Zooming out a little further, we can see which sectors generally beat expectations and performed well. 

Investors can then target these sectors through individual shares or thematic ASX ETFs.

Here are some key sectors that performed well over earnings season, and funds that offer exposure to that sector. 

Big four bank recovery

It's well known that the big four banks are a cornerstone of Australia's economic landscape. 

But the performance of the big four banks surprised many this earnings season. 

In the past month: 

• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) have risen 12.8%
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) are up nearly 19%
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) have climbed 9.4%
• ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) are up 7.9%

Key earnings season highlights included: 

• NAB posted a 15% hike in its cash earnings for the first quarter of FY26 and a 6% increase in revenue.
• CBA reported a 6% increase in cash net profit to $5,445 million. The bank also lifted its interim dividend by 4%.
• Westpac reported a 5% increase in unaudited statutory net profit and a 6% increase in net profit excluding notable items.
• ANZ reported a first-quarter cash profit of $1.94 billion, up 75% from the second-half average of FY25.

It's worth noting, some brokers ratings indicate valuations on the big four banks now look inflated.

However,  this earnings season has already proven investors are more than happy to buy big four bank shares regardless. 

Which ASX ETFs include the big four?

If you are looking to target these companies through an ASX ETF, there are a couple of options. 

Firstly, investors might consider VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB). 

80% of the fund is allocated to the big four, in addition to three other ASX bank shares that make up the rest. 

It has risen 8.7% in the last month. 

Another option is the BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN). 

While it doesn't only include banks, the big four make up 75% of the total fund. 

The other 25% is made up of other ASX-listed companies in the financial sector. 

It has risen almost 9% in the last month. 

Miners climb

Broadly speaking, blue-chip energy and materials/miners also performed well this earnings season. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) and S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) are up roughly 7% in February.

This has included steady gains from some of Australia's biggest companies: 

• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are up 10% in a month.
• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have lifted 14%.
• Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are up over 5%.

For exposure to these companies, some ASX ETFs to consider include: 

• SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources Fund (ASX: OZR) includes roughly 50% weighting to these three companies. 
• BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE) also has these three companies as its largest three by exposure. 

The post How to target earnings season winners with ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This was largely in response to persistently high inflation. 

This RBA decision impacts many aspects of the Australian economy. 

When a decision like this is made, it's prudent for investors to look at where opportunity may lie. 

It's useful to think about what types of ETFs may benefit or be more resilient in that environment. 

Rate hikes can pressure some sectors (like high-growth tech or bonds) while supporting banks, commodities, and floating-rate assets.

Here are three ASX ETFs that may be poised to benefit from increased interest rates. 

BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

The case for this ASX ETF is pretty straightforward. 

When the RBA raises the cash rate, financial companies – especially banks – often see improved profitability. 

That's because banks can typically pass higher rates onto borrowers faster than they raise deposit costs, at least initially, which can widen net interest margins (NIM) and boost earnings. 

This fund has strong exposure to this sector. 

It includes a portfolio of the largest ASX-listed companies in the financial sector. 

This includes the 'Big 4' banks and insurance companies, while excluding Real Estate Investment Trusts.

In fact, more than 70% of the portfolio is comprised of Australia's largest four banks. 

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources Fund (ASX: OZR)

During rate rises, investors often rotate toward sectors tied to commodities (materials, energy, gold) which can outperform as inflationary pressures build and commodity prices strengthen.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to Australia's resource sector (miners, energy). 

These stocks have historically reacted well when global demand and commodity prices are strong.

This fund aims to track the returns of the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index.

At the time of writing, it is made up of 51 holdings, with its largest exposure being to:

• BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) 35.16%
• Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) 7.80%
• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) 6.64%

BetaShares Global Banks ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: BNKS)

Australia isn't the only country that operates with a central bank cash rate target. 

As central banks tighten policy, bank profitability in major economies like the US and Europe often strengthens, which directly supports the earnings of the banks held in BNKS.

For investors who anticipate global economies may also increase rates this year, this ASX ETF comprises the largest global banks (ex-Australia), hedged into Australian dollars.

This also provides international diversification, so an investor would not be relying solely on Australian rate decisions.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to target following the RBA interest rate hike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors in the Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) will be among those paid today.

The gold miners ETF was one of the best performers of 2025, delivering a whopping total return of 149%.

MNRS tracks the performance of the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

The 65% rally in the gold price last year, building on the 24% lift in 2024, was a big tailwind behind MNRS last year.

