HYDR vs IBAT

HYDRCGlobal X Hydrogen ETF

IBATBiShares Energy Storage & Materials ETF

In short

HYDR Clean energy with the solar panels stripped out. HYDR is a global, roughly 25-stock basket built around hydrogen alone: production, electrolyzers, fuel cells, and the gear that wires it into the energy system.

IBAT Most EV funds buy carmakers. IBAT drops a layer down the supply chain to the batteries, hydrogen, fuel cells and storage materials underneath, tracking a global STOXX index at a fee that undercuts much of its thematic peer group.

Stated mandate

HYDR HYDR targets companies expected to benefit from the global hydrogen industry's development, including hydrogen production, energy-system integration, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and related hydrogen-use technologies.

IBAT The fund seeks to track an index of global companies involved in battery technologies, hydrogen, fuel cells, and other energy-storage solutions. It provides targeted exposure to companies supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Why people hold it

• HYDR A true pure play. It tracks the Solactive Global Hydrogen Index, so you get hydrogen producers, fuel cells and electrolyzers rather than a broad clean-energy mix.globalxetfs.com
• 0.50% a year, which undercuts the typical clean-energy ETF fee. Cheap for a niche, single-technology theme.
• The mandate is global, not US-only, which matters when much of the hydrogen supply chain sits in Europe and Asia.globalxetfs.com
• Live since 2021, and one of the stronger builds in the upper half of its clean-energy peer group.

• IBAT 0.47% a year, cheaper than Global X's DRIV (0.68%) and Amplify's BATT (0.59%).
• Buys the storage layer, not the showroom: battery technology, hydrogen, fuel cells and the materials that feed them.ishares.com
• Global mandate, roughly 80 holdings: miners, chemical firms and equipment makers a US large-cap index never touches.
• Sits in the upper tier of its battery and EV thematic group on our review.

Worth knowing

• HYDR Around 25 stocks tied to one technology. That concentration cuts both ways, and moves are typically sharper than a diversified clean-energy fund's.
• Broad clean-energy options like ICLN and FRNW run 0.39%, so the hydrogen focus carries a modest fee premium.
• Distributions land once or twice a year at most. This is a growth theme, not an income engine.

• IBAT One theme, one supply chain. Battery and materials demand drives the whole basket in the same direction at the same time.
• BlackRock applies business involvement screens, so the portfolio is a filtered slice of the industry rather than the full map.ishares.com
• Launched in 2024, so the record is short and payouts come once or twice a year at most. Not an income holding.

Full HYDR profile⁠

Full IBAT profile⁠