Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Awards for the South African Listed Tracker Funds Awards (SALTA). We spoke to 1nvest about why their ETFs – including the 1nvest Top 40 ETF, nominated in the Local Fund category, and the 1nvest S&P 500 ETF – stand out for investors.
What makes the ETF 1nvest Top 40 portfolio strong contender in the Local Fund category at the SALTA Awards?
The 1nvest Top 40 ETF offers investors low-cost, transparent access to South Africa’s best-performing large-cap equity segment, at a time when local equities have delivered standout results. In 2025, the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index returned roughly 49%, making South African equities one of the strongest-performing markets in rand terms. This was driven by a powerful rebound for resources, improving domestic sentiment, and renewed foreign investor interest in SA assets.
The JSE’s resurgence was significant, adding nearly R5tn in market value, while the Top 40 outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets Index by around 30 percentage points during the year. Against this backdrop, the 1nvest Top 40 ETF has proven itself as a core portfolio building block, capturing market-leading performance through disciplined index tracking, while maintaining a competitive fee structure.
Can you explain how the 1nvest Top 40 portfolio gives exposure to the largest JSE-listed companies?
We provide investors with direct exposure to the 40 largest companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, as measured by market capitalisation. By tracking the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index, the fund offers a simple way to invest in South Africa’s biggest and most liquid stocks, including leading names such as Naspers, Standard Bank, Anglo American, and Gold Fields. This allows investors to gain broad large-cap equity exposure through a single, cost-effective investment, without needing to select individual shares.
What factors contributed to the 1nvest S&P500 Info Tech Index Feeder achieving 41.53% returns in 2024?
The 1nvest S&P500 Info Tech Index Feeder ETF benefited from a strong rally in global technology stocks, driven by accelerating investment in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and semiconductor demand. The fund tracks the S&P 500 Capped 35/20 Information Technology Index, which includes major global leaders such as Microsoft, Apple, and NVIDIA. These companies delivered exceptional earnings growth and market momentum during the year, supporting the ETF’s strong performance. As a feeder fund, it closely captured these offshore sector gains through its underlying US technology exposure.
How does the S&P500 Info Tech Index Feeder ETF fit into a diversified investment strategy?
This ETF provides South African investors with targeted offshore exposure to global technology leaders, offering diversification beyond the JSE’s traditional sector mix. It can serve as a growth-focused allocation alongside broader local equity holdings, helping investors diversify across:
- Geography (US exposure)
- Currency (US dollar earnings)
- Sector (technology and innovation).
It is particularly suited to long-term investors seeking global growth themes.
Are there any specific risks investors should consider before investing in these funds?
Yes. Key risks include:
- Equity market volatility, as both funds can decline during downturns
- Concentration risk, with the Top 40 focused on SA large caps and the Info Tech ETF concentrated in one sector
- Currency risk, as offshore returns are influenced by rand-dollar movements
- Sector risk, since technology stocks can experience sharp cycles
Investors should align exposure with their risk tolerance and time horizon.
What impact would winning a SALTA People’s Choice Award have for 1nvest and its investors?
Winning a SALTA People’s Choice Award would reinforce 1nvest’s reputation as a trusted provider of cost-effective index solutions. For investors, it serves as an independent signal of confidence and recognition, highlighting the growing role of ETFs as accessible core portfolio tools in South Africa’s investment landscape. It would also increase visibility and support broader adoption of index investing locally.
How can interested parties cast their vote for 1nvest in the SALTA People’s Choice Awards?
Cast your vote by going to the website and then clicking on your favourite ETF in the local and global categories. Voting is open during the awards period and provides an opportunity for investors to support the ETF providers and products they value most. Voting closes at midnight on 13 March 2026.
2026 SALTA AWARDS
The 2026 Annual SALTA Awards event will be held at the JSE, Sandton, on 24 March 2026 at 18:00.
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