Every International Shares ETF on the ASX: The Complete Guide

Data source: CBOE Australia Monthly Funds Report, February 2026. AUM figures reflect February 2026 month-end balances. Return figures are total returns in AUD. A "—" indicates the fund either lacks sufficient history or reported a zero/null return.

No fund manager wrote this article. No issuer is paying for placement. This is a data-driven, impartial guide to every international equity ETF listed on the ASX.

Combined, these funds hold approximately $120 billion in international equities. The cheapest charges 0.03% per year (VTS); the most expensive charges 1.89% (ISLM). That is a 63× gap in cost for what is, at its core, the same job: owning a diversified slice of global equity markets.

This guide covers every single one, organised into 28 categories. If you want context on whether international exposure belongs in your portfolio at all, see our Australian vs Global Shares: 15 Years of ETF Data comparison. For portfolio construction thinking, the 2-ETF portfolio vs core-satellite approach is also worth reading before you start. And if you want to understand how costs compound over time, ETF Fees Ranked breaks down every fund on the ASX by cost.

The chart above shows all 28 sub-categories covered in this guide. The breadth of options is genuinely remarkable — but most investors will only need one or two funds from the first few categories.

The AUM distribution tells the real story: the majority of Australian investor money in international equities sits in broad passive funds (VGS, BGBL, IVV, VTS) and global active managers. The thematic and country-specific funds, despite generating the most headlines, represent a small fraction of total assets.

1. US Shares — S&P 500 & Broad Market

The S&P 500 is the most tracked equity index in the world, and Australian investors have no shortage of ways to access it. This category includes S&P 500 trackers, total US market funds, S&P small and mid-cap funds, equal-weight variants, and two brand-new Vanguard launches.

V500 and V5AH launched on 4 March 2026 and are too new for meaningful AUM or return data. See New ETFs 2026 for coverage of recent launches.

Commentary: IVV ($12.6B AUM, 0.04% MER) is the largest S&P 500 fund on the ASX by a wide margin, and it is the right choice for most investors. VTS is technically the cheapest at 0.03% but tracks the broader US total market rather than just the S&P 500. The new V500 at 0.07% adds a third Vanguard option specifically targeting the S&P 500. For hedged exposure, IHVV returned 17.8% over the past year vs IVV's 3.5% — reflecting the AUD's depreciation working against unhedged returns. Equal-weight fans have QUS (0.29%) and its hedged version HQUS (0.32%). GDX delivered the most eye-catching performance this year, but for core S&P 500 exposure, size and cost should be the deciding factors.

2. US Shares — Nasdaq & Tech

The Nasdaq 100 category captures the largest non-financial US technology and growth companies. BetaShares' NDQ dominates by AUM, but Global X's FANG offers a more concentrated tech bet, and several newer entrants have entered with lower fees.

Commentary: NDQ at $7.2B AUM is the de facto standard for Australian investors wanting Nasdaq exposure. Its hedged version HNDQ returned 20.3% vs NDQ's 6.0% over the past year, again reflecting AUD weakness amplifying returns for hedged holders. FANG ($1.3B) concentrates into just the "Magnificent Seven" plus a few others — higher risk, higher potential reward, and it holds a 5-year return of 115.2%. U100 at 0.18% is the cheapest Nasdaq 100 option available. QNDQ applies equal weighting to all 100 Nasdaq constituents, reducing mega-cap concentration. JNDQ covers the "next generation" Nasdaq 100 companies — the 100 below the top tier.

3. Global Shares — Broad Passive

This is the category that most long-term passive investors should spend most of their time in. These funds provide diversified exposure to developed market equities across the US, Europe, Japan, and other developed economies.

