PDFDX vs. AHSAX
PDFDX (Perkins Discovery Fund) and AHSAX (Alger Health Sciences Fund) are both Health & Biotech Equities funds. Over the past 10 years, PDFDX returned 10.66%/yr vs 9.61%/yr for AHSAX. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PDFDX charges 2.50%/yr vs 1.05%/yr for AHSAX.
Performance
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PDFDX achieves a 5.13% return, which is significantly lower than AHSAX's 5.57% return. Over the past 10 years, PDFDX has outperformed AHSAX with an annualized return of 10.66%, while AHSAX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.61% annualized return.
PDFDX
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- 4.33%
- YTD
- 5.13%
- 6M
- 3.31%
- 1Y
- 31.40%
- 3Y*
- 9.29%
- 5Y*
- -5.94%
- 10Y*
- 10.66%
AHSAX
- 1D
- 1.01%
- 1M
- 5.20%
- YTD
- 5.57%
- 6M
- 3.66%
- 1Y
- 28.30%
- 3Y*
- 5.14%
- 5Y*
- -1.95%
- 10Y*
- 9.61%
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PDFDX Perkins Discovery Fund | 5.13% | 9.94% | 19.19% | 10.77% | -39.93% | 2.11% | 62.16% | 15.01% | 22.19% | 11.58% |
AHSAX Alger Health Sciences Fund | 5.57% | 10.14% | 1.17% | -4.26% | -17.04% | 3.26% | 30.99% | 22.02% | 5.71% | 33.06% |
Correlation
The correlation between PDFDX and AHSAX is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.55 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.58 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2003 | 0.65 |
The correlation between PDFDX and AHSAX shifts across timeframes, from 0.55 (1 year) to 0.70 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
PDFDX vs. AHSAX — Risk / Return Rank
PDFDX
AHSAX
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Perkins Discovery Fund (PDFDX) and Alger Health Sciences Fund (AHSAX). 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.
| PDFDX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.56 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.32 | -0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.58 | 3.10 | -1.53 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.44 | 9.51 | -5.07 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PDFDX drawdown since its inception was -67.44%, which is greater than AHSAX's maximum drawdown of -46.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PDFDX and AHSAX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PDFDX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.44% | -46.23% | -21.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -22.11% | -9.67% | -12.44% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -31.75% | -23.11% | -8.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -59.95% | -45.04% | -14.91% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -62.70% | -45.04% | -17.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -32.64% | -23.22% | -9.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -25.74% | -14.73% | -11.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.81% | 3.15% | +4.66% |
Volatility
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Perkins Discovery Fund (PDFDX) is 4.49%, while Alger Health Sciences Fund (AHSAX) has a volatility of 5.67%. This indicates that PDFDX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AHSAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PDFDX | AHSAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.49% | 5.67% | -1.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.88% | 12.43% | +5.45% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.89% | 15.79% | +10.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.77% | 24.16% | +5.61% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.95% | 23.33% | +5.62% |
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PDFDX has a 2.50% expense ratio, which is higher than AHSAX's 1.05% expense ratio.
Dividends
PDFDX vs. AHSAX - Dividend Comparison
PDFDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.31%, while AHSAX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AHSAX Alger Health Sciences Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 27.18% | 11.68% | 6.98% | 7.82% |
PDFDX Perkins Discovery Fund | 9.31% | 4.25% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.78% | 31.11% | 1.71% | 0.00% | 0.58% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PDFDX and AHSAX have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AHSAX has higher volatility (5.67%) compared to PDFDX (4.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PDFDX dropped -67.44% vs AHSAX's -46.23%.
AHSAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 vs 1.35), 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.
Find the right allocation for PDFDX and AHSAX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer