Smart US 500 ETF
Managed by Smartshares Smart US 500 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 · distributions semi-annually. 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.
14.14%
peer avg 4.91%
Fund size
NZ$962.6m
98% growth · 2% income
Invests in US shares and is designed to track the return of the S&P 500 Index.
Benchmark track record
Compare International Equities consistency →How Smart US 500 ETF performed against its own market-index benchmark each year, after fees and tax — from the FMA fund-update dataset. Historical track record, not current-year performance; past performance is not a guide to the future.
Beat its benchmark in 0 of 6 years
annual returns to 30/06/2022Since inception: 10.46% p.a. after fees & tax vs benchmark 12.3%.
How Smart US 500 ETF differs
Factual contrasts drawn from the PDS, SIPO and latest portfolio holdings — no opinion.
- Investment style
- Index-tracking posture against the S&P 500 Index.
- Top 3 holdings
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (99.8%) · NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank) (0.6%)
Key facts
Fund start date
29 July 2015
Min. investment
NZ$500
Subsequent: NZ$250
Distributions
Semi-annually
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.
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)
+14.14%
Category median: +8.31%
Higher than 99% of peers
Fund size
NZ$962.6m
Category median: NZ$95.7m
Top 4% 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 2 holdings
As at the latest published quarterly fund update (via Sorted Smart Investor).
| Holding | % of fund |
|---|---|
| VS Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 99.82% |
| $ NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank) | 0.58% |
Documents
Every dated PDS, quarterly fund update and full-portfolio holdings file. Linked from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor.
- SMART US 500 ETF (FND1106) Full portfolio holdings 31 March 2026.xlsx Download the full portfolio holdings. XLSX, 0.33 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 500 etf.pdf The quarterly update published by the provider PDF, 172.29 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 500 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.
Is US500 good for long-term investing?
The Smart US 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index and has delivered a 5-year return of 17.84% p.a. after fees (before tax), as at the latest QFU. Suitability depends on your investment timeframe, risk tolerance, and financial circumstances; check the current PDS and consider seeking personal financial advice.
What is smart US 500 ETF?
The Smart US 500 ETF is a managed fund that tracks the performance of 500 large US companies via the S&P 500 index. It holds approximately 99.93% in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with a small cash allocation, and charges an annual fund charge of 0.34% p.a.
What companies are in the Smart US 500 ETF?
The Smart US 500 ETF holds the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (99.93% of the fund), which tracks 500 large-cap US companies. For a detailed breakdown of those 500 holdings, check the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF documentation or the fund's latest fact sheet on the Smartshares website.
How much fees do ETFs charge?
ETF fees vary widely by fund and manager. The Smart US 500 ETF charges 0.34% p.a., which is lower than the peer-cohort average of 0.95% p.a. for similar funds. Compare specific ETFs you're considering on the FMA Disclose register to see their annual fund charges.
Head-to-head
Compare Smart US 500 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 NZ Top 50 ETFAustralasian Equities
- Smart US Large Growth ETFInternational Equities
- Smart Australian Top 200 ETFAustralasian 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 500 ETF?
Smart US 500 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 500 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 500 ETF?
The annual fund charge for the Smart US 500 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 500 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 500 ETF a PIE fund?
Yes. The Smart US 500 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 500 ETF?
Fund size (assets under management) is NZ$963 million as at the latest Quarterly Fund Update. Asset mix is approximately 98% growth assets and 2% income assets.
What does the Smart US 500 ETF invest in?
The latest published top holdings are: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (99.82%), NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank) (0.58%). Holdings are disclosed in each Quarterly Fund Update; the full portfolio holdings file is also available via the FMA Disclose register.
How can I invest in the Smart US 500 ETF?
The Smart US 500 ETF is available via Smartshares directly. Always read the current Product Disclosure Statement before investing.
Is US500 good for long-term investing?
The Smart US 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index and has delivered a 5-year return of 17.84% p.a. after fees (before tax), as at the latest QFU. Suitability depends on your investment timeframe, risk tolerance, and financial circumstances; check the current PDS and consider seeking personal financial advice.
What is smart US 500 ETF?
The Smart US 500 ETF is a managed fund that tracks the performance of 500 large US companies via the S&P 500 index. It holds approximately 99.93% in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with a small cash allocation, and charges an annual fund charge of 0.34% p.a.
What companies are in the Smart US 500 ETF?
The Smart US 500 ETF holds the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (99.93% of the fund), which tracks 500 large-cap US companies. For a detailed breakdown of those 500 holdings, check the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF documentation or the fund's latest fact sheet on the Smartshares website.
How much fees do ETFs charge?
ETF fees vary widely by fund and manager. The Smart US 500 ETF charges 0.34% p.a., which is lower than the peer-cohort average of 0.95% p.a. for similar funds. Compare specific ETFs you're considering on the FMA Disclose register to see their annual fund charges.