PLUS vs RCB: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
RCB comes out ahead on 7 of 9 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $2,743 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
PLUS vs RCB side by side
| PLUS leads on 2, RCB on 7 | PLUSVanEck Australian Corporate Bond Plus ETF | RCBRussell Investments Australian Select Corporate Bond ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | iBoxx AUD Corporates Yield Plus Index | See the PDS |
| Fund manager | VanEck | Russell Investments |
| Asset class | Australian bonds | Australian bonds |
| Listed | May 2017 | Mar 2012 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.32% | 0.28%✓ |
| AUMfund size | $403m✓ | $364m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | −$5.9m | $2.9m✓ |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.12% | 0.12% |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | −1.0% | −0.4%✓ |
| 1 year | −0.1% | +1.0%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | +5.0%✓ | +3.9% |
| 5 years p.a. | +1.0% | +1.8%✓ |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $9,994 | $10,101✓ |
| 5 years ago | $10,517 | $10,926✓ |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
PLUS vs RCB 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 · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into PLUS 5 years ago is worth $10,517 today, against $10,926 in RCB. That is $409 more in RCB.
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
RCB's lower fee leaves about $2,743 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.
PLUS and RCB 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 PLUS | % of RCB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 PLUS vs RCB 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, PLUS or RCB?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers PLUS wins on 2 measures and RCB on 7. RCB is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.28% vs 0.32%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $2,743. PLUS is the larger fund at $403m vs $364m. RCB has the better 1-year return: +1.0% vs −0.1%.
Which is cheaper, PLUS or RCB?
PLUS charges 0.32% a year and RCB charges 0.28% a year.
Can I hold both PLUS and RCB?
You can, but check how much they overlap. PLUS is a Australian bonds fund and RCB is a Australian bonds fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.