FSSAX vs. NESGX
Compare and contrast key facts about Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) and Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX).
FSSAX is managed by Franklin Templeton. It was launched on May 1, 2000. NESGX is managed by Needham. It was launched on May 22, 2002.
Performance
FSSAX vs. NESGX - Performance Comparison
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FSSAX vs. NESGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSSAX Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund | -7.69% | 7.88% | 13.02% | 31.05% | -30.29% | -0.24% | 41.68% | 42.14% | -3.08% | 21.32% |
NESGX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund | 9.51% | 10.50% | 12.76% | 5.68% | -30.21% | 10.59% | 71.90% | 54.42% | -5.43% | 11.96% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSSAX achieves a -7.69% return, which is significantly lower than NESGX's 9.51% return. Over the past 10 years, FSSAX has underperformed NESGX with an annualized return of 10.94%, while NESGX has yielded a comparatively higher 14.30% annualized return.
FSSAX
- 1D
- -1.36%
- 1M
- -9.02%
- YTD
- -7.69%
- 6M
- -1.97%
- 1Y
- 14.20%
- 3Y*
- 10.07%
- 5Y*
- -0.60%
- 10Y*
- 10.94%
NESGX
- 1D
- -4.45%
- 1M
- -7.07%
- YTD
- 9.51%
- 6M
- 12.14%
- 1Y
- 47.82%
- 3Y*
- 10.96%
- 5Y*
- 0.71%
- 10Y*
- 14.30%
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FSSAX vs. NESGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSSAX has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is lower than NESGX's 1.85% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FSSAX vs. NESGX — Risk / Return Rank
FSSAX
NESGX
FSSAX vs. NESGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) and Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX). 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.
| FSSAX | NESGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.53 | 1.32 | -0.79 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.92 | 1.88 | -0.96 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.25 | -0.13 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.59 | 2.38 | -1.80 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.43 | 8.02 | -5.60 |
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
| FSSAX | NESGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.53 | 1.32 | -0.79 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.02 | 0.02 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 | 0.56 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.32 | 0.51 | -0.19 |
Correlation
The correlation between FSSAX and NESGX is 0.86, 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
FSSAX vs. NESGX - Dividend Comparison
FSSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.28%, while NESGX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSSAX Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund | 8.28% | 7.64% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.54% | 16.49% | 9.31% | 12.17% | 22.72% | 1.77% | 0.00% | 1.92% |
NESGX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 4.16% | 25.09% | 13.69% | 8.43% | 22.26% | 8.94% | 6.67% | 2.52% |
Drawdowns
FSSAX vs. NESGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSSAX drawdown since its inception was -59.61%, which is greater than NESGX's maximum drawdown of -50.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSSAX and NESGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSSAX | NESGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.61% | -50.29% | -9.32% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.18% | -17.27% | +3.09% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -42.58% | -50.05% | +7.47% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.80% | -50.29% | +7.49% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.99% | -9.15% | -2.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.83% | -11.74% | -3.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.75% | 5.13% | -1.38% |
Volatility
FSSAX vs. NESGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FSSAX) is 6.78%, while Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX) has a volatility of 10.96%. This indicates that FSSAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NESGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSSAX | NESGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.78% | 10.96% | -4.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.63% | 22.87% | -9.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.14% | 35.07% | -10.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.29% | 29.08% | -4.79% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.91% | 25.51% | -1.60% |