Is QMIX a good ETF?
QMIX is the State Street SPDR MSCI World Quality Mix ETF from State Street. We classify it under Intl, Thematic, Quality, and Factor. With about $429 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, QMIX has delivered 12.52% a year over 10 years (ranked 22nd of 108 ETFs we track), 11.4% a year over 5 years (ranked 36th of 188 ETFs we track), 14.69% a year over 3 years (ranked 65th of 226 ETFs we track), and 11.26% a year over 1 year (ranked 113th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 5 years, where it sits in the top 19% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.18% is reasonable. That's cheaper than the typical 0.45% for similar ETFs. It pays a healthy 4.45% 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 moderate (annualised standard deviation around 9.54%), meaning the kind of swings you'd expect from a diversified equity fund. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 1.06 is strong — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Strengths
- Top-19% returns over 5 years (36th of 188 ETFs we track).
- Low-cost: a 0.18% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
- Pays a useful 4.45% income yield.
- Strong risk-adjusted returns (10-year Sharpe ratio 1.06).
Things to watch
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
What QMIX'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.
Companies with strong balance sheets, stable earnings and high return on equity. A defensive-leaning factor that tends to compound steadily.
- Market regime
- Holds up comparatively well in downturns and uncertain markets; can lag during sharp 'junk rallies' off market bottoms when the riskiest stocks surge.
- In a portfolio
- A reliable long-term core or tilt for investors who prize resilience and steady compounding.
Tilts toward academically-backed drivers of return — value, quality, momentum, size or low volatility — aiming to beat plain market-cap weighting over a full cycle.
- Market regime
- Any single factor can underperform the broad market for years before rewarding patient holders. Multi-factor funds smooth this out somewhat.
- In a portfolio
- A long-term tilt that demands discipline: the edge only shows up if you hold through the inevitable lean stretches.
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.