Is BNKS a good ETF?
BNKS is the BetaShares Global Banks Currency Hedged ETF from BetaShares. It tracks the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Banks Currency Hedged AUD Index. We classify it under Intl and Thematic. With about $187 million in assets it is a solidly established fund. Listed on the ASX since 2024-03-07 (over 2 years ago).
On a total-return basis, BNKS has delivered 13.9% a year over 10 years (ranked 15th of 108 ETFs we track), 20.4% a year over 5 years (ranked 2nd of 188 ETFs we track), 34.48% a year over 3 years (ranked 5th of 226 ETFs we track), and 46.11% a year over 1 year (ranked 15th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 5 years, where it sits in the top 1% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.57% is on the higher side. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.46%. If cost is your priority, IXI (0.4%) and ARMR (0.55%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a healthy 5.36% yield, attractive if you want regular income. Bear in mind distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate, so a high yield is less tax-efficient for higher earners and during the accumulation phase.
Over the past 10 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 19.22%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 0.67 is reasonable — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Portfolio turnover is moderate at about 30% a year — a fair chunk of the portfolio is bought and sold each year, so expect a little more in the way of realised capital gains and trading costs than a plain index fund.
Strengths
- Top-1% returns over 5 years (2nd of 188 ETFs we track).
- Pays a useful 5.36% income yield.
Things to watch
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.46%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: IXI and ARMR.
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
What BNKS's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
Global and international shares from outside Australia — broadening you into thousands of companies and the sectors (tech, healthcare) the local market lacks.
- Market regime
- Essential diversification away from the bank-and-resources-heavy ASX. Unhedged versions carry currency risk; hedged versions remove it at a small cost.
- In a portfolio
- A core holding for almost every long-term Australian portfolio.
A concentrated bet on a single trend — AI, battery tech, cybersecurity, robotics and the like. High conviction, high concentration, and often high fees.
- Market regime
- Frequently launched after a theme is already hot, which has historically been a poor entry point. Expect very large swings in both directions.
- In a portfolio
- A small satellite position at most. Treat it as a speculative tilt, never as a core holding.
General information only, generated from the fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.