Investors in Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR) will also be paid today.

ARMR is benefitting from a big increase in global defence spending amid volatile geopolitics these days.

It tracks the VettaFi Global Defence Leaders Index and gave investors a total return of 48% last year.

Dividends to be paid today

Here are the dividends that investors will receive, rounded to two decimal places, today.

The Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) will pay $1.15 per unit with 60% franking.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT) will pay 47 cents per unit with 93% franking.

The Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR) will pay 32 cents per unit.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) will pay 3 cents per unit.

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) will pay 67 cents per unit.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC) will pay 6 cents per unit with 106% franking.

Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) will pay 30 cents per unit with 22% franking.

The Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) will pay 4 cents per unit.

Betashares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR) will pay 29 cents per unit with 65% franking.

But wait, there's more…

The Betashares Geared Australian Equity Fund – Hedge Fund (ASX: GEAR) will pay 45 cents per unit with 225% franking.

Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester Active ETF (ASX: HVST) will pay 6 cents per unit with 74% franking.

The Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD) will pay 12 cents per unit with 66% franking.

Betashares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN) will pay 28 cents per unit with 89% franking.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) will pay 9 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE) will pay 11 cents per unit with 101% franking.

Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM) will pay 3 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Top 20 Equity Yield Maximiser Fund (ASX: YMAX) will pay 13 cents per unit with 31% franking.

Betashares Global Banks Currency Hedged (ASX: BNKS) will pay 11 cents per unit.

Betashares Global Energy Companies Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: FUEL) will pay 9 cents per unit.

The post Own MNRS or ARMR ETFs? Here's why it's a big day for you appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors who own these Betashares ETFs below will receive their dividends on 19 January.

The ex-dividend date is today, and the record date is Monday.

How much in dividends will you receive?

Here are the dividends that investors will receive, rounded to the nearest cent, on 19 January.

The Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) will pay $1.15 per unit with 60% franking.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT) will pay 47 cents per unit with 93% franking.

The Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR) will pay 32 cents per unit.

The Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) will pay 3 cents per unit.

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) will pay 67 cents per unit.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC) will pay 6 cents per unit with 106% franking.

Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) will pay 30 cents per unit with 22% franking.

The Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) will pay 4 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR) will pay 29 cents per unit with 65% franking.

More ASX ETFs paying dividends soon

The Betashares Geared Australian Equity Fund – Hedge Fund (ASX: GEAR) will pay 45 cents per unit with 225% franking.

The Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester Active ETF (ASX: HVST) will pay 6 cents per unit with 74% franking.

The Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD) will pay 12 cents per unit with 66% franking.

The Betashares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN) will pay 28 cents per unit with 89% franking.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) will pay 9 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE) will pay 11 cents per unit with 101% franking.

Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM) will pay 3 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Top 20 Equity Yield Maximiser Fund (ASX: YMAX) will pay 13 cents per unit with 31% franking.

Betashares Global Banks Currency Hedged (ASX: BNKS) will pay 11 cents per unit.

Betashares Global Energy Companies Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: FUEL) will pay 9 cents per unit.

Want to reinvest your ASX ETF dividends?

A distribution reinvestment plan (DRP) is available for eligible Betashares ETFs.

Betashares' registrar, MUFG Corporate Markets, must receive your DRP election by 5pm AEST on 6 January.

The post Own Betashares ASX ETFs? Here's your next dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's always fun to focus on the winners. However looking at traditionally strong sectors that underperformed this year can help reveal future opportunities. 

One way to target these sectors is by looking at ASX ETFs that track these indexes or themes. 

Here are three ASX ETFs that have historically performed well, however underperformed this year. Could they bounce back in 2026?

BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

This ASX ETF aims to track the performance of the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (before fees and expenses). 

The Index provides exposure to leading ASX-listed companies in a range of tech-related market segments such as information technology, consumer electronics, online retail and medical technology.

The fund has returned almost 14% per annum (after fees) since launching in 2020. 

Since its inception, it is up more than 80%. 

However in 2025 it is down 12.6%. 

It's no surprise this fund has struggled, as its largest exposure is to WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU), and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO). 

However these technology companies have all been tipped to rebound next year, making this ASX ETF a tempting buy-low option. 

Vanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF (ASX: VAP)

This fund seeks to track the return of the S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index. 

This fund offers a diversified blend of Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITs) with residential, office, retail, and industrial assets.

It is made up of 31 holdings, with its largest allocation being to Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) which makes up roughly 33% of the fund. 

