9 Best-performing Global Lithium Stocks of 2026

Top Canadian lithium stocks

1. Stria Lithium (TSXV:SRA)

Year-to-date gain: 708.33 percent
Market cap: C$19.11 million
Share price: C$0.48

Stria Lithium is a Canadian exploration company focused on developing domestic lithium resources to support the growing demand for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. The company’s flagship Pontax Central lithium project spans 36 square kilometers in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada.

Cygnus Metals (TSXV:CYG,ASX:CY5,OTCQB:CYGGF) has an earn-in agreement with Stria to earn up to a 70 percent interest in Pontax Central. Cygnus completed the first stage in July 2023, acquiring a 51 percent interest by investing C$4 million in exploration and issuing over 9 million shares to Stria.

In May 2025, Stria and Cygnus agreed to extend the second stage of Cygnus’s earn-in agreement on the Pontax Central lithium project by 24 months. The second stage involves a further C$2 million in exploration spending and C$3 million in a cash payment.

Through its joint venture with Cygnus, Stria has outlined a JORC-compliant maiden inferred resource for Pontax Central of 10.1 million metric tons grading 1.04 percent lithium oxide (Li2O).

Shares of Stria rode the wave of market positivity higher in January, reaching C$0.84 on January 20.

On February 13, Stria announced a C$1 million non-brokered private placement that would see it issue 2.38 million units at a price of C$0.42 per share; it repriced the placement on February 25, raising the unit price to C$0.47 while dropping the issued shares to 2.13 million. Stria closed the C$1 million placement the following day.

After rallying in January, Stria shares were again propelled reaching a year-to-date high of C$0.85 on April 1 when lithium prices staged a recovery in late March after dipping earlier in the month.

2. Noram Lithium (TSXV:NRM)

Year-to-date gain: 75 percent
Market cap: C$15.65 million
Share price: C$0.17

Noram Lithium is an exploration and development company advancing its flagship Zeus lithium project in Clayton Valley, Nevada, US.

In May 2024, Noram released an updated resource estimate for Zeus including 3 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at 957 parts per million (ppm) in the measured and indicated category and 1.4 million metric tons LCE of inferred resources.

Noram updated Zeus’ byproduct potential in 2025 following full reviews of assay data from 91 drill holes, announcing mineralization of critical minerals rubidium and cesium in August and potash in October.

In late February, Noram again boosted the resource base at Zeus when it added molybdenum to the project’s asset list.

In the announcement the company noted the mining byproduct credits the property could garner from the array of critical minerals Zeus hosts, which it plans to incorporate in its upcoming preliminary economic assessment.

“Preliminary internal modelling suggests that these by-product credits could materially reduce projected operating costs,” Executive Chairman Sandy MacDougall said. He noted that Zeus may qualify for federal support as a potential domestic source of multiple US-designated critical minerals.

Shares of Noram rose to a year-to-date of C$0.175 on April 7, 2026, benefiting from shifting supply and demand trends in the broader lithium market.

3. Lithium Ionic (TSXV:LTH)

Year-to-date gain: 35.24 percent
Market cap: C$276.54 million
Share price: C$1.42

Exploration and development company Lithium Ionic is focused on advancing a portfolio of Brazil-based lithium assets. The company's Itinga and Salinas groups of properties are both located in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, covering a combined 14,000 hectares.

In a 2025 year end review released in January, Ionic highlighted the updates it made to the mineral resource estimates at its feasibility-stage Bandeira project and its Baixa Grande project, which are part of the Itinga and Salinas groups respectively.

Following the updates last year, the company's total global measured and indicated resource now stands at 36.76 million metric tons grading 1.31 percent Li2O, while its inferred resource combines for 31.87 million metric tons at 1.19 percent Li2O.

The company also laid out its 2026 priorities as it works to transition Bandeira to construction, including advancing permitting, finalizing detailed engineering and project financing, and progressing pre-development activities.

In mid-February, Ionic provided an update for the Bandeira project, noting that engineering was 48 percent complete.

“Bandeira is now firmly in the execution phase,” Lithium Ionic CEO Blake Hylands wrote. “With a technically robust and optimized Feasibility Study in-hand, our focus has shifted to disciplined delivery.”

On March 25, Lithium Ionic secured binding five year, take-or-pay offtake agreements to supply a combined 170,000 metric tons per year of spodumene concentrate to Yahua Industrial Group (SZSE:002497) and Grand Chen Resources, both integrated suppliers to tier-one battery and electric vehicle companies, including BYD (OTCPL:BYDDF,HKEX:1211).

