Is MIDS a good ETF?
MIDS is the Antipodes Global SMID Active ETF. We classify it under Intl, Small-Cap, and Active. With about $246 million in assets it is a solidly established fund.
On a total-return basis, MIDS has delivered 25.64% a year over 3 years (ranked 10th of 226 ETFs we track) and 24.31% a year over 1 year (ranked 31st of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 3 years, where it sits in the top 4% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 1.2% is high, which is common for active, geared or thematic strategies and only worth paying if the approach justifies it. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.55%. If cost is your priority, VVLU (0.28%), VLUE (0.4%), and AGX1 (1.1%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a low 0.45% yield, so most of its return must come from capital growth.
Over the past 3 years its volatility has been moderate (annualised standard deviation around 11.85%), meaning the kind of swings you'd expect from a diversified equity fund. Its 3-year Sharpe ratio of 1.66 is excellent — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Strengths
- Top-4% returns over 3 years (10th of 226 ETFs we track).
- Strong risk-adjusted returns (3-year Sharpe ratio 1.66).
Things to watch
- A 1.2% management fee is high and compounds against you over time.
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.55%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: VVLU, VLUE, and AGX1.
Good to know
- Low 0.45% yield — this is a growth-oriented fund, not an income play.
What MIDS's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
Global and international shares from outside Australia — broadening you into thousands of companies and the sectors (tech, healthcare) the local market lacks.
- Market regime
- Essential diversification away from the bank-and-resources-heavy ASX. Unhedged versions carry currency risk; hedged versions remove it at a small cost.
- In a portfolio
- A core holding for almost every long-term Australian portfolio.
Smaller companies, which historically carry a long-run 'size premium' alongside greater volatility and lower liquidity.
- Market regime
- Tends to lead early in economic recoveries and falls hardest in recessions and credit crunches, as smaller firms are more economically sensitive.
- In a portfolio
- A long-horizon satellite tilt for extra growth — expect a bumpier ride than large-cap and broad-market funds.
Actively managed: a portfolio manager hand-picks holdings trying to beat the index, rather than simply tracking it. You pay more in fees for the chance of outperformance.
- Market regime
- Can add value in volatile, falling or inefficient markets where stock-picking and downside protection matter. In long, broad bull markets most active funds struggle to keep up with the cheap index after fees.
- In a portfolio
- Only worth holding if you have genuine conviction in the strategy — decades of evidence show the majority of active funds underperform their benchmark over 10+ years once fees are counted.
General information only, generated from the fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.