NESGX vs. SWPPX
Compare and contrast key facts about Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX) and Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX).
NESGX is managed by Needham. It was launched on May 22, 2002. SWPPX is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on May 19, 1997.
Performance
NESGX vs. SWPPX - Performance Comparison
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NESGX vs. SWPPX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
SWPPX Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund | -7.07% | 17.87% | 24.96% | 26.26% | -18.14% | 28.67% | 18.38% | 31.46% | -4.47% | 21.81% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NESGX achieves a 9.51% return, which is significantly higher than SWPPX's -7.07% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with NESGX having a 14.30% annualized return and SWPPX not far behind at 13.71%.
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%
SWPPX
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -7.65%
- YTD
- -7.07%
- 6M
- -4.58%
- 1Y
- 14.43%
- 3Y*
- 17.15%
- 5Y*
- 11.39%
- 10Y*
- 13.71%
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NESGX vs. SWPPX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NESGX has a 1.85% expense ratio, which is higher than SWPPX's 0.02% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
NESGX vs. SWPPX — Risk / Return Rank
NESGX
SWPPX
NESGX vs. SWPPX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX) and Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX). 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.
| NESGX | SWPPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.32 | 0.84 | +0.48 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.88 | 1.30 | +0.59 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.20 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.38 | 1.06 | +1.33 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.02 | 5.14 | +2.89 |
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
| NESGX | SWPPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.32 | 0.84 | +0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.02 | 0.68 | -0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 0.76 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.48 | +0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between NESGX and SWPPX is 0.75, 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
NESGX vs. SWPPX - Dividend Comparison
NESGX has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SWPPX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.19%.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
SWPPX Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund | 1.19% | 1.11% | 1.23% | 1.43% | 1.67% | 1.27% | 1.81% | 1.95% | 2.67% | 1.79% | 2.55% | 3.17% |
Drawdowns
NESGX vs. SWPPX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NESGX drawdown since its inception was -50.29%, smaller than the maximum SWPPX drawdown of -55.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NESGX and SWPPX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NESGX | SWPPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.29% | -55.06% | +4.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.27% | -12.10% | -5.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -50.05% | -24.51% | -25.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -50.29% | -33.80% | -16.49% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.15% | -8.89% | -0.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.74% | -10.00% | -1.74% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.13% | 2.49% | +2.64% |
Volatility
NESGX vs. SWPPX - Volatility Comparison
Needham Small Cap Growth Fund (NESGX) has a higher volatility of 10.96% compared to Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX) at 4.29%. This indicates that NESGX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SWPPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NESGX | SWPPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.96% | 4.29% | +6.67% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 22.87% | 9.11% | +13.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 35.07% | 18.14% | +16.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.08% | 16.89% | +12.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.51% | 18.19% | +7.32% |