Vaughan Nelson Global Equity SMID Fund – Active ETF (VNGS) Review & Analysis

MER · #481 of 514AUM · #346 of 5081Y Return · Top 50%3Y Return · Top 50%

What's new this monthData to 30 September 2026

−1.3% in September (total return), behind the median international shares ETF at +0.0%.
Investors withdrew a net $7.6m (-13.9% of the fund).
The unit price closed the month at $3.78, 5% below its 12-month high (range $3.38 to $3.96).

About VNGS

VNGS is an international shares ETF from Vaughan, listed on the ASX since June 2022. With $47m under management it is number 170 of 254 international shares ETFs by size. The management fee is 1.12% a year, about $112 on every $10,000 invested, dearer than the typical international shares ETF at 0.55%.

Over the past year it returned +8.9%, against +10.4% for the median international shares ETF.

VNGS distributions and dividend dates

The latest distribution was $0.0642 per unit (0% franked), ex-distribution on 1 July 2026 and paid on 21 July 2026. To receive it you need to own VNGS before the ex-date.

From ASX announcements, updated nightly. See every ETF in the dividend calendar.

Compare VNGS Check overlap Vaughan website ↗

Compare VNGS with

VNGSvsMIDS

Antipodes Global Smid Active ETF

Fee	1.12%	1.20%
1 year	+8.9%	–
5 yrs p.a.	–	–
Size	$47m	$199m

Same holdingsNo holdings data

Full comparison →

VNGSvsVGS

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF

Fee	1.12%	0.18%
1 year	+8.9%	+10.1%
5 yrs p.a.	–	+11.8%
Size	$47m	$18.7bn

Same holdingsNo holdings data

Full comparison →

VNGSvsIVV

iShares S&P 500 ETF

Fee	1.12%	0.04%
1 year	+8.9%	+10.1%
5 yrs p.a.	–	+13.4%
Size	$47m	$14.9bn

Same holdingsNo holdings data

Full comparison →

VNGSvsNDQ

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF

Fee	1.12%	0.48%
1 year	+8.9%	+16.6%
5 yrs p.a.	–	+15.3%
Size	$47m	$9.5bn

Same holdingsNo holdings data

Full comparison →

VNGS price by TradingView

Stock Code	VNGS
Fund Manager	Vaughan
Asset Class	International shares
AUM	$47m
MER (%)	1.12%
Net flows (Sep)	−$7.6m
Last Price	$3.78
52-Week Range	$3.38 – $3.96
Bid/Ask Spread	0.52%
Listing Date	01/06/2022
Exchange	ASX
Index	None: actively managed. See the PDS for its benchmark
Issuer website	Vaughan ↗

Performance (% return)

1 month−1.3%

1 year+8.9%

3 years p.a.+11.9%

5 years p.a.–

$10,000 invested…

1 year ago$10,8903 years ago$14,011

Value at 30 September 2026 with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage.

Total returns including distributions, to 30 September 2026. 1M, 1Y, 3Y and 5Y bars are cumulative.

VNGS at a glance: strengths and things to watch

👍 Strengths

Nothing stands out against its category.

⚠️ Things to watch

Higher fee. At 1.12% a year it costs more than 89% of international shares ETFs (median 0.55%), or about $57 a year more on every $10,000.
Small fund. With $47m under management, it is more at risk of being closed or merged than larger funds, and trading can be thinner.
Behind its peers. +11.9% a year over 3 years, against +15.4% for the median international shares ETF.
Money is flowing out. Investors withdrew a net $7.6m in September (16% of the fund).
Wider trading spread. 0.52% between the buy and sell price. Use a limit order.

Worked out from VNGS's fees, size, flows, returns and trend against the 257 international shares ETFs in Australia, to 30 September 2026. General information, not a recommendation.

etfadviserTrend check

Base since 25 Aug 2026

VNGS is in a base. Here's why that matters.

