Skip to main content
ManagedFunds.nz

Fund-vs-fund · Australasian Equities

Devon Australian FundvsPathfinder 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.

How much do these two overlap?

They hold 14 of the same securities. If you held both, roughly 23.2% of your money would be in the same companies — so the diversification you get from holding the pair is smaller than holding two funds suggests.

23.2%
Shared holdingDevon AustralianPathfinder EthicalMin weight
National Australia Bank3.92%4.67%3.92%
Infratil3.14%4.97%3.14%
Westpac Banking Corp2.78%3.87%2.78%
GOODMAN GROUP3.50%1.93%1.93%
Ebos1.87%4.01%1.87%
Challenger Financial Service2.46%1.51%1.51%
Cleanaway Waste Management2.43%1.42%1.42%
a2 Milk1.16%2.15%1.16%
Xero2.84%1.15%1.15%
Brambles1.54%1.15%1.15%

Min weight is the smaller of the two weightings — if you hold both funds, that is the floor of your exposure to that position. Direct holdings only: anything either fund holds through an underlying fund or ETF is not counted, so the real overlap can only be higher. From each fund's FMA Disclose full portfolio filing.

Where you can buy these

Platform availability confirmed within the last 180 days. This is a statement of availability, not a recommendation — ManagedFundsNZ is not a Financial Advice Provider. Check the current PDS before investing.

Devon Australian Fund

Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund

No platform availability confirmed. Usually means it is bought directly from the manager — check their site.

Why these two differ

The most material structural difference between these two funds is their five-year return history: the Devon Australian Fund has returned 7.47% per annum over five years, while the Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund has returned just 0.45% over the same period. Both funds sit in the Australasian Equities category and hold an identical 98.31% in growth assets, so this return divergence is likely driven by stock selection and geographic tilt rather than asset allocation. Devon's portfolio leans heavily into large-cap Australian resources and banking names — BHP Group (8.68%), Rio Tinto (7.65%), and ANZ Group Holdings (6.42%) dominate — whereas Pathfinder's top holdings skew toward New Zealand-listed companies with an ethical screening overlay, led by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (9.40%), Infratil (4.97%), and Auckland International Airport (4.60%).

On fees, Pathfinder charges a lower annual fund charge of 1.00% versus Devon's 1.30%. The risk indicators diverge too: Devon carries a risk indicator of 5 (out of 7), Pathfinder a 4, suggesting Devon's Australian-heavy, resources-concentrated portfolio has exhibited greater return volatility historically. Fund sizes are comparable — Devon at NZ$10.3 million and Pathfinder at NZ$12.4 million — placing both firmly in the smaller end of the retail market. Neither fund is a KiwiSaver scheme account option based on the data available in this snapshot.

Always verify these figures against the source PDS and latest Quarterly Fund Update on FMA Disclose before relying on them for any investment decision.

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 0.30% lower in annual fund charges (1.00% vs 1.30%).
  • 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 57 australasian equities funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.

Annual fund charge

Lower is better

Devon

1.30%

Highest 12% of cohort

Pathfinder

1.00%

Lower half of cohort

5-year return p.a.

Past performance — not a predictor

Devon

7.47%

Top 18% over 5 years

Pathfinder

0.45%

Lower half over 5 years

Fund size

Larger = more stable, lower close-risk

Devon

NZ$10m

Smallest 8% in cohort

Pathfinder

NZ$12m

Smallest 11% in cohort

MetricDevonPathfinderLower / higher is
Annual fund charge1.30%1.00%Lower is better
Risk indicator (1–7)54Higher = more volatility
5-year return p.a.7.47%0.45%Higher is better
(past not future)
Fund sizeNZ$10mNZ$12mLarger = more stable, lower close-risk
Growth / income split98% / 2%98% / 2%More growth = higher long-run return + volatility
NZ tax structurePIE (PIR-capped)PIE (PIR-capped)PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return.
Currency hedging——Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost.
Responsible investment screeningNoYesSpecific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO.
Available viaDirectDirectPlatforms accepting retail subscriptions.

What each fund says it does

Devon

Devon Australian Fund

A select portfolio of companies which are primarily Australian listed companies. The Australian market offers exposure to a number of sectors that are not available in New Zealand. The Australian Fund is actively managed, which means the holdings and investment returns may differ considerably from its benchmark. The Fund tends to be fully invested in shares but can hold cash.
Full Devon Devon Australian 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 Devon Australian Fund and the Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund?
Both are australasian equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund charges 0.30% lower in annual fund charges (1.00% vs 1.30%).
Which fund has lower fees, Devon Australian Fund or Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund?
Pathfinder Ethical Trans-Tasman Fund has the lower annual fund charge (1.00% p.a. vs 1.30% p.a.). Source: each fund's most recent Quarterly Fund Update on the FMA Disclose register.
How do the 5-year returns compare?
Devon Australian Fund's 5-year return p.a. is 7.47% 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. Devon Australian 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.