Last year, we ploughed a net $53 billion of new funds into ETFs, which was 75% higher than 2024, according to Betashares data.

Here are three ASX ETFs that delivered excellent returns last year.

Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE)

Over 2025, WIRE ETF returned 93% and finished the year at $22.20 apiece.

This ASX ETF is having an incredible run on the back of rising global demand for the red metal.

WIRE seeks to mirror the performance of the Solactive Global Copper Miners Total Return Index before fees.

The copper price soared 42% last year and hit a new record above US$6 per pound earlier this month.

Copper is essential for electrification and is playing a huge role in the green energy transition.

WIRE holds 39 stocks and offers good geographical diversification.

Investments are 37% Canada, 11% US, 10% Australia, 10% Hong Kong, 7% Japan, 6% Poland, 5% Sweden, and the list goes on.

The ASX copper shares among WIRE's investments include the ASX 200's largest pure-play, Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), at 3.2%.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), the world's largest copper producer, makes up 4% of WIRE's investments.

Capstone Copper Corp CDI (ASX: CSC) shares provide another 3%, and Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP) makes up 0.36%.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1) shares are in there, too, at 0.2%.

Vaneck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND)

Over 2025, DFND ETF returned 57% and closed out the year at $36.74 apiece.

DFND ETF holds 36 shares and tracks the MarketVector Global Defence Industry (AUD) Index before fees.

The top holding is Thales SA (FRA: CSF), a French company that produces advanced defence electronics and cybersecurity systems.

There's also RTX Corp (NYSE: RTX), a major US aerospace and missile systems manufacturer, and Leonardo SpA (FRA: FMNB), an Italian aerospace and defence company that builds helicopters.

DFND ETF also holds Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd (KRX: 012450), a South Korean company that makes military aircraft engines, artillery systems, and satellites, and Saab AB (FRA: SDV1), a Swedish aerospace and defence company.

Plato Global Alpha Fund Complex ETF (ASX: PGA1)

Last year, PGA1 ETF returned 31% and finished the year at $36.74 apiece.

PGA1 aims to outperform the MSCI World Net Returns Unhedged Index by 4% per annum, after fees, over the medium to long term.

The ETF holds more than 250 shares.

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory holds this ASX ETF in his self-managed super fund (SMSF).

Wielandt has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Last November, he explained the appeal of this ASX ETF on The Bull:

The Plato Global Alpha Fund, established initially as a managed fund in September 2021, operates as a long/short exchange traded fund.

The fund is overweight in financials and defence and is underweight in materials and energy.

Contributors to its performance in the past 12 months include Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO).

The price of the ETF has been steadily rising since mid-April and I like the outlook.

PGA1 ETF began trading on the ASX in November 2024.

The post 3 ASX ETFs that returned 31% to 93% in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Below, we look at three top funds targeting the rally in global equities and the resurgent uranium sector.

Two ASX ETFs to tap into the global equity rally

DP Wealth Advisory's Andrew Wielandt recently issued a buy recommendation for the Munro Concentrated Global Growth Active ETF (ASX: MCGG), courtesy of The Bull.

He noted that he holds MCGG in his own self-managed superannuation fund.

According to Wielandt:

This exchange traded fund owns between 20 and 40 global equities. It's unhedged, so performance will be assisted or hindered by movements in the Australian dollar given its overseas focus.

He noted that the fund's main holdings include Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA).

And investors have been enjoying some outsized gains.

Wielandt noted:

Performance has been strong, up 35% in the past 12 months and up 20% per annum since its inception in February 2022. The fund returned 4.6% for the month of October 2025. I believe the fund offers long term value.

The second ASX ETF Wielandt recommends buying today, which he also owns, is the Plato Global Alpha Fund (ASX: PGA1).

"The Plato Global Alpha Fund, established initially as a managed fund in September 2021, operates as a long/short exchange traded fund," he explained. Meaning the ETF can potentially benefit from a stock holding that's rising or falling in value.

Wielandt said:

It holds numerous positions – both long and short – with a goal to outperform the MSCI world net return unhedged index by 4% per annum over the medium to long term. The fund delivered a return of 3.35% in October, outperforming the MSCI World benchmark by 0.08%. The fund delivered a return of 41.93% in the past year.

The fund is overweight in financials and defence and is underweight in materials and energy. Contributors to its performance in the past 12 months include Nvidia, Microsoft and Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO). The price of the ETF has been steadily rising since mid-April and I like the outlook.

Investing in the global uranium revival

The third ASX ETF you might want to buy today invests in a group of companies that stand to benefit from the resurgent global demand for nuclear power.

Which sees Fairmont Equities' Michael Gable tipping the Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM).

"URNM provides exposure to a portfolio of mining, exploration and development companies in the global uranium industry," Gable said.

According to Gable:

This exchange traded fund continues to perform well as demand for uranium exceeds supply and, in our view, is likely to persist for several years. This puts upward pressure on uranium prices to the benefit of uranium mining companies.

