Aussie investors are increasingly using ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to gain exposure to international share markets.
It's all so easy. Just one transaction and brokerage fee will net you a big basket of US shares or stocks in other overseas markets.
The trend is clear: The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) is the second most popular ASX ETF today.
The US stock market's outperformance in recent years has inspired this trend.
That outperformance repeated in FY25, but not to the same extent as previous years.
S&P 500 Index (SP: INX) shares lifted by 13.63% and delivered a total return of 15.16% in FY25.
By comparison, S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose by 9.97% and delivered a total return of 13.81%.
Here, we review newly published ASX data showing which ETFs holding overseas stocks produced the best returns for investors in FY25.
Total returns incorporate both share price gains and distributions (or dividends).
Image source: Getty Images
Top 6 international ETFs for total returns in FY25
According to the data, here are the top six ETFs:
BetaShares Video Games and Esports ETF (ASX: GAME)
The GAME ETF delivered an astronomical 12-month return of 90.33%. The historical distribution yield is 0.77%.
This ASX exchange-traded fund has a market cap of $13.47 million and a management expense ratio (MER) of 0.57%.
VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)
The ESPO ETF delivered a similarly stunning annual return of 66.41%. The historical distribution yield is 4.97%.
This ETF has a market cap of $95.65 million and a MER of 0.55%.
Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF — Currency Hedged (ASX: MNRS)
The MNRS ETF delivered a total annual return of 54.68%. The historical distribution yield is 0.26%.
This exchange-traded fund has a market cap of $102.13 million and a MER of 0.57%.
VanEck Gold Miners ET (ASX: GDX)
The VanEck Gold Miners ETF delivered an outstanding one-year return of 52.68%. The historical distribution yield is 0.8%.
A substantial lift in the gold commodity price was a significant tailwind for this ETF last financial year.
This ETF has a market cap of $800.7 million and a MER of 0.53%.
iShares China Large-Cap ETF (ASX: IZZ)
The IZZ ETF delivered a total annual return of 44.86%. The historical distribution yield is 3.75%.
This ETF has a market cap of $404.11 million and a MER of 0.6%.
Hyperion Global Growth Companies Fund – Active ETF (ASX: HYGG)
The HYGG ETF delivered a one-year return of 37.14%. There is no historical distribution.
This ETF has a market cap of $3,555.21 million and a MER of 0.7%.