Commentary: VGS ($14.4B AUM) is the largest international equity ETF on the ASX and the default choice for most Australian investors wanting broad developed market exposure. BGBL at 0.08% MER is significantly cheaper and has grown to $3.5B AUM since its launch — making it a genuine low-cost challenger. We cover the VGS vs BGBL decision in detail in our VGS vs BGBL comparison. WXOZ at 0.07% MER is the cheapest option in this category, tracking the S&P World ex Australia Carbon Aware index. IOO takes a different approach, tracking just the 100 largest global companies — it delivered 12.2% over 1 year and 127.9% over 5 years, benefiting from mega-cap concentration. WRLD adds a managed-risk overlay.

4. Global ex-US / EAFE

These funds intentionally exclude the United States, providing targeted exposure to developed markets in Europe, Asia, and Australasia. They are most useful as a complement to a US-heavy portfolio, or for investors who believe non-US developed markets offer better relative value.

Commentary: VEU at $5.5B AUM is a giant in this category — it returned 21.9% over 1 year and 65.5% over 5 years, benefiting from strength in European and Asian equity markets. IVE tracks the MSCI EAFE index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) and at 0.32% is more expensive than VEU's 0.07%. EXUS is BetaShares' newer ex-US offering at 0.14%.

5. Hedged vs Unhedged — A Dedicated Analysis

Currency hedging is one of the most consequential choices an international ETF investor makes, yet many investors ignore it entirely. The past 12 months have provided a live case study: the AUD fell against the USD, meaning unhedged international funds underperformed their hedged equivalents by roughly 14–16 percentage points.

The comparison is stark across every major category:

• VGS (unhedged): +7.1% vs VGAD (hedged): +19.9%

• IVV (unhedged): +3.5% vs IHVV (hedged): +17.8%

• NDQ (unhedged): +6.0% vs HNDQ (hedged): +20.3%

This outperformance by hedged funds in the past 12 months reflects a specific market condition — a weakening AUD. When the AUD strengthens, the relationship reverses entirely. Over longer periods, currency movements tend to cancel out. There is also a cost to hedging: hedged funds typically carry slightly higher MERs (usually 0.02–0.05% more), and there is a "cost of carry" embedded in rolling forward contracts.

For a detailed breakdown of when to use each approach and the hidden costs involved, read our Hedged vs Unhedged ETFs guide. The short answer: if you have a long time horizon (10+ years), unhedged exposure tends to work out. If you are within 5 years of needing the money, hedging reduces volatility meaningfully.

6. Global Shares — Active / Managed

This is the largest category in this guide by number of funds. Over 50 active international equity managers have listed as ETFs on the ASX, ranging from household names like Magellan and Hyperion to boutiques like Lanyon and GCQ. For context on how active managers stack up against passive peers over time, see our Active vs Passive ETFs analysis.

Commentary: The Dimensional funds (DGCE, DFGH) are the largest active managers by AUM after Magellan, and their 0.36% MER makes them the cheapest active options in this table (excluding MQEG at 0.08%, an outlier). MQEG — Macquarie's Core Global Equity fund — is remarkable: 0.08% MER for an active strategy, blending systematic factor exposures with active risk management.

The standout performer over the past 12 months was LNYN (Lanyon Investment Fund, +36.9%), followed by T8EV (+42.4%) — which is technically a sector/energy-focused thematic — and PGA1 (Plato Global Alpha, +25.1%). At the other end, several high-profile tech-focused active funds underperformed badly: HYGG (Hyperion, -9.1%), MKAX (Montaka Extension, -17.2%), MOGL (Montaka Global, -14.5%), CGUN (Claremont, -17.4%).

Magellan's flagship MGOC ($5.4B) returned -5.5% over 1 year, but its 5-year return of 52.7% reflects the compounding damage from its 2021–22 blow-up period. ISLM (Hejaz Equities) is notable as the most expensive fund in this entire guide at 1.89% MER, offering Shariah-compliant global equity exposure.

7. Global Factor & Smart Beta

Factor investing — sometimes called smart beta — targets specific return premiums: quality, value, momentum, minimum volatility, and small companies. These are systematic, rules-based strategies that sit between passive and active on the spectrum.

