Is EX20 a good ETF?
EX20 is the BetaShares Australian Ex-20 Portfolio Diversifier ETF from BetaShares. It tracks the Nasdaq Australia Completion Cap Index. We classify it under AU and Small-Cap. With about $645 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, EX20 has delivered 5.03% a year over 5 years (ranked 122nd of 188 ETFs we track), 6.23% a year over 3 years (ranked 166th of 226 ETFs we track), and -2.55% a year over 1 year (ranked 273rd 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 0.25% is reasonable. That's cheaper than the typical 0.34% for similar ETFs. It pays a moderate 2.87% yield.
Over the past 5 years its volatility has been moderate (annualised standard deviation around 13.91%), meaning the kind of swings you'd expect from a diversified equity fund. Its 5-year Sharpe ratio of 0.19 is weak — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Portfolio turnover is modest at about 25% a year — it reshuffles a meaningful but still limited part of the portfolio annually, which keeps the tax and trading drag manageable.
Strengths
- Low-cost: a 0.25% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
Things to watch
- Has lagged most peers over 1 year (273rd of 308).
- Weak risk-adjusted returns (5-year Sharpe ratio 0.19).
Good to know
- Distributions are 55% franked, a tax bonus for Australian residents.
- Australian focus means franked dividends and no currency risk, but heavy concentration in banks and miners.
What EX20's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
Australian shares. Home-market familiarity, fully franked dividends and no currency risk for local investors — but very concentrated in banks and miners, which dominate the index.
- Market regime
- Sensitive to commodity prices, Chinese demand and domestic interest rates. Generous income, but narrow sector diversification.
- In a portfolio
- A natural core for Australian investors thanks to franking, but should be paired with global exposure so you aren't over-reliant on a handful of banks and resource giants.
Smaller companies, which historically carry a long-run 'size premium' alongside greater volatility and lower liquidity.
- Market regime
- Tends to lead early in economic recoveries and falls hardest in recessions and credit crunches, as smaller firms are more economically sensitive.
- In a portfolio
- A long-horizon satellite tilt for extra growth — expect a bumpier ride than large-cap and broad-market funds.
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.