Is ERTH a good ETF?
ERTH is the BetaShares Climate Change Innovation ETF from BetaShares. It tracks the Solactive Climate Change and Environmental Opportunities Index. We classify it under Intl, Thematic, ESG, and Growth. With about $81 million in assets it is a relatively small fund (worth checking spreads and liquidity before buying).
On a total-return basis, ERTH has delivered -5.8% a year over 5 years (ranked 187th of 188 ETFs we track), -2.62% a year over 3 years (ranked 224th of 226 ETFs we track), and 7.59% a year over 1 year (ranked 151st of 308 ETFs we track). It has trailed most comparable ETFs over the periods we measure, so look closely at whether its strategy fits what you're after.
The management fee of 0.65% is on the higher side. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.48%. It pays a low 0.07% yield, so most of its return must come from capital growth.
Over the past 5 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 19.18%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market.
Things to watch
- Has lagged most peers over 5 years (187th of 188).
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.48%.
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
Good to know
- Low 0.07% yield — this is a growth-oriented fund, not an income play.
What ERTH'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.
Screens out, or tilts away from, companies on environmental, social and governance criteria — letting you align your money with your values.
- Market regime
- Performance broadly tracks the wider market, but can drift when excluded sectors (e.g. energy, mining, weapons, tobacco) have a strong or weak run. Fees are usually a touch higher.
- In a portfolio
- Suitable as a core or near-core holding for values-driven investors; just understand which sectors are excluded and why returns may diverge from the broad index.
Companies expected to grow earnings quickly, which typically reinvest profits rather than pay dividends. Low yield, higher volatility, valuation-driven.
- Market regime
- Shines when interest rates are low or falling and risk appetite is high. Hit hardest when rates rise, because more of their value sits in distant future earnings.
- In a portfolio
- Long-horizon growth engine for investors who can stomach deeper drawdowns and little income along the way.
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.