Commentary: QUAL ($8.1B AUM) is the largest factor ETF on the ASX by a large margin and has earned it — its 5-year return of 100.2% exceeds many broad market alternatives. QMIX at 0.18% MER is the cheapest in this table and blends quality, value, and low-volatility factors. The big story in this category is value: IVHG (iShares World Value Hedged, +46.6% 1Y) and HVLU (VanEck International Value Hedged, +39.8% 1Y) dramatically outperformed quality-focused funds, reflecting the rotation from growth to value in global markets.

QSML and QHSM provide quality-screened small-company exposure globally — useful for investors wanting factor diversification beyond just large-cap quality. VISM tracks the full international small-company universe without a quality screen at a lower cost of 0.32%.

8. Global ESG & Ethical

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) screens are now available across nearly every major index. This category ranges from broad ESG exclusions (IWLD, VESG) to dedicated sustainability leaders (ETHI) to active sustainable equity managers.

Commentary: ETHI ($3.6B AUM) is the dominant ESG fund on the ASX, but its -4.0% 1-year return highlights a key risk: ETHI significantly overweights US tech, meaning it underperformed when tech sold off. IWLD at 0.09% MER and VESG at 0.18% offer cheap, broad ESG exposure with more balanced sector weights. IHWL is the hedged equivalent of IWLD and returned 20.9% over 1 year. Active ESG managers XASG (-4.5%) and CGHE (-8.7%) struggled. For investors looking at a diversified ESG portfolio, pairing IWLD or VESG for international with an Australian ESG fund provides cost-efficient coverage.

9. Global Sector (Healthcare, Tech, Banks, Consumer Staples, Biotech)

Sector ETFs allow investors to overweight specific industries within the global equity universe. This category covers the sector-focused international funds that do not fit neatly into country or thematic buckets.

Commentary: The standout in this category is BNKS (Global Banks Currency Hedged), which returned 39.5% over 1 year and 121.5% over 5 years — driven by the global interest rate cycle benefiting bank earnings. CURE (S&P Biotech, +27.1%) also had a strong year. Healthcare has lagged: IXJ returned -3.8% and DRUG returned +5.9%. TECH (Global Technology) had a difficult year at -15.5%, reflecting rotation away from growth stocks. Global sector funds require active conviction — they introduce significant concentration risk.

10. Global Infrastructure & Property

Infrastructure and listed property (REITs) are distinct asset classes that many investors allocate to separately from equities. This category is larger than many realise — the Lazard fund alone holds $3.1B in AUM.

Commentary: Infrastructure attracted significant capital despite modest returns. GIFL (Lazard Global Listed Infrastructure, $3.1B) is the dominant active infrastructure fund and returned +32.3% over 1 year — outperforming most passive peers. IFRA (VanEck, 0.20% MER, +21.1%) and GLIN (iShares, 0.15% MER, +21.2%) are the cheapest passive options. REIT (VanEck International Property Hedged, 0.20%) provides hedged global REIT exposure. RCAP ($2.2B, Resolution Capital) is the largest active listed property fund. TOLL at 0.14% MER is the cheapest infrastructure fund in this category.

11. Global Dividend & Income

Dividend-focused international ETFs target companies with above-average yield. The category is small on the ASX relative to the domestic dividend ETF universe.

Commentary: WDIV (State Street S&P Global Dividend, $363M) returned 18.1% over 1 year and 66.0% over 5 years — a solid result for a dividend strategy. INCM (BetaShares S&P Global High Dividend Aristocrats, $85M) returned 4.7% over 1 year but 83.3% over 5 years. The global dividend category on the ASX is underdeveloped relative to the domestic equivalent — investors wanting high-yield exposure may be better served by the domestic dividend ETF universe, covered in our High Dividend Income ETFs guide.