And with the world's biggest economy, among others, looking to boost its nuclear energy capacity, this ASX ETF could catch some long-term tailwinds.

Gable concluded:

Recent announcements by the US government to expand nuclear power capacity is poised to generate even more demand for uranium. This ETF has risen from $5.83 on April 9 to trade at $10.88 on November 6. But we believe the ETF offers value at these levels given its bright outlook.

During the Monday lunch hour today, URNM is trading for $10.16 a share.

The post Analysts name 3 top ASX ETFs to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Now, let's take a look at three international ETFs that the broker thinks Aussie investors should be adding to their portfolios. Here's what it is saying about them:

L1 Capital International (Hedged) Active ETF (ASX: L1HI)

The first international ETF that could be a buy according to Bell Potter is the L1 Capital International (Hedged) Active ETF.

It notes that the fund is headed up by experienced portfolio manager David Steinthal, taking a blended quality and value investment style in its approach to markets.

The broker likes it due to its strategy following a high-conviction, benchmark unaware approach to investing, focusing on quality and value in security selection. It explains:

We like the prudent investment process of the manager and their stylistic preference to quality as a factor in security selection. This is supported by a highly experienced investment team which has shown capability in developing nuanced insights into markets whilst developing an investment process that ensures strict adherence to their investment style with minimal drift.

Plato Global Alpha Fund Complex ETF (ASX: PGA1)

Another international ETF that Bell Potter is bullish on right now is the Plato Global Alpha Fund Complex ETF.

It uses quantitative modelling to generate trading ideas to invest dynamically and generate returns in all market environments. This includes exploiting inefficient markets through a systematic approach. Bell Potter commented:

We like the managers commitment to continuous improvement, extensive experience in managing quantitative strategies and approach to factor modelling in developing an allocation Plato as a quantitative manager.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Finally, the popular Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF could be worth a look according to the broker.

It is invested in over 1,200 international stocks, providing significant diversification. Its holdings include many of the world's largest stocks listed in major developed countries. This includes Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Toyota, and LVMH (FRA: MOH).

Commenting on the fund, Bell Potter said:

We like VGS as a simple method of gaining global equity market exposure through a reputable issuer in Vanguard. Through this allocation, we have a preference for indices ex-Australia to reduce portfolio overlap whilst allocating to developed markets only given some inefficiencies in emerging market benchmarks.

The post 3 of the best international ETFs for Aussies to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Wielandt has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and owns the Toowoomba-based DP Wealth Advisory.

A former associate director at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Wielandt and his team manage $800 million in investment funds.

Let's find out which 2 ASX ETFs inspired Wielandt to invest for his retirement.

Which 2 ASX ETFs did this expert choose for his SMSF?

On The Bull this week, Wielandt revealed that he holds Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT) in his self-managed super fund.

As we reported, AQLT ETF is currently the best performer, in terms of price growth, within the Betashares ETF range for 2025 so far.

Wielandt explains why he invests in this ASX ETF:

This fund, comprising 40 high quality Australian companies, aims to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index over the long term.

Recent portfolio holdings include Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB).

The fund targets companies with a high return on equity (ROE), low leverage and relative earnings stability.

Fund returns after fees stood at 23.5 per cent for the 12 months to August 29.

Wielandt has a buy rating on this ASX ETF.

Betashares investment strategist, Tom Wickenden, says AQLT ETF ignores market capitalisation and focuses on quality:

This translates to higher exposure to names like Telstra and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and lower exposure to BHP and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), alongside quality-tilted names from the mid and small caps … including Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) and Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG).

Wickenden said AQLT ETF had outperformed the broader market since its inception in 2022, returning an average of 14.5% per year.

The other ASX ETF Wielandt invests in is the Plato Global Alpha Fund Complex ETF (ASX: PGA1).

This ASX ETF aims to outperform the MSCI World Net Returns Unhedged Index by 4% per annum (after fees) over the medium to long term.

Plato says the fund has "an all-weather investment style that seeks to deliver consistent alpha over the cycle".

Alpha refers to the level of outperformance or underperformance an equity achieves relative to an industry index.

Wielandt explained the appeal of this ASX ETF:

The fund invests in diversified companies across the globe offering value, growth and quality.

In August, the fund delivered a return of 1.59 per cent after fees, outperforming the MSCI world benchmark by 0.65 per cent.

Since its inception in September 2021, the fund has achieved an annualised return of 24.74 per cent after fees, outperforming the benchmark by 12.51 per cent per annum.

The ASX ETF's returns are unhedged in Australian dollars.

Wielandt added:

Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon are among the top 10 total return contributors in the past 12 months.

The company's diversified international exposure and potential outperformance above the benchmark are appealing.

Wielandt also has a buy rating on this ASX ETF.

The post 2 ASX ETFs that this expert holds in his SMSF — and why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.