Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) belongs to the Small Cap Growth Equities category. Below you'll find alternative mutual funds from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with PNSAX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to PNSAX
PNSAX charges 1.23% annually. There are 113 mutual funds in the Small Cap Growth Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.05%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Small Cap Growth Index Fund | 0.05% | — | Jul 2019 | PNSAX vs FECGX | |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Institutional... | 0.06% | 42.80B | May 2000 | PNSAX vs VSGIX | |
| Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Admiral Share... | 0.07% | 42.80B | Sep 2011 | PNSAX vs VSGAX | |
| Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Institutio... | 0.08% | — | May 2011 | PNSAX vs VRTGX | |
| Vanguard Small Cap Growth Index Fund | 0.19% | — | May 1998 | PNSAX vs VISGX |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PNSAX
PNSAX has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 30. There are 102 mutual funds in the Small Cap Growth Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 95.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 95 | — | Dec 2016 | PNSAX vs NESIX | |
| Needham Small Cap Growth Fund | 95 | — | May 2002 | PNSAX vs NESGX | |
| Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class | 94 | — | Dec 2016 | PNSAX vs NEAIX | |
| Needham Aggressive Growth Fund | 94 | — | Sep 2001 | PNSAX vs NEAGX | |
| Oberweis Micro Cap Fund | 90 | — | Dec 1995 | PNSAX vs OBMCX |
Top Performing PNSAX Alternatives (YTD)
PNSAX is at 19.33% YTD. There are 42 mutual funds in the Small Cap Growth Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 82.25%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 82.25% | — | Dec 2016 | PNSAX vs NESIX | |
| Needham Small Cap Growth Fund | 81.77% | — | May 2002 | PNSAX vs NESGX | |
| Needham Aggressive Growth Fund Institutional Class | 59.81% | — | Dec 2016 | PNSAX vs NEAIX | |
| Needham Aggressive Growth Fund | 59.55% | — | Sep 2001 | PNSAX vs NEAGX | |
| Oberweis Micro Cap Fund | 45.67% | — | Dec 1995 | PNSAX vs OBMCX |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PNSAX
PNSAX has 22.60% 1-year volatility. There are 120 mutual funds in the Small Cap Growth Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 14.15%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empiric 2500 Fund | 14.15% | — | Nov 1995 | PNSAX vs EMCAX | |
| Calvert Small/Mid-Cap Fund Class I | 15.15% | — | Jul 2011 | PNSAX vs CMCIX | |
| Neuberger Berman Genesis Fund | 16.04% | — | Sep 1988 | PNSAX vs NBGNX | |
| Neuberger Berman Genesis Fund Institutional Class | 16.04% | — | Jul 1999 | PNSAX vs NBGIX | |
| Eaton Vance Small-Cap Fund | 16.05% | — | Jan 1997 | PNSAX vs ETEGX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PNSAX
PNSAX has a 1-year max drawdown of -14.00%. There are 102 mutual funds in the Small Cap Growth Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -7.08%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Epiphany ESG Small Cap Equity Fund | -7.08% | — | Nov 2015 | PNSAX vs DSCIX | |
| Rydex S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Growth Fund | -8.49% | — | Feb 2004 | PNSAX vs RYWCX | |
| WesMark Small Company Fund | -8.50% | — | Dec 1993 | PNSAX vs WMKSX | |
| Empiric 2500 Fund | -8.60% | — | Nov 1995 | PNSAX vs EMCAX | |
| Ranger Micro Cap Fund | -9.11% | — | Jun 2018 | PNSAX vs RFIMX |
Other Mutual Funds from Putnam
The 10 most viewed Putnam mutual funds shown here include PEYAX, POGAX, PEQSX and span 5 categories.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam Large Cap Value Fund | Large Cap Value Equities | 80 | 9.88% | — | Jun 1977 | PNSAX vs PEYAX | |
| Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund | Large Cap Growth Equities | 27 | 9.53% | — | Oct 1995 | PNSAX vs POGAX | |
| Putnam Large Cap Value Fund Class R6 | Large Cap Value Equities | 81 | 10.03% | — | Jul 2012 | PNSAX vs PEQSX | |
| Putnam Large Cap Value Fund | Large Cap Value Equities | 81 | 10.00% | — | Jan 1998 | PNSAX vs PEIYX | |
| Putnam Global Technology Fund | Technology Equities | 91 | 44.30% | — | Dec 2008 | PNSAX vs PGTYX | |
| Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund | Large Cap Growth Equities | 27 | 4.81% | — | Aug 1990 | PNSAX vs PNOPX | |
| Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund | Large Cap Blend Equities | 59 | 8.74% | — | Sep 2010 | PNSAX vs PMYYX | |
| Putnam Large Cap Growth Y | Large Cap Growth Equities | 28 | 9.63% | — | Aug 1999 | PNSAX vs PGOYX | |
| Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund | Ultrashort Bond | 98 | 1.43% | — | Oct 2011 | PNSAX vs PSDYX | |
| Putnam Research Fund | Large Cap Blend Equities | 86 | 14.19% | — | Oct 1995 | PNSAX vs PNRAX |
Often Compared With PNSAX
Investors most often compare PNSAX with PXSGX, PENNX, QUASX. These 20 comparison targets span 5 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare PNSAX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PNSAX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair PNSAX with funds that move differently
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PNSAX.
Explore PNSAX Diversifiers