At a glance
LIT charges 0.75% a year, above the 0.57% average of the 3 funds most like it (the most expensive of 4). It has $1.51B in assets, the largest of that group; it paid 0.8% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned +6.2% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the best of those 4 funds; over three years it returned +10.0% a year. At its worst it fell 46.1% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 28.2% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 3 months and 48 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 66.1% of the fund, out of 47 in all.
The short version
Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index, which holds about 40 global companies in lithium mining and battery production, most of them based outside the US. Among the lithium funds compared here, it is the largest, with $1.51 billion in net assets as of July 31, 2026. It is also the most expensive, at 0.75% a year. One stock, Rio Tinto, made up about 23% of assets.
Price history
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LIT +6.2% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIT official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +59.31% | — | +1.83% | +13.98% | — |
| LIT price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -3.0% | +6.2% | +10.0% | -6.2% | +11.8% | +5.5% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, LIT returned +6.2%, 1st of 4 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was -6.2% and its 10-year +11.8%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 46.1% and regained its old high 3.4 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2011 (-36.9%); its best was 2020 (+127.8%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 65.9% (Nov 8, 2021 to Apr 8, 2025), not yet recovered.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -3.0% | — |
| 2025 | +60.1% | +59.31% |
| 2024 | -19.2% | -19.27% |
| 2023 | -12.2% | -11.85% |
| 2022 | -29.9% | -29.69% |
| 2021 | +36.8% | +37.39% |
| 2020 | +127.8% | +126.51% |
| 2019 | +3.3% | +2.80% |
| 2018 | -28.6% | -28.09% |
| 2017 | +64.1% | +63.36% |
| 2016 | +23.9% | +23.56% |
| 2015 | -9.5% | — |
| 2014 | -13.5% | — |
| 2013 | -9.1% | — |
| 2012 | +2.7% | — |
| 2011 | -36.9% | — |
| 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 | Lost 44.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 46.1%, back to its old high 3.4 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 23.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 28.2%, back to its old high 47.7 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.3200 | |
| 2025 | $0.3200 | -15.8% |
| 2024 | $0.3800 | -33.3% |
| 2023 | $0.5700 | -1.7% |
| 2022 | $0.5800 | +205.3% |
| 2021 | $0.1900 | -24.0% |
| 2020 | $0.2500 | -50.0% |
| 2019 | $0.5000 | -26.5% |
| 2018 | $0.6800 | -46.0% |
| 2017 | $1.2600 | +142.3% |
| 2016 | $0.5200 | +940.0% |
| 2015 | $0.0500 | -79.2% |
| 2014 | $0.2400 | +200.0% |
| 2013 | $0.0800 | -88.6% |
| 2012 | $0.7000 | +1650.0% |
| 2011 | $0.0400 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 47 securities; the ten largest made up 66.07% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| RIO TINTO PLC | 22.89% | |
| NAURA Technology Group Co., Ltd. | 6.89% | |
| Panasonic Holdings Corporation | 6.74% | |
| TDK CORPORATION | 5.58% | |
| ALBEMARLE CORPORATION | 4.53% | |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. | 4.14% | |
| SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD. | 4.04% | |
| BYD COMPANY LIMITED | 3.91% | |
| TESLA, INC. | 3.77% | |
| LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD. | 3.56% | |
| EVE Energy Co., Ltd. | 3.53% | |
| Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. | 3.13% | |
| PLS GROUP LIMITED | 2.81% | |
| Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. | 2.56% | |
| MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED | 2.27% |
By country
United States 38.12%China 28.69%Japan 12.32%South Korea 9.34%Australia 7.18%By asset type
Stocks 99.99%RA 0.96%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $193.7M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -10.55%, -10.32%, +0.39%.
How it works
LIT is an index fund. It aims to match the Solactive Global Lithium Index, before fees, rather than beat it. Solactive AG, which is independent of the fund and its adviser, Global X Management Company LLC, decides which companies are in the index and how much each one weighs. The index covers global companies in lithium mining and lithium battery production. As of December 31, 2025, it held 40 companies, 33 of them foreign.
The fund usually buys every index stock in roughly the index's proportions, an approach called replication. When a stock is hard to trade or rules get in the way, it may instead hold a representative sample. At least 80% of assets go to index stocks, including American and Global Depositary Receipts (certificates that stand in for foreign shares). The fund does not move to cash when markets fall.
