OTCAX vs. IXUS
OTCAX (MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund) and IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) are both funds - OTCAX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by MFS, while IXUS is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net). Over the past 10 years, OTCAX returned 11.54%/yr vs 9.51%/yr for IXUS. Their 0.73 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. OTCAX charges 1.00%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for IXUS.
Performance
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, OTCAX achieves a 2.18% return, which is significantly lower than IXUS's 13.14% return. Over the past 10 years, OTCAX has outperformed IXUS with an annualized return of 11.54%, while IXUS has yielded a comparatively lower 9.51% annualized return.
OTCAX
- 1D
- 2.10%
- 1M
- -3.22%
- 6M
- 2.83%
- YTD
- 2.18%
- 1Y
- -1.26%
- 3Y*
- 11.20%
- 5Y*
- 3.22%
- 10Y*
- 11.54%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.63%
IXUS
- 1D
- -0.15%
- 1M
- -0.19%
- 6M
- 7.11%
- YTD
- 13.14%
- 1Y
- 27.79%
- 3Y*
- 17.41%
- 5Y*
- 8.76%
- 10Y*
- 9.51%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.89%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $147.19M | $143.47M | $175.73M | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OTCAX MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund | 2.18% | 3.32% | 23.47% | 21.00% | -28.53% | 13.66% | 35.34% | 37.43% | 0.82% | 25.95% |
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 13.14% | 32.40% | 5.19% | 15.83% | -16.47% | 8.86% | 10.80% | 21.71% | -14.41% | 28.12% |
Correlation
The correlation between OTCAX and IXUS is 0.75, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.75 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.69 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.73 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.72 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 24, 2012 | 0.73 |
The correlation between OTCAX and IXUS has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.69 to 0.75 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
OTCAX vs. IXUS — Risk / Return Rank
OTCAX
IXUS
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund (OTCAX) and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS). 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.
| OTCAX | IXUS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.78 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.99 | 1.30 | -0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.19 | 2.41 | -2.60 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.46 | 8.87 | -9.34 |
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Drawdowns
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum OTCAX drawdown since its inception was -74.39%, which is greater than IXUS's maximum drawdown of -36.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for OTCAX and IXUS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| OTCAX | IXUS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -74.39% | -36.22% | -38.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.46% | -11.36% | -5.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.05% | -13.75% | -7.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.85% | -30.03% | -6.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.85% | -36.22% | -0.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.51% | -2.73% | -2.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.03% | -7.45% | -15.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.60% | 3.08% | +3.52% |
Volatility
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund (OTCAX) is 4.82%, while iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has a volatility of 5.36%. This indicates that OTCAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IXUS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| OTCAX | IXUS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.82% | 5.36% | -0.54% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.58% | 15.27% | -0.69% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.73% | 17.08% | +0.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.39% | 16.52% | +3.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.02% | 16.97% | +3.05% |
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Expense Ratio Comparison
OTCAX has a 1.00% expense ratio, which is higher than IXUS's 0.07% expense ratio.
Dividends
OTCAX vs. IXUS - Dividend Comparison
OTCAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 16.40%, more than IXUS's 2.97% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | 2.97% | 3.24% | 3.33% | 3.13% | 2.48% | 3.12% | 1.85% | 3.09% | 3.00% | 2.41% | 2.58% | 2.81% |
OTCAX MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund | 16.40% | 16.76% | 15.59% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.64% | 0.83% | 0.86% | 4.70% | 8.80% | 5.67% | 2.84% |
Frequently Asked Questions
OTCAX and IXUS have a correlation of 0.75, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IXUS has higher volatility (5.36%) compared to OTCAX (4.82%). In terms of maximum drawdown, OTCAX dropped -74.39% vs IXUS's -36.22%.
IXUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.61 vs -0.17), 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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