In 2025 the fund has risen by a modest 2.2%. 

It has dropped almost 8% since late October. 

However since its inception in 2010, it has returned approximately 10% per annum.

BetaShares FTSE RAFI U.S. 1000 ETF (ASX: QUS)

This fund provides exposure to 500 leading listed US companies, with each holding in the index weighted equally. 

This ASX ETF rose just 1.9% in 2025 despite the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rising almost 17% in the same span. 

It appears that this fund's equal weight method worked against it this year. 

However, according to Betashares, it has generated annualised returns of 13.29% over the past 5 years.

Therefore, it could be another candidate to rebound next year. 

The post Could these ASX ETFs be set for a rebound in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's check them out.

Top-performing ETFs within the Betashares stable this year

Here are the three best performers, presented in order of 2025 capital growth.

1. Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

This ASX ETF is 12.8% higher over the 2025 calendar year. AQLT ETF closed at $34.84, down 0.46%, on Thursday.

The Betashares Australian Quality ETF provides exposure to 40 ASX shares with strong business fundamentals.

The AQLT ETF tracks the Solactive Australia Quality Select Index.

The index selects companies for inclusion based on three financial metrics — high return on equity, low debt, and stable earnings.

Currently, the top holdings are Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) at 6.5% of funds invested, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) at 6%, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) at 5.5%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) at 5%, and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) at 5%.

Top sector allocations are financials (37%), consumer discretionary (14%), materials (14%), healthcare (10.5%), and technology (8%).

The AQLT ETF distributes income semi-annually. The management fee is 0.35% per annum.

Since its inception in 2022, this ETF has delivered an average annual return (including dividends) of 14.5%.

2. Betashares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

This ASX ETF is currently 12% higher over the 2025 calendar year. QFN ETF closed at $18, down 0.88%, on Thursday.

The Betashares Australian Financials Sector ETF provides concentrated access to Australia's largest financial companies, excluding real estate investment trusts (REITs).

This concentrated exposure was highly beneficial for investors in FY25, given that financials were the best performer of the 11 sectors.

That made ASX QFN among the 6 best-performing ASX ETFs holding Australian shares in FY25.

QFN tracks the Solactive Australia Financials ex-REITs Sector Index, which captures banks, insurers, and diversified financial companies.

QFN ETF's portfolio is anchored by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX: CBA) at 22% of funds invested.

The next top four holdings are Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (ASX: WBC) shares at 10%, NAB at 10%, ANZ at 8%, and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) at 6%.

The sector composition is dominated by banks at 72%, with smaller weightings in insurance, asset management, and market exchanges.

The fund distributes income semi-annually. The management fee is 0.34% per year.

Since its inception in 2010, this ASX ETF has delivered an average annual return of 10.2%.

3. Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

This ASX ETF is currently 9.2% higher over the 2025 calendar year. ATEC ETF closed at $32.29, down 0.15%, on Thursday.

The Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF provides exposure to major companies that are heavily involved in high-tech.

The fund aims to track the performance of the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX).

But don't be fooled by the name.

The ATEC ETF is much broader than just tech shares. In fact, only 53% of the ATEC ETF is invested in information technology companies.

For example, ATEC ETF's largest holding is Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) at 9.9% of funds invested.

That's an ASX 200 healthcare sector stock, but the company develops software for the medical profession, so it's in the All Tech Index.

The ETF's second-biggest holding is Car Group Limited (ASX: CAR) at 9.3%.

That's an ASX 200 communications sector share, but it's in the index because Car Group runs the online ad business, carsales.com.au.

ATEC ETF's next top three holdings by weight are Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) at 9.2%, WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) at 8.8%, and Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) at 8.6%.

ATEC ETF has an annual distribution and charges a total fee of 0.48% per annum.

Since its inception in 2020, this ASX ETF has delivered an average annual return of 17.9%.

Fun fact: Did you know the ASX All Tech Index outperformed US tech stocks by 2:1 in FY25? (Aussie, Aussie, Aussie — Oy! Oy! Oy!)

The post Betashares reveals its 3 fastest-rising ASX ETFs of 2025 so far appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I often advocate for these to make up some portion of an investor's portfolio because they can take some of the guesswork out of long-term decisions. 

For example, investors may learn that in Australia, many of the largest, market-dominant stocks are banks. 

How dominant are bank stocks?

At the time of writing, 5 of the top 10 companies by market capitalisation are part of the bank/financial sectors. 

This might prompt investors to compare the big four banks, or other finance stocks and try to decide which one to add to their portfolio. 

