A200 AU
Betashares Australia 200 ETF Guide (A200): What Is It All About?
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The A200 ETF, or the Betashares Australia 200 ETF, gives investors exposure to 200 of the largest companies listed on the ASX. For Australian investors, the key question is not just what the fund holds, but whether it is the best local core-equity option compared with alternatives like VAS, IOZ and STW.
What it does: Tracks 200 of the largest ASX-listed companies via the Solactive Australia 200 Index.
Who it may suit: Australians looking for a low-cost core allocation to local shares.
Main local issue for Australians: Choosing between A200 and broader ASX alternatives like VAS, or other ASX 200 options like IOZ and STW.
Best Australian-listed alternative: VAS for broader ASX 300 exposure; IOZ for a like-for-like ASX 200 option.
A200 Chart: 1 Year
A200 has delivered returns broadly in line with the Australian large-cap market, which is exactly what investors should expect from a low-cost passive ETF.
Is the A200 ETF ASX Listed?
Short answer: Yes. A200 is built for Australian investors and trades on the ASX.
Australian investors should check four things before buying this ETF:
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- Where it is listed: ASX
- Fund domicile: Australia
- Whether there is an ASX equivalent: Yes, VAS, IOZ and STW are the main local alternatives
- Whether the exposure is hedged or unhedged to AUD: Not relevant in the same way as global ETFs because the underlying exposure is primarily Australian shares
A200 is a straightforward local ETF to access. It is ASX-listed, Australian-domiciled, and Betashares provides both a PDS and TMD through its Australian materials pages.
The real decision is not access, it is which Australian shares ETF structure you prefer. A200 tracks 200 large companies, while VAS covers 300 and therefore reaches a bit further down the market-cap spectrum.
ETF at a glance
The ETF tracks the Solactive Australia 200 Index. That means exposure is limited to the 200 largest companies listed on the ASX, rather than the 300 largest or the full investable market.
In practical terms, the strategy is simple: low-cost, rules-based exposure to the biggest part of the Australian equity market. That keeps fees very low and makes A200 easy to understand.
The trade-off is that investors looking for broader small- and mid-cap exposure may prefer a wider local benchmark, while investors focused on cost may find A200 especially attractive.
The A200 is an Australian shares ETF, so the main exposure is to companies listed on the ASX and trading in AUD.
What does the ETF actually do?
A200 aims to track the performance of an index comprising the 200 largest companies by market capitalisation listed on the ASX. In practice, that means investors get concentrated exposure to the largest parts of the Australian sharemarket in a single trade.
For Australians, that makes A200 a classic core domestic-equity ETF. It can sit at the centre of a portfolio for investors who want broad local-market exposure, franked income potential, and simple ASX access.
What it is not: it is not a global shares ETF, not a small-cap ETF, and not a fully comprehensive “whole Australian market” fund in the way a broader ASX 300-style product is.
Overview
The Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) is an Australian share fund with a portfolio dominated by local companies. Its largest positions include BHP and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, while financials and basic materials are its biggest sector exposures. The profile shows quarterly distributions and a 3.13% dividend yield; investors should also note the portfolio’s sizeable concentration in its largest holdings.
Category
The Betashares Australia 200 ETF offers exposure centred on Australian listed companies. Its profile indicates that the portfolio is overwhelmingly invested in Australasia, with financials and basic materials forming its largest sector exposures. This makes the fund’s outcome closely connected to the performance of Australian equities and those sectors.
A200’s portfolio reflects the character of the Australian share market, with substantial exposure to financial companies and resource-linked businesses. The profile records a 7.353% year-to-date return and a 3.13% dividend yield, but neither figure indicates what future returns or distributions will be.
Key facts
- Ticker
- A200
- Exchange
- AU
- ISIN
- AU00000A2000
- Provider
- BetaShares Capital Ltd
- Domicile
- Australia
- Currency
- AUD
- Inception date
- 2018-05-07
- Use of income
- Quarterly
- UCITS
- No
Costs
- TER
- 0.00%
- Ongoing charge
- 0.00%
- Net expense ratio
- 0.00%
- AUM
- 4.7B
The profile displays ongoing charge, total expense ratio and net expense ratio figures of 0%. Brokerage and bid–ask spreads may also affect the cost of buying or selling units.
Performance
- YTD
- 7.4%
- 3 years
- 0.0%
- 5 years
- 0.0%
- 10 years
- 0.0%
- Dividend yield
- 3.13%
- Top 10 concentration
- 49.7%
Holdings
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BHP Group Ltd12.14%
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Macquarie Group Ltd3.50%
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Wesfarmers Ltd3.22%
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CSL Ltd3.03%
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RIO Tinto Ltd2.18%
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Weights are percentages of the fund; bars use a 0–100% scale. Displayed entries may not cover the whole portfolio.
The portfolio is concentrated in large Australian companies: its ten largest holdings make up 49.733% of assets. BHP Group is the largest listed holding at 12.141%, followed by Commonwealth Bank of Australia at 10.062%. Major banks feature prominently, alongside companies in materials, healthcare, retail and energy.
Regions
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Australasia99.4%
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United States1.0%
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Asia – Emerging0.7%
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Eurozone0.4%
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United Kingdom0.2%
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Japan0.0%
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Africa0.0%
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Canada0.0%
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Middle East0.0%
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Latin America0.0%
Weights are percentages of the fund; bars use a 0–100% scale. Displayed entries may not cover the whole portfolio.
Asset allocation
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Stock100.0%
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Bond0.0%
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Cash0.0%
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Other0.0%
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Property0.0%
Weights are percentages of the fund; bars use a 0–100% scale. Displayed entries may not cover the whole portfolio.
Sectors
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Financial Services32.4%
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Basic Materials18.5%
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Healthcare8.4%
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Industrials7.9%
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Real Estate7.7%
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Consumer Defensive7.0%
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Energy5.5%
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Consumer Cyclical4.9%
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Technology3.7%
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Communication Services3.1%
Weights are percentages of the fund; bars use a 0–100% scale. Displayed entries may not cover the whole portfolio.
Risks
Who it may suit
A200 may interest investors researching Australian share exposure through a single exchange-traded fund. Its portfolio is heavily weighted to Australian companies and has sizeable financials and materials exposures, so it may be less suited to someone seeking broad international or sector-balanced exposure from this fund alone.
Key risks
A200 is exposed to share-market falls and company-specific events. Its concentration in financials, basic materials and a small group of large holdings may cause returns to diverge from more sector-diversified or international portfolios. Distributions and yields can change, and the displayed yield is not guaranteed.
FAQ
What does A200 invest in?
A200 provides exposure to Australian shares, with its largest listed holdings including BHP Group, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and major banks.
How concentrated is the portfolio?
The ten largest holdings account for 49.733% of the portfolio. Financial Services is the largest sector at 32.373%, followed by Basic Materials at 18.528%.
How often does A200 distribute income?
Distributions are listed as quarterly. The profile shows a dividend yield of 3.13%; yield can change and is not guaranteed.
*This content is aimed to provide general information only, and does not take your personal objectives, financial situation or needs into account.
