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HLTH

$11.40+0.97%Healthcare15/100
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VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF · VanEck

Data as at 29 March 2026

TL;DR

BetaShares' unhedged global healthcare ETF. Tracks the same universe as DRUG but without the AUD hedge — AUD/USD movements affect returns.

MER (Annual Fee)
0.45%
#1 lowest in Healthcare
1Y Return
+0.5%
3Y Return (p.a.)
+3.7%
Dividend Yield
0.17%
Trailing 12 months
AUM
$52.2M
Assets under management
Avg Daily Turnover
$10K
Avg shares × unit price
Unit Price
$11.40
As at 29 March 2026
Provider
VanEck
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Strategy

Follows a Nasdaq global healthcare index (ex-Australia). Unhedged AUD exposure. Covers pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices, and healthcare services companies globally.

Top Holdings

Key Fact

The choice between HLTH and DRUG is structurally identical to the choice between VGS and VGAD: same underlying exposures, one hedged and one not. The fee difference between them reflects the cost of the hedging overlay.

Suited for

Investors who want global healthcare exposure from BetaShares' fund range without paying for currency hedging. The same healthcare sector exposure as DRUG, without the hedge.

Risks

AUD strength reduces returns. Drug pricing regulation, patent cliffs (when major drug patents expire), and FDA approval outcomes create sector-specific risks common to all healthcare funds.

ETFCheck Score15/100
Fees (40%)33
Fund Size (25%)1
Liquidity (20%)0
Yield (15%)12
How scores are calculated →
Other Healthcare ETFs
IXJ
0.47% MER
43
DRUG
0.57% MER
26View all Healthcare ETFs →

Frequently Asked Questions - HLTH

What does VanEck's quality-momentum screening actually do in HLTH compared to passive healthcare ETFs?+
HLTH tracks the MarketGrader Global Healthcare Leaders Index, which actively scores companies on growth, value, profitability, and cash flow fundamentals before applying momentum overlays. This factor-based approach means HLTH holds fewer names than passive alternatives like IXJ, concentrating in companies demonstrating both financial quality and price momentum. The result was a 13.2% one-year return versus IXJ's 11.4%. However, factor strategies can underperform in rapid market rotations when momentum reverses sharply.
How does HLTH's MER of 0.45% compare to other healthcare ETFs on the ASX?+
HLTH's 0.45% MER sits marginally below IXJ's 0.47%, making it competitively priced despite its active factor methodology. For a $50,000 investment, the annual fee difference is just $10, so cost alone shouldn't drive the decision. The real comparison is methodology: HLTH's quality-momentum screening aims to outperform the broad market, while IXJ passively captures the entire sector. Australian investors should weigh whether HLTH's factor tilts justify potential tracking differences from the broader healthcare market.
Who is HLTH best suited for in an Australian investment portfolio?+
HLTH suits Australian investors who want healthcare exposure with a conviction that quality and momentum factors deliver superior long-term returns. It's particularly relevant for SMSF trustees seeking growth-oriented satellite holdings alongside core ASX positions like VAS or A200. With a low 0.72% yield, HLTH is better suited to accumulation-phase investors than those drawing pension income. Its concentrated portfolio means higher active risk, so it pairs well with broader diversified holdings rather than serving as a sole international allocation.
Does HLTH pay franked distributions to Australian investors?+
No, HLTH's distributions are entirely unfranked because the ETF holds only international healthcare companies that pay no Australian tax. Distributions primarily consist of foreign-sourced income, which Australian investors must declare at their marginal tax rate. Some distributions may include foreign income tax offsets (FITOs) where withholding tax was deducted at source, which can reduce your ATO tax liability. SMSF investors should note that unfranked income receives no refundable credit benefit, unlike franked dividends from Australian equity ETFs.