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Fund-vs-fund · Australasian Equities

Smart Australian Mid Cap ETFvsSmart Australian Top 20 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.

How much do these two overlap?

They hold 2 of the same securities. If you held both, roughly 0.2% 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.

0.2%
Shared holdingSmart AustralianSmart AustralianMin weight
NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank)0.19%0.27%0.19%
BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES0.01%0.14%0.01%

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.

Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF

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

Smart Australian Top 20 ETF

Why these two differ

The most material structural difference between these two Smartshares funds is their market-cap exposure and the concentration risk that flows from it. The Smart Australian Top 20 ETF targets Australia's largest-cap stocks, with its five disclosed top holdings — Commonwealth Bank of Australia (17.05%), BHP Group Ltd (15.55%), Westpac Banking Corp (8.20%), National Australia Bank Ltd (7.72%), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (6.59%) — accounting for over 55% of the portfolio and reflecting heavy weighting toward financials and resources. The Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF, by contrast, spreads exposure across smaller companies, with its five largest holdings each below 3.5% and no single sector dominating at that same scale.

This structural difference in concentration also maps onto the funds' risk indicators: the Top 20 ETF carries a risk indicator of 5, while the Mid Cap ETF sits at 6, suggesting the mid-cap portfolio has exhibited greater return volatility historically. Both funds hold an identical growth asset allocation of 98.31%.

On fees, the Top 20 ETF charges 0.60% annually versus 0.75% for the Mid Cap ETF. The Top 20 ETF also reports a higher five-year return of 10.25% compared to 8.63%, though past returns are not a reliable indicator of future performance. Fund size differs — $291.4 million (Mid Cap) versus $208.9 million (Top 20) — though both are established pools. Both funds share the same PDS.

Verify all figures against each fund's current 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

  • Smart Australian Top 20 ETF charges 0.15% lower in annual fund charges (0.60% vs 0.75%).
  • Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.

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

Smartshares

0.75%

Lower half of cohort

Smartshares

0.60%

Lower half of cohort

5-year return p.a.

Past performance — not a predictor

Smartshares

8.63%

Top 14% over 5 years

Smartshares

10.25%

Top 7% over 5 years

Fund size

Larger = more stable, lower close-risk

Smartshares

NZ$291m

Largest 11% in cohort

Smartshares

NZ$209m

Largest 13% in cohort

MetricSmartsharesSmartsharesLower / higher is
Annual fund charge0.75%0.60%Lower is better
Risk indicator (1–7)65Higher = more volatility
5-year return p.a.8.63%10.25%Higher is better
(past not future)
Fund sizeNZ$291mNZ$209mLarger = 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 screeningNoNoSpecific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO.
Available viaDirectDirectPlatforms accepting retail subscriptions.

What each fund says it does

Smartshares

Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF

The Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF is designed to track the return (before tax, fees and other expenses) of the S&P/ASX MidCap 50 Index. The Index is comprised of companies listed on the ASX and included in the S&P/ASX 100 Index, but excludes companies included in the S&P/ASX 50 Index.
Full Smartshares Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF profile →

Smartshares

Smart Australian Top 20 ETF

The Smart Australian Top 20 ETF is designed to track the return (before tax, fees and other expenses) of the S&P/ASX 20 Index. The Index is comprised of 20 of the largest companies listed on the ASX.
Full Smartshares Smart Australian Top 20 ETF profile →

Common questions

What's the difference between the Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF and the Smart Australian Top 20 ETF?
Both are australasian equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Smart Australian Top 20 ETF charges 0.15% lower in annual fund charges (0.60% vs 0.75%).
Which fund has lower fees, Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF or Smart Australian Top 20 ETF?
Smart Australian Top 20 ETF has the lower annual fund charge (0.60% p.a. vs 0.75% p.a.). Source: each fund's most recent Quarterly Fund Update on the FMA Disclose register.
How do the 5-year returns compare?
Smart Australian Mid Cap ETF's 5-year return p.a. is 8.63% and Smart Australian Top 20 ETF's is 10.25% (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%.
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.
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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.