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BetaShares Energy Transition Metals ETF (XMET) v VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (NYSE: REMX)

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Question asked 20/06/2026

BetaShares Energy Transition Metals ETF (XMET) v VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (NYSE: REMX)

Hi James and team, Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping members informed of the fast changing market conditions. I find your Friday ETF segments very informative and helpful. From today's section, I would be interested in your views regarding Betashares XMET v. VanEck REMX with the second etf being much larger in size, particularly in terms of their performance, liquidity and relevance to major market trends. On the HGEN etf, the buy/sell spread is quite large probably reflecting the small size of the etf. Given the recent big run up in price and noting your expectation for further gains in the next few months, I would be interested in your views on an appropriate stop loss at the current price should the recent pullback resume. Many thanks again. Adel

Answer

Hi Adel,

There are some very obvious similarities between the XMET and REMX ETFs but also some important nuances:

Performance: in 2026 the REMX ETF is up +29% compared to the XMET ETF which is only up +16%.
Listed: The XMET is ASX-listed whereas the REMX is US-listed and is not currency hedged with the weak $US having been a tailwind for the ETF.

Diversification is a major difference between the two:

The XMET tracks a basket of companies producing the key materials required for electrification and decarbonisation, including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earths. It effectively provides exposure to the entire energy transition metals theme rather than betting on a single commodity. The inclusion of copper producers such as Freeport and diversified miners like BHP makes XMET less dependent on the fortunes of rare earths or lithium alone.

The REMX ETF is much more specialised. It targets companies that derive a significant portion of their revenue from rare earth and strategic metals activities, including mining, refining and recycling. This gives investors greater exposure to rare earth supply chains, processing bottlenecks and geopolitical themes, particularly China’s dominance of rare earth production and refining. Holdings include Lynas, MP Materials and China Northern Rare Earth

For investors seeking long-term exposure to the energy transition, XMET is the more diversified option, offering exposure to copper, lithium, rare earths and other critical minerals, while REMX is a higher-risk, higher-conviction play on rare earths.

For the HGEN ETF from a trading perspective we would run stops below $10.50 until we see break above $13.

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BetaShares Energy Transition Metals ETF (XMET) v VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (NYSE: REMX)

LAST UPDATED 19/06/2026 12:39

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