5 Best EV Battery Stocks to Buy in 2026

In this article, we will list the 5 Best EV Battery Stocks to Buy in 2026. Please visit 10 Best EV Battery Stocks to Buy in 2026 if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.

5. Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:SLI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Stock Upside: 50.92%

Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:SLI) is one of the best EV battery stocks to buy in 2026. On April 29, Evercore ISI analyst Eric Boyes initiated coverage on Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:SLI) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $4.75.

The initiation centers on Standard Lithium’s work in direct lithium extraction, or DLE, which is a newer, more efficient method of pulling lithium from brine rather than using traditional evaporation ponds. Boyes noted that Standard Lithium is ahead of peers in demonstrating and refining the DLE process, particularly through its projects in the Smackover Formation in Arkansas.

A major pillar of the analyst’s confidence is Standard Lithium’s strategic partnership with Norwegian energy giant Equinor. Boyes said the partnership brings substantial technical credibility to the project and signals that a serious, well-resourced industry player has bet on the company’s technology and approach.

Adding further validation, the company secured a $225 million grant from the US Department of Energy. This is a substantial federal endorsement that, in Evercore’s view, confirms the economic viability of Standard Lithium’s project and reduces financing risk going forward.

The analyst also noted that Standard Lithium has operated a pilot plant for around half a decade, which has demonstrated more than 95% recovery and over 99% contaminant rejection. This is a key milestone that validates the scalability of the company’s DLE technology ahead of a full commercial build-out, the analyst noted.

Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:SLI) is a lithium development company that supplies lithium for use in EV batteries. The company focuses on extracting and processing lithium from brine resources to produce battery-grade lithium chemicals, including lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.