12. Covered Call / Yield Maximiser

Covered call ETFs write options over their underlying equity holdings to generate additional income, at the cost of capping upside participation. These are complex products that trade total return for higher cash distributions.

Commentary: Every covered call fund in this category produced negative or minimal 1-year returns as the options writing capped participation in the equity rally while dividends were distributed. UMAX (S&P 500 Yield Maximiser, -2.2%) and JEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income, -5.5%) are the two largest. JHPI (JPMorgan hedged, +5.7%) and JHGA (JPMorgan Global hedged, +7.7%) were exceptions, benefiting from AUD depreciation via the hedge. These funds suit income-focused investors who prioritise regular cashflow over total return — but they are not suitable as core equity holdings.

13. Thematic — Defence

Defence ETFs were one of the best-performing thematic categories in the past 12 months, driven by increased global defence spending following geopolitical events in Europe and Asia. For a broader look at all thematic categories, see our Thematic ETFs in Australia guide.

Commentary: All three defence ETFs delivered exceptional 1-year returns: DTEC (+57.1%), DFND (+54.0%), and ARMR (+47.7%). DTEC focuses specifically on defence technology companies, while DFND and ARMR are broader defence contractors. DTEC at 0.50% MER is the cheapest. Investors should be aware that past 12-month returns reflect extraordinary conditions — geopolitical risk is not a permanent return premium.

14. Thematic — AI, Robotics & Semiconductors

Artificial intelligence and semiconductor ETFs have split into distinct performance camps. Semiconductor exposure (SEMI) surged; robotics (RBTZ, ROBO) and AI software (GXAI) lagged.

Commentary: SEMI (Global X Semiconductor, +67.9% 1Y, $561M) was the standout thematic performer globally, driven by the AI chip cycle. GXAI (+13.4%) tracks pure-play AI companies. RBTZ (+7.7%) and ROBO (+22.5%) track robotics and automation — ROBO had a strong year. AINF (AI Infrastructure) is the newest of these funds with no return history yet. Semiconductors are a highly cyclical industry — SEMI's extraordinary year may not repeat.

15. Thematic — Cybersecurity

Commentary: HACK (BetaShares Global Cybersecurity, $1.1B) had a difficult year at -15.6%, as many cybersecurity software companies de-rated despite strong underlying demand. Its 5-year return of 60.6% reflects the longer-term growth story. BUGG (Global X, -33.3%) has struggled badly since launch and holds only $10M in AUM — liquidity risk is a real concern for small thematic funds.

16. Thematic — Clean Energy & Climate

Clean energy and climate-transition ETFs had a challenging few years due to rising interest rates (long-duration growth assets), supply chain disruptions, and the end of many government subsidy programmes. Recent 12-month returns suggest a partial recovery.

Commentary: HGEN (Global X Hydrogen) was the standout at +99.0% over 1 year — an extreme move from a small-cap, highly speculative sector. CLNE (VanEck Clean Energy, +56.2%) also had a strong recovery. MCCL (Munro Climate Change Leaders, +33.8%) is the largest fund in this category at $179M AUM and takes an active approach to identifying climate beneficiaries. ERTH (BetaShares, +13.0%) and DRIV (Electric Vehicles, +17.5%) are the passive options. Caution: single-year returns in clean energy have been volatile in both directions.

17. Thematic — Other

This catch-all category includes global disruption funds, gaming and esports, agriculture, private equity, fintech, and cloud computing.

Commentary: LPGD (Loftus Peak Global Disruption, $691M, +4.3% 1Y, +93.4% 5Y) is the largest and most established fund in this group — it invests in companies driving digital disruption and has produced impressive long-term returns. FOOD (BetaShares Agriculture, +36.3% 1Y) and ESPO (VanEck Video Gaming, -5.4% 1Y) highlight the breadth of what sits in this bucket. CLDD (Cloud Computing) at -30.1% 1Y and -22.2% 5Y is one of the worst-performing ETFs in the entire international universe. GPEQ (VanEck Global Listed Private Equity, -22.7%) also struggled. Thematic ETFs require conviction in a multi-year structural story — not a 1-year trade.