The challenge, of course, is predicting which will rise the furthest in the long term. 

The benefit of ASX ETFs is that you can actually get exposure to all of them in one trade. 

Here are two examples that track this sector that have brought big returns over the past year. 

BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

As the name suggests, this fund tracks the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) comprising the largest ASX-listed companies in the financial sector, including the 'Big 4' banks and insurance companies, but excluding real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Its largest exposure (31.3% weighting) is to Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). 

At the time of writing, there are 28 companies in the portfolio. 

Over the last year, it has risen an impressive 18.66% and ended FY25 as one of the top 6 best performing ASX ETFs with Australian companies. 

This means a hypothetical investment of $10,000 a year ago is now worth $11,866 (before fees). 

That is more than $1,800 of profit in just 12 months. 

VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

This fund is even more concentrated than the previous fund. 

It contains 7 ASX-listed banks and financial institutions.

According to Vaneck, the fund always has a minimum of 6 holdings, with a goal of a maximum weighting of 21% for any one company. It also comes with an average dividend yield of 4.05%.

Based on this ethos, it has a close to even split between the big 4 banks and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), which all have weightings between 16-21%. 

Additionally, it has a small exposure (between 1.2% and1.6%) to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) and Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ).

The fund has risen an impressive 15.45% over the last 12 months. 

This means a hypothetical investment of $10,000 a year ago is now worth $11,545 (before fees). 

The post $10,000 invested in these ASX bank-focused ETFs a year ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One distinct positive of ASX ETF investing is getting exposure to overseas markets. 

However, there are also funds that are designed to track specific sectors here in Australia. 

This can be a way to increase your exposure to a select few companies in a sector you believe has upside. 

There are two such funds that vastly outperformed the Australian market and doubled in the last 5 years. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 43.89% over the last five years. 

Let's look at the two. 

VanEck Vectors Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

Australian banks make up a vital portion of the domestic economy, and it's no surprise that this ETF has outperformed over the last five years, given the sharp rise from the big four. 

The fund is made up of 7 holdings with the following allocation at the time of writing: 

• ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ): 20.11%
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC): 20.02%
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA): 19.74%
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB): 19.69%
• Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG): 17.62%
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN): 1.64%
• Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ): 1.23%

This fund's share price was hovering around $20 each in 2020, and today sits at $40.70. 

MVB has surged over the past five years thanks to strong fundamentals, high dividend income from Australia's major banks, and margin expansion driven by rising interest rates since 2021.

It also comes with a 4% dividend yield. 

BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

This fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) comprising the largest ASX-listed companies in the financial sector, including the big four banks and insurance companies, but excluding real estate investment trusts.

During 2020, its share price was as low as $7.00 each. 

Today, shares are trading at $17.48. 

The big four banks represent roughly 70% of the fund, which has contributed to its sharp rise. 

It also has small exposure to insurance companies such as QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) and Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN). 

The post Australian ASX ETFs that have doubled in the last 5 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

How about the new Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR), which only began trading in October last year?

If you're invested in any Betashares exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today you'll be rewarded with your next lot of dividends.

Here is how much you'll receive in your bank account by the close of business on Wednesday.

Dividends for A200, NDQ and ARMR ETFs

The A200 ETF tracks the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) before fees.

It provides exposure to Australia's top listed companies, including Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL).

A200 will pay $1.07576468 per unit with 56.21% franking.

ASX NDQ tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX) before fees.

This ETF provides exposure to global household names like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

The ASX NDQ will pay 49.021982 cents per unit.

The ARMR ETF seeks to track the VettaFi Global Defence Leaders Index before fees.

ARMR provides exposure to up to 60 companies that derive more than 50% of their revenue from defence equipment or services.

The ETF's top holdings are Rheinmetall AG (ETR: RHM), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), and BAE Systems PLC (FRA: BSP).

ARMR ETF will pay a maiden dividend of 53.546615 cents per unit.

What about other Betashares ASX ETFs?

Here is a summary of the dividends that people invested in this selection of Betashares ETFs will receive today.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT) will pay 78.670012 cents per unit with 45.7% franking.

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) will pay 2.7997434 cents per unit.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC) will pay 62.133156 cents per unit with 9.65% franking.

Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) will pay 27.862004 cents per unit with 21.31% franking.

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ) will pay 28.781362 cents per unit.

Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF (ASX: ERTH) will pay 4.524139 cents per unit.

The Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) will pay 30.660703 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR) will pay 46.17632 cents per unit with 31.18% franking.

