 2 funds most like it (the cheapest of 3). It has $18.4M in assets, the 3rd largest of that group; it paid 2.91% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned −15.7% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 2nd of those 3 funds; over three years it returned −9.0% a year. Its ten largest positions make up 58.4% of the fund, out of 41 in all.
The short version
The iShares Lithium Miners and Producers ETF (ILIT) is a BlackRock index fund that tracks the STOXX Global Lithium Miners and Producers Index, giving investors targeted exposure to companies that mine lithium ore or make lithium compounds. Its yearly fee, or expense ratio, of 0.47% is lower than similar lithium funds LITP (0.65%) and LIT (0.75%). It is also small and extremely volatile, losing about 45% in 2024 before gaining about 82% in 2025.
Price history
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ILIT -15.7% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILIT official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +81.77% | — | — | — | -13.92% |
| STOXX Emerging Markets All Cap Index Net index, same period | — | +29.77% | — | — | — | +16.14% |
| STOXX Global Lithium Miners And Producers Index Net index, same period | — | +80.06% | — | — | — | -14.84% |
| ILIT price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -29.6% | -15.7% | -9.0% | — | — | -18.7% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ILIT returned -15.7%, 2nd of 3 among similar funds.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2024 (-45.1%); its best was 2025 (+81.7%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 73.7% (Jul 13, 2023 to Apr 8, 2025), not yet recovered.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -29.6% | — |
| 2025 | +81.7% | +81.77% |
| 2024 | -45.1% | -45.14% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Before this security existed |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.0200 | |
| 2025 | $0.3600 | -37.9% |
| 2024 | $0.5800 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 41 securities; the ten largest made up 58.4% of assets, and 8.25% sat in cash and money-market holdings.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED | 8.02% | |
| Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. Other | 7.76% | |
| LIONTOWN LIMITED | 7.17% | |
| ALBEMARLE CORPORATION | 7.16% | |
| PLS GROUP LIMITED | 7.12% | |
| Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. | 4.38% | |
| Lithium Argentina AG | 4.36% | |
| Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd | 4.35% | |
| Lithium Americas Corp | 4.14% | |
| Sigma Lithium Corp | 3.95% | |
| Tianqi Lithium Corporation | 3.75% | |
| Canmax Technologies Co Ltd | 3.22% | |
| Critical Metals Corp | 3.22% | |
| COSMO ADVANCED MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD | 2.99% | |
| Shenzhen Capchem Technology Co., Ltd. | 2.90% |
By country
China 40.87%Australia 22.33%United States 8.97%Canada 8.09%Chile 7.81%By asset type
Stocks 92.08%Other 7.85%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors withdrew a net $2.3M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +29.72%, -8.46%, -14.67%.
How it works
ILIT is an index fund: rather than picking stocks, it tracks the STOXX Global Lithium Miners and Producers Index, built by STOXX Ltd. from a global pool of large, mid-size and small companies. Stocks need at least $100 million in free-float market value (publicly tradable shares) and $1 million in average daily trading. All Tier 1 companies qualify: lithium ore miners, lithium compound makers and firms earning at least half their revenue from those businesses. If there are fewer than 50, Tier 2 firms earning 25% to 50% from lithium fill the gap. The index held 34 stocks as of March 31, 2026.
Stocks are weighted by float-adjusted market value, so bigger companies count more, within limits: a stock is capped at 8%, those above 4.5% can't total more than 45%, and Tier 2 firms can't exceed 25% combined. STOXX rebuilds the index each September and rebalances it quarterly, resetting weights to those limits.
BlackRock uses representative sampling, holding a mix chosen to mirror the index's overall profile without necessarily owning every member; at least 80% of net assets must be in index components. It may use derivatives, though it held none as of June 30, 2026, and it uses no leverage or options strategy. Most holdings are non-U.S., so currency swings affect returns.
What it really costs
- ILIT charges 0.47% a year, versus an average of 0.7% for the similar funds below (1st of 3, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $48 in the first year and $591 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILIT | $48 | $151 | $263 | $591 |
In a retirement portfolio
It concentrates in one narrow, mostly non-U.S. industry, and its returns swung with three-year volatility of 42% as of October 27, 2026, so it could serve at most as a small side position next to a diversified core.
