Equity Pension Funds
Suitable for: Investors seeking long-term capital growth who can tolerate market swings.
Equity funds invest primarily in company shares across global and regional stock markets. They offer higher growth potential over the long term but carry greater short-term price volatility.
124
Funds tracked10
Providers+17.4%
Avg. 1yrSelect funds below to compare performance over time
| Fund | Risk | Provider | Subcategory | 1Y | 5Y | 10Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich Life Emerging Market Opportunities (JPM) | 5 | Zurich Life | Emerging Markets | +53.53% | +36.91% | +173.40% | |
| Zurich Life Indexed Global Energy & Metals | 5 | Zurich Life | Materials | +45.29% | +99.42% | +144.79% | |
| Mercer Aspire Passive Emerging Markets Equity | 5 | Mercer Aspire | Emerging Markets | +42.48% | +49.26% | +159.50% | |
| Royal London BlackRock Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund | 6 | Royal London | Emerging Markets | +41.39% | +48.99% | - | |
| Mercer Aspire Emerging Markets Equity | 5 | Mercer Aspire | Emerging Markets | +41.12% | +31.03% | +120.46% | |
| Aviva Global Emerging Market Equity Fund | 6 | Aviva | Emerging Markets | +40.46% | +44.18% | +101.79% | |
| Zurich Life Indexed Emerging Markets Equity | 5 | Zurich Life | Emerging Markets | +39.85% | +47.23% | +148.28% | |
| AIB Life Emerging Markets Equity | 7 | AIB Life | Emerging Markets | +39.60% | - | - | |
| Irish Life Fidelity EMEA | Irish Life | Emerging Markets | +38.76% | -4.77% | +46.79% | ||
| New Ireland Asia Pacific Equity Fund | 5 | New Ireland | Global | +38.64% | +77.37% | +194.85% | |
| Aviva Emerging Markets Equity Index | 6 | Aviva | Emerging Markets | +38.55% | - | - | |
| Standard Life Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund | 5 | Standard Life | Emerging Markets | +38.20% | +42.14% | - | |
| Standard Life Asia Pacific Equity | 5 | Standard Life | Asia Pacific Ex-Japan | +37.56% | +32.84% | +141.47% | |
| New Ireland Technology Indexed Fund | 6 | New Ireland | North America | +37.12% | +156.50% | +612.97% | |
| Irish Life Indexed Emerging Market Equity Fund | 7 | Irish Life | Emerging Markets | +36.56% | +40.66% | +132.65% |
124 funds
Funds in this category by provider
Number of funds each provider offers in this category. Click a row to view that provider's full fund range.
About Equity
Key Points
Equities are the growth engine of most pension funds - higher risk, but historically higher long-term returns
Most lifecycle/default strategies start with high equity exposure and reduce it as retirement approaches
Diversification across regions and sectors reduces risk without necessarily reducing long-term returns
The choice between active and passive matters more for equity than most other asset classes (due to fee impact over time)
ESG-screened equity funds may hold fewer stocks than their parent index, potentially increasing concentration
What is Equity?
Equities (shares/stocks) represent units of ownership in a company. When you buy equity, you become a part-owner - participating in the company's potential profits and growth, but also sharing in its risks.
Equity funds pool investors' money to buy shares across many companies, providing diversification that would be difficult to achieve individually.
Types of Equity Funds Available in Ireland
By Geography
Global/World equity: Diversified across all major markets
Developed world: North America, Europe, Japan, Australia - more established, less volatile
Emerging markets: China, India, Brazil, etc. - higher growth potential, higher risk
Regional: US-focused, European, Far East
Irish equity: Concentrated in Irish-listed companies (small market, less diversified)
By Style
Index tracking (passive): Replicates a market index at low cost
Active: Fund manager picks stocks aiming to beat the market
ESG/Screened: Applies sustainability filters to stock selection
Impact (Article 9): Invests in companies whose products address environmental/social challenges
By Company Size
Large cap: Major multinational corporations - more stable, lower growth potential
Small/mid cap: Smaller companies - higher growth potential, more volatile
Equity Funds by Provider
| Provider | Key Equity Funds | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Acorn Life | Managed High Equity, Adventurous Select | Active+Passive mix (HSBC) / Passive (Mercer) |
| AIB Life | Developed World Equity, Megatrend Equity, Emerging Markets Equity, Climate Impact Equity | Indexed / Thematic |
| Aviva | High Yield Equity, Global Leaders, Global Emerging Markets, Stewardship Ethical Equity | Active |
| Irish Life | Indexed World Equity, Indexed Emerging Market Equity, Consensus Equity, Indexed Ethical Global Equity | Indexed / Active |
| New Ireland | Global Equity, High Yield Equity, Eurozone Equity Indexed, North American | Active / Indexed |
| Royal London | BlackRock Developed World Equity Index, BlackRock US Equity Index, BlackRock Emerging Markets Equity Index, Global Sustainable Equity | Passive (BlackRock) / Active (RLAM) |
| Standard Life | North American Equity, Global Equity Impact, Vanguard Global Stock Index Tracker | Active / Passive |
| Zurich | International Equity, Indexed Climate Focus World Equity, 5 Star 5 Global | Active internal / Passive screened |
Key Risks
Market risk: Value fluctuates with stock market movements
Currency risk: Non-euro equity holdings are affected by exchange rate movements
Single asset class risk: 100% equity funds have no diversification benefit from other asset classes
Concentration risk: Regional or sector-specific funds are less diversified
Frequently asked questions about Equity funds
Equity funds invest in company shares (stocks) across global and regional stock markets. When you invest in an equity fund within your pension, you become an indirect part-owner of many companies. They offer the highest long-term growth potential of any asset class but carry greater short-term price volatility.
Equity funds are typically rated 5–7 on the SRI (Summary Risk Indicator) scale. They can fluctuate significantly in the short term - drops of 20–40% in a single year are possible. However, over long periods (10+ years), equities have historically delivered the highest returns of any mainstream asset class.
Irish pension providers offer equity funds by geography (global, US, European, emerging markets, Irish), by style (index-tracking passive, active stock-picking, ESG-screened), and by company size (large cap, small/mid cap). Most providers offer both passive index funds and actively managed options.
Passive (index-tracking) equity funds replicate a market index at low cost, while active funds employ a manager who picks stocks aiming to beat the market. The choice matters more for equity than most asset classes because fees compound over time. Many investors choose passive for broad equity exposure due to lower charges.
All major Irish pension providers offer equity funds. Options include Zurich Life International Equity, Irish Life Indexed World Equity, AIB Life Developed World Equity, Aviva High Yield Equity, Royal London BlackRock Developed World Equity Index, Standard Life North American Equity, and New Ireland Global Equity among others.
Equities are the growth engine of most pension funds. Most lifecycle/default strategies start with high equity exposure when retirement is far away and gradually reduce it as retirement approaches. This is because short-term losses matter less when you have decades to recover, but matter greatly if you need the money soon.
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