Investors often associate investing in lithium with investing in Tesla (NasdaqGS: TSLA), but the Global X Lithium ETF (NYSEArca: LIT) has quietly been one of this year’s best-performing equity-based commodities exchange traded funds despite some struggles by shares of Elon Musk’s company.
LIT tracks a diversified group of companies involved in the “full lithium cycle,” from mining and refining the metal through battery production. Lithium is utilized in batteries for their high charge density, or longer lasting life.
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Lithium is “An essential component in the advancement of alternative energy is the ability to efficiently store power,” according to Global X. ” Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind require generated electricity to be stored because they provide power inconsistently throughout the day. Overhauling the transportation industry to run on electricity, rather than gasoline, requires enough energy storage to power vehicles for hundreds of miles. To meet these energy storage demands, advanced batteries are made from Lithium.”
The massive factory is expected to churn out more lithium-ion batteries annually by 2020 than those made worldwide for all of 2013. Consequently, the greater potential demand has provided a lift to the lithium industry outlook.
[related_stories]LIT “made a 52% run from February to early June before it settled into its current base. Week-to-week volume has swelled since late March, suggesting growing investor interest in the Global X Lithium,” according to Investor’s Business Daily.
Due to their close ties with the commodities market, the materials sector are susceptible to cyclical demand and volatility in raw material and energy prices. While the sector’s sensitivity to business cycles can expose investors to greater risks, the area may also offer attractive returns during periods of strong growth.
With the economy recovery maturing, the materials sector, which is closely tied to the prices of raw materials, have traditionally done well as inflation rises and late-cycle economic expansions help support demand.
“Lithium — which is used in products from AA batteries to the 787 Dreamliner — remains in big demand. The aggressive expansion of Tesla’s battery-powered cars has been a big reason for that.
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With production lagging demand, lithium prices have been firm, Bloomberg reports. But an analyst with London-based Roskill Information Services expects prices will peak in the second quarter of 2017 as more lithium production comes into the market,” adds IBD.
Global X Lithium ETF
