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NISM ETF: A Complete Guide — Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs

Updated August 17, 2026 · First published August 17, 2026

The NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF (NISM) employs an active strategy that selects small- and mid-cap stocks listed outside the United States. The outlook for the NISM ETF depends on overseas economic conditions and currency movements, individual stock-level flows, the absence of a distribution history, and the fee structure.

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What Is the NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF?

The NISM ETF is an actively managed exchange-traded fund that does not mechanically track an index. Instead, it evaluates and selects U.S.-listed small- and mid-cap companies outside the U.S. that demonstrate long-term growth potential. The approach reviews regional, country, and sector conditions before assessing each company's financial health and competitive position.

It is well suited for investors seeking to complement their U.S. large-cap portfolios with long-term exposure to other regions and company size segments.

The fund is managed by New York Life Investment Management using an active investment approach.

How Does the NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF Work?
ItemDetails
Tracked IndexNot applicable (active management)
Management StyleActively managed
Investment ScopeNon-U.S. small- and mid-cap equities
Rebalancing FrequencyAdjusted at the manager's discretion
Dividend ScheduleNo distribution history
Fund ManagerNew York Life Investment Management
Total Expense Ratio0.70%

This product uses an active approach that examines the regions and sectors of interest based on economic and market conditions, then conducts a comprehensive review of each company's business model, financial soundness, competitive positioning, earnings growth potential, and valuation. Portfolio weights can be adjusted as market conditions and individual company fundamentals change.

  • Focus on non-U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks
  • Combines macroeconomic and company-level analysis
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NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF — Size and Cost (AUM & Expense Ratio)

Assets under management (AUM) stand at $27.4M, with a total expense ratio of 0.70% per year.

Because this is a newly listed product, bid-ask spreads and the gap between market price and net asset value can vary depending on trading demand and the creation/redemption mechanism, so investors should pay attention to order types.

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NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF — Performance and Flows

1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
Dividend Yield 0.24%
Annual Dividend (TTM) $0.06
Next Ex-Dividend Date 6/18/2026
52-Week Price Range
$25
Low $24 High $26
vs. low +2.76% vs. high -4.41%

The NISM ETF is a newly listed product in the process of building a long-term performance track record. Rather than judging the strategy's effectiveness based on short-term results alone, investors should examine how volatility in overseas small- and mid-cap markets and the earnings trajectory of underlying holdings affect both NAV and market price.

Fund flows can be influenced by investor sentiment toward international equities, regional economic outlooks, currency movements, and trading liquidity. For newly listed products, the difference between market price and net asset value can widen depending on the activity of authorized participants, trading demand, and the liquidity of the underlying market, making it important to review trading conditions.

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NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF — Strengths and Weaknesses

Active selection of non-U.S. Focus on small- and mid-cap stocks is a strength, but overseas market, currency, and liquidity variables, along with the characteristics of a newly listed product, are factors to keep in mind. Equity Exposure

Provides access to small- and mid-cap companies outside the U.S., complementing existing U.S. large-cap exposure.
Active Stock Selection
Uses a process that combines macroeconomic conditions with company-level fundamentals to select holdings.
Diversification Focus
Applies a management philosophy aimed at spreading risk across multiple countries and sectors.

⚠️ Points to Watch

Overseas Market Volatility
Political, economic, and regulatory changes in foreign markets, along with geopolitical variables, can affect the value of underlying holdings.
Currency Exposure
Because the fund invests in companies that transact or earn in foreign currencies, dollar and local-currency movements can be reflected in performance.
Small- and Mid-Cap Liquidity
Small- and mid-cap stocks tend to have lower trading liquidity and greater price volatility than large caps.
Market Price Premium/Discount
The ETF's market price can deviate from its net asset value, so investors should review quoted trading terms.
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NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF — Alternative ETFs and Related Products

Unlike passive index-tracking international small-cap products, this fund's performance may more directly reflect the portfolio managers' regional and sector calls, as well as individual security selection. However, because the input metadata provides limited information on comparable candidates and similar products, a specific alternative ETF ticker is not presented here. When comparing, it is appropriate to apply the same criteria across management style, geographic allocation, currency exposure, trading liquidity, total expense ratio, and distribution history.

Peer Comparison ETFs
TickerNamePriceChangeAUMTotal Expense RatioDividend Yield1Y
DFIVDFIVDimensional International Value ETF$56.80-0.0%$22.4B0.27%2.74%+18.8%
VYMIVYMIVanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF$102.42+0.1%$21.9B0.07%3.63%+16.8%
DFAIDFAIDimensional International Core Equity Market ETF$41.82+0.3%$18.3B0.18%2.42%+12.3%
DFICDFICDimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF$37.87+0.2%$15.5B0.22%2.52%+13.2%
IQLTIQLTiShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF$50.66+0.3%$13.8B0.30%2.36%+12.1%
Top Holdings
TickerNameWeightPriceChangeMarket CapP/EDividend Yield
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc ADR0.01%$24.75+1.8%$156.3B28.42.95%
EXEEXEExpand Energy Corp0.01%$88.63+0.8%$20.5B7.72.6%
STNSTNStantec Inc0.01%$75.50-0.4%$8.5B23.50.92%
WSEWSEWise Group Plc0.01%$11.15+0.9%$13.2B23.1-
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Investor Checklist for the NYLI International Small Mid Cap Equity ETF

Because the NISM ETF is structured to actively select non-U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks, investors should review not only the management approach but also the trading environment and the role the product plays within their portfolio before investing. Checking distribution history, currency effects, and the gap between market price and net asset value helps establish a clearer decision framework.

CheckpointWhat to VerifyCurrent Status
Management StyleIndex tracking versus active stock selection criteriaActively managed
Distribution HistoryWhether distributions have been made and their sustainabilityNo distribution history
Trading ConditionsBid-ask spreads and market price premium/discountNeeds verification
International ExposureRegional economic conditions and currency impactSubject to change

Investing in overseas small- and mid-cap stocks can be sensitive to market volatility, currency movements, country-level regulation, and geopolitical variables. Changes in individual company fundamentals and lower trading liquidity can amplify price swings, and for newly listed products, the gap between market price and net asset value should also be reviewed.

The NISM ETF is a product that investors seeking an active approach to non-U.S. small- and mid-cap equities may consider. However, given the absence of a distribution history and the fact that long-term performance is still being built, it is appropriate to evaluate the cost structure, trading environment, and one's own international equity exposure objectives before making a decision.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.

This article reflects information as of August 17, 2026.

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