NCTWX vs. VLIFX
NCTWX (Nicholas II Fund) and VLIFX (Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund) are both Mid Cap Growth Equities funds. Over the past 10 years, NCTWX returned 9.55%/yr vs 11.95%/yr for VLIFX. Their correlation of 0.83 suggests significant overlap in exposure. NCTWX charges 0.59%/yr vs 1.07%/yr for VLIFX.
Performance
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NCTWX achieves a -2.15% return, which is significantly lower than VLIFX's -0.83% return. Over the past 10 years, NCTWX has underperformed VLIFX with an annualized return of 9.55%, while VLIFX has yielded a comparatively higher 11.95% annualized return.
NCTWX
- 1D
- -0.52%
- 1M
- 1.31%
- YTD
- -2.15%
- 6M
- -3.69%
- 1Y
- -3.66%
- 3Y*
- 4.66%
- 5Y*
- 2.04%
- 10Y*
- 9.55%
VLIFX
- 1D
- -0.47%
- 1M
- 0.78%
- YTD
- -0.83%
- 6M
- -2.35%
- 1Y
- -2.15%
- 3Y*
- 6.69%
- 5Y*
- 5.84%
- 10Y*
- 11.95%
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCTWX Nicholas II Fund | -2.15% | -1.27% | 6.74% | 19.89% | -18.03% | 21.58% | 15.73% | 34.90% | -4.20% | 25.65% |
VLIFX Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund | -0.83% | 0.79% | 7.59% | 22.11% | -9.60% | 19.76% | 19.96% | 35.30% | 4.65% | 19.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between NCTWX and VLIFX is 0.83, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 17, 1983 | 0.83 |
The correlation between NCTWX and VLIFX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.83 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
NCTWX vs. VLIFX — Risk / Return Rank
NCTWX
VLIFX
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nicholas II Fund (NCTWX) and Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund (VLIFX). 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.
| NCTWX | VLIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.99 | 1.00 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.16 | -0.07 | -0.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.38 | -0.20 | -0.18 |
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Drawdowns
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NCTWX drawdown since its inception was -46.46%, smaller than the maximum VLIFX drawdown of -61.48%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NCTWX and VLIFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NCTWX | VLIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.46% | -61.48% | +15.02% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.43% | -11.81% | -3.62% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.63% | -17.66% | -2.97% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.89% | -21.91% | -3.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.61% | -35.51% | -1.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.22% | -8.25% | -1.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.90% | -15.65% | +8.75% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.57% | 4.29% | +2.28% |
Volatility
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Volatility Comparison
Nicholas II Fund (NCTWX) has a higher volatility of 4.81% compared to Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund (VLIFX) at 3.59%. This indicates that NCTWX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VLIFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NCTWX | VLIFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.81% | 3.59% | +1.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.97% | 10.17% | +1.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.28% | 13.60% | +1.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.16% | 16.88% | +1.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.32% | 17.87% | +0.45% |
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NCTWX has a 0.59% expense ratio, which is lower than VLIFX's 1.07% expense ratio.
Dividends
NCTWX vs. VLIFX - Dividend Comparison
NCTWX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 12.71%, more than VLIFX's 2.18% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCTWX Nicholas II Fund | 12.71% | 12.43% | 5.21% | 0.72% | 3.92% | 9.86% | 3.79% | 11.36% | 12.57% | 11.02% | 5.11% | 6.40% |
VLIFX Value Line Mid Cap Focused Fund | 2.18% | 2.16% | 0.99% | 0.03% | 7.22% | 8.23% | 7.81% | 1.42% | 5.12% | 1.61% | 2.24% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NCTWX and VLIFX have a correlation of 0.83, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NCTWX has higher volatility (4.81%) compared to VLIFX (3.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NCTWX dropped -46.46% vs VLIFX's -61.48%.
VLIFX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.06 vs -0.16), 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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