Is GRNV a good ETF?
GRNV is the VanEck MSCI Australian Sustainable Equity ETF from VanEck. It tracks the MSCI Australia IMI Select SRI Capped 5% Index. We classify it under AU and ESG. With about $240 million in assets it is a solidly established fund. Listed on the ASX since 2022-03-10 (over 4 years ago).
On a total-return basis, GRNV has delivered 6.06% a year over 10 years (ranked 71st of 108 ETFs we track), 5.47% a year over 5 years (ranked 113th of 188 ETFs we track), 7.42% a year over 3 years (ranked 150th of 226 ETFs we track), and -4.65% a year over 1 year (ranked 276th 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 0.35% is reasonable. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.34%. If cost is your priority, E200 (0.05%), VAS (0.07%), and IESG (0.09%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a healthy 3.68% yield, attractive if you want regular income. Bear in mind distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate, so a high yield is less tax-efficient for higher earners and during the accumulation phase, though 75% franking softens the blow for Australian residents.
Over the past 10 years its volatility has been moderate (annualised standard deviation around 14.64%), meaning the kind of swings you'd expect from a diversified equity fund. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 0.33 is weak — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Portfolio turnover is moderate at about 30% a year — a fair chunk of the portfolio is bought and sold each year, so expect a little more in the way of realised capital gains and trading costs than a plain index fund.
Strengths
- Low-cost: a 0.35% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
- Pays a useful 3.68% income yield.
Things to watch
- Has lagged most peers over 1 year (276th of 308).
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.34%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: E200, VAS, and IESG.
- Weak risk-adjusted returns (10-year Sharpe ratio 0.33).
Good to know
- Distributions are 75% franked, a tax bonus for Australian residents.
- Australian focus means franked dividends and no currency risk, but heavy concentration in banks and miners.
What GRNV'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.
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.
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.