ARFFX vs. PMDIX
Compare and contrast key facts about Ariel Focus Fund (ARFFX) and Principal Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund (PMDIX).
ARFFX is managed by Ariel Investments. It was launched on Jun 30, 2005. PMDIX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Jun 6, 2011.
Performance
ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Performance Comparison
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ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARFFX Ariel Focus Fund | 5.40% | 21.00% | 13.39% | 6.98% | -9.12% | 21.14% | 6.90% | 25.62% | -13.23% | 15.01% |
PMDIX Principal Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund | 1.44% | 8.63% | 14.56% | 18.81% | -11.66% | 30.41% | -6.40% | 25.38% | -13.80% | 13.30% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ARFFX achieves a 5.40% return, which is significantly higher than PMDIX's 1.44% return. Over the past 10 years, ARFFX has outperformed PMDIX with an annualized return of 10.52%, while PMDIX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.40% annualized return.
ARFFX
- 1D
- -0.49%
- 1M
- -6.62%
- YTD
- 5.40%
- 6M
- 4.90%
- 1Y
- 32.69%
- 3Y*
- 15.52%
- 5Y*
- 7.90%
- 10Y*
- 10.52%
PMDIX
- 1D
- -0.85%
- 1M
- -8.86%
- YTD
- 1.44%
- 6M
- 2.85%
- 1Y
- 14.22%
- 3Y*
- 13.66%
- 5Y*
- 8.72%
- 10Y*
- 9.40%
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ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
ARFFX has a 1.00% expense ratio, which is higher than PMDIX's 0.85% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
ARFFX vs. PMDIX — Risk / Return Rank
ARFFX
PMDIX
ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ariel Focus Fund (ARFFX) and Principal Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund (PMDIX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| ARFFX | PMDIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.74 | 0.73 | +1.01 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.38 | 1.15 | +1.23 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.16 | +0.20 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.18 | 0.84 | +1.34 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.48 | 3.45 | +5.03 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ARFFX | PMDIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.74 | 0.73 | +1.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 | 0.47 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 | 0.47 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 0.52 | -0.17 |
Correlation
The correlation between ARFFX and PMDIX is 0.89, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Dividend Comparison
ARFFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.03%, more than PMDIX's 3.15% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARFFX Ariel Focus Fund | 12.03% | 12.68% | 2.27% | 3.33% | 8.30% | 3.30% | 2.41% | 1.03% | 7.61% | 5.76% | 1.04% | 13.91% |
PMDIX Principal Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund | 3.15% | 3.14% | 7.99% | 2.37% | 6.95% | 0.98% | 1.37% | 2.82% | 17.83% | 5.77% | 2.84% | 4.78% |
Drawdowns
ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ARFFX drawdown since its inception was -57.66%, which is greater than PMDIX's maximum drawdown of -46.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARFFX and PMDIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ARFFX | PMDIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -57.66% | -46.47% | -11.19% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.20% | -14.51% | +0.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.50% | -21.36% | -3.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.22% | -46.47% | +3.25% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.95% | -10.55% | +3.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.50% | -5.33% | -4.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 3.54% | +0.11% |
Volatility
ARFFX vs. PMDIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Ariel Focus Fund (ARFFX) is 3.91%, while Principal Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund (PMDIX) has a volatility of 4.92%. This indicates that ARFFX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PMDIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ARFFX | PMDIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.91% | 4.92% | -1.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.13% | 10.82% | -0.69% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.23% | 20.60% | -1.37% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.60% | 18.76% | -0.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.88% | 20.22% | -0.34% |