VESG and ETHI overlap by about 27%: they do quite different jobs. VESG is cheaper (0.18% vs 0.59% a year), about $410 a year less on $100,000. ETHI is the bigger fund ($3.8b vs $1.6b). Both exclude fossil fuels and other screened industries. VESG keeps most of the market for a low fee; ETHI holds about 200 sustainability leaders, with stricter screens and a higher fee.
📅 As at 30 September 2026: fees, size, flows and returns from the TMX Australia funds report; overlap from published holdings as at 30 September 2026.
VESG
Vanguard Ethically Conscious Intl Shares Indx ETFVESG invests in large global companies across developed markets outside Australia, excluding fossil fuels and other screened industries.
ETHI
Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETFETHI invests in around 200 large global companies that pass climate and ethical screens, excluding fossil fuels and other industries.
VESG vs ETHI side by side
Green marks the cheaper, bigger or better-performing fund on each line. Past returns are not a reliable guide to the future.
| VESG | ETHI | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Vanguard | Betashares |
| Index | FTSE Developed ex Australia ESG Low Carbon Select Index | Nasdaq Future Global Sustainability Leaders Index |
| Fee (a year) | 0.18% | 0.59% |
| Size | $1.6b | $3.8b |
| Net money in, September | +$26m | −$37m |
| 1-year return | +12.4% | +6.2% |
| 5-year return | +74% | +50% |
| Listed | 2018 | 2017 |
| Top 10 holdings | 40% of fund | 35% of fund |
| Trend now | Base | Uptrend |
How much do VESG and ETHI overlap?
About 27% of their holdings are the same, by weight: low overlap, so they do quite different jobs.
The biggest companies they both own
| Company | VESG | ETHI |
|---|---|---|
| Apple IncInformation Technology | 7.3% | 4.5% |
| NVIDIA CorpInformation Technology | 8.1% | 3.9% |
| Broadcom IncInformation Technology | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| Eli Lilly & CoHealth Care | 1.4% | 3.0% |
| Asml Holding NVInformation Technology | 1.1% | 3.2% |
| Visa IncFinancials | 0.9% | 4.6% |
| AbbVie IncHealth Care | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Mastercard IncFinancials | 0.7% | 4.2% |
| Lam Research CorpInformation Technology | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| Applied Materials IncInformation Technology | 0.6% | 1.5% |
Only in VESG
- Microsoft Corp 5.8%
- Alphabet (Google) 5.5%
- Amazon.com Inc 3.7%
- Meta Platforms Inc 2.4%
- Micron Technology Inc 1.8%
Only in ETHI
- No holdings above 0.5%: the differences are all small positions.
Sectors and countries
Sectors
Countries
Trend: base, uptrend or downtrend?
Past year of prices, shaded by trend stage. The dashed line is the 200-day exponential average. As at 4 November 2026. How base and trend works.
VESG or ETHI: which suits who?
Where either fits depends on the rest of your portfolio: whether it’s your core or a satellite. See core and satellite investing and our full profiles of VESG and ETHI.
See the exact overlap with everything you hold, plus the trend of each ETF, in our free calculator.
More comparisons
VESG vs ETHI FAQs
Is VESG or ETHI better?
Neither is better for everyone. Both exclude fossil fuels and other screened industries. VESG keeps most of the market for a low fee; ETHI holds about 200 sustainability leaders, with stricter screens and a higher fee. Choose VESG if you want broad ethical exposure that stays close to the market, for a low fee. Choose ETHI if you want stricter ethical screens and accept a more concentrated fund.
What is the difference between VESG and ETHI?
VESG and ETHI overlap by about 27%: they do quite different jobs. VESG is cheaper (0.18% vs 0.59% a year), about $410 a year less on $100,000. ETHI is the bigger fund ($3.8b vs $1.6b). Both exclude fossil fuels and other screened industries. VESG keeps most of the market for a low fee; ETHI holds about 200 sustainability leaders, with stricter screens and a higher fee.
Should I own both VESG and ETHI?
Yes, they can work together: only about 27% of their holdings are the same, so each adds something different. Check the fit with your other ETFs first.
Which is cheaper, VESG or ETHI?
VESG is cheaper (0.18% vs 0.59% a year), about $410 a year less on $100,000. Fees are taken from the fund’s returns, not charged separately.
Fees, size, flows and returns: TMX Australia Funds Report to 30 September 2026; returns are total returns and the 5-year figure is cumulative. Overlap, sectors and countries are based on each fund’s published holdings, scaled to the part of each fund we can see. Trend stages are a technical indicator based on 10, 20, 50 and 200-day exponential moving averages; they describe the past, not the future. General information only, not a recommendation to buy or sell VESG or ETHI. Consider the PDS and TMD, and your own circumstances, before investing.