An ETF based on global agriculture shares has jumped out ahead of a basket of ETFs that have so far netted an average return slightly above the main bourse.
The ASX 200 is up 6.7 per cent since January 1 but ASX ETFs have an average gain of 7.1 per cent and all but a handful are in positive territory for the year.
Here’s a list of all ASX ETFs and their return on 2021 so far…
Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.
| Name | Code | Fund Assets (MLN AUD) | YTD Rtn | YTD Class Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetaShares Geared US Equity Fu | GGUS | 90.79 | +28.48% | -2.64 |
| Vanguard Global Value Equity A | VVLU | 113.72 | +21.49% | 10.76 |
| iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | IJR | 319.28 | +21.00% | 49.21 |
| BetaShares Global Banks ETF - | BNKS | 71.56 | +19.82% | 32.82 |
| VanEck Vectors Australian Bank | MVB | 157.12 | +19.56% | 18.69 |
| BetaShares Global Agriculture | FOOD | 31.94 | +18.92% | 6.91 |
| iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF/A | IJH | 199.38 | +18.88% | 19.4 |
| ETFS S&P 500 High Yield Low Vo | ZYUS | 70.09 | +17.35% | -4.47 |
| BetaShares S&P 500 Equal Weigh | QUS | 106.67 | +16.00% | 35.07 |
| VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wid | MOAT | 328.02 | +15.98% | 26.94 |
| Vanguard Global Multi-Factor A | VGMF | 23.34 | +14.70% | 0.85 |
| BetaShares S&P/ASX Financial S | QFN | 50.01 | +14.37% | 4.88 |
| Vaneck Vectors FTSE Internatio | REIT | 81.86 | +14.22% | 1.79 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials Ex | OZF | 119.34 | +13.92% | -5.49 |
| Vanguard MSCI International Sm | VISM | 94.55 | +13.44% | 7.95 |
| BetaShares Europe ETF - Curren | HEUR | 41.69 | +12.77% | 1.19 |
| iShares S&P 500 AUD Hedged ETF | IHVV | 608.19 | +12.63% | -215.97 |
| ETFS Battery Tech and Lithium | ACDC | 198.5 | +12.52% | 102.12 |
| iShares Core MSCI World All Ca | IHWL | 287.11 | +12.35% | 11.63 |
| SPDR Dow Jones Global Real Est | DJRE | 411.43 | +12.29% | 28.18 |
| Betashares Global Energy Compa | FUEL | 299.36 | +12.23% | -2.76 |
| BetaShares Global Income Leade | INCM | 17.57 | +12.23% | -0.93 |
| Morningstar International Shar | MSTR | 128.72 | +11.97% | 0 |
| iShares Edge MSCI World Multif | WDMF | 185.88 | +11.33% | -11.59 |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF/Austr | IVV | 4094.55 | +11.24% | 121.15 |
| Vanguard MSCI Index Internatio | VGAD | 1562.39 | +11.23% | 145.83 |
| iShares Global 100 AUD Hedged | IHOO | 125.2 | +11.12% | 6.63 |
| Betashares Global Sustainabili | HETH | 110.09 | +11.10% | 14.45 |
| SPDR S&P World ex Australia He | WXHG | 135.83 | +11.07% | 6.7 |
| Vanguard Australian Shares Hig | VHY | 1693.8 | +10.85% | 6.14 |
| SPDR S&P Global Dividend Fund | WDIV | 317.57 | +10.65% | 18.97 |
| iShares Core MSCI World All Ca | IWLD | 161.43 | +10.30% | 8.18 |
| VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wor | GOAT | 11.42 | +10.20% | 2.07 |
| BETASHARES AUSTRALIAN RESOURCE | QRE | 100.19 | +10.05% | 14.16 |
| BetaShares Australian Top 20 E | YMAX | 294.08 | +9.72% | 3.24 |
| iShares S&P/ASX 20 ETF | ILC | 414.81 | +9.59% | 20.64 |
| Vaneck Vectors MSCI World ex A | QHAL | 337.7 | +9.46% | 16.28 |
| ETFS EURO STOXX 50 ETF | ESTX | 51.95 | +9.38% | 0.02 |
| BetaShares FTSE RAFI Australia | QOZ | 334.88 | +9.32% | -7.73 |
| Vanguard MSCI Index Internatio | VGS | 2937.25 | +9.25% | 148.05 |
