Grow it · ETFs

CURE vs DRUG vs HLTH vs IXJ

Compare fees, returns, income and risk for these 4 ASX-listed ETFs side by side.

At a glance

Comparing CURE, DRUG, HLTH, and IXJ. IXJ has the lowest management fee at 0.4% a year, IXJ has the highest 10 years return at 9.8% a year, and DRUG offers the highest at 3.9%.
Lowest fee
IXJ 0.4% p.a.
Highest 10 years return
IXJ 9.8% p.a.
Highest yield
DRUG 3.9%
Highest risk-adjusted
IXJ Sharpe 0.67 (10y)
Lowest volatility
IXJ 11.5% (10y)
Largest fund
IXJ $1.5bn

Side-by-side comparison

Metric CURE
Global X S&P Biotech ETF
DRUG
BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF - Currency Hedged
HLTH
VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF
IXJ
iShares Global Healthcare ETF
Snapshot
Provider
Global X
BetaShares
VanEck
iShares
Tracks index
S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index
Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Healthcare Hedged AUD Index
—
S&P Global 1200 Health Care Sector Index
Categories
US, Thematic
Intl, Thematic
Intl, Thematic
Intl, Thematic, Market-Cap
Listed since
2021 (5 yrs)
—
—
2007 (19 yrs)
Fund size (AUM)
$50m
$172m
$59m
$1.5bn
Cost & income
Management fee
0.45%
0.57%
0.45%
0.4%
Dividend yield
0%
3.9%
0.34%
1.56%
Franking
0%
0%
0%
0%
Turnover
35%
—
—
5%
Tax drag 0.84% 1.25% 0.11% 0.62%
Returns
Tax bracket
1-year return
49.9%
net
17.2%
net
4.4%
net
11.2%
net
3-year return
25.8%
net
7.3%
net
6.3%
net
6.1%
net
5-year return
5.3%
net
5.1%
net
0.2%
net
6.1%
net
10-year return
—
8.2%
net
—
9.8%
net
Risk
Volatility (3y)
25.1%
12.6%
12.3%
12.6%
Volatility (5y)
24.8%
13.1%
13.1%
12.2%
Volatility (10y)
—
12.9%
—
11.5%
Sharpe ratio (3y)
0.88
0.3
0.22
0.2
Sharpe ratio (5y)
0.19
0.19
—
0.27
Sharpe ratio (10y)
—
0.5
—
0.67
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

CURE Global X S&P Biotech ETF
  • Top-2% returns over 1 year (7th of 318 ETFs we track).
  • Cheaper alternatives exist: IXJ and IXI.
DRUG BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF - Currency Hedged
  • Top-15% returns over 1 year (49th of 318 ETFs we track).
  • Pays a useful 3.9% income yield.
  • Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.46%.
HLTH VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF
  • Has lagged most peers over 5 years (159th of 189).
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF
  • Low-cost: a 0.4% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
  • Has lagged most peers over 3 years (176th of 236).

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between CURE vs DRUG vs HLTH vs IXJ?

CURE, DRUG, HLTH, and IXJ are 4 Australian-listed ETFs we compare side by side. IXJ carries the lowest management fee (0.4%). Over 10 years, IXJ has delivered the highest total return (9.8% a year). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

Which has the lowest fees - CURE vs DRUG vs HLTH vs IXJ?

IXJ has the lowest management fee at 0.4% a year, versus CURE 0.45%, DRUG 0.57%, and HLTH 0.45%.

Which has performed highest - CURE vs DRUG vs HLTH vs IXJ?

Over the past 10 years, IXJ has delivered the highest total return at 9.8% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Which pays the highest dividend yield?

DRUG pays the highest at 3.9%. Remember distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate.

Which is the largest and most liquid?

IXJ is the largest fund by assets ($1.5bn). 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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