18. Commodity Producers & Resources

These funds invest in listed companies that produce commodities — gold miners, copper miners, uranium producers, lithium companies, and energy stocks. They are not the same as physical commodity ETFs; they are equity investments with operational leverage to commodity prices.

For coverage of physical gold and precious metal ETFs, see our Gold ETFs Guide.

Commentary: This has been the top-performing category in the entire international ETF universe over the past 12 months. MNRS (BetaShares Global Gold Miners Hedged, +188.5%) and GDX (VanEck Gold Miners, +155.6%) reflect the extraordinary surge in gold prices. GMTL (Global X Green Metal Miners, +108.5%), ACDC (Battery Tech & Lithium, +76.1%), and WIRE (Copper Miners, +121.4%) have also benefited from the energy transition demand story. URNM (Uranium, +94.1%) and ATOM (Global X Uranium, +101.4%) both delivered triple-digit returns. These performance figures are extraordinary — but resource producer ETFs are highly cyclical and carry significant downside in commodity down cycles.

19. Asia (Broad & Tech)

Pan-Asian ETFs provide exposure to multiple Asian markets within a single fund. This includes both broad market and tech-focused approaches.

Commentary: IAA (iShares Asia 50, $1.4B, +45.9% 1Y) and ASIA (BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers, $1.1B, +50.9% 1Y) both delivered exceptional 1-year returns driven by China and Taiwan tech recovery and South Korea outperformance. PAXX (Platinum Asia, +30.2%) takes an active approach. The Asia category broadly outperformed most developed market equivalents in the past year.

20. China

China ETFs experienced a sharp divergence in 2024–25: broad China funds lagged due to structural concerns, while more targeted tech-focused approaches recovered.

Commentary: EMXC (iShares EM Ex-China, +44.4%) deliberately excludes China and has outperformed substantially — a useful tool for investors who want EM exposure without China exposure. IZZ (iShares China Large-Cap, -5.3% 1Y, -8.9% 5Y) reflects the ongoing challenges facing Chinese large-cap equities. CETF (VanEck A50, -9.4% 5Y) similarly struggled. CNEW (VanEck China New Economy, +13.2%) targets new economy sectors and has fared better over 1 year. DRGN (Global X China Tech) is a newer entry with no return history yet.

21. India

India has been one of the strongest equity markets globally over the medium term, though valuations are elevated. Several new India-focused funds have launched in recent years.

Commentary: Both IIND (BetaShares India Quality, -4.8%) and NDIA (Global X Nifty 50, -6.7%) had a weak 12 months as Indian markets pulled back from elevated valuations — but NDIA's 5-year return of 41.6% reflects the longer structural story. IIND applies a quality screen to Indian equities at a 0.80% MER. GRIN, IAEF, and FIIN are newer, smaller funds still building AUM. India remains a compelling long-term growth story for investors willing to accept higher valuations and operational complexity.

22. Japan

Japan has staged a significant equity market revival, aided by corporate governance reforms, yen weakness benefiting exporters, and strong earnings growth.

Commentary: HJPN (BetaShares Japan Hedged, +54.8% 1Y, +123.6% 5Y) has been one of the best-performing country ETFs on the ASX over both time periods. The hedge component has been critical: the yen has weakened substantially, meaning unhedged Japan investors gave back significant return. IJP (iShares MSCI Japan, +23.6%) is the unhedged equivalent. VAE (Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan, +28.1%) provides the complementary ex-Japan regional exposure. J100 (Global X Japan Topix 100) is a newer entrant.

23. Korea

South Korea is often accessible as part of broader Asia or EM funds, but iShares offers a dedicated vehicle.

