HYDR ETF Explained: Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings & Alternative ETFs — Full Breakdown
The Global X Hydrogen ETF (HYDR) is a thematic fund that invests in companies involved in hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cells. It offers investors who want exposure to the clean-energy transition and diversification across related names a way to access the broader hydrogen industry without picking individual stocks.
SubscribeWhat Is the Global X Hydrogen ETF?
It is a thematic ETF that tracks globally listed companies tied to the hydrogen economy. It broadly includes firms engaged in hydrogen production and storage, fuel cells, and hydrogen equipment and infrastructure, providing exposure to growth across the industry.
It is well suited for investors seeking long-term exposure to the hydrogen and clean-energy transition theme who can tolerate elevated volatility.
It is a passive (index-tracking) ETF managed by Global X.
How Does the Global X Hydrogen ETF Work?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Index Tracked | Hydrogen Economy Theme Index |
| Management Style | Passive (Index Tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Semiannual |
| Dividend Frequency | Annual |
| Manager | Global X |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.50% |
The fund follows the performance of the industry as a whole by including companies in the hydrogen value chain according to index rules. Holdings are diversified across hydrogen production, fuel cells, and related equipment makers, and the portfolio is regularly rebalanced in line with the index methodology.
- Pure thematic exposure focused on the hydrogen industry
- Diversification across the global hydrogen value chain
Global X Hydrogen ETF Size and Cost (AUM & Expense Ratio)
Assets under management stand at $94.2M, and the total expense ratio is 0.50% annually.
Unlike broad clean-energy ETFs, this fund is concentrated in the hydrogen theme, making it more sensitive to the cycle of a single industry.
Global X Hydrogen ETF Performance and Flows
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeThe hydrogen theme has historically displayed a volatile trajectory, driven by policy support and clean-energy expectations. Because the underlying companies are still in an early growth stage, price swings tend to be wide.
Fund flows are highly sensitive to clean-energy policy direction and the rate environment. Money tends to come in when growth expectations strengthen, and exits relatively quickly when investor sentiment weakens.
Global X Hydrogen ETF: Strengths and Weaknesses
Pure exposure to the hydrogen theme is the core strength, while the concentrated nature of the theme leads to high volatility, which is the main drawback.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Global X Hydrogen ETF Alternatives and Related Products
Since hydrogen sits within the broader clean-energy theme, investors can consider complementary options such as TAN, which focuses on solar; ICLN, which is diversified across global clean energy; QCLN, which tracks the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index; and PBW, which covers a broad set of alternative-energy companies. These funds offer wider clean-energy exposure, allowing investors to dial down theme concentration.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 XT | iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF | $83.57 | -0.1% | $4.0B | 0.46% | 1.02% | +25.3% |
 KOMP | State Street SPDR S&P Kensho New Economies Composite ETF | $66.68 | +0.1% | $2.6B | 0.20% | 1.53% | +7.2% |
 MOO | VanEck Agribusiness ETF | $82.13 | -1.1% | $1.2B | 0.56% | 2.19% | +12.0% |
 NUKZ | Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF | $60.64 | +0.1% | $688.3M | 0.85% | 0.95% | -7.3% |
 DAPP | VanEck Digital Transformation ETF | $19.47 | -0.6% | $444.5M | 0.52% | - | -10.8% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BE | Bloom Energy Corp | 0.31% | $291.25 | +10.8% | $85.8B | 396.9 | - |
 PLUG | Plug Power Inc | 0.19% | $1.91 | +2.7% | $2.7B | - | - |
 BLDP | Ballard Power Systems Inc | 0.15% | $2.10 | +1.9% | $737.3M | - | - |
 FCEL | Fuelcell Energy Inc | 0.12% | $16.90 | +4.7% | $1.4B | - | - |
| CMI | Cummins Inc | 0.03% | $521.37 | +0.7% | $71.8B | 26.6 | 1.68% |
| TM | Toyota Motor Corp ADR | 0.02% | $186.71 | -0.8% | $221.1B | 8.2 | 3.51% |
Investor Checklist for the Global X Hydrogen ETF
Here are the key points to review before investing in HYDR. Because it is a hydrogen-focused ETF, it is important to assess industry concentration, price volatility, and the cumulative cost impact of holding it for the long term.
| Checkpoint | What to Confirm | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check cumulative costs over long-term holding | Annual fee applied |
| 📊 Theme Concentration | Check exposure to the hydrogen industry | High |
| 📉 Volatility | Ability to tolerate price swings | Wide |
| 💱 Currency | Impact on won-converted returns | No currency hedging |
The hydrogen industry is still in an early stage of development, with limited earnings visibility and high sensitivity to policy direction. As a concentrated thematic product, it can drawdowns more sharply than broad-based ETFs during market corrections.
It is a thematic product suited to investors looking to place a long-term bet on the growth of the hydrogen economy. For those seeking broader clean-energy exposure, pairing it with diversified funds such as ICLN or TAN is advisable.
SubscribeDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of July 2, 2026.
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