Here's a few more…

The Betashares Video Games and Esports ETF (ASX: GAME) will pay 14.695966 cents per unit.

The Betashares Geared Australian Equity Fund – Hedge Fund (ASX: GEAR) will pay 18.921508 cents per unit with 389.47% franking.

Betashares Geared U.S. Equity Fund – Currency Hedged (ASX: GGUS) will pay 87.057737 cents per unit.

The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) will pay 43.465958 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN) will pay 21.176497 cents per unit with 57.69% franking.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) will pay 67.851406 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE) will pay 10.181135 cents per unit with 82.43% franking.

Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM) will pay 19.732154 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Top 20 Equity Yield Maximiser Fund (ASX: YMAX) will pay 13.102915 cents per unit with 40.39% franking.

The post Own ASX A200, NDQ, or ARMR ETFs? It's dividend payday for you! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Today, 425 ETFs are trading on the ASX and CBOE exchanges, according to the latest monthly ETF report from BetaShares.

Australian investors love ETFs for their ease and instant diversification.

Not to mention the single brokerage fee it takes to buy one big basket of ASX (or international) shares in just one transaction.

Here, we review newly published ASX data showing which ETFs holding ASX shares produced the best returns for investors in FY25.

Best 6 ASX ETFs for total returns in FY25

According to the data, here are the top six ETFs:

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials ex A-REIT Fund (ASX: OZF)

The OZF ETF delivered a total one-year return of 30.76%. The historical distribution yield is 3.8%.

Its success in FY25 represents the ASX 200 financial sector's status as the No. 1 market sector of the year.

This ETF has a management expense ratio (MER) of 0.34%.

The SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials ex A-REIT Fund closed FY25 at $30.52 per unit.

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The ATEC ETF delivered a total annual return of 30.44%. The historical distribution yield is 2.12%.

This ETF's second-place ranking is befitting, given that technology was the No. 2 market sector of FY25.

The ATEC ETF seeks to track the performance of the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) before fees.

In terms of capital growth, ASX tech shares outperformed US tech stocks by 2:1 in FY25.

This exchange-traded fund has a MER of 0.48%.

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF closed at $31.65 per unit on 30 June.

BetaShares Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

The QFN ETF delivered a one-year return of 30.17%. The historical distribution yield is 2.75%.

This ETF has a MER of 0.34%.

The BetaShares Financials Sector ETF ended the financial year at $18.12 per unit.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

The MVB ETF delivered a total annual return of 24.86%. The historical distribution yield is 4.13%.

This ETF has a MER of 0.28%.

The VanEck Australian Banks ETF closed at $42.86 per unit on 30 June.

Betashares Geared Australian Equities Complex ETF (ASX: GEAR)

The GEAR ETF delivered a total one-year return of 24.72%. The historical distribution yield is 1.45%.

This ETF has a MER of 0.8%.

The BetaShares Australian Quality ETF ended the financial year at $34.10 per unit.

VanEck Australian Property ETF (ASX: MVA)

The MVA ETF delivered a total annual return of 22.92%. The historical distribution yield is 4%.

Just one bank dominated the news for share price growth last year: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares (up 45%).

This ETF has a MER of 0.35%.

VanEck Australian Property ETF closed at $24.75 per unit on 30 June.

The post Top 6 ETFs holding ASX shares that produced the best returns in FY25 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I believe it's extremely difficult for individuals (especially new investors) to outperform indexes like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) or the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) over a long period of time. 

Historically, these indexes have roughly provided annualised returns of 10-12%, depending on which period you look at. 

I believe ASX ETFs give you a simple and cost effective way to buy into these indexes. 

On top of that, sprinkling in a thematic fund or two tailored to a sector you believe can grow and you have a pretty well diversified portfolio. 

However there are plenty of ETF providers and funds to choose from. 

An ETF provider (also known as an ETF issuer) is a financial company that creates, manages, and markets exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

These providers design the ETF, determine its investment strategy, and are responsible for ensuring it operates according to its objectives.

One of the most common providers is Betashares. 

BetaShares is currently the largest Australian-owned ETF provider on the ASX – in terms of the number of ETFs offered.

With that in mind, let's look at the best performing Betashares ASX ETFs over the past year. 

Betashares S&P ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The recent success of the Aussie tech sector has been well-documented.

In fact, it even outperformed the US tech sector in FY25. 

It's no surprise that this Betashares tracking Australian technology was the provider's best performing ASX ETF. 

