Fund-vs-fund · International FI
Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund vs Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund
Both are International FI 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 cost. The Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund charges an annual fund fee of 0.15%, while the Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund charges 0.32% — more than double. Over time, that 0.17 percentage point gap compounds directly against net returns in an asset class where yield margins are typically narrow, making fee comparison particularly relevant for fixed income investors.
Both funds sit in the International Fixed Income category, share an identical risk indicator of 4 on the standard 1–7 scale, and each allocates just 0.07% to growth assets, placing them squarely in the income-asset end of the spectrum. Fund size differs meaningfully: Simplicity's fund holds approximately NZD 964 million versus Evidential's NZD 600 million, though neither the data nor FMA guidance attributes performance implications to size alone.
Portfolio composition reveals a clear strategic divergence. Simplicity's disclosed top holdings are concentrated in US Treasury bonds, reflecting a sovereign-focused, hedged global bond approach. Evidential's top holdings span Canadian provincial issuers, UK gilts, a French public financial institution, and Belgian sovereign debt, consistent with its sustainable mandate that implies issuer-screening criteria. Neither fund discloses a five-year return figure in this snapshot, so comparative performance cannot be assessed from this data alone.
Both funds are not KiwiSaver scheme accounts based on the data provided; investors should confirm the scheme structure directly. Always verify current fees, holdings, and returns against each fund's product disclosure statement 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
- Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund charges 0.17% lower in annual fund charges (0.15% vs 0.32%).
- Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
- Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. The other fund does not.
Where each fund sits in its cohort
Percentile rank vs all 31 international fi funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.
Annual fund charge
Lower is better
Evidential
0.32%
Lowest 19% of cohort
Simplicity
0.15%
Lowest 2% of cohort
5-year return p.a.
Past performance — not a predictor
Evidential
—
—
Simplicity
—
—
Fund size
Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
Evidential
NZ$600m
Largest 8% in cohort
Simplicity
NZ$964m
Largest 5% in cohort
| Metric | Evidential | Simplicity | Lower / higher is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fund charge | 0.32% | 0.15% | Lower is better |
| Risk indicator (1–7) | 4 | 4 | Higher = more volatility |
| 5-year return p.a. | — | — | Higher is better (past not future) |
| Fund size | NZ$600m | NZ$964m | Larger = more stable, lower close-risk |
| Growth / income split | 0% / 100% | 0% / 100% | More growth = higher long-run return + volatility |
| NZ tax structure | PIE (PIR-capped) | PIE (PIR-capped) | PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return. |
| Currency hedging | — | Hedged to NZD | Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost. |
| Responsible investment screening | Yes | No | 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.
What each fund says it does
Evidential
Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund
The Fund provides investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of intermediate term global fixed interest and money market securities whilst taking into account certain environmental and social considerations. The Fund aims to hedge all foreign currency exposure to the New Zealand dollar.Full Evidential Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund profile →
Simplicity
Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund
The Hedged Global Bond Fund invests in government bonds and other highly rated liquid bonds., designed to generate a return similar to the performance of the Bloomberg MSCI Global Aggregate Sustainability Select SRI Float Adjusted Index (hedged into New Zealand dollars) and to be the hedged global bond component of a diversified investment portfolio.Full Simplicity Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund profile →
Common questions
What's the difference between the Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund and the Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund?
Which fund has lower fees, Evidential Sustainable Global Bond Fund or Simplicity Hedged Global Bond Fund?
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Does either fund apply responsible-investment screening?
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