Commentary: IKO (iShares MSCI South Korea, +148.2% 1Y, +103.1% 5Y) has been one of the single best-performing ETFs on the entire ASX over the past 12 months. The return reflects Samsung and other Korean tech companies' extraordinary performance as beneficiaries of global semiconductor and AI demand. Single-country ETFs carry high concentration risk.

24. Europe

European equities had a strong year, supported by corporate earnings resilience and some re-rating of valuations that had been deeply discounted relative to US equivalents.

Commentary: All four European ETFs delivered solid 1-year returns in the 15–17% range, reflecting European equity market strength. IEU (iShares Europe, $934M) is the largest. VEQ (Vanguard FTSE Europe, $570M, 0.35%) and ESTX (Global X Euro Stoxx 50, $462M, 0.35%) offer lower-cost alternatives. HEUR (BetaShares Europe Hedged, +16.9%) provides currency hedging at 0.56%.

25. UK

The FTSE 100 has been one of the better-performing major indices globally over the past two years, aided by its heavy weighting in resources, energy, and financials.

Commentary: F100 (BetaShares FTSE 100, $442M, +19.9% 1Y, +94.3% 5Y) has been a strong performer and represents reasonable value at 0.45% MER. H100 is the hedged version (+25.7% 1Y) at 0.48% MER. The FTSE 100's relative outperformance versus the S&P 500 in recent years reflects its traditional sector composition — the UK market is not dominated by technology.

26. Emerging Markets

Emerging markets as a whole rebounded strongly over the past 12 months after years of underperformance versus developed markets. The category spans broad EM passive trackers, factor-enhanced EM funds, and active EM managers.

Commentary: VGE (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets, $1.8B, +15.9% 1Y) and IEM (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets, $1.6B, +30.0% 1Y) are the two dominant funds. EMKT (VanEck MSCI Multifactor EM, +36.8% 1Y, +87.8% 5Y) has been the standout EM performer, with its factor tilts towards quality and value paying off. FEMX (Fidelity Global Emerging Markets, +27.0% 1Y) is the active option. Newer entrants BEMG (BetaShares, 0.35% MER) and WEMG (State Street Carbon Aware, 0.35% MER) offer cheaper alternatives.

27. Geared / Inverse / Complex

Geared (leveraged) and inverse ETFs are complex products that use derivatives to amplify returns or provide inverse exposure. They are designed for sophisticated investors with specific short-term tactical views. For a full explanation of how these products work, see our Leveraged ETFs Guide.

Considering a geared strategy as a long-term wealth builder? GHHF is also covered in our VDHG vs DHHF vs GHHF comparison.

Commentary: GGUS (BetaShares Geared US Equity Hedged, $354M, +20.7% 1Y, +107.5% 5Y) is the largest leveraged fund on the ASX and applies approximately 2× leverage to the US equity market in AUD-hedged form. GHHF (BetaShares WealthBuilder All Growth Geared, $250M) is a geared version of a diversified multi-asset approach — geared with a target leverage of approximately 1.5×.

Inverse funds destroyed wealth in the most recent 12 months: BBUS (-37.7% 1Y) and SNAS (-34.8% 1Y) are short US equities and suffered as markets rose. These funds are not buy-and-hold investments. GGBL (WealthBuilder Global Geared) is a newer geared global shares product.

Warning: Geared and inverse ETFs use daily rebalancing, which introduces "volatility decay" — losses that compound faster than gains over time. Never use inverse or ultra-leveraged ETFs as long-term holdings.

28. Crypto (Blockchain & Digital Asset Adjacent)

Crypto-related equity ETFs invest in listed companies with exposure to cryptocurrency infrastructure rather than holding crypto directly.

Commentary: CRYP (BetaShares Crypto Innovators, $168M, +11.9% 1Y) invests in crypto exchange operators, miners, and infrastructure companies — not in Bitcoin or Ethereum directly. Note: physical crypto ETFs (EBTC, EETH) are classified as commodity products rather than equity ETFs and are not included in this guide.

