Betashares Glb Qlty Leaders Currency Hedged ETF (HQLT) Review & Analysis

MER · Top 50%AUM · Top 50%1Y Return · Top 25%3Y Return · Top 25%5Y Return · Top 50%

What's new this monthData to 30 September 2026

−1.2% in September (total return), behind the median international shares ETF at +0.0%.
Investors withdrew a net $1.8m (-1.2% of the fund).
The unit price closed the month at $35.38, 2% below its 12-month high (range $30.44 to $36.11).

About HQLT

HQLT is an international shares ETF from Betashares, listed on the ASX since June 2020. With $142m under management it is number 124 of 254 international shares ETFs by size. The management fee is 0.38% a year, about $38 on every $10,000 invested, cheaper than the typical international shares ETF at 0.55%.

Its largest holdings are Visa Inc, Microsoft Corp and Johnson & Johnson, and the top 10 make up 45% of the fund. By sector it leans towards information technology (36%) and communication services (13%). United States is the biggest country exposure at 77%.

Over five years it has returned +8.4% a year including distributions, against +8.8% for the median international shares ETF.

HQLT distributions and dividend dates

HQLT pays distributions yearly, usually going ex-distribution in July, with payment about 15 days after the ex-date. (Pattern estimated from recent payments.)

The latest distribution was $1.3544 per unit (0% franked), ex-distribution on 1 July 2026 and paid on 16 July 2026. To receive it you need to own HQLT before the ex-date.

Its distribution yield over the past 12 months is about 4.1%. Distributions vary and past payments are not a guide to future ones.

From ASX announcements, updated nightly. See every ETF in the dividend calendar.

Compare HQLT Check overlap Betashares website ↗

Compare HQLT with

HQLTvsVGAD

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF

Fee	0.38%	0.21%
1 year	+15.2%	+17.1%
5 yrs p.a.	+8.4%	+10.8%
Size	$142m	$7.9bn

Same holdings22%Some overlap

Full comparison →

HQLTvsIHVV

iShares S&P 500 (AUD Hedged) ETF

Fee	0.38%	0.10%
1 year	+15.2%	+15.4%
5 yrs p.a.	+8.4%	+10.9%
Size	$142m	$4.3bn

Same holdings23%Some overlap

Full comparison →

HQLTvsDFGH

Dimensional Global Core Equity Trust (AUD Hedged Class) – Active ETF

Fee	0.38%	0.36%
1 year	+15.2%	+18.2%
5 yrs p.a.	+8.4%	–
Size	$142m	$4.2bn

Same holdingsNo holdings data

Full comparison →

HQLTvsETHI

Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF

Fee	0.38%	0.59%
1 year	+15.2%	+6.2%
5 yrs p.a.	+8.4%	+8.5%
Size	$142m	$3.8bn

Same holdings23%Some overlap

Full comparison →

HQLT price by TradingView

Stock Code	HQLT
Fund Manager	Betashares
Asset Class	International shares
AUM	$142m
MER (%)	0.38%
Net flows (Sep)	−$1.8m
Last Price	$35.38
52-Week Range	$30.44 – $36.11
Bid/Ask Spread	0.24%
Listing Date	10/06/2020
Exchange	ASX
Index tracked	iSTOXX MUTB Global ex-Australia Quality Leaders Index (hedged)
Issuer website	Betashares ↗

Performance (% return)

1 month−1.2%

1 year+15.2%

3 years p.a.+17.0%

5 years p.a.+8.4%

$10,000 invested…

1 year ago$11,5233 years ago$16,0345 years ago$14,964

Value at 30 September 2026 with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage.

Total returns including distributions, to 30 September 2026. 1M, 1Y, 3Y and 5Y bars are cumulative.

etfadviserTrend check

Base since 26 Oct 2026

HQLT is in a base. Here's why that matters.

HQLT's moving averages are tangled and the price is moving sideways. The trend hasn't picked a direction yet.

Why it matters: Bases are where the next big move starts. A breakout can begin a new uptrend, while a breakdown can start a long fall. Buying a satellite before the breakout often means waiting months for nothing to happen.

At ETF Adviser the core of a portfolio stays invested through every stage, and satellite ETFs are only bought in an uptrend. Members get a weekly update on which ETFs are breaking out of a base and which trends have broken.

Get the weekly trend updates: try it free for 30 days How base and trend works →See every ETF's stage →Visit etfadviser.com.au →

UptrendBaseDowntrend

HQLT weekly price, past 12 months, shaded by trend stage. Stage as at 7 November 2026, updated weekly. A technical label, not a recommendation.

HQLT vs its benchmark

How HQLT has done against the iSTOXX MUTB Global ex-Australia Quality Leaders 150 Index (AUD hedged), after fees. For an index fund, a small shortfall roughly the size of the fee is normal.

