IAF vs FIXD: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
FIXD comes out ahead on 6 of 10 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $13,962 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
IAF vs FIXD side by side
| IAF leads on 4, FIXD on 6 | IAFiShares Core Composite Bond ETF | FIXDCoolabah Active Composite Bond Complex ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index | Benchmark: Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index |
| Fund manager | iShares | Coolabah |
| Asset class | Australian bonds | Australian bonds |
| Listed | Mar 2012 | Jun 2021 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.10%✓ | 0.30% |
| AUMfund size | $3.7bn✓ | $843m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | −$15m | $2.5m✓ |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.02%✓ | 0.10% |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | −0.7%✓ | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −0.4% | −0.0%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | +3.4% | +5.1%✓ |
| 5 years p.a. | −0.2% | +1.2%✓ |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $9,960 | $9,996✓ |
| 5 years ago | $9,912 | $10,609✓ |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into IAF 5 years ago is worth $9,912 today, against $10,609 in FIXD. That is $697 more in FIXD.
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.
What the fees cost you
IAF's lower fee leaves about $13,962 more in your pocket over 20 years.
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.
IAF and FIXD overlap
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 IAF | % of FIXD |
|---|---|---|
| 100.00% | 100.00% |
Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs →
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.
Get the full IAF vs FIXD report
- 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
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, IAF or FIXD?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers IAF wins on 4 measures and FIXD on 6. IAF is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.10% vs 0.30%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $13,962. IAF is the larger fund at $3.7bn vs $843m. FIXD has the better 1-year return: −0.0% vs −0.4%.
Which is cheaper, IAF or FIXD?
IAF charges 0.10% a year and FIXD charges 0.30% a year.
Can I hold both IAF and FIXD?
You can, but check how much they overlap. IAF is a Australian bonds fund and FIXD is a Australian bonds fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.