ILIT launched in June 2023, so it has no record through the 2008 crisis, 2020 COVID crash or 2022 bear market. Its worst calendar year was 2024, a 45.1% loss, followed by a gain of about 82% in 2025. Its deepest drop was 73.7%, from July 13, 2023 to April 8, 2025, and it had not recovered as of October 27, 2026. Withdrawing money during such a slump would have locked in steep losses.
It adds concentrated exposure to lithium producers that broad funds hold lightly. It paid 2.91% of its price over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, in two payments a year. The 0.47% expense ratio (annual fee) means costs of $48 after one year and $591 over 10 years in the SEC's standard $10,000 example. Past results don't predict future returns, and a plan needs to weigh the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors seeking focused lithium exposure, led by Mineral Resources, SQM, Liontown, Albemarle and PLS Group as of June 30, 2026.
- Fee-conscious theme investors: its 0.47% expense ratio is the lowest of three lithium ETFs compared, below LITP's 0.65% and LIT's 0.75%.
- Long-term investors able to hold a small slice through swings like 2024's 45% loss and 2025's 82% gain without needing the money.
Look elsewhere if
- Anyone needing this money soon: it fell 73.7% between July 2023 and April 2025 and had not recovered by October 27, 2026.
- Investors wary of concentration: Chinese companies were 40.9% of the fund and the top 10 holdings 58.4% as of June 30, 2026.
- Those wanting a larger fund: ILIT had $18.4 million in net assets on June 30, 2026, versus $1.51 billion for LIT on July 31, 2026.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
Net assets from each fund's latest N-PORT or annual report where available. Returns through Oct 27, 2026.Questions investors ask
Is ILIT good for retirement?
For most retirement portfolios, ILIT would be a small, higher-risk side holding rather than a core position. It focuses on lithium miners and producers, lost 45.1% in 2024 and fell 73.7% from its July 13, 2023 peak to an April 8, 2025 low, without recovering by October 27, 2026. Drops that deep are hard to sit through when withdrawals are due. It launched in June 2023, so it has no record through earlier bear markets such as 2008 or 2022.
What's the difference between ILIT and LITP?
Both hold lithium mining stocks, but ILIT costs less and is smaller. ILIT tracks the STOXX Global Lithium Miners and Producers Index and charges 0.47% a year; the Sprott Lithium Miners ETF (LITP) charges 0.65%. About 41% of their holdings overlapped in their latest SEC holdings reports. As of October 27, 2026, ILIT had lost 15.7% over one year and an average 9% a year over three, versus 17.4% and 10% for LITP. LITP had $45.5 million in net assets on June 30, 2026; ILIT had $18.4 million.
Does ILIT pay dividends?
Yes. ILIT pays dividends twice a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $0.32 per share, a trailing yield (past year's payouts divided by the share price) of 2.91%. That money comes from the lithium miners and compound makers it holds, so payouts can rise or fall with lithium prices and company profits. Because the fund sits in one commodity industry, its income can be less predictable than a broad stock or bond fund's.
What are ILIT's top holdings?
As of June 30, 2026, ILIT's five largest holdings were Australia's Mineral Resources (8.0%), Chile's Sociedad Química y Minera, or SQM (7.8%), Australia's Liontown (7.2%), U.S.-based Albemarle (7.2%) and Australia's PLS Group (7.1%). The fund held 41 companies, and its 10 largest positions made up 58.4% of assets. By country, China led at 40.9%, followed by Australia at 22.3%, the U.S. at 9.0%, Canada at 8.1% and Chile at 7.8%.
How has ILIT performed since it launched?
Poorly overall, with wild swings. Its prospectus shows an average annual return of -13.92% from its June 23, 2023 launch through December 31, 2025, slightly ahead of its index's -14.84%. The broad-market index in its prospectus, the STOXX Emerging Markets All Cap Index, gained 16.14% a year. Its two full calendar years were -45.14% in 2024 and +81.77% in 2025. Based on prices, it was down 29.6% for the year through October 27, 2026, and averaged -9% a year over three years.