Smart US ESG ETF
Managed by Smartshares Smart US ESG ETF is a international equities ETF operated by Smartshares; PIE-structured; FMA risk indicator 5/7. Headline terms: annual fund charge 0.34% · minimum investment NZ$500. Compared with 80 other same-category funds on this site, the 0.34% annual fund charge sits below the same-category median of 0.61%.
PIE tax treatment — capped at your PIR (max 28%)
This fund is a Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) under Subpart HM of the Income Tax Act 2007. Income is taxed at your Prescribed Investor Rate (10.5% / 17.5% / 28%), not your marginal income-tax rate. The fund manager calculates and pays the tax on your behalf — when your PIR is correct, you usually don't need to declare PIE income in your annual tax return. See our PIR guide and PIE tax basics for the full picture, or use the PIR calculator to confirm your rate.
Annual fund charge
0.34%
vs peer avg 0.91%
Risk indicator
5/7
1 = lower risk · 7 = higher risk
5-year return p.a.
14.05%
peer avg 4.91%
Fund size
NZ$38.6m
98% growth · 2% income
The Smart US ESG ETF is designed to track the return (before tax, fees and other expenses) of the MSCI USA Screened Index. The Index is comprised of US companies screened for exposure to controversial weapons, civilian firearms, tobacco, thermal coal and oil sands. The Index excludes companies that fail to comply with the United Nations Global Compact Principles. For more information, please refer to the Smart Responsible Investment Policy.
How Smart US ESG ETF differs
Factual contrasts drawn from the PDS, SIPO and latest portfolio holdings — no opinion.
- Investment style
- Index-tracking posture.
- Responsible-investment screen
- Excludes Companies with exposure to Controversial Weapons; Companies with exposure to Nuclear Weapons; Companies with exposure to Civilian Firearms, plus 4 additional categories (full list in the SIPO).
- Top 3 holdings
- IShares MSCI USA ESG Screened UCITS ETF (100.0%) · NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank) (0.5%) · USD Cash Account (BNP Paribas) (0.1%)
Key facts
Fund start date
6 June 2019
Min. investment
NZ$500
Tax structure
PIE
Capped at your PIR (max 28%)
Investment policy
From the Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).
Strategic asset allocation ranges
| Asset class | Target | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 0% | 0% | 10% |
| International equities | 100% | 90% | 100% |
Responsible-investment approach
Smart has a Responsible Investment Policy setting out its approach to responsible investing, available at smartinvest.co.nz/resources/documents. Several funds track indices that screen for exposure to Controversial Weapons, Nuclear Weapons, Civilian Firearms, Tobacco, Thermal Coal and Oil Sands, and exclude companies failing to comply with the United Nations Global Compact Principles.
Exclusions
- Companies with exposure to Controversial Weapons
- Companies with exposure to Nuclear Weapons
- Companies with exposure to Civilian Firearms
- Companies with exposure to Tobacco
- Companies with exposure to Thermal Coal
- Companies with exposure to Oil Sands
- Companies that fail to comply with the United Nations Global Compact Principles
Derivatives policy
Each ETF may use derivatives to gain exposure to assets consistent with its permitted investments. No ETF may use derivatives to lever the ETF.
Reading between the lines
Plain-English summary of the scheme's disclosed conflicts and performance-fee mechanics, drawn from the OMI and PDS. Factual restatement — no opinion.
- Smartshares acknowledges it may invest in its own funds rather than third-party products, creating a potential conflict of interest in favour of its own managed funds.
- Smartshares discloses that where it invests in its own Smart Wholesale Scheme funds, it does not charge an additional management fee for that underlying exposure.
- Smartshares receives administration services from NZX Limited, its parent company, under a formal Administration Services Agreement, making NZX a related-party service provider to the fund.
- Smartshares notes that third-party underlying fund managers it appoints may also prefer their own funds; these arrangements are reviewed at least annually and approved on arm's-length terms.
Generated 2026-05-28 from Smart Exchange Traded Funds OMI (dated 2026-04-19). The verbatim disclosures appear in full below — this summary is a navigation aid, not a substitute.
Scheme disclosures
From the Other Material Information (OMI) document. Scheme-level — applies to every fund in this scheme.
