Is GSCF a good ETF?
GSCF is the Ausbil Global SmallCap Fund - Active ETF. We classify it under Intl, Small-Cap, and Active. With about $133 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, GSCF has delivered 5.72% a year over 5 years (ranked 108th of 188 ETFs we track), 15.43% a year over 3 years (ranked 56th of 226 ETFs we track), and 9.42% a year over 1 year (ranked 136th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 3 years, where it sits in the top 25% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 1.2% 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 0.55%. If cost is your priority, BGBL (0.08%), VGS (0.18%), and GLOB (0.98%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a moderate 3.33% yield.
Over the past 5 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 18.37%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market. Its 5-year Sharpe ratio of 0.22 is weak — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Strengths
- Top-25% returns over 3 years (56th of 226 ETFs we track).
Things to watch
- A 1.2% management fee is high and compounds against you over time.
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.55%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: BGBL, VGS, and GLOB.
- Weak risk-adjusted returns (5-year Sharpe ratio 0.22).
What GSCF'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.
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.
Actively managed: a portfolio manager hand-picks holdings trying to beat the index, rather than simply tracking it. You pay more in fees for the chance of outperformance.
- Market regime
- Can add value in volatile, falling or inefficient markets where stock-picking and downside protection matter. In long, broad bull markets most active funds struggle to keep up with the cheap index after fees.
- In a portfolio
- Only worth holding if you have genuine conviction in the strategy — decades of evidence show the majority of active funds underperform their benchmark over 10+ years once fees are counted.
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.