It has risen almost 30% in the last year. 

At the time of writing it provides exposure to 42 leading ASX-listed companies in a range of tech-related market segments such as information technology, consumer electronics, online retail and medical technology.

Its largest holdings include Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC). 

This fund could be ideal for an investor optimistic about the continued growth of the Australian tech sector. 

BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

The ASX 200 financials sector was the top-performing market sector of FY25. 

This Betashares ASX ETF was right behind ATEC ETF, rising 23.84% in the past 12 months. 

The success of the fund was driven by its exposure to the largest ASX-listed companies in the financial sector, including the 'Big 4' banks and insurance companies. 

It's worth noting the fund actively excludes Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Roughly 60% of the fund is made up of the big four banks. 

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

AQLT's ETF selects roughly 40 Australian companies based on 'quality' metrics of high return on equity, low leverage and relative earnings stability.

It has tended to have different sector weightings to benchmark Australian equities indices, with higher exposure to sectors such as consumer discretionary and lower exposure to the materials (mining) sector, offering potential portfolio diversification benefits.

The fund is made up of a fairly evenly distributed portfolio. Currently no holding represents more than 6.1% of the fund out of the 39 total. 

It rose almost 16% in the last year. 

The post Best performing Betashares ASX ETFs over the last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors who own these Betashares ETFs below will receive their dividends on 16 July.

According to the schedule, the ex-dividend date is 1 July, and the record date is 2 July.

Dividend pay day for Betashares ETF investors

Here is a summary of the dividend amounts that people invested in this selection of Betashares ETFs will receive on 16 July.

The Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) will pay $1.07576468 per unit with 56.21% franking.

Betashares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) will pay 49.021982 cents per unit.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT) will pay 78.670012 cents per unit with 45.7% franking.

The Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR) will pay 53.546615 cents per unit.

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA) will pay 2.7997434 cents per unit.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC) will pay 62.133156 cents per unit with 9.65% franking.

Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) will pay 27.862004 cents per unit with 21.31% franking.

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ) will pay 28.781362 cents per unit.

Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF (ASX: ERTH) will pay 4.524139 cents per unit.

The Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) will pay 30.660703 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR) will pay 46.17632 cents per unit with 31.18% franking.

Nope, not done yet!

The Betashares Video Games and Esports ETF (ASX: GAME) will pay 14.695966 cents per unit.

The Betashares Geared Australian Equity Fund – Hedge Fund (ASX: GEAR) will pay 18.921508 cents per unit with 389.47% franking.

Betashares Geared U.S. Equity Fund – Currency Hedged (ASX: GGUS) will pay 87.057737 cents per unit.

The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) will pay 43.465958 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN) will pay 21.176497 cents per unit with 57.69% franking.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) will pay 67.851406 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE) will pay 10.181135 cents per unit with 82.43% franking.

Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM) will pay 19.732154 cents per unit.

The Betashares Australian Top 20 Equity Yield Maximiser Fund (ASX: YMAX) will pay 13.102915 cents per unit with 40.39% franking.

Want to reinvest your ASX ETF dividends?

A distribution reinvestment plan (DRP) is available for all of these Betashares ETFs.

Betashares must receive your DRP election by 5pm AEST on 3 July.

The post Dividend alert: What Betashares ASX ETFs are paying and when appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Which exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are they? And what might the next 5 years look like? 

Let's see.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

At the time of writing, the VanEck Australian Banks ETF is up 100.53% over the past five years. For an annual management fee of 0.28%, the MVB ETF comprises seven Australian banks, including the big four banks. Each of the big four banks represents approximately 20% of the fund, while Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) has a 17% allocation.

The ASX banking sector has performed incredibly well over the past few years. In particular, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has defied analyst expectations and risen 172% in five years. Today, it reached another new all-time high of $192.

However, analysts and fund managers continue to warn that the ASX banking sector is overvalued. Macquarie currently has 2 neutral ratings and 2 underperform ratings on the big four banks. This suggests that the next five years are unlikely to match the past five years.

BetaShares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

The BetaShares Australian Financials Sector ETF is up 108.05% over the past 5 years, at the time of writing. For an annual management fee of 0.34%, the QFN ETF tracks the largest ASX financials stocks (including the big four banks), as well as insurance companies. 

With 28 holdings, it is more diversified than the MVB ETF. However, with 70% of the ETF invested in the big four banks, its forward returns are likely to be correlated with those of the MVB ETF.