The agreements offer Lithium Ionic with downside protection as they have a minimum price of US$1,000 per metric ton using a basis of 6 percent grade spodumene concentrate (SC6); additionally, they have no price ceiling, allowing full exposure to rising lithium prices. The deals also include a combined US$20 million in prepayment facilities.

News of the deal paired with upward momentum in the lithium market pushed shares of Lithium Ionic to a year-to-date high of C$1.46 on April 2.

Top US lithium stocks

1. Lithium Argentina (NYSE:LAR,TSX:LAR)

Year-to-date gain: 42.86 percent
Market cap: US$1.33 billion
Share price: US$8.10

Lithium Argentina produces lithium carbonate from its 44.8 percent owned Cauchari-Olaroz brine operations in Argentina, developed with Ganfeng Lithium (HKEX:1772,OTCPL:GNENF). The company was spun out from Lithium Americas in October 2023 and changed its name from Lithium Americas (Argentina) in January 2025.

Lithium Argentina reported on January 6 that its Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine facility produced about 34,100 metric tons of lithium carbonate in 2025, and production for the final quarter of 2025 set a new record of approximately 9,700 metric tons.

The news coincided with a jump in share prices, which rallied to a year-to-date high of US$8.58 on January 23, coinciding with broader positivity in the lithium market. After pulling back in February, they climbed back up to US$8.36 on February 24.

In a March 11 announcement, Lithium Argentina updated the mineral resource estimate for the Cauchari-Olaroz brine operation, supporting plans for a Stage 2 expansion. Stage 2 is expected to add 45,000 metric tons per year of LCE capacity, building on the current 40,000 metric ton operation.

The MRE update increases measured and indicated resources by 42 percent to 28.1 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), while inferred resources rise to 9.6 million metric tons. The estimate incorporates new drilling that expanded the resource footprint to the south, as well as sampling data from production wells and a basin-wide hydrological model.

Later in the month, Lithium Argentina released its full 2025 results, confirming its previously announced 2025 lithium production numbers, which were up 34 percent year-over-year and at the high end of guidance.

Average realized prices were approximately US$9,049 per metric ton of lithium carbonate sold in Q4, with cash operating costs of US$5,618 per metric ton sold.

As for Q1 2026, the company expects realized prices to rise to around US$17,000 per metric ton amid improving market conditions. It set full year guidance at 35,000 to 40,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate.

2. Albemarle (NYSE:ALB)

Year-to-date gain: 28.98 percent
Market cap: US$21.85 billion
Share price: US$185.43

North Carolina-based Albemarle is divided into two primary business units, one of which — the Albemarle Energy Storage unit — is focused wholly on the lithium-ion battery and energy transition markets. It includes the firm's lithium carbonate, hydroxide and metal production.

Albemarle has a broad portfolio of lithium mines and facilities, with extraction in Chile, Australia and the US. Looking first at Chile, Albemarle produces lithium carbonate at its La Negra lithium conversion plants, which process brine from the Salar de Atacama, the country’s largest salt flat. Albemarle is aiming to implement direct lithium extraction technology at the salt flat to reduce water usage.

Albemarle’s Australian lithium operations include the Wodgina hard-rock lithium mine in Western Australia, which is owned and operated by the 50/50 MARBL joint venture with Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTCPL:MALRF). Albemarle wholly owns the on-site Kemerton lithium hydroxide facility. The company’s other Australian joint venture is the Greenbushes hard-rock lithium mine, in which it holds a 49 percent interest.

In late October, Albemarle signed an agreement to sell a 51 percent stake in its refining catalyst business, Ketjen, leaving it with 49 percent ownership. This was part of a broader portfolio reshaping that also includes the sale of Ketjen's 50 percent stake in the Eurecat joint venture to partner Axens, which it went on to close in January for US$123 million cash.

According to its Q4 2025 results released on February 11, Albemarle’s sales rose 16 percent to US$1.4 billion, thanks to a 12 percent sales volume jump led by energy storage and Ketjen. Its energy storage segment sales reached US$759.1 million in Q4, up 23.1 percent year over year.

Full-year 2025 cash from operations hit US$1.3 billion, with free cash flow at US$692 million after capital expenditures dropped 65 percent.

