Is HEUR a good ETF?
HEUR is the BetaShares Europe ETF - Currency Hedged from BetaShares. It tracks the S&P Eurozone Exporters Hedged AUD Index. We classify it under Intl, Large-Cap, and Market-Cap. With about $87 million in assets it is a relatively small fund (worth checking spreads and liquidity before buying).
On a total-return basis, HEUR has delivered 9.99% a year over 10 years (ranked 42nd of 108 ETFs we track), 9.4% a year over 5 years (ranked 63rd of 188 ETFs we track), 13.51% a year over 3 years (ranked 80th of 226 ETFs we track), and 20.51% a year over 1 year (ranked 47th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 1 year, where it sits in the top 15% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.56% is on the higher side. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.48%. If cost is your priority, VEQ (0.35%) and ESTX (0.35%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a healthy 4.29% 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 10 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 15.3%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 0.56 is reasonable — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Strengths
- Top-15% returns over 1 year (47th of 308 ETFs we track).
- Pays a useful 4.29% income yield.
Things to watch
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.48%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: VEQ and ESTX.
What HEUR'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.
The biggest, most established companies. More stable earnings, lower volatility and often steadier dividends than the broad market.
- Market regime
- Holds up comparatively well in downturns and uncertain markets; tends to lag small-caps and growth during the most aggressive bull runs.
- In a portfolio
- A dependable core building block suited to long-term holding.
Holdings are weighted by company size, so the largest companies carry the most weight. These funds are cheap, tax-efficient and self-rebalancing.
- Market regime
- Works in almost any regime as a low-maintenance core. The trade-off is concentration — you automatically own more of whatever has already become expensive at the top of a bull market.
- In a portfolio
- The classic buy-and-hold core of most portfolios. Well suited to long-term, hands-off investing.
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.