βš”οΈ Head to head

HBRD vs DIFF: Which ETF Is Better?

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

It is a dead heat: 3 measures each. Which matters most depends on you.

Underneath, they are 100% the same. With holdings this similar, the fee and size are usually what separate them.

The short answer

πŸ’ΈLower feeHBRD wins
HBRD
0.55%
DIFF
0.59%

Worth about $2,614 on $100,000 over 20 years.

🏦Bigger fundHBRD wins
HBRD
$2.5bn
DIFF
$335m

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

πŸ“ˆ1-year returnDIFF wins
HBRD
+4.4%
DIFF
+5.2%
πŸ“Š3-year returnToo close to call
HBRD
+5.1% a yr
DIFF
–
🏁5-year returnToo close to call
HBRD
+4.0% a yr
DIFF
–
βš–οΈCheaper to tradeToo close to call
HBRD
0.10%
DIFF
0.10%

HBRD vs DIFF side by side

HBRD leads on 3, DIFF on 3HBRDBetashares Australian Credit Income Active ETFDIFFPerpetual Diversified Income Active ETF
The basics
Index trackedSee the PDSBenchmark: Bloomberg AusBond Bank Bill Index
Fund managerBetasharesPerpetual
Asset classAustralian bondsAustralian bonds
ListedNov 2017Aug 2025
Cost and size
MERyearly fee, lower is better0.55%βœ“0.59%
AUMfund size$2.5bnβœ“$335m
Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month$0.3m$9.1mβœ“
Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better0.10%0.10%
Total returns
1 month+0.4%βœ“+0.3%
1 year+4.4%+5.2%βœ“
3 years p.a.+5.1%–
5 years p.a.+4.0%–
$10,000 invested
1 year ago$10,443$10,517βœ“
5 years ago$12,165–

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

HBRD vs DIFF 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 HBRD has a 5 years record: $10,000 then is worth $12,165 today.

HBRDDIFF$10,000 invested
$0k$4k$8k$12k$16k$10.4k$10.5k1 year agoDIFF +$74$11.6ktoo new3 years ago$12.2ktoo 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

HBRD's lower fee leaves about $2,614 more in your pocket over 20 years.

HBRD charges 0.55% a yearDIFF charges 0.59% a year
🧾 Fees paid on $100,000Saving
5 years
HBRD
βˆ’$3,568
DIFF
βˆ’$3,824
You keep$257more with HBRD
10 years
HBRD
βˆ’$9,881
DIFF
βˆ’$10,582
You keep$701more with HBRD
20 years
HBRD
βˆ’$37,898
DIFF
βˆ’$40,512
You keep$2,614more with HBRD

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.

HBRD and DIFF 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 HBRD% of DIFF
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.

Free PDF report

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  • Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
  • Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
  • Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
  • Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
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Joshua Stega
etfadviserExchange traded fund specialist adviser Β· 20 years’ experience
Keep in touch with the marketsWeekly ETF research, the Market Health-O-Meter and our model portfolio.Try it free for 30 days β†’

FAQs

Which is better, HBRD or DIFF?

It depends on what you need. On our numbers HBRD wins on 3 measures and DIFF on 3. HBRD is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.55% vs 0.59%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $2,614. HBRD is the larger fund at $2.5bn vs $335m. DIFF has the better 1-year return: +5.2% vs +4.4%.

Which is cheaper, HBRD or DIFF?

HBRD charges 0.55% a year and DIFF charges 0.59% a year.

Can I hold both HBRD and DIFF?

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