US equity exposure via NZ KiwiSaver scheme funds
KiwiSaver scheme funds providing exposure to the US equity market — S&P 500, US large-cap, US small-cap, sector-specific US funds.
General Information Only: This page provides factual data for comparison purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Individual circumstances vary.Read our disclosure
Ranked by annual fee (lowest first)
| # | Fund | Scheme | Annual fee | 1y return | 5y avg | Fund size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | InvestNow Foundation Series Hedged US 500 Fund | FundRock | 0.03% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 8 February 2024 is less than five years before March 2026. | $10M |
| 2 | InvestNow Foundation Series US 500 Fund | FundRock | 0.03% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 17 February 2023 is less than five years before March 2026. | $1M |
| 3 | Sharesies US500 Fund | Sharesies | 0.09% | 29.57% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 20 March 2025 is less than five years before March 2026. | $326M |
| 4 | Kernel S&P 500 (Unhedged) Fund | Kernel | 0.25% | 15.10% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 11 November 2024 is less than five years before March 2026. | $28M |
| 5 | Kernel S&P 500 (NZD Hedged) Fund | Kernel | 0.25% | 12.56% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 11 April 2022 is less than five years before March 2026. | $140M |
| 6 | Kernel US Bond Fund | Kernel | 0.30% | 0.98% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 29 July 2024 is less than five years before March 2026. | $31M |
| 7 | US 500 Fund | Smartshares | 0.54% | 28.20% | 16.09% | $128M |
| 8 | US Large Value Fund | Smartshares | 0.57% | 32.64% | 15.20% | $15M |
| 9 | US Small Cap Fund | Smartshares | 0.57% | 36.34% | 10.14% | $7M |
| 10 | US Mid Cap Fund | Smartshares | 0.57% | 22.62% | 10.50% | $5M |
| 11 | US Equities Fund | Kōura | 0.73% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 14.51% | $155M |
About “—” in return figures: it means no figure is held, not a return of zero. Of the 11 funds listed, 8 have a 1-year return and 5 have a 5-year average return. Figures are drawn from fund disclosures on the FMA Disclose register, chiefly quarterly fund updates. Each fund shows the most recent figure held, with 1-year returns up to June 2026; the latest quarter broadly covered across all funds is March 2026. A fund too new to report a period has no figure for it; other gaps are figures not yet captured from the updates ingested so far.
Funds matched by name pattern against the US equity criteria. Annual-fee ranking is mechanical — does not factor in returns, risk, manager skill, or the precise underlying-index methodology. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest US equity KiwiSaver scheme fund in NZ?
Based on the most recent FMA-filed Quarterly Fund Updates, the lowest-fee US equity option in our coverage is FundRock — InvestNow Foundation Series Hedged US 500 Fund at 0.03% per year. Mechanical fee ranking only — does not factor in returns, risk, or manager skill. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
How many US equity KiwiSaver scheme funds are available?
11 KiwiSaver scheme funds matching US equity criteria across 5 schemes in our coverage, with annual fees from 0.03% to 0.73% (median 0.30%).
Other strategy hubs
Important Information
Disclaimer: This page provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. FundCompare.co.nz is not a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FAP).
We do not assess suitability, make recommendations, or provide personalised advice. The information shown is sourced from publicly available data and may not reflect current offerings. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Investment returns can be negative, and you may receive back less than you invested.
Before making any decisions: Always verify current information directly with the relevant KiwiSaver provider and read their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Need personalised advice? Consult a licensed Financial Advice Provider. Find advisers at fma.govt.nz
Compare every fund on the FMA Disclose register. Refreshed quarterly. Independent — FundCompare is not a Financial Advice Provider; general information only.
Compare
Learn
Important Information and Disclosure
The information provided on this website is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial products. Nothing on this website constitutes financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. FundCompare.co.nz is not a licensed Financial Advice Provider.
Investing involves risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Before making any investment decision, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the fund carefully. If you have questions or are unclear about the implications of your investment decision, you should seek advice from a licensed Financial Advice Provider.
All information displayed is sourced from scheme providers, the Disclose Register, and the Sorted Smart Investor universal feed (operated by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission), or other publicly available sources. We take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy but cannot guarantee information is always current or complete.
FundCompare.co.nz may receive referral fees or commissions from scheme providers if you sign up via links on this website. These payments do not influence the order, ranking, or inclusion of products displayed.
For more information, please see our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure Statement.
This website is operated by FundCompare.co.nz and is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the New Zealand government or Inland Revenue. FundCompare.co.nz is using the KiwiSaver trade mark and logo under licence from Inland Revenue. To view the official New Zealand government KiwiSaver website, please click here.
© 2026 FundCompare.co.nz. All rights reserved.