Media release: Australia's best ETFs revealed in InvestSMART's inaugural ETF Awards

Independent awards recognise best-in-class funds

By InvestSMART · 18 Feb 2026

By InvestSMART ·
18 Feb 2026 · 5 min read

Media release

InvestSMART says the awards will help investors make more informed, long-term decisions

Sydney, (17 February 2026): Leading investment platform InvestSMART has released its inaugural ETF Awards, revealing the ETFs that stood out in an increasingly crowded Australian market.

The awards are based on a combination of performance and InvestSMART's proprietary star ratings system, which assesses ETFs across five key metrics: fees, fund size, liquidity, tracking error and bid-ask spread. These measures are designed to identify ETFs that combine strong performance with the structural qualities that are important for long-term investors.

There are six award categories covering Australian and global shares, fixed income, commodities, high-yield and ethical ETFs, alongside a major award for Best ETF Provider 2026. This honour was awarded to Betashares.

Ron Hodge, InvestSMART Group, CEO said:

"ETFs have become a core part of how Australians invest, with the local ETF market now exceeding $325 billion and offering more choice than ever before. But more choice doesn't always mean better outcomes. It often means more noise and more confusion for everyday investors.

"Not all ETFs are built the same. In a market crowded with new launches and short-term trends, quality matters just as much as performance. Fees, liquidity and tracking error may sound technical, but over time they can make a meaningful difference to investor outcomes.

"The InvestSMART ETF Awards are designed to cut through the hype and highlight the funds that combine strong performance with solid fundamentals, helping investors make more informed, long-term decisions."

The winners and finalists

Best ETF Provider 2026

Winner: Betashares

Betashares has taken out the top award of Best ETF Provider 2026, achieving top-three finishes in four of the six categories assessed.

The award reflects consistent strength across multiple segments of the ETF market, rather than reliance on a single standout product.

Best Australian Share ETFs

Winner: Betashares FTSE RAFI Australia 200 ETF (ASX: QOZ)

QOZ uses a fundamentally weighted approach, based on measures such as sales and cash flow, rather than traditional market-capitalisation weighting. This approach helped it edge out more conventional index-tracking ETFs in the category.

Source: ASX, InvestSMART analysis, returns to December 2025.

Best Global Share ETFs

Winner: Global X EURO STOXX 50 ETF (ASX: ESTX)

ESTX provides exposure to 50 of the largest listed companies across the eurozone, spanning a broad range of sectors. Financials, industrials and information technology together made up nearly 40% of the portfolio at the end of January.

Notably, the top three ETFs in the category all focused on European share markets, which benefited from cheaper starting valuations and a rotation away from expensive US mega-cap stocks.

Source: ASX, InvestSMART analysis, returns to December 2025.

Best Commodity ETFs

Winner: Global X Physical Silver ETF (ASX: ETPMAG)

Following a standout year for silver prices, ETPMAG took out the top spot. The fund provides exposure to physical silver bullion without the need for investors to manage storage or security.

Source: ASX, InvestSMART analysis, returns to December 2025.

Best Australian Fixed-Income ETFs

Winner: Betashares Interest Rate Hedged Australian Grade Corporate Bond ETF (ASX: HCRD)

HCRD focuses on investment-grade Australian corporate bonds and uses interest-rate hedging to help smooth returns during periods of rate volatility.

Source: ASX, InvestSMART analysis, returns to December 2025.

Best Australian High-Yield Share ETFs

Winner: iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opportunities ESG Screened ETF (ASX: IHD)

IHD offers exposure to 50 high-yielding Australian shares, aims to pay quarterly income, and applies ESG screens to exclude companies that do not meet certain sustainability criteria.

Source: ASX, InvestSMART analysis, returns to December 2025.

Best Australian Ethical Share ETFs

Winner: iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opportunities ESG Screened ETF (ASX: IHD)

IHD secured its second category win of the awards, also taking out Best Australian High-Yield Share ETF.

The fund combines an income focus with ESG screening and benefited from broader exposure to banks, industrials and income-generating stocks compared with more tightly screened ethical peers.

Source: ASX, InvestSMART analysis, returns to December 2025.

Contact

Lauren Franze
📧 l.franze@investsmart.com.au
📞 0451 803 082

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What are the InvestSMART ETF Awards and why should everyday investors care?

The InvestSMART ETF Awards are the platform’s inaugural awards (announced 17 February 2026) that highlight ETFs combining strong performance with solid structural qualities. They’re designed to cut through noise in a crowded market and help everyday investors identify funds that are likely to deliver better long‑term outcomes.

How did InvestSMART judge the ETFs for the awards?

Winners were chosen based on a combination of performance and InvestSMART’s proprietary star ratings, which assess five key metrics important to long‑term investors: fees, fund size, liquidity, tracking error and bid‑ask spread.

Who won Best ETF Provider 2026 and what made them stand out?

Betashares won Best ETF Provider 2026. The award reflected consistent strength across multiple segments of the ETF market, with Betashares achieving top‑three finishes in four of the six categories assessed.

Which ETFs won the main categories in the InvestSMART ETF Awards?

Winners included: Best Australian Share ETF — Betashares FTSE RAFI Australia 200 ETF (ASX: QOZ); Best Global Share ETF — Global X EURO STOXX 50 ETF (ASX: ESTX); Best Commodity ETF — Global X Physical Silver ETF (ASX: ETPMAG); Best Australian Fixed‑Income ETF — Betashares Interest Rate Hedged Australian Grade Corporate Bond ETF (ASX: HCRD); Best Australian High‑Yield Share ETF and Best Australian Ethical Share ETF — iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opportunities ESG Screened ETF (ASX: IHD).

What’s different about QOZ (Betashares FTSE RAFI Australia 200 ETF)?

QOZ uses a fundamentally weighted approach that weights holdings by measures such as sales and cash flow, rather than by market capitalisation. That methodology helped it outperform more conventional index‑tracking ETFs in the Australian share category.

Why did the Global X EURO STOXX 50 ETF (ESTX) win Best Global Share ETF?

ESTX provides exposure to 50 of the largest listed eurozone companies across a broad range of sectors. European‑focused ETFs benefited from cheaper starting valuations and a market rotation away from expensive US mega‑cap stocks; at the end of January nearly 40% of ESTX’s portfolio was in financials, industrials and information technology.

How does the Global X Physical Silver ETF (ETPMAG) give investors exposure to silver?

ETPMAG provides exposure to physical silver bullion, so investors gain silver price exposure without having to manage physical storage or security themselves — a key reason it won Best Commodity ETF following a strong year for silver prices.

What do investors need to know about HCRD and IHD as award winners?

HCRD focuses on investment‑grade Australian corporate bonds and uses interest‑rate hedging to help smooth returns during periods of rate volatility, making it suitable for fixed‑income investors seeking stability. IHD offers exposure to 50 high‑yield Australian shares, applies ESG screens to exclude companies that don’t meet sustainability criteria, and aims to pay quarterly income — factors that helped it win both the High‑Yield and Ethical categories.