Top Canadian Lithium Stocks of 2017

Lithium prices have been rising this year on the back of strong demand for lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power electric cars.
Major trends in 2017 include megafactory announcements, offtake deals and of course continued news about the electric vehicle revolution. Overall, market participants are optimistic about the metal’s future.
Against that backdrop, lithium stocks have also gained in 2017. Here’s an overview of the three top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSX and the three top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSXV with year-to-date gains. Only companies with market caps above $10 million as of December 14, 2017 are included. If you think we’ve missed a company that should be listed, please let us know in the comments

3 top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSX

Orocobre is building a substantial Argentina-based industrial chemicals and minerals company through the construction and operation of its portfolio of lithium, potash and boron projects and facilities. Its operations include the Olaroz lithium-producing facility in Northern Argentina; Borax Argentina, an established Argentine boron minerals and refined chemicals producer; and a 35-percent interest in Advantage Lithium (TSX:AAL).

1. QMC Quantum Minerals (TSXV:QMC)

Current price: $0.98; year-to-date gain: 1,533.33 percent
Junior exploration company QMC Quantum Minerals is focused on properties in Manitoba, and its flagship asset is the Cat Lake lithium property in the province. Cat Lake, formerly the Irgon mine, is a historic rare metals deposit where “substantial developmental work” was undertaken by Lithium Corporation of Canada. QMC is currently completing its own exploration at the property.

2. Kairos Capital (TSXV:KRS)

Current price: $1.23; year-to-date gain: 1,347.06 percent
Kairos Capital has 15 projects in the Chilean portion of the Lithium Triangle. Located in Northern Chile, the Kairos Capital properties make up a collective 134,200 hectares and are all located within a 300-kilometer radius of the Atacama salar, which hosts the largest lithium-from-brine production in the world. Exploration is underway, and the company is targeting resource estimates by Q2 2018. 

3. NRG Metals (TSXV:NGZ)

Current price: $0.49; year-to-date gain: 340.91 percent
NRG Metals is an exploration-stage company focused on the advancement of lithium brine projects in Argentina. In addition to the Salar Escondido lithium project, the company is evaluating the 3,287-hectare Hombre Muerto North lithium project in the province of Salta. Further projects are under negotiation.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Advantage Lithium, Kairos Capital and Nemaska Lithium are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content. 

This article is updated periodically. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information.

Top Canadian Lithium Stocks of 2017
By Priscila Barrera, October 16, 2017
Lithium prices continue to increase this year on the back of strong demand for lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power electric cars.
Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices are forecast to average $13,000 a ton over the 2017-to-2020 period from around $9,000 in 2015 to 2016, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Lithium hydroxide, also battery grade, is expected to average $18,000 a ton between 2017 and 2020 compared to $14,000 from 2015 to 2016.
Against that backdrop, lithium stocks have also gained in 2017. Here’s an overview of the three top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSX and the three top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSXV with year-to-date gains. Only companies with market caps above $10 million as of October 16, 2017 are included. If you think we’ve missed a company that should be listed, please let us know in the comments

3 top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSX

1. Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC)

Current price: $1.69; year-to-date gain: 111.25 percent
Lithium Americas, together with SQM (NYSE:SQM), is developing the Cauchari-Olaroz project, located in Argentina, through its 50-percent interest in Minera Exar. Lithium Americas also owns the Lithium Nevada project and RheoMinerals, a supplier of rheology modifiers for oil-based drilling fluids, coatings and specialty chemicals.

2. Nemaska Lithium (TSX:NMX)

Current price: $1.46; year-to-date gain: 17.74 percent
Nemaska Lithium is engaged in the exploration and development of hard-rock lithium mining properties and the processing of spodumene into lithium compounds. The company’s wholly owned Whabouchi spodumene mine project in Quebec is estimated to be the second-richest and largest lithium deposit in the world. Learn more about Nemaska from CEO Guy Bourassa here.

3. Orocobre (TSX:ORL)

Current price: $4.93; year-to-date gain: 13.33 percent
Orocobre is building a substantial Argentina-based industrial chemicals and minerals company through the construction and operation of its portfolio of lithium, potash and boron projects and facilities. Orocobre’s operations include the Olaroz lithium-producing facility in Northern Argentina; Borax Argentina, an established Argentine boron minerals and refined chemicals producer; and a 35-percent interest in Advantage Lithium (TSX:AAL,OTCMKTS:AVLIF).

3 top Canadian lithium stocks on the TSXV

1. Kairos Capital (TSXV:KRS)

Current price: $0.58; year-to-date gain: 582.35 percent
Kairos Capital is a resource company currently exploring 11 wholly owned lithium-rich properties in the Chilean portion of the Lithium Triangle. In addition to its lithium claims, Kairos holds a portfolio consisting of approximately 26,850 hectares on six separate claim block areas located entirely within Chile; management believes they are highly prospective for copper and gold.

2. NRG Metals (TSXV:NGZ)

Current price: $0.37; year-to-date gain: 236.36 percent
NRG Metals is an exploration-stage company focused on the advancement of lithium brine projects in Argentina. In addition to the Salar Escondido lithium project, the company is evaluating the 3,287-hectare Hombre Muerto North lithium project in the province of Salta.

3. Critical Elements (TSXV:CRE)

Current price: $1.65; year-to-date gain: 223.53 percent
Critical Elements is a Canadian resource exploration company focused on advancing its Rose lithium-tantalum project in Quebec. The company recently published a feasibility study for the project, and expects the mine to produce an annual average of 50,205 tonnes of technical-grade lithium and 186,327 tonnes of chemical-grade lithium concentrate. Learn more about Critical Elements from President Dr. Steffen Haber here.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates.
Securities Disclosure: I, Priscila Barrera, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Advantage Lithium, Critical Elements, Kairos Capital and Nemaska Lithium are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.