βš”οΈ Head to head

QUS vs HQUS: Which ETF Is Better?

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

QUS comes out ahead on 4 of 6 measures. Which matters most depends on you.

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

The short answer

πŸ’ΈLower feeQUS wins
QUS
0.29%
HQUS
0.32%

Worth about $2,055 on $100,000 over 20 years.

🏦Bigger fundQUS wins
QUS
$1.4bn
HQUS
$301m

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

πŸ“ˆ1-year returnHQUS wins
QUS
+6.6%
HQUS
+11.8%
πŸ“Š3-year returnToo close to call
QUS
+12.0% a yr
HQUS
–
🏁5-year returnToo close to call
QUS
+7.9% a yr
HQUS
–
βš–οΈCheaper to tradeToo close to call
QUS
0.06%
HQUS
0.12%

QUS vs HQUS side by side

QUS leads on 4, HQUS on 2QUSBetashares S&P 500 Equal Weight ETFHQUSBeta S&P 500 Equal Weight Currency Hedged ETF
The basics
Index trackedS&P 500 Equal Weight IndexS&P 500 Equal Weight Index, hedged to AUD
Fund managerBetasharesBetashares
Asset classInternational sharesInternational shares
ListedDec 2014Jul 2024
Cost and size
MERyearly fee, lower is better0.29%βœ“0.32%
AUMfund size$1.4bnβœ“$301m
Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month$21mβœ“$4.9m
Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better0.06%0.12%
Total returns
1 monthβˆ’1.6%βœ“βˆ’4.3%
1 year+6.6%+11.8%βœ“
3 years p.a.+12.0%–
5 years p.a.+7.9%–
$10,000 invested
1 year ago$10,655$11,177βœ“
5 years ago$14,607–

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

QUS vs HQUS 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 QUS has a 5 years record: $10,000 then is worth $14,607 today.

QUSHQUS$10,000 invested
$0k$5k$10k$15k$20k$10.7k$11.2k1 year agoHQUS +$522$14.1ktoo new3 years ago$14.6ktoo 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

QUS's lower fee leaves about $2,055 more in your pocket over 20 years.

QUS charges 0.29% a yearHQUS charges 0.32% a year
🧾 Fees paid on $100,000Saving
5 years
QUS
βˆ’$1,890
HQUS
βˆ’$2,085
You keep$194more with QUS
10 years
QUS
βˆ’$5,267
HQUS
βˆ’$5,805
You keep$538more with QUS
20 years
QUS
βˆ’$20,444
HQUS
βˆ’$22,500
You keep$2,055more with QUS

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.

QUS and HQUS overlap

83%portfolio overlap (very high: holding both adds little diversification)

398 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 QUS% of HQUS
0.33%0.33%
0.29%0.29%
0.28%0.28%
0.26%0.26%
0.26%0.26%
0.26%0.26%
0.26%0.26%
0.25%0.25%
0.25%0.25%
0.25%0.25%
0.25%0.25%
0.25%0.25%

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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  • Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
  • 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, QUS or HQUS?

It depends on what you need. On our numbers QUS wins on 4 measures and HQUS on 2. QUS is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.29% vs 0.32%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $2,055. QUS is the larger fund at $1.4bn vs $301m. HQUS has the better 1-year return: +11.8% vs +6.6%.

Which is cheaper, QUS or HQUS?

QUS charges 0.29% a year and HQUS charges 0.32% a year.

Can I hold both QUS and HQUS?

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

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