NESIX vs. BUFOX
NESIX (Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional) and BUFOX (Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund) are both Small Cap Growth Equities funds. Over the past 5 years, NESIX returned 5.79%/yr vs -2.22%/yr for BUFOX. Their correlation of 0.84 means they have usually moved in the same direction. NESIX charges 1.18%/yr vs 1.46%/yr for BUFOX.
Performance
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NESIX achieves a 53.35% return, which is significantly higher than BUFOX's 12.18% return.
NESIX
- 1D
- 5.20%
- 1M
- -10.40%
- 6M
- 37.70%
- YTD
- 53.35%
- 1Y
- 75.27%
- 3Y*
- 24.27%
- 5Y*
- 5.79%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 17.33%
BUFOX
- 1D
- 1.84%
- 1M
- -5.15%
- 6M
- 9.23%
- YTD
- 12.18%
- 1Y
- 18.95%
- 3Y*
- 5.50%
- 5Y*
- -2.22%
- 10Y*
- 10.18%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.28%
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 |
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NESIX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 53.35% | 11.16% | 13.47% | 5.85% | -29.71% | 11.36% | 73.06% | 55.28% | -4.87% | 12.63% |
BUFOX Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund | 12.18% | 3.09% | 7.52% | 9.83% | -30.78% | 7.43% | 47.85% | 34.06% | -3.78% | 27.03% |
Correlation
The correlation between NESIX and BUFOX is 0.82, 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. | 0.82 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.83 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 2017 | 0.84 |
The correlation between NESIX and BUFOX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.82 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
NESIX vs. BUFOX — Risk / Return Rank
NESIX
BUFOX
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX) and Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund (BUFOX). 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.
| NESIX | BUFOX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.23 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.32 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.13 | +0.18 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.05 | 1.10 | +1.96 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.98 | 3.17 | +8.81 |
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Drawdowns
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NESIX drawdown since its inception was -49.61%, smaller than the maximum BUFOX drawdown of -69.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NESIX and BUFOX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NESIX | BUFOX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.61% | -69.71% | +20.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -22.10% | -15.52% | -6.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -35.21% | -24.62% | -10.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -49.61% | -43.17% | -6.44% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -43.17% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -18.05% | -13.72% | -4.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.87% | -16.01% | +1.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.66% | 5.38% | +0.28% |
Volatility
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Volatility Comparison
Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX) has a higher volatility of 13.35% compared to Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund (BUFOX) at 6.47%. This indicates that NESIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BUFOX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NESIX | BUFOX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 13.35% | 6.47% | +6.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 26.14% | 17.35% | +8.79% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 34.33% | 23.25% | +11.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 30.18% | 23.03% | +7.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.86% | 22.43% | +4.43% |
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NESIX has a 1.18% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFOX's 1.46% expense ratio.
Dividends
NESIX vs. BUFOX - Dividend Comparison
NESIX has not paid dividends to shareholders, while BUFOX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.55%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BUFOX Buffalo Early Stage Growth Fund | 4.55% | 5.10% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.20% | 15.83% | 11.19% | 4.77% | 14.50% | 20.01% | 8.35% | 8.53% |
NESIX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.93% | 23.92% | 13.26% | 8.25% | 21.96% | 8.89% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
NESIX and BUFOX have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NESIX has higher volatility (13.35%) compared to BUFOX (6.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NESIX dropped -49.61% vs BUFOX's -69.71%.
NESIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.97 vs 0.73), 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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