Trustee / Supervisor
Public Trust
Conflicts disclosed
2
In OMI
Conflicts of interest disclosed in OMI
- Smart may invest in other funds managed by it, rather than in financial products issued by third parties, potentially influencing investment decisions in favour of its own funds; this is managed via the Investment Oversight Committee and by not charging a fee for management services in relation to the Smart Wholesale Scheme where applicable.
- An underlying third party fund manager may invest in other funds that it manages, potentially preferring its own managed funds over those operated by independent third parties; Smart assesses these arrangements at least annually and reviews fund investments monthly, with appointments approved on arm's length terms under Smart's Related Party Transactions Policy.
How this fund compares to peers
Mechanical comparison vs the 81 other international equities funds in our cohort. Source: FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Annual fund charge
0.34%
Category median: 0.61%
Cheaper than 77% of peers
5y return p.a. (after fees)
+14.05%
Category median: +8.31%
Higher than 97% of peers
Fund size
NZ$38.6m
Category median: NZ$95.7m
30th percentile by AUM
Illustrative 5y fee impact on a sample balance of $10,000
$169
Compounded charge over 5 years (excl. returns)
$132 less than peer median
Read the full fee-vs-peers breakdown →
Mechanical scores only — no opinion or recommendation. Different funds suit different investor goals. ManagedFundsNZ is not a Financial Advice Provider. Read the current PDS and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.
Top 3 holdings
As at the latest published quarterly fund update (via Sorted Smart Investor).
| Holding | % of fund |
|---|---|
| IM IShares MSCI USA ESG Screened UCITS ETF | 99.95% |
| $ NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank) | 0.45% |
| $ USD Cash Account (BNP Paribas) | 0.10% |
Documents
Every dated PDS, quarterly fund update and full-portfolio holdings file. Linked from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor.
- SMART US ESG ETF (FND14636) Full portfolio holdings 31 March 2026.xlsx Download the full portfolio holdings. XLSX, 0.39 KB
- PDS Core Series 23 Sep Final.pdf How this investment works, including about the provider, risks, costs and potential returns PDF, 947.54 KB
- smart exchange traded funds fund update smart us esg etf.pdf The quarterly update published by the provider PDF, 172.76 KB
- Product Disclosure Statement Smartshares Exchange Traded Funds Resettlement Offer.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 499.14 KB
- Smartshares Exchange Traded Funds New Core Series ET Fs Product Disclosure Statement.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 445.42 KB
- Product Disclosure Statement Smart Exchange Traded Funds Australasia Series 22 September 2025.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 1.14 MB
- Smart Responsible Investment Policy 6 May 2026.pdf Smart Responsible Investment Policy PDF, 1.41 MB
- Product Disclosure Statement Smart Exchange Traded Funds Global Series 12 May 2026.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 2.32 MB
- Other Material Information Smart Exchange Traded Funds 12 May 2026.pdf Smart Exchange Traded Funds - Other Material Information PDF, 690.38 KB
- SIPO Smart Exchange Traded Funds 12 May 2026.pdf Statement of investment policy and objectives PDF, 1.54 MB
About this category
Funds investing in shares listed outside Australasia. Includes broad global trackers, regional funds, ESG-focused strategies, and theme funds covering automation, healthcare, water and other sectors.
About Smartshares
NZ’s largest ETF issuer, owned by NZX. Tickers trade on NZX Main Board.
Parent: NZX Limited
See all funds from Smartshares →Common questions
Questions people ask about Smart US ESG ETF
Drawn from Google's "People also ask" panel and answered with reference to the fund's filed PDS, Fund Update and FMA Disclose data. Not personal financial advice — for guidance specific to your situation, consult an authorised financial adviser.
How much fees do ETFs charge?
ETF fees vary by fund and strategy. Smart US ESG ETF charges an annual fund charge of 0.34% p.a., which is materially lower than the peer-cohort average of 0.95% p.a. for comparable funds. Check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for any specific fund to confirm its current annual fund charge.
Do ETFs have PDS?
Yes, ETFs have a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that sets out the fund's features, risks, fees, and other key information. Smart US ESG ETF's PDS is available from Smartshares directly or through the FMA Disclose register at https://disclose-register.companieshousey.govt.nz/.
