On the ASX, the BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF – Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: DRUG) and iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF (ASX: ISO) are two ASX ETFs worthy of closer inspection.
What the BetaShares DRUG ETF does for investors
The BetaShares DRUG ETF provides investors with exposure to leading global healthcare companies, hedged into Australian dollars.
According to our most recent data, the DRUG ETF had $62.8 million of money invested. Given its funds under management (also known as FUM or ‘market cap’) is less than $100 million, you should consider if this ETF is still too small and if it is sustainable for the ETF issuer. At Best ETFs we say an ETF with more than $100 million invested is typically more sustainable than one with less than $100 million (at least). However, there are exceptions to this general rule, especially if the ETF issuer/provider is reputable and committed to growing the ETF’s FUM through effective marketing strategies and distribution to financial advisers.
Fees to consider
According to our numbers, the annual management fee on the DRUG ETF is 0.57%. The issuer, BetaShares, collects this fee automatically.
Meaning, if you invested $2,000 in the DRUG ETF for a full year you could expect to pay management fees of around $11.40. This fee is different from the fee you pay to your brokerage provider (e.g. CommSec, NabTrade, SelfWealth, etc.), which is the fee to buy or sell the ETF. In addition to a management fee charged by the issuer, be mindful to check the ‘spread‘ for the ETF.
A fee comparison
Fees aren’t the only key consideration for ETF investors, but it’s an easy thing to do. To understand if the ETF you’re looking at is too costly, compare it with other ETFs from the same sector, and against the industry average. For example, the average management fee (MER) across all of the ETFs covered by the Best ETFs Australia team was 0.5%, which is $10.00 per $2,000 invested. Keep in mind that small changes in the fees paid can make a big difference after 10 or 20 years. You should read the DRUG Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), available on the ETF issuer’s website, because it will detail the fees, tax implications and the latest information.
Side note: did you know you can access our full review of the DRUG ETF by clicking here?
What does the iShares ISO ETF do?
The iShares ISO ETF provides exposure to 200 small cap Australian shares. This is a low-cost way to access small Australian companies through a single fund.
With our numbers for Oct 2020, ISO’s FUM stood at $98.54 million. Given it has less than $100 million invested, ask yourself (or your adviser) if the ETF is still too small (and if you should wait to buy into it). If you’re concerned the ETF might not be established enough, compare it alongside one of the other Index sector ETFs, using our full list of ETFs.
Are the fees for the ISO ETF bad?
iShares, the ETF issuer, charges a yearly management fee of 0.55% for the ISO ETF. Meaning, if you invested $2,000 for a full 12-month period you could expect to pay a base management fee of around $11.00.
The management fee is above the average for all ETFs on our list of ASX ETFs, but keep in mind the ETF may be able to justify the higher price tag with superior performance over time.
If you want to learn more about the ISO ETF, you should know that you can access our free investment report.
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