In early February, Albemarle idled the remaining operating lithium hydroxide train at Kemerton, placing it into care and maintenance. The company had previously idled Train 2 and paused expansion plans for Train 3 and 4 at Kemerton in 2024, amid the market downturn.

"Unfortunately, recent lithium price improvements alone are not enough to offset the challenges facing Western hard-rock lithium conversion operations," Albemarle Chairman and CEO Kent Masters said. "This decision improves our financial flexibility and preserves optionality."

Shares of Albemarle rose to a year-to-date high of US$199.56 on February 25 alongside a peak in the lithium price. The next day, the company announced a quarterly common stock dividend of US$0.405 per share payable on April 1.

In early March, Albemarle completed the sale of a controlling stake in its Ketjen refining catalyst business to KPS Capital Partners, keeping a 49 percent interest. Combined with the Eurecat joint venture sale in January 2026, the deals brought in roughly US$670 million in pre-tax proceeds, which Albemarle plans to use for debt reduction and general corporate purposes.

Shortly after, Albemarle successfully completed the dewatering of the open pit at the Kings Mountain Mine lithium project in North Carolina, US, allowing it to progress technical studies.

3. Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ:SGML,TSXV:SGML)

Year-to-date gain: 28.24 percent
Market cap: US$1.94 billion
Share price: US$17.39

Sigma Lithium is a Brazil-focused lithium producer supplying chemical-grade lithium concentrate to the global battery market. The company operates the Grota do Cirilo project in Minas Gerais, one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium operations.

Sigma’s mine and greentech industrial lithium plant currently have the capacity to produce about 270,000 metric tons per year of lithium oxide concentrate, equivalent to roughly 38,000 to 40,000 metric tons of LCE. The company is building a second processing plant that is expected to lift total capacity to approximately 520,000 metric tons of concentrate annually.

In September 2025, Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo mine in Brazil faced regulatory scrutiny after prosecutors requested a pause over water-management concerns in its environmental impact assessment.

The company denied any issues but voluntarily paused mining to upgrade equipment and improve efficiency. Operations phased down in September and shut completely in October, causing a sharp drop in output.

While mining was paused, Sigma began processing its existing tailings inventory. In a January 2026 update, Sigma announced the sale of 100,000 metric tons of high-purity lithium fines stored at the Port of Vitoria (Brazil) at Shanghai Metals Market prices, generating approximately US$11 million in net revenue. An additional 850,000 metric tons remained available for sale at its plant.

Later in the month, Sigma sold an additional 100,000 metric tons of high-purity lithium fines.

Following completion of the mine restructuring in Q4 2025, in February, Sigma resumed mining activity at Mine 1.

In the same month, Brazil’s mining regulator, the National Mining Agency (ANM), issued an official technical statement attesting to the safety of Sigma Lithium’s waste piles following an administrative inquiry opened by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment in December. As noted in the press release, the regulator said it found no legal basis to order precautionary measures such as closing the company’s operations or waste piles.

By mid-February Sigma penned another agreement to sell 150,000 metric tons of low-grade lithium fines with 1 percent lithium oxide content at US$140 per metric ton. The deal also includes an option for the buyer to purchase an additional 350,000 metric tons at market prices.

As the first quarter of 2026 closed, Sigma Lithium resumed sales of high-grade lithium oxide, reporting it achieved industrial production cadence, and shared sales projections and milestones.

At the start of April, the company signed an US$100 million collateralized bank guarantee with a major Brazilian bank.

Shares of Sigma Lithium rose to a year-to-date high of US$17.42 on April 13.

Top Australian lithium stocks

1. Patagonia Lithium (ASX:PL3)

Year-to-date gain: 196.61 percent
Market cap: AU$36.24 million
Share price: AU$0.175

Patagonia Lithium is a South America-focused exploration company with lithium and rare earth assets.

The company holds two major lithium brine projects located in Northern Argentina: the Formentera/Cilon projects in Salar de Jama, in Jujuy province, covering 19,500 hectares, and Tomas III at Incahuasi Salar in the Salta province, covering 580 hectares.

In Brazil, the company has been granted five exploration concession packages totaling 41,746 hectares, where it is exploring for ionic rare earth element clays, niobium, antimony and lithium in pegmatites.

In July 2025, Patagonia significantly upgraded the JORC resource at its Formentera project, increasing its inferred and indicated lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) resources by 319 percent to 551,400 tonnes.

