Fund-vs-fund · Australasian Equities
Simplicity NZ Share Fund vs Smart NZ Top 50 ETF
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 construction methodology and the concentration risk it creates. The Simplicity NZ Share Fund holds its top five positions at weights ranging from 7.26% to 17.92%, with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare alone accounting for nearly 18% of the portfolio — a heavily concentrated tilt toward a small number of large-cap New Zealand names. The Smartshares Smart NZ Top 50 ETF, as its name suggests, spreads exposure across fifty securities, with its top five holdings each sitting between 4.9% and 5.21%, indicating a more evenly weighted index structure.
Both funds sit in the Australasian Equities category, carry an identical risk indicator of 5 (on the standard 1–7 scale), and hold virtually the same growth asset allocation of 98.31%. Fund sizes diverge meaningfully: Simplicity's fund stands at approximately NZD 1.42 billion versus Smartshares' NZD 627 million. The fee gap is significant — Simplicity charges 0.10% per annum against Smartshares' 0.50%. However, the five-year return figures reported in the respective Quarterly Fund Updates are notably different: Simplicity shows 0.02% annualised versus Smartshares' 0.53%, though the precise calculation periods and any applicable tax treatments behind each figure should be checked directly, as methodology differences can affect comparability.
Neither fund is structured as a KiwiSaver scheme account based on the data provided. Always verify all figures against each fund's current Product Disclosure Statement and latest Quarterly Fund Update on FMA Disclose before relying on this summary.
Cached comparison generated 2026-05-21 from each fund's latest FMA Disclose QFU. Regenerated when the underlying facts change.
What's different at a glance
- Simplicity NZ Share Fund charges 0.40% lower in annual fund charges (0.10% vs 0.50%).
- Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
- Simplicity NZ Share Fund is roughly 2.5× the size of the other fund.
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
Simplicity
0.10%
Lowest 1% of cohort
Smartshares
0.50%
Lowest 22% of cohort
5-year return p.a.
Past performance — not a predictor
Simplicity
0.02%
Bottom 4% over 5 years
Smartshares
0.34%
Bottom 21% over 5 years
Fund size
Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
Simplicity
NZ$1.42b
Largest 1% in cohort
Smartshares
NZ$573m
Largest 6% in cohort
| Metric | Simplicity | Smartshares | Lower / higher is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fund charge | 0.10% | 0.50% | Lower is better |
| Risk indicator (1–7) | 5 | 5 | Higher = more volatility |
| 5-year return p.a. | 0.02% | 0.34% | Higher is better (past not future) |
| Fund size | NZ$1.42b | NZ$573m | 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 | No | Specific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO. |
| Available via | Direct | InvestNow · Sharesies · 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
8
of each fund's top 10
Simplicity weight in shared
63.8%
of Simplicity NZ Share Fund top 10 is shared
Smartshares weight in shared
40.2%
of Smart NZ Top 50 ETF top 10 is shared
| Holding | Simplicity | Smartshares |
|---|---|---|
 Infratil Ltd NZ | 9.84% | 5.52% |
 Meridian Energy Limited NZ | 6.33% | 5.16% |
 Contact Energy Ltd NZ | 7.41% | 5.15% |
 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd NZ | 17.92% | 4.99% |
 Auckland International Airport Ltd NZ | 10.55% | 4.84% |
 Mainfreight Ltd NZ | 4.34% | 4.87% |
 Mercury NZ Limited NZ | 3.79% | 5.00% |
 Chorus Ltd NZ | 3.59% | 4.69% |
"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
Simplicity
Simplicity NZ Share Fund
The NZ Share Fund invests in securities listed on the New Zealand stock exchange (NZX), designed to be the New Zealand share component of a diversified investment portfolio.Full Simplicity Simplicity NZ Share Fund profile →
Smartshares
Smart NZ Top 50 ETF
The Smart NZ Top 50 ETF is designed to track the return (before tax, fees and other expenses) of the S&P/NZX 50 Portfolio Index. The Index is comprised of 50 of the largest companies listed on the NZX, with a 5% cap on the weight of each company within the Index.Full Smartshares Smart NZ Top 50 ETF profile →
Common questions
What's the difference between the Simplicity NZ Share Fund and the Smart NZ Top 50 ETF?
Which fund has lower fees, Simplicity NZ Share Fund or Smart NZ Top 50 ETF?
How do the 5-year returns compare?
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
