Grow it · ETFs

ALFA vs GEAR

Compare fees, returns, income and risk for these 2 ASX-listed ETFs side by side.

At a glance

Comparing ALFA and GEAR. ALFA has the lower management fee at 0.39% a year, GEAR has the higher 1 year return at -1.4% a year, and GEAR offers the higher at 1.85%.
Lower fee
ALFA 0.39% p.a.
Higher 1 year return
GEAR -1.4% p.a.
Higher yield
GEAR 1.85%
Larger fund
GEAR $572m

Side-by-side comparison

Metric ALFA
VanEck Australian Long Short Complex ETF
GEAR
BetaShares Geared Australian Equity Fund
Snapshot
Provider
VanEck
BetaShares
Tracks index
—
—
Categories
AU, Geared, Active
AU, Large-Cap, Geared
Listed since
—
2014 (12 yrs)
Fund size (AUM)
$37m
$572m
Cost & income
Management fee
0.39%
2.23%
Dividend yield
0.87%
1.85%
Franking
30%
72%
Turnover
150%
45%
Tax drag 3.8% 1.28%
Returns
Tax bracket
1-year return
-1.7%
net
-1.4%
net
3-year return
—
17.5%
net
5-year return
—
10.4%
net
10-year return
—
12.5%
net
Risk
Volatility (3y)
—
24.1%
Volatility (5y)
—
29.1%
Volatility (10y)
—
30.5%
Sharpe ratio (3y)
—
0.62
Sharpe ratio (5y)
—
0.37
Sharpe ratio (10y)
—
0.48
Bid/ask spread
—
—

marks the strongest fund in each row. “net” shows the after-tax return at your selected bracket. “—” means we don’t have that data point yet.

Each fund at a glance

ALFA VanEck Australian Long Short Complex ETF
  • Low-cost: a 0.39% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
  • High portfolio turnover (150% a year) means frequent trading that realises capital gains, adding tax drag — less efficient than a low-turnover index fund.
GEAR BetaShares Geared Australian Equity Fund
  • Top-25% returns over 10 years (28th of 110 ETFs we track).
  • Has lagged most peers over 1 year (242nd of 318).

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between ALFA vs GEAR?

ALFA and GEAR are 2 Australian-listed ETFs we compare side by side. ALFA carries the lower management fee (0.39%). Over 1 year, GEAR has delivered the higher total return (-1.4% a year). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

Which has the lower fees - ALFA vs GEAR?

ALFA has the lower management fee at 0.39% a year, versus GEAR 2.23%.

Which has performed higher - ALFA vs GEAR?

Over the past 1 year, GEAR has delivered the higher total return at -1.4% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Which pays the higher dividend yield?

GEAR pays the higher at 1.85%. Remember distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate.

Which is the larger and most liquid?

GEAR is the larger fund by assets ($572m). Larger funds are typically more liquid and trade on tighter spreads.

Related comparisons

General information only, generated from each 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.

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