Do ESG ETFs perform better?
Performance outcomes for ESG-screened funds depend on market conditions and the specific securities held. Smart US ESG ETF delivered a 5-year return of 17.72% p.a. after fees and before tax as at the latest QFU, though past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should review the fund's holdings and risk profile in its PDS before investing.
Head-to-head
Compare Smart US ESG ETF with…
Side-by-side numbers — fees, returns, risk, fund size, asset mix.
Peer funds
Other International Equities funds
Same manager
Other funds by Smartshares
- Smart US 500 ETFInternational Equities
- Smart NZ Top 50 ETFAustralasian Equities
- Smart US Large Growth ETFInternational Equities
FMA risk band
Same risk band (5/7)
See every NZ retail managed fund with the same standardised FMA risk indicator. Useful for peer-checking volatility-comparable funds outside this category.
View risk band 5 funds →AI & integrations
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Frequently asked questions
Mechanical Q&A grounded in the fund's PDS, SIPO, and latest QFU on the FMA Disclose register. Verify against the source before relying on any of this.
Who manages the Smart US ESG ETF?
Smart US ESG ETF is managed by Smartshares (parent: NZX Limited). NZ’s largest ETF issuer, owned by NZX. Tickers trade on NZX Main Board.
What asset class is the Smart US ESG ETF?
It is a international equities exchange-traded fund (ETF). Funds investing in shares listed outside Australasia. Includes broad global trackers, regional funds, ESG-focused strategies, and theme funds covering automation, healthcare, water and other sectors.
What are the fees for the Smart US ESG ETF?
The annual fund charge for the Smart US ESG ETF is 0.34% p.a., as reported in the latest Quarterly Fund Update sourced from the FMA Disclose register. Always check the current PDS for any additional fees.
What is the risk indicator for the Smart US ESG ETF?
The risk indicator is 5/7 on the standardised FMA-mandated scale, where 1 is lower risk and 7 is higher risk. The risk indicator is calculated from the fund's price volatility over the past five years and is published in every Quarterly Fund Update.
Is the Smart US ESG ETF a PIE fund?
Yes. The Smart US ESG ETF is structured as a New Zealand Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE). Investor tax on the fund's income is capped at the investor's Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), which has a maximum of 28%. Most NZ-resident retail investors with a taxable income at or below NZ$48,000 qualify for a lower PIR.
How big is the Smart US ESG ETF?
Fund size (assets under management) is NZ$39 million as at the latest Quarterly Fund Update. Asset mix is approximately 98% growth assets and 2% income assets.
What does the Smart US ESG ETF invest in?
The latest published top holdings are: IShares MSCI USA ESG Screened UCITS ETF (99.95%), NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank) (0.45%), USD Cash Account (BNP Paribas) (0.10%). Holdings are disclosed in each Quarterly Fund Update; the full portfolio holdings file is also available via the FMA Disclose register.
Does the Smart US ESG ETF apply responsible-investment screens?
Yes. The Smart US ESG ETF applies responsible-investment or ESG screening criteria — exclusions and engagement policies are documented in the fund's Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO). Check the SIPO for the specific screening framework used.
How can I invest in the Smart US ESG ETF?
The Smart US ESG ETF is available via Smartshares directly. Always read the current Product Disclosure Statement before investing.
How much fees do ETFs charge?
ETF fees vary by fund and strategy. Smart US ESG ETF charges an annual fund charge of 0.34% p.a., which is materially lower than the peer-cohort average of 0.95% p.a. for comparable funds. Check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for any specific fund to confirm its current annual fund charge.
Do ETFs have PDS?
Yes, ETFs have a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that sets out the fund's features, risks, fees, and other key information. Smart US ESG ETF's PDS is available from Smartshares directly or through the FMA Disclose register at https://disclose-register.companieshousey.govt.nz/.
Do ESG ETFs perform better?
Performance outcomes for ESG-screened funds depend on market conditions and the specific securities held. Smart US ESG ETF delivered a 5-year return of 17.72% p.a. after fees and before tax as at the latest QFU, though past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should review the fund's holdings and risk profile in its PDS before investing.