ETF Evaluator:
NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Jul 20)
Best Performing in Foreign Small/Mid Blend Over the Last Year
| 26.1% | Avantis International Small Cp Eq ETF (AVDS) |
| 23.3% | Dimensional International Small Cap ETF (DFIS) |
| 22.2% | iShares Currency Hdgd MSCI EAFE SmCp ETF (HSCZ) |
| 20.5% | Foreign Small/Mid Blend () |
| 20.4% | iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) |
Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF Overview
NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF (NISM) is an actively managed International Equity Foreign Small/Mid Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). New York Life Investment Management LLC launched the ETF in 2026.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital.
It invests primarily in equity securities issued by non-U.S. small- and mid-capitalization companies. The fund typically holds between 50–100 equity securities, is actively managed, and does not seek to track an index.
About NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF (NISM)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.22 years: Tobias Bucks (2026) and Simon Wood (2026). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF has 92 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 22.0% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF has 98.9% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.0% There is 98.9% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.9% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF has 0.1% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $25 million in total assets, which is below the $3 billion average for the Foreign Small/Mid Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
NISM Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF expense ratio is above average compared to funds in the Foreign Small/Mid Blend category. NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF has an expense ratio of 0.70%, which is 80% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 0%, which indicates that it holds its assets around /years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 17% for the Foreign Small/Mid Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF returned 1.9%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Foreign Small/Mid Blend category had an average return of 1.2%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
NYLI International Small-Mid Cap Eq ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 2.98% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually and its capital gains semi-annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
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NISM Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| NISM Return (NAV) | 1.9% | na | na | na | na | na |
| NISM Return (Price) | 0.4% | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 1.505% | na | na | na | na | na |
| Foreign Small/Mid Blend Avg | 1.2% | 0.2% | 20.5% | 15.6% | 6.6% | 8.5% |
| NISM Grade (NAV) | B | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 0.8% | na | na | na | na | na |
| NISM Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | na | na | na | na |
NISM Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| NISM Return (NAV) | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NISM Return (Price) | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Foreign Small/Mid Blend Avg | 8.7% | 33.8% | 3.8% | 13.9% | -18.4% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 23.5% | -17.6% | 30.2% | 4.1% |
| NISM Grade (NAV) | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | -- |
| Total Assets: | $ 25 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 25 Mil |
| Turnover: | na |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.70% |
| Index Fund: | No |
| Index Tracked: | N/A |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 0.2 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 0.2 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Bucks Tobias (2026), Wood Simon (2026) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 92 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 22.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.9% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.9% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.9% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.1% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | New York Life Investment Management LLC |
| Phone Number: | 888-474-7725 |
| Website: | www.indexiq.com |
| Inception Date: | May 12, 2026 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.70% (Rating: Above Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.39% |