Is HETH a good ETF?
HETH is the BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF - Currency Hedged from BetaShares. It tracks the Nasdaq Future Global Sustainability Leaders Index (AUD Hedged). We classify it under Intl, Thematic, and ESG. With about $716 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, HETH has delivered 8.18% a year over 5 years (ranked 77th of 188 ETFs we track), 14.12% a year over 3 years (ranked 71st of 226 ETFs we track), and 18.39% a year over 1 year (ranked 59th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 1 year, where it sits in the top 19% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.62% is on the higher side. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.48%. If cost is your priority, VGS (0.18%) and IOO (0.4%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a moderate 2.1% yield.
Over the past 5 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 15.33%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market. Its 5-year Sharpe ratio of 0.38 is weak — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Strengths
- Top-19% returns over 1 year (59th of 308 ETFs we track).
Things to watch
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.48%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: VGS and IOO.
- Weak risk-adjusted returns (5-year Sharpe ratio 0.38).
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
What HETH'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.
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.