Betashares Global Banks Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: BNKS)

The Betashares Global Banks Currency Hedged ETF is up 103.36% over 5 years. For an annual management expense of 0.47%, investors gain exposure to the world's largest banks outside of Australia in a single trade. 

This ETF is very well diversified, with 60 holdings. As of 30 May, its largest holdings were JP Morgan & Chase (7.6%), Bank of America (7.3%), and Wells Fargo (6.1%). 

Yesterday, I discussed JP Morgan relative to CBA shares. As explained, JP Morgan is arguably a much higher-quality bank and is trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple that is less than half of CBA (14 vs 33). By preferencing Australian banks (and Australian bank ETFs) in spite of high valuations, ASX investors are demonstrating a high level of home bias. In the case of ASX bank stocks, this could dramatically impact forward returns.

Based on valuation, the BNKS ETF is likely to outperform the MVB ETF and the QFN ETF over the next 5 years. 

One disadvantage of investing in foreign stocks is currency risk. However, the BNKS ETF is hedged to Australian dollars, reducing this risk. 

Investors looking for banking exposure or ASX financials ETFs over the next 5 years might like to consider the BNKS ETF.

The post 3 ASX financials ETFs that have doubled in 5 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The big four banks are: 

• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
• National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)
• ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)
• Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

According to InfoChoice, they represent around 70% of the total market share in the country's financial sector.

There could be many reasons a new investor might look towards these options. 

Chances are you recognise the name, understand what products and services they offer and maybe even bank with them yourself. 

But it might be difficult to decide which one should be your first investment. Let's compare four. 

Performance

Over the last 12 months, CBA has brought investors the biggest returns, rising 44% over that span.

Westpac has risen roughly 22%, ANZ has risen 5.5% and NAB has risen 4.4%.

It's important to note that past performance doesn't mean it will continue on that trajectory.

Bank Size 

Between the four, Commonwealth Bank is the largest in terms of market capitalisation.

Market cap can help investors understand how big a company is (compared to others) and its risk level. Generally, but not always, bigger companies are more stable compared to start-ups.

Market cap: 

• CBA: $283.92 billion. 
• Westpac: $114.51 billion.
• NAB: $109.79 billion 
• ANZ: $89.32 billion. 

When we look outside the share market, data from APRA shows the total assets (in billions) of the big four are: 

• CBA: $1,122.379
• Westpac: $1,071.240
• NAB: $902.381
• ANZ: $757.860

This reflects assets such as loans, deposits, and other financial holdings.

Dividends 

Companies pay dividends to shareholders from the profit they make.

Some investors may choose to focus on investing in high-dividend paying companies as a way to generate income, rather than focussing on projecting if a stock price may rise. 

Or, you could use dividends as a way to differentiate between two companies you feel similarly about. 

If you had $5,000 invested in each of the big 4 banks shares you might receive:

CBA has a yield of 2.8% so you'd receive approximately $70 every six months.

Westpac has a yield of 4.51% so you'd receive around $112.75 every six months.

NAB's yield is 4.63% which means you'd likely receive about $115.75 every six months.

ANZ's yield is 5.47% so you'd likely receive about $136.75 every six months.

How to buy all the big 4 banks shares at once

If you want to have exposure to all of the big 4 bank, or can't decide which one to purchase, another option to consider is an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

Rather than individual shares, an ETF is a collection or "basket" of securities. This means with one trade you can gain exposure to hundreds or even thousands of companies. 

You can buy and sell units in an ETF the same way you purchase shares through a stockbroker or via an online share trading platform. 

Because the big 4 banks make up a large portion of the Australian economy, there are several ETFs that include all four: 

BetaShares S&P/ASX 200 Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN) tracks the performance of the largest ASX-listed companies in the financial sector. The big four banks make up almost 70% of the portfolio. 

iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) tracks the performance of the largest 200 companies on the ASX. The big 4 banks make up more than 24% of the portfolio. 

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) tracks the return of the 300 largest companies on the ASX. The big 4 banks make up more than 20% of the portfolio. 

The post Should new investors spend their first $5,000 on the big 4 banks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are now 399 ETFs trading on the ASX and CBOE exchanges, according to BetaShares.

Aussie investors clearly love the ease, convenience, and instant diversification that ETFs provide.

In this article, we review newly published figures from the ASX documenting which ETFs holding Aussie stocks performed best in the calendar year 2024.

Best 6 ASX ETFs for total returns in 2024

According to the data, here are the top six ETFs:

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The ATEC ETF delivered a total annual return of 42.21%. The historical distribution yield is 0.37%.