VNGS's moving averages are tangled and the price is moving sideways. The trend hasn't picked a direction yet. Its price is 7.1% below its 12-month high.

Why it matters: Bases are where the next big move starts. A breakout can begin a new uptrend, while a breakdown can start a long fall. Buying a satellite before the breakout often means waiting months for nothing to happen.

At ETF Adviser the core of a portfolio stays invested through every stage, and satellite ETFs are only bought in an uptrend. Members get a weekly update on which ETFs are breaking out of a base and which trends have broken.

Get the weekly trend updates: try it free for 30 days How base and trend works →See every ETF's stage →Visit etfadviser.com.au →

UptrendBaseDowntrend

VNGS weekly price, past 12 months, shaded by trend stage. Stage as at 7 November 2026, updated weekly. A technical label, not a recommendation.

Investment Focus

Themes & Sectors

Active ETFs

Similar ETFs

Code	Name	Same holdings	MER	AUM	1Y	3Y p.a.	5Y p.a.
MIDS	Antipodes Global Smid Active ETF Active	–	1.20%	$199m	–	–	–
VGS	Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF	–	0.18%	$18.7bn	+10.1%	+17.9%	+11.8%
IVV	iShares S&P 500 ETF	–	0.04%	$14.9bn	+10.1%	+19.2%	+13.4%
NDQ	Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF	–	0.48%	$9.5bn	+16.6%	+23.8%	+15.3%
QUAL	VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF	–	0.40%	$9.2bn	+10.1%	+16.1%	+11.4%
VGAD	Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF Currency hedged	–	0.21%	$7.9bn	+17.1%	+19.8%	+10.8%

Same holdings is the share of VNGS's money in companies the other ETF also holds, weighted by size. No other ETF shares much with VNGS, so these are ETFs in the same category. See every ETF like VNGS →

VNGS vs its closest alternatives

What actually differs between VNGS and the ETFs most like it. Data to 30 Sep 2026.

MIDS Antipodes Global Smid Active ETF

VNGS is cheaper (1.12% vs 1.20%), worth about $4,704 on $100,000 over 20 years.
MIDS is about 4 times larger ($199m vs $47m), which usually means tighter trading spreads.

Compare VNGS and MIDS side by side →

VGS Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF

VGS is cheaper (0.18% vs 1.12%), worth about $60,625 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Over 3 years, a year: VNGS +11.9%, VGS +17.9% (VGS ahead by 6.0 percentage points).
VGS is much larger ($18.7bn vs $47m), which usually means tighter trading spreads.
Different structure: VNGS is actively managed, VGS is a standard fund.

Compare VNGS and VGS side by side →

IVV iShares S&P 500 ETF

IVV is cheaper (0.04% vs 1.12%), worth about $70,556 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Over 3 years, a year: VNGS +11.9%, IVV +19.2% (IVV ahead by 7.3 percentage points).
IVV is much larger ($14.9bn vs $47m), which usually means tighter trading spreads.
Different structure: VNGS is actively managed, IVV is a standard fund.

Compare VNGS and IVV side by side →

General information only. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

VNGS FAQs

What is the fee for VNGS?

VNGS charges a management fee (MER) of 1.12% a year, according to the TMX Australia monthly funds report as at 30 September 2026.

How big is VNGS?

VNGS had $47m in funds under management as at 30 September 2026.

How has VNGS performed?

VNGS returned +8.9% over the year to 30 September 2026 (total return, including distributions). Over three years it returned +11.9% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Who manages VNGS?

VNGS is managed by Vaughan and has been listed since June 2022.

Is VNGS franked?

Generally no. VNGS invests outside Australia, so its distributions carry little or no franking credits. Franking comes from Australian companies that have paid tax here.

Is VNGS currency hedged?

No, VNGS is unhedged. Its returns move with the Australian dollar: a falling dollar adds to returns and a rising dollar reduces them.

Disclaimer

This review is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the Vaughan product disclosure statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) before investing. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.