NCATX vs. LSMSX
Compare and contrast key facts about Northern California Tax Exempt Fund (NCATX) and Western Asset SMASh Series TF Fund (LSMSX).
NCATX is managed by Northern Funds. It was launched on Apr 7, 1997. LSMSX is managed by Franklin Templeton. It was launched on Dec 22, 2015.
Performance
NCATX vs. LSMSX - Performance Comparison
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NCATX vs. LSMSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCATX Northern California Tax Exempt Fund | -0.37% | 3.65% | 1.89% | 5.74% | -11.26% | 0.74% | 4.85% | 7.67% | 1.00% | 4.88% |
LSMSX Western Asset SMASh Series TF Fund | -0.27% | 3.22% | 2.22% | 7.96% | -10.03% | 4.11% | 4.48% | 8.16% | 0.46% | 4.92% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NCATX achieves a -0.37% return, which is significantly lower than LSMSX's -0.27% return.
NCATX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- -2.46%
- YTD
- -0.37%
- 6M
- 1.15%
- 1Y
- 4.46%
- 3Y*
- 2.69%
- 5Y*
- 0.05%
- 10Y*
- 1.53%
LSMSX
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- -2.62%
- YTD
- -0.27%
- 6M
- 1.22%
- 1Y
- 3.63%
- 3Y*
- 3.26%
- 5Y*
- 1.12%
- 10Y*
- —
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NCATX vs. LSMSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NCATX has a 0.45% expense ratio, which is higher than LSMSX's 0.01% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
NCATX vs. LSMSX — Risk / Return Rank
NCATX
LSMSX
NCATX vs. LSMSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Northern California Tax Exempt Fund (NCATX) and Western Asset SMASh Series TF Fund (LSMSX). 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.
| NCATX | LSMSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.89 | 0.67 | +0.22 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.20 | 0.89 | +0.31 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.20 | +0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.02 | 0.71 | +0.31 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.01 | 1.98 | +2.03 |
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
| NCATX | LSMSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.89 | 0.67 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.01 | 0.25 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.04 | 0.58 | +0.46 |
Correlation
The correlation between NCATX and LSMSX is 0.80, 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
NCATX vs. LSMSX - Dividend Comparison
NCATX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.76%, less than LSMSX's 3.97% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCATX Northern California Tax Exempt Fund | 3.76% | 2.85% | 3.39% | 2.46% | 1.47% | 2.18% | 2.85% | 3.82% | 3.51% | 3.19% | 4.08% | 3.21% |
LSMSX Western Asset SMASh Series TF Fund | 3.97% | 3.83% | 4.30% | 3.37% | 2.38% | 2.73% | 2.33% | 2.55% | 2.34% | 0.90% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
NCATX vs. LSMSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NCATX drawdown since its inception was -16.55%, which is greater than LSMSX's maximum drawdown of -15.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NCATX and LSMSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NCATX | LSMSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -16.55% | -15.00% | -1.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.58% | -6.21% | +1.63% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.55% | -15.00% | -1.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -16.55% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.46% | -2.62% | +0.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.42% | -2.88% | +0.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.16% | 2.21% | -1.05% |
Volatility
NCATX vs. LSMSX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Northern California Tax Exempt Fund (NCATX) is 0.89%, while Western Asset SMASh Series TF Fund (LSMSX) has a volatility of 1.10%. This indicates that NCATX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LSMSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NCATX | LSMSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.89% | 1.10% | -0.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.69% | 1.60% | +0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 5.43% | 5.78% | -0.35% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.10% | 4.44% | -0.34% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.24% | 4.52% | -0.28% |