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 $1.72 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 19.3% a year over 10 years (ranked 3rd of 110 ETFs we track), 17.08% a year over 5 years (ranked 14th of 189 ETFs we track), 28.15% a year over 3 years (ranked 14th of 236 ETFs we track), and 29.06% a year over 1 year (ranked 21st of 318 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 10 years, where it sits in the top 3% 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 moderate 3.26% yield.
Over the past 10 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 19.94%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 0.88 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-3% returns over 10 years (3rd of 110 ETFs we track).
Things to watch
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.48%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: TECH, SEMI, and NDQ.
- 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.