βš”οΈ Head to head

IHVV vs UMAX: Which ETF Is Better?

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

IHVV comes out ahead on 9 of 10 measures. Which matters most depends on you.

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

The short answer

πŸ’ΈLower feeIHVV wins
IHVV
0.10%
UMAX
0.79%

Worth about $46,136 on $100,000 over 20 years.

🏦Bigger fundIHVV wins
IHVV
$4.3bn
UMAX
$331m

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

πŸ“ˆ1-year returnIHVV wins
IHVV
+15.4%
UMAX
+8.9%
πŸ“Š3-year returnIHVV wins
IHVV
+21.0% a yr
UMAX
+13.4% a yr
🏁5-year returnIHVV wins
IHVV
+10.9% a yr
UMAX
+9.4% a yr
βš–οΈCheaper to tradeIHVV wins
IHVV
0.02%
UMAX
0.11%

A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.

IHVV vs UMAX side by side

IHVV leads on 9, UMAX on 1IHVViShares S&P 500 (AUD Hedged) ETFUMAXBetashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser ETF
The basics
Index trackedS&P 500 Index, hedged to AUDNot an index fund: S&P 500 shares with a covered call strategy
Fund manageriSharesBetashares
Asset classInternational sharesInternational shares
ListedDec 2014Sep 2014
Cost and size
MERyearly fee, lower is better0.10%βœ“0.79%
AUMfund size$4.3bnβœ“$331m
Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month$48mβœ“$8.2m
Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better0.02%βœ“0.11%
Total returns
1 month+0.0%+3.0%βœ“
1 year+15.4%βœ“+8.9%
3 years p.a.+21.0%βœ“+13.4%
5 years p.a.+10.9%βœ“+9.4%
$10,000 invested
1 year ago$11,539βœ“$10,888
5 years ago$16,762βœ“$15,680

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

IHVV vs UMAX 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

$10,000 put into IHVV 5 years ago is worth $16,762 today, against $15,680 in UMAX. That is $1,082 more in IHVV.

IHVVUMAX$10,000 invested
$0k$5k$10k$15k$20k$11.5k$10.9k1 year agoIHVV +$651$17.7k$14.6k3 years agoIHVV +$3,126$16.8k$15.7k5 years agoIHVV +$1,082

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

IHVV's lower fee leaves about $46,136 more in your pocket over 20 years.

IHVV charges 0.10% a yearUMAX charges 0.79% a year
🧾 Fees paid on $100,000Saving
5 years
IHVV
βˆ’$654
UMAX
βˆ’$5,102
You keep$4,448more with IHVV
10 years
IHVV
βˆ’$1,831
UMAX
βˆ’$14,051
You keep$12,220more with IHVV
20 years
IHVV
βˆ’$7,169
UMAX
βˆ’$53,305
You keep$46,136more with IHVV

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.

IHVV and UMAX overlap

94%portfolio overlap (very high: holding both adds little diversification)

296 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 IHVV% of UMAX
7.70%7.70%
7.59%7.58%
5.94%5.93%
4.55%4.53%
3.61%3.61%
2.38%2.37%
2.08%2.08%
1.74%1.74%
1.73%1.72%
1.55%1.55%
1.53%1.53%
1.37%1.37%

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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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, IHVV or UMAX?

It depends on what you need. On our numbers IHVV wins on 9 measures and UMAX on 1. IHVV is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.10% vs 0.79%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $46,136. IHVV is the larger fund at $4.3bn vs $331m. IHVV has the better 1-year return: +15.4% vs +8.9%.

Which is cheaper, IHVV or UMAX?

IHVV charges 0.10% a year and UMAX charges 0.79% a year.

Can I hold both IHVV and UMAX?

You can, but check how much they overlap. IHVV is a international shares fund and UMAX is a international shares fund.

More comparisons

IVV vs IHVVIHVV vs HQUSIHVV vs DFGHIHVV vs HGBLIHVV vs QUSIHVV vs IHOOIHVV vs TLRHIHVV vs IJHIHVV vs WDIVIHVV vs SPYIHVV vs HJPNIVV vs UMAX

Add more ETFs to this comparison β†’

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