Australian investors have plenty of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to choose from, but Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) and Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) offer two very different ways to build wealth. So which Betashares ETF comes out on top?
It depends on whether you want broad Australian exposure or a bigger bet on global growth. But when it comes to returns, there's a clear winner.
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A200: the Australian all-rounder
This top Betashares ETF aims to track the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), providing exposure to the 200 largest companies listed on the Australian share market.
Its biggest holdings include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), each accounting for around 11% of the portfolio, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) makes up close to 5%.
The ASX 200 represents roughly 80% of Australia's share market by value, making A200 a straightforward way for investors to gain broad exposure to the local economy.
A200 has delivered a return of almost 20% over the past five years. It is up around 4.5% year to date and 2.5% over the past 12 months.
For Australian investors wanting a low-cost foundation for their portfolio, A200 can make a lot of sense.
NDQ: the growth-focused alternative
This Betashares ETF with $9 billion under management has delivered considerably stronger returns.
The fund aims to track the Nasdaq 100 Index, which contains 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. That gives investors exposure to some of the world's biggest growth companies and significantly greater exposure to technology.
NDQ is up more than 10% year to date, compared with almost 5% for the ASX 200. Over 12 months, this Betashares ETF has gained around 14%, versus roughly 4% for the ASX 200.
The difference becomes even more striking over five years. NDQ has returned around 87%, compared with approximately 21% for the ASX 200.
Its portfolio includes major global technology and growth businesses, giving Australian investors a simple way to diversify beyond the domestic market.
And the winner is…?
Looking purely at returns, NDQ is the clear winner.
Its exposure to global technology and growth companies has produced substantially stronger performance than the broader Australian market over the past five years. But that doesn't automatically make NDQ the better ETF for every investor.
A200 offers broad exposure to Australian companies and can provide a useful core holding for an Australian portfolio. NDQ is more concentrated and carries greater exposure to growth and technology stocks, but it also offers access to some of the world's most powerful businesses.
For investors chasing historical growth and international diversification, NDQ looks like the more compelling bet. For those wanting a simple Australian market foundation, A200 remains hard to overlook.
