Is WDMF a good ETF?
WDMF is the iShares Edge MSCI World Multifactor ETF from iShares. We classify it under Intl, Thematic, and Factor. With about $155 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, WDMF has delivered 11.99% a year over 5 years (ranked 29th of 188 ETFs we track), 17.61% a year over 3 years (ranked 38th of 226 ETFs we track), and 12.55% a year over 1 year (ranked 96th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 5 years, where it sits in the top 15% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.35% is reasonable. That's cheaper than the typical 0.45% for similar ETFs. If cost is your priority, QMIX (0.18%) and WVOL (0.25%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a moderate 3.49% yield.
Over the past 5 years its volatility has been moderate (annualised standard deviation around 10.88%), meaning the kind of swings you'd expect from a diversified equity fund. Its 5-year Sharpe ratio of 0.81 is reasonable — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Strengths
- Top-15% returns over 5 years (29th of 188 ETFs we track).
- Low-cost: a 0.35% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
Things to watch
- Cheaper alternatives exist: QMIX and WVOL.
- Highly concentrated single-theme bet — keep the position size small.
What WDMF'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.
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.