Is HACK a good ETF?
HACK is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF from BetaShares. It tracks the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index. We classify it under Intl, Thematic, and Tech. With about $1.54 billion in assets it is a large, highly liquid fund. Listed on the ASX since 2016-08-31 (about 10 years ago).
On a total-return basis, HACK has delivered 14.49% a year over 5 years (ranked 19th of 188 ETFs we track), 23.24% a year over 3 years (ranked 17th of 226 ETFs we track), and 15.66% a year over 1 year (ranked 74th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 3 years, where it sits in the top 8% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.67% is on the higher side. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.48%. If cost is your priority, TECH (0.45%), SEMI (0.45%), and NDQ (0.48%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a healthy 3.69% 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.
Over the past 5 years its volatility has been high (annualised standard deviation around 22.34%), meaning a bumpy ride with deep drawdowns. Its 5-year Sharpe ratio of 0.57 is reasonable — 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
- Top-8% returns over 3 years (17th of 226 ETFs we track).
- Pays a useful 3.69% income yield.
Things to watch
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.48%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: TECH, SEMI, and NDQ.
- High volatility (22.34% over 5 years) — expect deep drawdowns.
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
What HACK'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.
Concentrated in technology and high-growth innovation. The highest long-run growth potential on offer, paired with the deepest drawdowns.
- Market regime
- Very sensitive to interest rates and sentiment: powers ahead when money is cheap and optimism is high, and falls hardest when rates rise or risk appetite sours. Low dividends, high volatility.
- In a portfolio
- A long-horizon, high-conviction holding for investors with a strong stomach. Size the position so a 40-50% drawdown wouldn't derail your plan.
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.