Skip to main content
ManagedFunds.nz

Fund-vs-fund · Australasian Equities

Amova Concentrated Equity Fund vs Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund

Both are Australasian Equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Numbers below are sourced from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor and reflect the latest published quarterly fund updates.

Why these two differ

The most material structural difference between these two funds is their risk profile. The Amova Concentrated Equity Fund carries a risk indicator of 5, while the Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund sits at 4 on the same 1–7 scale — a meaningful step down in stated volatility despite both funds sitting in the Australasian Equities category and holding an identical growth asset allocation of 98.31%. That divergence is explained largely by portfolio construction: Amova's top five holdings account for roughly 44% of the fund, with its single largest position (Infratil Limited) at 11.9%, reflecting the concentrated, high-conviction approach signalled by its name. Pathfinder's top five positions total around 27.6%, with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare at 9.4% as the largest holding, indicating broader diversification across the Trans-Tasman market. Pathfinder also applies an ethical screen, which materially shapes its investment universe in a way Amova does not disclose as a constraint.

On fees, Amova charges 1.15% per annum versus Pathfinder's 1.00%. Over the five-year period reported, Amova returned 0.65% annually and Pathfinder 0.45%, though both figures are low in absolute terms and short return histories in small funds warrant caution. Fund sizes are comparable — NZD 13.2 million and NZD 12.4 million respectively. Neither fund is a KiwiSaver scheme account product based on the available data.

Always verify all figures against the source PDS and latest Quarterly Fund Update on FMA Disclose before relying on any of this information.

Comparison generated 2026-07-05 from each fund's FMA Disclose QFU facts as at that date. If the underlying facts change, this narrative is withheld until it is regenerated — the tables on this page always reflect the current data.

What's different at a glance

  • Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund charges 0.15% lower in annual fund charges (1.00% vs 1.15%).
  • Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
  • Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. The other fund does not.

Where each fund sits in its cohort

Percentile rank vs all 58 australasian equities funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.

Annual fund charge

Lower is better

Amova

1.15%

Upper half of cohort

Pathfinder

1.00%

Lower half of cohort

5-year return p.a.

Past performance — not a predictor

Amova

0.65%

Lower half over 5 years

Pathfinder

0.45%

Lower half over 5 years

Fund size

Larger = more stable, lower close-risk

Amova

NZ$13m

Smallest 15% in cohort

Pathfinder

NZ$12m

Smallest 11% in cohort

Metric Amova Pathfinder Lower / higher is
Annual fund charge 1.15% 1.00% Lower is better
Risk indicator (1–7) 5 4 Higher = more volatility
5-year return p.a. 0.65% 0.45% Higher is better
(past not future)
Fund size NZ$13m NZ$12m Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
Growth / income split 98% / 2% 98% / 2% More growth = higher long-run return + volatility
NZ tax structure PIE (PIR-capped) PIE (PIR-capped) PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return.
Currency hedging Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost.
Responsible investment screening No Yes Specific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO.
Available via Direct Direct Platforms accepting retail subscriptions.

Portfolio overlap

How many top-10 positions both funds hold, and at what weight. Computed from each fund's most recently disclosed top-10 holdings — exact-name matched (Microsoft Corp. = Microsoft Corporation), with a Cash / Cash & Equivalents collapse rule.

Matching holdings

2

of each fund's top 10

Amova weight in shared

20.0%

of Amova Concentrated Equity Fund top 10 is shared

Pathfinder weight in shared

8.8%

of Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund top 10 is shared

Holding Amova Pathfinder
Infratil Limited Infratil Limited NZ
11.90% 4.97%
Contact Energy Limited Contact Energy Limited NZ
8.13% 3.87%

"Min weight" = the smaller of the two weights — a conservative read of how much exposure you'd have to that position if you held both funds.

What each fund says it does

Amova

Amova Concentrated Equity Fund

The fund aims to outperform the RBNZ Official Cash Rate plus 5.0% per annum over a rolling three-year period before fees, expenses and taxes. This fund aims to provide investors with concentrated exposure to New Zealand and Australian equity markets from an actively managed investment portfolio.
Full Amova Amova Concentrated Equity Fund profile →

Pathfinder

Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund

The Fund invests in Australasian equities, listed property companies and other assets that satisfy Pathfinder’s ethical investment criteria. This is a high-conviction fund of top investment ideas. The Fund may achieve this by investing in Pathfinders Wholesale Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund.
Full Pathfinder Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund profile →

Documents

Crawled directly from each manager's website. How we record provenance →

Common questions

What's the difference between the Amova Concentrated Equity Fund and the Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund?
Both are australasian equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund charges 0.15% lower in annual fund charges (1.00% vs 1.15%).
Which fund has lower fees, Amova Concentrated Equity Fund or Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund?
Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund has the lower annual fund charge (1.00% p.a. vs 1.15% p.a.). Source: each fund's most recent Quarterly Fund Update on the FMA Disclose register.
How do the 5-year returns compare?
Amova Concentrated Equity Fund's 5-year return p.a. is 0.65% and Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund's is 0.45% (after fees, before tax). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Yes. Both are NZ Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs). Investor tax on the fund's income is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
Does either fund apply responsible-investment screening?
Yes — Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. Amova Concentrated Equity Fund does not. Specific exclusions and engagement policies are documented in each fund's Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
Both funds publish their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Statement of Investment Policy (SIPO) and Quarterly Fund Update (QFU) on the FMA Disclose register at disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Always read the current PDS before investing.
FinanceAdvisers.co.nz logo
Not sure which fund is right for you?
Find a financial adviser on FinanceAdvisers.co.nz
Browse NZ-licensed financial advice providers and search by speciality, location and review.
Important: This comparison is general information only — not personalised financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. The right fund for you depends on your personal circumstances. Read each fund's Product Disclosure Statement and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.