The increase is driven by a higher lithium metal estimate, which grew to 103,000 tonnes from 32,000 tonnes in early 2025, alongside improved project metrics. Specific yield — a key measure for brine extraction — rose to 11.85 percent from 4.8 percent.

In January 2026, Patagonia penned a strategic partnership agreement with resource investment firm AMEEREX (OTCID:HIRU), which will act as a capital sponsor and receive a 10 percent equity stake. Ameerex cited the economic potential of the Formentera asset as a catalyst for the deal.

Patagonia spent the bulk of Q1 2026 with ongoing work at its Formentera lithium brine project, including pump testing and multiple surveys.

It is also submitting its application for a 1,000 tonne capacity direct lithium extraction demonstration plant using Ekosolve technology. Pilot plant tests achieved recovery rates above 92 percent.

On April 7, Patagonia reported strong porosity results from testing at its JAM 25-05 well. Executive Chairman Phillip Thomas said the results indicate a larger aquifer, which could expand the project’s mineral resource estimate.

Two days later, the company released results from its BMR gamma survey at well six, with porosity averaging 22 percent across 462 metres, with a peak of 39 percent, and specific yield averaging 8 percent with a peak of 31 percent. "These results confirm the outstanding flow rates and lay the foundation for the production well hydrology," Thomas said.

Shares of Patagonia rose to a year-to-date high of AU$0.23 on March 31, 2026, coinciding with a widespread uptick in lithium prices.

2. European Lithium (ASX:EUR,OTCQB:EULIF)

Year-to-date gain: 51.61 percent
Market cap: AU$411.89 million
Share price: AU$0.23

European Lithium is an Australia-based lithium exploration and development company. The company also holds several earlier-stage lithium exploration projects across Austria and a 100 percent interest in the Leinster lithium project in Ireland.

European Lithium is also pursuing 20 year special permits for the extraction and production of lithium at the Shevchenkivske project and Dobra project in Ukraine.

In addition, European Lithium owns a significant equity stake in Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML), which it spun out in 2024 to operate the Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria. Wolfsberg benefits from established road and rail infrastructure and is supported by a mining license and a broad package of exploration permits. Critical Metals has since acquired a stake in the Tanbreez rare earth project in Greenland, giving European Lithium exposure to both lithium and rare earth development in Europe.

The company sold portions of its holding in Critical Metals during 2025 to raise funds as Critical Metals' share price rose.

European Lithium started 2026 with the sale of an additional 5 million ordinary shares of Critical Metals. The sale will generate net proceeds of approximately AU$124 million, increasing the company's cash reserves to AU$322 million.

Days later, on January 22, shares of European Lithium rallied to a year-to-date high of AU$0.305.

At the end of March, European Lithium initiated a share-buy-back that will run from April 15 to October 15, 2026.

3. Galan Lithium (ASX:GLN,OTCPL:GLNLF)

Year-to-date gain: 31.25 percent
Market cap: AU$520.48 million
Share price: AU$0.42

Galan Lithium is a lithium development business on the verge of entering production. Galan is advancing its two lithium brine projects, Hombre Muerto West (HMW) and Candelas, located on the Hombre Muerto Salar in Argentina, and its Greenbushes South pegmatite project in Western Australia.

On January 23, Galan announced two formal appointments: Ofer Amir, founder of the Clean Elements Fund, joined its board as a non-executive director, and Katherine Garvey was appointed as the new company secretary.

Company shares reached a year-to-date high of AU$0.47 coinciding with the release of the news after climbing over several days.

At the end of the month, Galan received commitments for a AU$40 million institutional placement at a cost of AU$0.41 per share. Participants included major shareholder Clean Elements Fund.

Proceeds from the raising, together with existing cash reserves, would be used to complete construction of HMW Phase 1 and expand its production capacity from 4,000 to 5,200 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), as well as for exploration at Greenbushes South and working capital.

As of April 1, Galan has completed Phase 1 construction at the HMW project, noting all major processing infrastructure, including a nanofiltration plant, has been installed. The project is now entering testing and commissioning.

Production is set to begin at a rate of 4,000 tonnes per annum of LCE. Galan has an existing brine inventory of approximately 10,000 tonnes LCE ready for processing by the end of April.

First lithium chloride concentrate is targeted for the first half of 2026, with the initial shipment planned for the second half of the year. The expansion to 5,200 tonnes is expected to be online in the first half of the 2027 calendar year.

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