MSSMX vs. MACGX
MSSMX (Morgan Stanley Institutional Inception Fund Class A) and MACGX (Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust Discovery Portfolio Class A) are both mutual funds - MSSMX is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Morgan Stanley, while MACGX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Morgan Stanley. Over the past 10 years, MSSMX returned 15.01%/yr vs 13.21%/yr for MACGX. Their correlation of 0.90 means they have usually moved in the same direction. MSSMX charges 1.35%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for MACGX.
Performance
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MSSMX achieves a 2.93% return, which is significantly higher than MACGX's -0.24% return. Over the past 10 years, MSSMX has outperformed MACGX with an annualized return of 15.01%, while MACGX has yielded a comparatively lower 13.21% annualized return.
MSSMX
- 1D
- 2.93%
- 1M
- -4.22%
- 6M
- 7.61%
- YTD
- 2.93%
- 1Y
- -0.27%
- 3Y*
- 9.66%
- 5Y*
- -8.92%
- 10Y*
- 15.01%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.62%
MACGX
- 1D
- 2.22%
- 1M
- -3.78%
- 6M
- 5.55%
- YTD
- -0.24%
- 1Y
- -9.12%
- 3Y*
- 18.64%
- 5Y*
- -5.86%
- 10Y*
- 13.21%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.73%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSSMX Morgan Stanley Institutional Inception Fund Class A | 2.93% | 0.76% | 29.15% | 54.22% | -59.57% | -4.29% | 149.49% | 77.58% | -0.03% | 22.42% |
MACGX Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust Discovery Portfolio Class A | -0.24% | 13.71% | 42.06% | 46.30% | -63.51% | -12.84% | 142.01% | 39.41% | 11.85% | 38.99% |
Correlation
The correlation between MSSMX and MACGX is 0.92, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.94 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 31, 1997 | 0.90 |
The correlation between MSSMX and MACGX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
MSSMX vs. MACGX — Risk / Return Rank
MSSMX
MACGX
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Morgan Stanley Institutional Inception Fund Class A (MSSMX) and Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust Discovery Portfolio Class A (MACGX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| MSSMX | MACGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.17 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 0.98 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.10 | -0.29 | +0.19 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.20 | -0.58 | +0.37 |
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Drawdowns
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MSSMX drawdown since its inception was -76.24%, roughly equal to the maximum MACGX drawdown of -77.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MSSMX and MACGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MSSMX | MACGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -76.24% | -77.61% | +1.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -32.92% | -27.55% | -5.37% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -32.92% | -28.55% | -4.37% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -71.12% | -77.61% | +6.49% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -76.24% | -77.61% | +1.37% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -48.60% | -44.54% | -4.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -24.72% | -25.74% | +1.02% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.49% | 13.93% | +2.56% |
Volatility
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Volatility Comparison
Morgan Stanley Institutional Inception Fund Class A (MSSMX) has a higher volatility of 8.53% compared to Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust Discovery Portfolio Class A (MACGX) at 6.99%. This indicates that MSSMX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MACGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MSSMX | MACGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.53% | 6.99% | +1.54% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 23.96% | 22.22% | +1.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 31.29% | 29.20% | +2.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 38.12% | 48.41% | -10.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 34.42% | 39.47% | -5.05% |
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
MSSMX has a 1.35% expense ratio, which is higher than MACGX's 1.00% expense ratio.
Dividends
MSSMX vs. MACGX - Dividend Comparison
Neither MSSMX nor MACGX has paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MACGX Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust Discovery Portfolio Class A | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 52.53% | 9.95% | 15.34% | 29.46% | 48.48% | 75.72% | 14.05% |
MSSMX Morgan Stanley Institutional Inception Fund Class A | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.16% | 0.00% | 0.14% | 36.28% | 13.10% | 45.60% | 18.04% | 57.39% | 3.76% | 9.73% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, MSSMX and MACGX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
MSSMX has higher volatility (8.53%) compared to MACGX (6.99%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MSSMX dropped -76.24% vs MACGX's -77.61%.
MSSMX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.11 vs -0.28), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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