If I’d bought $5,000 of Core Lithium shares at the start of this financial year, guess how much I’d have now?

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares kicked off the new financial year (1 July) trading for 94 cents apiece.

In early morning trade today, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium stock are swapping hands for $1.42 apiece.

The company doesn’t, as yet, pay any dividends as it works towards first lithium production.

Meaning if I’d bought $5,000 of Core Lithium shares at the start of FY23 I’d be sitting on $7,553 and change today.

A handy $2,553 in less than five months.

That’s a heck of a lot better than the slightly improved interest I’ve been earning from my cash deposit account. Though investing in shares does come with significantly more risk, as shares can certainly post losses as well as gains.

So, how have Core Lithium shares managed to march 51% higher with more than half the new financial year yet to go?

What’s driving ASX 200 investor interest in the lithium stock?

Core Lithium has been a major beneficiary of soaring demand for lithium.

Prices for lithium carbonate have more than doubled over the calendar year as EV makers scramble to secure supplies of the lightweight, conductive metal, a critical component in the batteries that power their vehicles.

Investors have been snapping up Core Lithium shares with an eye on the company’s Finniss Project, located near port of Darwin in the Northern Territory. That project is expected to deliver its first lithium production within the coming months.

The Australian federal government has already awarded Finnis with Major Project Status. And, according to Core Lithium, Finnis is one of the most capital efficient lithium projects and the most advanced lithium project on the ASX.

How have Core Lithium shares been tracking longer-term?

We know investors who bought Core Lithium shares on the first day of the new financial year are sitting on gains of 51% today.

But investors with telescopic foresight who bought shares five years ago will have bagged a gain of… wait for it…1,186%.

The post If I’d bought $5,000 of Core Lithium shares at the start of this financial year, guess how much I’d have now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Three comforting lessons for investors whose portfolio has been smashed versus the surprisingly good return of the ASX 200
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• What $10,000 in ASX lithium shares a year ago would be worth today
• Why Core Lithium, Invictus Energy, New Hope, and Smartgroup shares are sinking
• Why is the Core Lithium share price getting crushed on Thursday?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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