Three mechanics stand out. The fund is "non-diversified," so a few names can dominate: as of July 31, 2026, a Rio Tinto ADR was about 23% of assets. When big traders swap fund shares in or out, LIT often settles in cash, not stocks. That can force it to sell holdings and make it less tax-efficient than most ETFs. And it owns company shares, not lithium, so returns can diverge from lithium prices.
What it really costs
- LIT charges 0.75% a year, versus an average of 0.57% for the similar funds below (4th of 4, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $77 in the first year and $930 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIT | $77 | $240 | $417 | $930 |
In a retirement portfolio
LIT is a narrow, concentrated bet on one industry, and it has swung far more than the overall market, so it fits best as a small add-on to a broad core.
LIT adds exposure to lithium miners and battery makers, many of them in China, Japan and South Korea. It launched in 2010, so it has no record from the 2008 crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 46.1% and was back to its old high by July 6, 2020. In the 2022 bear market it fell 28.2% and took 47.7 months to recover. Its deepest drop was 65.9%, from November 8, 2021 to April 8, 2025, and it had not recovered as of October 27, 2026. Its worst calendar year was 2011, when it lost 36.9%. Someone who has to sell shares during a slump like these could lock in large losses. The yield was 0.8% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost $930 in fees over 10 years. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want a small stake in lithium and battery companies such as Albemarle, CATL and Samsung SDI, alongside a broad core fund.
- People who can ride out drops like LIT's 65.9% fall from 2021 to 2025 without needing to sell shares.
- Those who value size and a long record: $1.51 billion in net assets as of July 31, 2026, and trading since 2010.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: LIT's 0.75% fee is above the 0.57% peer average. BATT charges 0.59% and ILIT charges 0.47%.
- Anyone who wants income: the yield was 0.8% as of October 27, 2026, paid only twice a year.
- Those uneasy with concentration: as of July 31, 2026, Rio Tinto was about 23% of assets and Chinese stocks about 29%.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
Net assets from each fund's latest N-PORT or annual report where available. Returns through Oct 27, 2026.Questions investors ask
Is LIT good for retirement?
LIT may suit a retirement portfolio only as a small, higher-risk add-on, not as a core holding. As of December 31, 2025, its official average annual returns were 59.31% over one year, 1.83% over five years and 13.98% over ten years. It lost 29.69% in 2022, 11.85% in 2023 and 19.27% in 2024. Its 65.9% drop from November 2021 to April 2025 had not been recovered as of October 27, 2026.
What stocks are in the LIT ETF?
LIT holds lithium miners and battery and electronics makers from around the world. As of July 31, 2026, its largest holdings were Rio Tinto (22.9%), NAURA Technology Group (6.9%), Panasonic (6.7%), TDK (5.6%), Albemarle (4.5%) and Contemporary Amperex Technology (4.1%). The top 10 made up 66% of assets. By country, the US was 38%, China 29%, Japan 12% and South Korea 9%. The US share is partly foreign companies, such as Rio Tinto, that the fund holds through US-listed receipts.
What's the difference between LIT and BATT?
Both funds track lithium and battery stocks, but LIT is much larger and costs more. Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (BATT) is the closest match by holdings, though the overlap is limited. BATT charges 0.59% a year, compared with 0.75% for LIT. As of October 27, 2026, LIT returned 6.2% over one year versus -0.4% for BATT. Over three years, LIT returned 10% a year versus 12.4% for BATT. BATT had about $125 million in net assets as of June 30, 2026.
Does LIT pay a dividend?
Yes. LIT pays distributions twice a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.50 per share, a yield of 0.8%. That is a small amount of income, and most of the fund's ups and downs have come from price changes. The prospectus also says that because the fund handles many redemptions in cash, it may be less tax-efficient than a typical ETF. That can matter in a taxable account.
Does LIT track the price of lithium?
No. LIT owns shares of companies, not lithium itself. Its prospectus warns that lithium company stocks may do better or worse than the lithium price over both short and long periods. The index also includes battery and electronics makers such as Panasonic, TDK, Tesla and BYD. Their share prices can react to much more than lithium prices. Anyone looking for direct exposure to the metal's price would need a different kind of product.