Is GRIN a good ETF?
GRIN is the VanEck India Growth Leaders ETF from VanEck. We classify it under Intl, Thematic, Growth, and EM. With about $15 million in assets it is a relatively small fund (worth checking spreads and liquidity before buying).
On a total-return basis, GRIN has delivered -6.95% a year over 1 year (ranked 286th 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 0.75% is high, which is common for active, geared or thematic strategies and only worth paying if the approach justifies it. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.48%. If cost is your priority, NDIA (0.69%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a low 0.47% yield, so most of its return must come from capital growth.
Things to watch
- A 0.75% management fee is high and compounds against you over time.
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.48%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: NDIA.
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
Good to know
- Low 0.47% yield — this is a growth-oriented fund, not an income play.
What GRIN'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.
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.
Emerging markets — developing economies such as China, India, Brazil and Taiwan. High growth potential with materially higher volatility, currency and political risk.
- Market regime
- Often trades at cheaper valuations than developed markets and performs well in global risk-on phases and when the US dollar is weak. Can endure long stretches of underperformance.
- In a portfolio
- A satellite growth allocation for patient investors with a long horizon and tolerance for big swings.
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.