| SPDR S&P World ex Australia Fu | WXOZ | 251.16 | +9.16% | 10.93 |
| SPDR MSCI World Quality Mix Fu | QMIX | 19.93 | +9.15% | -5.26 |
| BetaShares Global Sustainabili | ETHI | 1355.34 | +9.15% | 163.41 |
| Vaneck Vectors Msci Multifacto | EMKT | 48.24 | +9.09% | 4.32 |
| iShares Global 100 ETF/AU | IOO | 2168.38 | +9.08% | 25.96 |
| Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF - Cu | HNDQ | 77.57 | +9.06% | 20.25 |
| Antipodes Global Shares EQMF E | AGX1 | 0 | +9.04% | 0 |
| Betashares FTSE 100 ETF | F100 | 292.91 | +9.00% | 48.06 |
| Vanguard FTSE Europe Shares ET | VEQ | 180.01 | +8.98% | -60.31 |
| Airlie Australian Share Fund - | AASF | 66.6 | +8.90% | 20.15 |
| Vanguard Ethically Conscious I | VESG | 259.82 | +8.86% | 42.37 |
| Magellan Global Equities Fund | MHG | 309.63 | +8.82% | 0 |
| Vanguard MSCI Australian Large | VLC | 124.77 | +8.80% | 0.07 |
| BetaShares S&P 500 Yield Maxim | UMAX | 101.1 | +8.47% | 5.91 |
| Russell Invest High Div Aust S | RDV | 261.39 | +8.37% | -18.94 |
| BetaShares Australia 200 ETF | A200 | 1273.82 | +8.36% | 82.5 |
| ETFS Morningstar Global Techno | TECH | 300.68 | +8.29% | 35.23 |
| Platinum International Fund ET | PIXX | 354.3 | +8.16% | 0 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 50 Fund | SFY | 742.75 | +8.15% | 6.84 |
| Switzer Dividend Growth Fund | SWTZ | 73.88 | +8.14% | 0 |
| Vaneck Vectors MSCI World ex A | QUAL | 1832.5 | +8.02% | 168.97 |
| Betashares Global Quality Lead | HQLT | 20.92 | +8.01% | 8.99 |
| ETFS ROBO Global Robotics and | ROBO | 229.43 | +7.99% | 30.17 |
| eInvest Income Generator Fund | EIGA | 25.5 | +7.96% | -0.09 |
| iShares CORE S&P/ASX 200 ETF | IOZ | 4420.61 | +7.95% | 496.11 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources Fun | OZR | 110.35 | +7.93% | -8.78 |
| Vanguard Australian Shares Ind | VAS | 7761.97 | +7.92% | 336.52 |
| ETFS FANG+ ETF | FANG | 212.02 | +7.92% | 20.47 |
| BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF | NDQ | 1744.44 | +7.91% | 160.29 |
| iShares Europe ETF/AU | IEU | 693.15 | +7.87% | 92.39 |
| VanEck Vectors MSCI Internatio | ESGI | 76.25 | +7.87% | 15.61 |
| Vanguard Global Infrastructure | VBLD | 134.64 | +7.83% | 18.09 |
| Intelligent Investor Aus Equit | INIF | 45.64 | +7.81% | -1.71 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Fund | STW | 4525 | +7.45% | 24.82 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 200 ESG Fund | E200 | -- | +7.38% | 0.57 |
| VanEck Vectors Small Companies | MVS | 90.95 | +7.25% | 2.45 |
| VanEck Vectors FTSE Global Inf | IFRA | 387.53 | +7.23% | 30.8 |
| BetaShares Global Healthcare E | DRUG | 102.51 | +7.18% | 11.43 |
| Vanguard Ethically Conscious A | VETH | 27.66 | +7.04% | 4.25 |
| Magellan Global Fund/Open Clas | MGOC | -- | +6.94% | 0 |
| iShares MSCI EAFE ETF/AU | IVE | 409.81 | +6.94% | 6.94 |
| Vanguard MSCI Australian Small | VSO | 500.56 | +6.93% | 24.73 |
| Magellan Financial Group Core | MCSG | -- | +6.92% | 0 |
| Montaka Global Long Only Equit | MOGL | 83.43 | +6.87% | -6.05 |
| Magellan Financial Group Core | MCSI | -- | +6.78% | 0 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries | SSO | 30.62 | +6.71% | 3.37 |
| BetaShares Managed Risk Global | WRLD | 34.45 | +6.61% | -27.52 |
| Magellan Financial Group Core | MCSE | -- | +6.57% | 0 |
| iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinari | ISO | 128.6 | +6.54% | 6.59 |
| BetaShares Australian Small Co | SMLL | 58.05 | +6.54% | 4.1 |
| iShares MSCI South Korea ETF/A | IKO | 69.87 | +6.54% | 1.82 |
| Vanguard Global Minimum Volati | VMIN | 11.94 | +6.45% | 0.84 |
| iShares Asia 50 ETF/AU | IAA | 868.5 | +6.14% | 85.44 |
| Russell Invest Aust Responsibl | RARI | 282.64 | +6.03% | 0.89 |
| Fidelity Global Emerging Marke | FEMX | 239.19 | +5.97% | 61.77 |
| Magellan Infrastructure Fund - | MICH | 720.05 | +5.80% | 0 |
| BetaShares Global Quality Lead | QLTY | 143.72 | +5.72% | 26.79 |
| Intelligent Investor Aus Equit | IIGF | 58.81 | +5.71% | 1.31 |
| Loftus Peak Global Disruption | LPGD | 180.19 | +5.69% | 9.22 |
| Vanguard Diversified High Grow | VDHG | 863.21 | +5.62% | 171.37 |
| BetaShares Legg Mason Equity I | EINC | 30.24 | +5.53% | 0.43 |
| iShares Edge MSCI Australia Mu | AUMF | 36.91 | +5.31% | 8.47 |
| BetaShares Managed Risk Austra | AUST | 20.96 | +5.28% | -19.84 |
| Magellan Sustainable Fund - Ma | MSUF | -- | +5.20% | 0 |
| iShares Global Healthcare ETF/ | IXJ | 852.96 | +5.07% | 17.09 |
| Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan Sh | VAE | 345.46 | +4.98% | 53.58 |
| iShares Edge MSCI World Minimu | WVOL | 131.92 | +4.95% | 13.54 |
| SPDR MSCI Australia Select Hig | SYI | 217.35 | +4.89% | 7.59 |
| iShares Edge MSCI Australia Mi | MVOL | 28.18 | +4.87% | -46.11 |
| Vaneck Vectors S&P/ASX Midcap | MVE | 184.86 | +4.77% | -0.12 |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets | VGE | 539.13 | +4.76% | 69.87 |
| VanEck Vectors MSCI Australian | GRNV | 98.68 | +4.56% | 18.59 |
| BetaShares Asia Technology Tig | ASIA | 696.97 | +4.53% | 168.81 |
| BetaShares Japan ETF - Currenc | HJPN | 58.64 | +4.45% | 1.55 |
| VanEck Vectors Aus Equal Weigh | MVW | 1516.46 | +4.39% | 61.13 |
| Betashares Legg Mason Emerging | EMMG | 23.21 | +4.16% | 7.69 |
| Vanguard Diversified Growth In | VDGR | 398.81 | +4.02% | 46.5 |
| Intelligent Investor Ethical S | INES | 8.45 | +4.00% | 0 |
| SelfWealth SMSF Leaders ETF | SELF | 102.8 | +3.97% | 1.81 |
| BetaShares Australian Dividend | HVST | 147.9 | +3.91% | 13.79 |
| BetaShares Australian Ex-20 Po | EX20 | 191.31 | +3.88% | 17.22 |
| WCM Quality Global Growth Fund | WCMQ | 163.8 | +3.87% | 0 |
| BetaShares Global Robotics And | RBTZ | 151.33 | +3.83% | 37.92 |
| SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Fund | WEMG | 20.17 | +3.67% | -1.3 |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets | IEM | 966.38 | +3.67% | 68.92 |
| ETFS S&P/ASX 300 High Yield Pl | ZYAU | 95.99 | +3.46% | -9.42 |
| BetaShares Australian Sustaina | FAIR | 951.31 | +3.43% | 109.45 |
| iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Oppor | IHD | 281.48 | +3.23% | 0.36 |
| VanEck Vectors Australian Reso | MVR | 128.58 | +3.10% | 9.03 |
| Vanguard Diversified Balanced | VDBA | 396.57 | +3.08% | 53.64 |
| Platinum Asia Fund ETF | PAXX | 181.83 | +2.83% | 0 |
| VanEck Vectors Global Healthca | HLTH | 46.28 | +2.52% | 8.22 |
| eInvest Better Future Fund | IMPQ | 8.35 | +2.21% | 4.14 |
| BetaShares Legg Mason Real Inc | RINC | 49.51 | +2.03% | -0.07 |
| VanEck Vectors Video Gaming an | ESPO | 98.51 | +1.72% | 41.83 |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Proper | SLF | 602.08 | +1.06% | 3.47 |
| Vanguard Diversified Conservat | VDCO | 169.04 | +1.03% | 21.67 |