Key Takeaways

After covering all 230+ international ETFs on the ASX, the data points to several clear conclusions:

🏆The cheapest options:

• Cheapest US broad market: VTS (0.03%)

• Cheapest S&P 500: IVV (0.04%)

• Cheapest global broad: WXOZ (0.07%) and BGBL (0.08%)

• Cheapest active global: MQEG (0.08%)

• Cheapest factor: QMIX (0.18%)

• Most expensive: ISLM (1.89%), a 63× cost gap from the cheapest

🏆Best performers (1 year):

• Commodity producers dominated: MNRS (+188.5%), GDX (+155.6%), IKO (+148.2%), WIRE (+121.4%)

• Defence: DTEC (+57.1%), DFND (+54.0%), ARMR (+47.7%)

• Asia: ASIA (+50.9%), IAA (+45.9%)

• Value factor: IVHG (+46.6%), HVLU (+39.8%)

🏆Worst performers (1 year):

• Inverse/geared: BBUS (-37.7%), SNAS (-34.8%)

• Cybersecurity: BUGG (-33.3%)

• Cloud computing: CLDD (-30.1%)

• Active funds: CGUN (-17.4%), MKAX (-17.2%), MOGL (-14.5%)

🏆Biggest categories by AUM:

1. Global Broad Passive — $33B+ (VGS, BGBL, VGAD, IOO, HGBL, etc.)

2. US S&P 500 & Broad Market — $25B+ (IVV, VTS, IHVV, etc.)

3. Global Active / Managed — $20B+ (MGOC, DGCE, DFGH, HYGG, etc.)

4. Global Factor — $18B+ (QUAL, QHAL, QSML, etc.)

5. US Nasdaq — $10B+ (NDQ, FANG, HNDQ, etc.)

🏆Key trends to watch:

• The fee war continues: new entrants BGBL, WXOZ, and MQEG have put pressure on legacy funds to justify their costs. See our ETF Fees Ranked article for the full picture.

• Active vs passive: the 1-year data strongly favours passive — most active global managers underperformed broad market benchmarks. The 5-year data is more nuanced. Full analysis in our Active vs Passive ETFs guide.

• Currency matters more than many investors realise: hedged funds outperformed unhedged by 14–16 percentage points in the past year as AUD weakened.

• Thematic returns are binary: 12-month returns ranged from +188.5% (gold miners) to -33.3% (cybersecurity). The volatility is real.

• Commodity producers have produced extraordinary short-term returns — but they are cyclical, not structural.

For the best-performing ETFs across all categories, see our Best Performing ETFs 2026 guide. For help deciding between ETFs and direct share ownership, see ETF vs Direct Shares: What the Data Says.

Start Here

If you are new to international equity ETFs and want to keep it simple:

• Core global exposure: BGBL (0.08% MER, $3.5B AUM) or VGS (0.18% MER, $14.4B AUM)

• US only: IVV (0.04% MER, $12.6B AUM) or VTS (0.03% MER, $6.1B AUM)

• All-in-one diversified: VDHG, DHHF, or GHHF — see our VDHG vs DHHF vs GHHF guide

For personalised ETF guidance, visit ETF Adviser or explore the full ETF database at ReviewETF.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consider your own financial situation, objectives, and risk tolerance before making investment decisions. Consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser. ReviewETF.com.au is not a financial product advice provider.

Sources

• CBOE Australia Monthly Funds Report, February 2026

• Fund issuer product disclosure statements and websites:

  • Vanguard Australia

  • BetaShares

  • iShares (BlackRock)

  • VanEck Australia

  • Global X ETFs Australia

  • State Street SPDR ETFs

  • Dimensional Fund Advisors

  • Magellan Financial Group

  • Hyperion Asset Management

  • Platinum Asset Management

• ReviewETF.com.au — Full ETF Database