βš”οΈ Head to head

BNDS vs HCRD: Which ETF Is Better?

A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.

HCRD comes out ahead on 5 of 7 measures. Which matters most depends on you.

The big difference is currency. HCRD is currency hedged, so its returns ignore moves in the Australian dollar. BNDS is unhedged: it does better when the dollar falls and worse when it rises.

The short answer

πŸ’ΈLower feeHCRD wins
BNDS
0.42%
HCRD
0.29%

Worth about $8,828 on $100,000 over 20 years.

🏦Bigger fundBNDS wins
BNDS
$836m
HCRD
$365m

Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.

πŸ“ˆ1-year returnHCRD wins
BNDS
βˆ’0.4%
HCRD
+3.6%
πŸ“Š3-year returnHCRD wins
BNDS
+3.7% a yr
HCRD
+6.6% a yr
🏁5-year returnToo close to call
BNDS
βˆ’0.1% a yr
HCRD
–
βš–οΈCheaper to tradeToo close to call
BNDS
0.09%
HCRD
0.09%

BNDS vs HCRD side by side

BNDS leads on 2, HCRD on 5BNDSBetashares Western Asset Aus Bond Active ETFHCRDBetashares Interest Rate Hedged Aus Corp Bond ETF
The basics
Index trackedBenchmark: Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr IndexSee the PDS
Fund managerBetasharesBetashares
Asset classAustralian bondsAustralian bonds
ListedNov 2018Nov 2022
Cost and size
MERyearly fee, lower is better0.42%0.29%βœ“
AUMfund size$836mβœ“$365m
Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month$11mβœ“βˆ’$0.7m
Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better0.09%0.09%
Total returns
1 monthβˆ’0.9%βˆ’0.1%βœ“
1 yearβˆ’0.4%+3.6%βœ“
3 years p.a.+3.7%+6.6%βœ“
5 years p.a.βˆ’0.1%–
$10,000 invested
1 year ago$9,958$10,362βœ“
5 years ago$9,966–

βœ“ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.

BNDS vs HCRD price chart

Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions Β· TradingView

πŸ“ˆ Growth

What $10,000 invested is worth now

Only BNDS has a 5 years record: $10,000 then is worth $9,966 today.

BNDSHCRD$10,000 invested
$0k$4k$8k$12k$16k$10.0k$10.4k1 year agoHCRD +$404$11.2k$12.1k3 years agoHCRD +$975$10.0ktoo new5 years ago

Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

πŸ’Έ Cost

What the fees cost you

HCRD's lower fee leaves about $8,828 more in your pocket over 20 years.

BNDS charges 0.42% a yearHCRD charges 0.29% a year
🧾 Fees paid on $100,000Saving
5 years
BNDS
βˆ’$2,731
HCRD
βˆ’$1,890
You keep$841more with HCRD
10 years
BNDS
βˆ’$7,587
HCRD
βˆ’$5,267
You keep$2,320more with HCRD
20 years
BNDS
βˆ’$29,272
HCRD
βˆ’$20,444
You keep$8,828more with HCRD

Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.

BNDS and HCRD overlap

100%portfolio overlap (very high: holding both adds little diversification)

1 companies appear in both funds. Overlap is the share of the portfolio that is the same in both, counting the smaller weight of each shared company.

Biggest shared holdings% of BNDS% of HCRD
100.00%100.00%

Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs β†’

Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.

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  • Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
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Joshua Stega
etfadviserExchange traded fund specialist adviser Β· 20 years’ experience
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FAQs

Which is better, BNDS or HCRD?

It depends on what you need. On our numbers BNDS wins on 2 measures and HCRD on 5. HCRD is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.29% vs 0.42%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $8,828. BNDS is the larger fund at $836m vs $365m. HCRD has the better 1-year return: +3.6% vs βˆ’0.4%.

Which is cheaper, BNDS or HCRD?

BNDS charges 0.42% a year and HCRD charges 0.29% a year.

Can I hold both BNDS and HCRD?

You can, but check how much they overlap. BNDS is a Australian bonds fund and HCRD is a Australian bonds fund.

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Add more ETFs to this comparison β†’

General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.