PARNX vs. VGT
Compare and contrast key facts about Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund (PARNX) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT).
PARNX is managed by Parnassus. It was launched on Dec 27, 1984. VGT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index. It was launched on Mar 25, 2004.
Performance
PARNX vs. VGT - Performance Comparison
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PARNX vs. VGT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PARNX Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund | -7.03% | 9.14% | 10.58% | 35.60% | -33.54% | 9.35% | 28.75% | 29.82% | -9.80% | 16.12% |
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF | -6.16% | 21.77% | 29.30% | 52.66% | -29.70% | 30.45% | 46.04% | 48.62% | 2.46% | 37.08% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PARNX achieves a -7.03% return, which is significantly lower than VGT's -6.16% return. Over the past 10 years, PARNX has underperformed VGT with an annualized return of 8.27%, while VGT has yielded a comparatively higher 21.51% annualized return.
PARNX
- 1D
- 3.72%
- 1M
- -5.94%
- YTD
- -7.03%
- 6M
- -8.10%
- 1Y
- 11.93%
- 3Y*
- 10.19%
- 5Y*
- 1.44%
- 10Y*
- 8.27%
VGT
- 1D
- 1.28%
- 1M
- -3.61%
- YTD
- -6.16%
- 6M
- -5.90%
- 1Y
- 29.76%
- 3Y*
- 23.10%
- 5Y*
- 14.83%
- 10Y*
- 21.51%
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PARNX vs. VGT - Expense Ratio Comparison
PARNX has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than VGT's 0.09% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PARNX vs. VGT — Risk / Return Rank
PARNX
VGT
PARNX vs. VGT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund (PARNX) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT). 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.
| PARNX | VGT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.51 | 1.10 | -0.58 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.91 | 1.67 | -0.76 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.23 | -0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.64 | 1.88 | -1.24 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.13 | 5.77 | -3.63 |
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
| PARNX | VGT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.51 | 1.10 | -0.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 | 0.59 | -0.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 | 0.88 | -0.50 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.61 | -0.18 |
Correlation
The correlation between PARNX and VGT is 0.84, 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
PARNX vs. VGT - Dividend Comparison
PARNX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 18.67%, more than VGT's 0.43% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PARNX Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund | 18.67% | 17.36% | 7.38% | 2.86% | 1.23% | 4.50% | 5.20% | 4.21% | 7.94% | 7.96% | 2.04% | 19.70% |
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 0.43% | 0.40% | 0.60% | 0.65% | 0.91% | 0.64% | 0.82% | 1.11% | 1.29% | 0.99% | 1.31% | 1.28% |
Drawdowns
PARNX vs. VGT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PARNX drawdown since its inception was -54.34%, roughly equal to the maximum VGT drawdown of -54.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PARNX and VGT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PARNX | VGT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.34% | -54.63% | +0.29% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.90% | -16.40% | +1.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -41.75% | -35.07% | -6.68% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.75% | -35.07% | -6.68% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.31% | -11.66% | +0.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.72% | -8.00% | -4.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.47% | 5.35% | -0.88% |
Volatility
PARNX vs. VGT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Parnassus Mid Cap Growth Fund (PARNX) is 7.40%, while Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has a volatility of 8.03%. This indicates that PARNX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VGT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PARNX | VGT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.40% | 8.03% | -0.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.36% | 16.35% | -1.99% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.06% | 27.27% | -2.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.88% | 25.06% | -1.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.80% | 24.48% | -2.68% |