A Visual Guide to Lithium Investing

In the commodity world, lithium is a rising star as its use and prevalence has skyrocketed in recent years. Thanks to a wealth of new technologies, lithium is slowly becoming a staple metal for a number of products and industries. As one of the lightest metals out there, lithium is used widely in pharma, ceramics, aluminu, and a number of clean technology processes. Given its wide spread, it should be no surprise that the commodity has also grown as an investment in recent years [for more lithium news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].

Lithium 101

Below is a visual guide to lithium, provided by Global X. The video takes you through the ins and outs of this rising star and what sets lithium apart from its counterparts.

Lithium Applications & Potential from Lithium Applications & Potential on Vimeo.

Investing in Lithium

When it comes to lithium investing, there are several options on the market that can be used to add exposure to your portfolio. Note that the most direct method of investing in any commodity would be through futures contracts, though such contracts currently do not exist for lithium.

• Lithium ETF (LIT): This fund invests in companies around the world that are primarily engaged in some aspect of the lithium industry. Making its debut in 2010, the fund has gathered $60 million in assets and maintains a dividend yield of nearly 2.5%
• FMC Corp (FMC): For those who prefer to hone in on a particular stock, FMC is one of the largest names in the lithium industry. The firm, based in Philadelphia, has a Specialty Chemicals segment that is devoted to lithium products. The stock has a market cap of $8 billion and trades over 800,000 shares on a daily basis.
• Rio Tinto (RIO): For those looking for a more diversified play, RIO has just recently allocated more resources for lithium production. The firm mines for a wealth of other commodities and resources like copper, silver and gold, as well. RIO is worth nearly $90 billion and is one of the biggest names in the mining world.

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Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.