NOSGX vs. VSMAX
Compare and contrast key facts about Northern Small Cap Value Fund (NOSGX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX).
NOSGX is managed by Northern Funds. It was launched on Mar 31, 1994. VSMAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Performance Comparison
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NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NOSGX Northern Small Cap Value Fund | 4.58% | 10.63% | 2.60% | 15.67% | -10.50% | 26.17% | -2.29% | 22.30% | -13.79% | 6.47% |
VSMAX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.90% | 8.83% | 14.23% | 18.17% | -17.61% | 17.74% | 19.06% | 27.36% | -9.33% | 16.24% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NOSGX achieves a 4.58% return, which is significantly higher than VSMAX's 1.90% return. Over the past 10 years, NOSGX has underperformed VSMAX with an annualized return of 7.78%, while VSMAX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.49% annualized return.
NOSGX
- 1D
- 2.34%
- 1M
- -4.28%
- YTD
- 4.58%
- 6M
- 7.13%
- 1Y
- 22.68%
- 3Y*
- 11.02%
- 5Y*
- 5.17%
- 10Y*
- 7.78%
VSMAX
- 1D
- 3.15%
- 1M
- -5.71%
- YTD
- 1.90%
- 6M
- 3.41%
- 1Y
- 19.29%
- 3Y*
- 13.01%
- 5Y*
- 5.34%
- 10Y*
- 10.49%
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NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
NOSGX has a 1.00% expense ratio, which is higher than VSMAX's 0.05% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
NOSGX vs. VSMAX — Risk / Return Rank
NOSGX
VSMAX
NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Northern Small Cap Value Fund (NOSGX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX). 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.
| NOSGX | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.01 | 0.91 | +0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.59 | 1.40 | +0.19 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.19 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.44 | 1.38 | +0.06 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.89 | 5.95 | -0.06 |
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
| NOSGX | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.01 | 0.91 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | 0.26 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 | 0.49 | -0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.37 | +0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between NOSGX and VSMAX is 0.95, 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
NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Dividend Comparison
NOSGX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 42.06%, more than VSMAX's 1.33% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NOSGX Northern Small Cap Value Fund | 42.06% | 43.99% | 57.55% | 6.99% | 5.84% | 16.35% | 1.96% | 7.08% | 11.90% | 9.76% | 2.26% | 4.50% |
VSMAX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.33% | 1.33% | 1.30% | 1.56% | 1.54% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.67% | 1.35% | 1.49% | 1.48% |
Drawdowns
NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NOSGX drawdown since its inception was -56.92%, roughly equal to the maximum VSMAX drawdown of -59.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NOSGX and VSMAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NOSGX | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.92% | -59.68% | +2.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.49% | -14.30% | -0.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.34% | -28.14% | -0.20% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.66% | -41.82% | -3.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.66% | -6.11% | +0.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.09% | -9.75% | +0.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.53% | 3.32% | +0.21% |
Volatility
NOSGX vs. VSMAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Northern Small Cap Value Fund (NOSGX) is 5.98%, while Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) has a volatility of 6.82%. This indicates that NOSGX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSMAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NOSGX | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.98% | 6.82% | -0.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.02% | 12.61% | +0.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.22% | 21.80% | +1.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.94% | 20.74% | +3.20% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.54% | 21.54% | +3.00% |