| BetaShares Global Cybersecurit | HACK | 470.19 | +1.02% | 93.87 |
| Vaneck Vectors China New Econo | CNEW | 169.1 | +0.93% | 0 |
| Vanguard Australian Property S | VAP | 1882.61 | +0.86% | 78.07 |
| iShares MSCI Japan ETF/AU | IJP | 377.1 | +0.39% | 48.88 |
| VanEck Vectors Australian Prop | MVA | 500.23 | +0.36% | 62.56 |
| iShares Global Consumer Staple | IXI | 121.13 | +0.16% | 2.39 |
| ETFS-NAM India Nifty 50 ETF | NDIA | 17.02 | -0.18% | 3.97 |
| iShares China Large-Cap ETF/Au | IZZ | 128.82 | -0.44% | 2.89 |
| BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian | ATEC | 199.44 | -0.56% | 28.24 |
| Betashares Global Gold Miners | MNRS | 63.68 | -1.24% | 0.48 |
| Vaneck Vectors FTSE China A50 | CETF | 25.89 | -2.04% | 4.93 |
| Betashares India Quality ETF | IIND | 44.07 | -2.43% | 9.84 |
| VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF | GDX | 488.41 | -2.88% | 17.54 |
| ETFS S&P Biotech ETF | CURE | 47.26 | -4.91% | 14.51 |
| BetaShares Australian Equities | BEAR | 58.98 | -7.76% | -12.78 |
| BetaShares Australian Equities | BBOZ | 287.26 | -17.70% | 10.16 |
| BetaShares US Equities Strong | BBUS | 226.14 | -26.03% | 30.45 |
| BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF | CLDD | 34.6 | -- | 29.41 |
| Vaneck Vectors Global Clean En | CLNE | 38.53 | -- | 35.4 |
| Climate Change Innovation ETF | ERTH | 51.14 | -- | 42.36 |
| Vaneck Vectors MSCI Internatio | QSML | 8.79 | -- | 6.27 |
| Vaneck Vectors MSCI Internatio | VLUE | 22.63 | -- | 20.61 |
The best and worst ASX ETFs
Sitting on top with a 28 per cent gain is the BetaShares’ Geared US Equities (ASX:GGUS) which after a solid 2020 continued to edge higher this year in conjunction with the US equity markets.
This ETF isn’t the only one exposed to the US market but differs in being “internally geared”, by combining equity investors’ money with debt investors’. It then invests in the top 500 shares listed in the US by market capitalisation.
Taking silver spot is Vanguard’s Global Value Equity ETF (ASX:VVLU) which is up 21 per cent. This ETF invests in “value stocks” globally, typically from the FTSE Developed All Cap Index and the Russell 3000 Index.
Some of the more peculiar entering the top few include BetaShares’ Global Agriculture ETF (ASX:FOOD) which invests in the world’s leading agriculture companies such as Tyson Meats and Deere & co. This ETF has gained 19 per cent this year.
Of the handful of ETFs to have only hit the market since 2021 began, the best performer is VanEck Vectors MSCI International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX:QSML) which is up 9 per cent. According to Van Eck, QSML hosts some of the world’s highest quality small companies based on three key fundamentals: high return on equity, earnings stability and low financial leverage.
The worst ASX ETFs
In a sign of how hot the equity markets are going, the bottom 3 ETFs by a long shot are all negatively hedged, or in other words designed to go up when the market goes down but go down when the market goes up.
BetaShares’ US Equities Bear Fund (ASX:BBUS) is down 26 per cent and two Australian focused bear funds (ASX:BBOZ and ASX:BBUS) are down 18 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.
Other laggards include the previously hot running Van Eck’s Gold Miners ETF (ASX:GDX) and ETF Securities S&P Biotech ETF (ASX:CURE).