	HQLT	Benchmark	Difference
1 year	+10.26%	+10.60%	-0.34%
3 years p.a.	+17.71%	+18.17%	-0.46%
5 years p.a.	+7.50%	+7.93%	-0.43%

Issuer figures to 30 October 2026, fund returns after fees. Source: Betashares. Compare more ETFs vs their benchmark →

💡 Cheaper twin

QLTY holds 100% of the same companies as HQLT for 0.03% a year less, which is $30 a year on $100,000. See all cheaper alternatives to HQLT →

Investment Focus

Themes & Sectors

Currency hedged

Portfolio Breakdown

Top 10 holdings (44.6% of the fund)

Symbol	Company	% assets
V		5.67%
MSFT		5.34%
JNJ		5.17%
META		4.81%
ASML		4.63%
GOOGL		4.24%
COST		4.09%
PLTR		3.86%
PG		3.42%
CSCO		3.41%

Sector breakdown

Information Technology35.8%
Communication Services13.4%
Financials12.5%
Health Care11.5%
Consumer Staples9.2%
Industrials8.9%
Consumer Discretionary7.9%
Materials0.4%
Energy0.2%

Country breakdown

United States76.5%
Japan9.1%
Netherlands5.8%
Switzerland2.3%
France1.8%
Hong Kong1.0%
United Kingdom0.8%
ES0.6%
Other2.0%

Holdings from the issuer's published portfolio as at 30 October 2026. Breakdowns are based on the largest 150 positions, covering 100% of the fund. Compare HQLT's holdings with other 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.

Similar ETFs

Code	Name	Same holdings	MER	AUM	1Y	3Y p.a.	5Y p.a.
QLTY	Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF	100%	0.35%	$1.1bn	+8.9%	+15.3%	+9.2%
QUAL	VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF	43%	0.40%	$9.2bn	+10.1%	+16.1%	+11.4%
QHAL	VanEck MSCI International Quality (AUD Hedged) ETF Currency hedged	43%	0.43%	$2.7bn	+16.5%	+17.8%	+9.7%
IQLT	iShares MSCI World ex Australia Quality ETF	41%	0.25%	$42m	+10.2%	–	–
IHQL	iShares MSCI World ex Australia Quality (AUD Hedged) ETF Currency hedged	40%	0.28%	$2.4m	+16.6%	–	–
GARP	Global X S&P World ex Australia GARP ETF	32%	0.30%	$132m	+5.6%	–	–

Same holdings is the share of HQLT's money in companies the other ETF also holds, weighted by size. Most similar first, then ETFs in the same category. See every ETF like HQLT →

HQLT vs its closest alternatives

What actually differs between HQLT and the ETFs most like it. Data to 30 Sep 2026.

QLTY Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF

They share 100% of their holdings: largely the same companies.
QLTY is cheaper (0.35% vs 0.38%), worth about $2,034 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Over 3 years, a year: HQLT +17.0%, QLTY +15.3% (HQLT ahead by 1.8 percentage points).
QLTY is about 8 times larger ($1.1bn vs $142m), which usually means tighter trading spreads.
Different structure: HQLT is currency hedged, QLTY is a standard fund.

Compare HQLT and QLTY side by side →

QUAL VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF

They share 43% of their holdings: some overlap.
HQLT is cheaper (0.38% vs 0.40%), worth about $1,350 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Over 3 years, a year: HQLT +17.0%, QUAL +16.1% (HQLT ahead by 0.9 percentage points).
QUAL is much larger ($9.2bn vs $142m), which usually means tighter trading spreads.
Different structure: HQLT is currency hedged, QUAL is a standard fund.

Compare HQLT and QUAL side by side →

QHAL VanEck MSCI International Quality (AUD Hedged) ETF

They share 43% of their holdings: some overlap.
HQLT is cheaper (0.38% vs 0.43%), worth about $3,365 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Over 3 years, a year: HQLT +17.0%, QHAL +17.8% (QHAL ahead by 0.8 percentage points).
QHAL is much larger ($2.7bn vs $142m), which usually means tighter trading spreads.

Compare HQLT and QHAL side by side →

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

HQLT FAQs

What is the fee for HQLT?

HQLT charges a management fee (MER) of 0.38% a year, according to the TMX Australia monthly funds report as at 30 September 2026.

How big is HQLT?

HQLT had $142m in funds under management as at 30 September 2026.

How has HQLT performed?

HQLT returned +15.2% over the year to 30 September 2026 (total return, including distributions). Over three years it returned +17.0% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Who manages HQLT?

HQLT is managed by Betashares and has been listed since June 2020.

Is HQLT franked?

Generally no. HQLT invests outside Australia, so its distributions carry little or no franking credits. Franking comes from Australian companies that have paid tax here.

What does HQLT hold?

HQLT's largest holdings are Visa Inc (5.7%), Microsoft Corp (5.3%), Johnson & Johnson (5.2%), Meta Platforms Inc (4.8%), ASML Holding NV (4.6%). It holds about 150 investments in total. The biggest sector is information technology at 36%. Holdings as at 30 October 2026.

Is HQLT currency hedged?

Yes. HQLT is currency hedged, so changes in the Australian dollar have little effect on its returns. You get the return of the underlying investments in their local currency, less a small cost of hedging.

Is there a cheaper alternative to HQLT?

Yes. QLTY (Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF) holds about 100% of the same companies and charges 0.35% a year, against 0.38% for HQLT. Note that QLTY is not currency hedged, so its returns will differ when the Australian dollar moves. Check the index and size before switching, and remember selling may trigger capital gains tax.

Disclaimer

This review is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the Betashares product disclosure statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) before investing. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.