This exchange-traded fund has a market cap of $317.05 million and a management expense ratio (MER) of 0.48%. Its success in 2024 represents the tech sector's status as the No. 1 market sector of the year.

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF is trading at $29.23 on Thursday, up 1.18%.

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials ex A-REIT Fund (ASX: OZF)

The OZF ETF delivered a total one-year return of 35.68%. The historical distribution yield is 5.02%.

This ETF has a market cap of $56.93 million and a MER of 0.34%.

The SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials ex A-REIT Fund is up 2.4% at $28.33 per unit.

BetaShares Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

The QFN ETF delivered a one-year return of 34.5%. The historical distribution yield is 2.66%.

This ASX exchange-traded fund has a market cap of $91.45 million and a MER of 0.34%.

The BetaShares Financials Sector ETF is trading at $16.40, up 2.63%.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

The MVB ETF delivered a total annual return of 33.1%. The historical distribution yield is 4.9%.

It has a market cap of $221.5 million and a MER of 0.28%.

The VanEck Australian Banks ETF is trading 2.1% higher at $39.21 at the time of writing.

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

The AQLT ETF delivered a total one-year return of 24.3%. The historical distribution yield is 4.01%.

This ASX ETF has a market cap of $337.8 million and a MER of 0.35%.

The BetaShares Australian Quality ETF is trading at $30.9, up 1.47%.

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property (ASX: SLF)

The SLF ETF delivered a total annual return of 19.08%. The historical distribution yield is 3.59%.

This ETF has a market cap of $526.16 million and a MER of 0.16%.

The SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Listed Property is trading at $13.81, up 2.37% at the time of writing.

More about the No. 1 ETF

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF seeks to track the performance of the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) before fees.

The ETF gives investors exposure to leading tech-related market segments, including information technology, consumer electronics, online retail, and medical technology.

The top five holdings by weight are Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU), Car Group Limited (ASX: CAR), Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME).

The post Top 6 ASX ETFs holding Aussie stocks that delivered the best returns in 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

About $198.3 billion is invested in ETFs, according to the latest update from ETF provider BetaShares.

ETFs are an increasingly popular investment method, providing instant diversification in a single trade. New figures from the ASX quantify the total returns of ETFs over the past three financial years.

In this article, we reveal the top five performers for total investor returns over the period FY22 to FY24.

Top 5 ASX ETFs for total returns

This article focuses on ETFs that invest only in Australian shares. They include index-based and sector-based ETFs, as well as those operating under a specific strategy designed by their ETF provider.

We've included each ETF's management expense ratio (MER), which is the fee you pay for each provider's management of the ETF.

Fees can vary widely between providers, so this is always worth checking out in your research.

According to the data, here are the top five ETFs:

BetaShares Geared Australian Equity (Hedge Fund) ETF (ASX: GEAR)

The BetaShares Geared Australian Equity (Hedge Fund) ETF returned an average of 12.79% per annum. The historical distribution yield is 2.25%. The MER is 0.8%.

The GEAR ETF's top three exposures are BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares at 9.8% weighting, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX: CBA) at 8.7%, and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) at 5.9%.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

The VanEck Australian Banks ETF returned an average of 12.79% per annum. The historical distribution yield is 5.46%. The MER is 0.28%.

The MVB ETF's top three exposures are National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares at 20.34% weighting, CBA shares at 20.02%, and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) at 19.89%.

SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials EX A-REIT ETF (ASX: OZF)

The SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Financials ex-REIT ETF returned an average of 11.86% per annum. The historical distribution yield is 4.6%. The MER is 0.34%.

The OZF ETF's top three exposures are CBA shares at 29.25% weighting, NAB at 15.42%, and Westpac at 12.98%. This financials ETF excludes real estate investment trusts (REITs).

BetaShares Australian Financials Sector ETF (ASX: QFN)

The BetaShares Australian Financials Sector ETF returned an average of 11.63% per annum. The historical distribution yield is 3.1%. The MER is 0.34%.

The QFN ETF's top three exposures are CBA shares at 29.2% weighting, NAB at 15%, and Westpac stock at 13%.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF returned an average of 10.91% per annum. The historical distribution yield is 5.84%. The MER is 0.25%.

The VHY ETF's top three exposures are CBA shares at 9.89% weighting, BHP at 8.82%, and NAB at 7.75%.

The post Which Australian shares ASX ETFs have dished out the best returns over 3 years? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.