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HACK

$12.22+1.83%Technology37/100
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BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF · BetaShares

Data as at 29 March 2026

TL;DR

Tracks global cybersecurity companies — the firms providing network security, identity management, and threat detection products to governments and corporations.

MER (Annual Fee)
0.67%
#5 lowest in Technology
1Y Return
-7.5%
3Y Return (p.a.)
+13.2%
Dividend Yield
3.72%
Trailing 12 months
AUM
$1,099.8M
Assets under management
Avg Daily Turnover
$1.5M
Avg shares × unit price
Unit Price
$12.22
As at 29 March 2026
Provider
BetaShares
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Strategy

Follows the Nasdaq ISE Cyber Security Index, which requires companies to generate a significant portion of revenue from cybersecurity products and services. Managed by BetaShares.

Top Holdings

Key Fact

Global cybersecurity spending exceeds US$200 billion annually and grows each year regardless of economic cycles. Every major data breach or ransomware attack tends to accelerate corporate security budgets.

Suited for

Investors who believe global cybersecurity spending will grow structurally, regardless of economic conditions. Cyberattacks on governments and corporations are increasing, and regulatory requirements for security spending are tightening.

Risks

Cybersecurity companies often trade at high valuations relative to current earnings. The sector fell over 40% in 2022 during the technology sell-off, demonstrating it is not immune to broad market downturns.

HACK Comparisons

ETFCheck Score37/100
Fees (40%)0
Fund Size (25%)50
Liquidity (20%)69
Yield (15%)75
How scores are calculated →
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0.48% MER
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0.57% MER
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0.57% MER
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Frequently Asked Questions - HACK

Why does HACK charge a 0.67% MER when other BetaShares thematic ETFs charge 0.57%?+
HACK's higher 0.67% MER reflects its use of the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index, which involves licensing costs and a more specialised, harder-to-replicate universe of pure-play cybersecurity firms. Compared to broader tech ETFs like NDQ (0.48%), the premium covers niche index construction and smaller average company sizes requiring more frequent rebalancing. For Australian investors, this 10-basis-point difference over SEMI or RBTZ is relatively minor given cybersecurity's structural tailwinds from mandatory government spending and escalating global threat landscapes.
Is cybersecurity spending truly recession-proof and how did HACK perform during market downturns?+
Cybersecurity is increasingly classified as non-discretionary expenditure - governments and enterprises cannot defer protection against ransomware and state-sponsored attacks. However, HACK still fell significantly during the 2022 rate-driven tech selloff, demonstrating it is not immune to valuation compression. Its 16.2% one-year return shows recovery strength. Australian SMSF trustees should treat HACK as defensive within tech rather than broadly defensive, recognising that regulatory mandates like Australia's own Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2030 underpin long-term demand.
What are the key holdings in HACK and how concentrated is the portfolio?+
HACK's top holdings include CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, and Zscaler - companies dominating enterprise endpoint protection, firewalls, and zero-trust architecture. The portfolio typically holds 25-35 stocks, making it moderately concentrated compared to broad market ETFs. The top ten holdings can represent over 50% of the fund, meaning a major cybersecurity breach affecting a leading vendor could create both stock-specific risk and sector-wide sentiment damage. Australian investors get pure-play exposure unavailable through any ASX-listed domestic alternative.
How does HACK's near-zero 0.08% yield affect tax treatment for Australian investors?+
HACK's 0.08% yield means distributions are negligible, with returns driven almost entirely by capital gains. For Australian investors held outside super, this can be tax-advantageous - unrealised gains compound without annual tax drag, and holdings sold after 12 months qualify for the 50% CGT discount. Within SMSFs in accumulation phase, the low yield minimises assessable income. However, there are no franking credits since all holdings are foreign, and SMSF pension-phase investors needing income should look to alternatives like VHY instead.