PHSKX vs. MERFX
Compare and contrast key facts about Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund (PHSKX) and The Merger Fund (MERFX).
PHSKX is managed by Virtus. It was launched on Dec 31, 1975. MERFX is managed by Virtus. It was launched on Jan 30, 1989.
Performance
PHSKX vs. MERFX - Performance Comparison
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PHSKX vs. MERFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PHSKX Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund | -16.98% | -3.58% | 7.43% | 22.00% | -33.46% | 1.23% | 63.29% | 44.03% | 7.44% | 33.54% |
MERFX The Merger Fund | 0.70% | 8.11% | 3.27% | 4.17% | 0.71% | -0.19% | 4.87% | 5.96% | 7.68% | 2.39% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PHSKX achieves a -16.98% return, which is significantly lower than MERFX's 0.70% return. Over the past 10 years, PHSKX has outperformed MERFX with an annualized return of 9.22%, while MERFX has yielded a comparatively lower 3.90% annualized return.
PHSKX
- 1D
- -0.89%
- 1M
- -12.64%
- YTD
- -16.98%
- 6M
- -21.04%
- 1Y
- -12.53%
- 3Y*
- -0.34%
- 5Y*
- -5.82%
- 10Y*
- 9.22%
MERFX
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- 0.06%
- YTD
- 0.70%
- 6M
- 1.91%
- 1Y
- 6.44%
- 3Y*
- 5.38%
- 5Y*
- 3.06%
- 10Y*
- 3.90%
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PHSKX vs. MERFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PHSKX has a 1.24% expense ratio, which is lower than MERFX's 1.50% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PHSKX vs. MERFX — Risk / Return Rank
PHSKX
MERFX
PHSKX vs. MERFX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund (PHSKX) and The Merger Fund (MERFX). 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.
| PHSKX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.55 | 4.26 | -4.81 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.67 | 8.13 | -8.80 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.92 | 2.10 | -1.18 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.61 | 12.89 | -13.50 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.91 | 61.05 | -62.96 |
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
| PHSKX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.55 | 4.26 | -4.81 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.24 | 0.89 | -1.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 | 1.04 | -0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.68 | -0.36 |
Correlation
The correlation between PHSKX and MERFX is 0.40, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
PHSKX vs. MERFX - Dividend Comparison
PHSKX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 55.82%, more than MERFX's 7.37% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PHSKX Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund | 55.82% | 46.34% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.53% | 0.10% | 0.62% | 2.19% | 6.10% | 1.60% | 1.54% |
MERFX The Merger Fund | 7.37% | 7.42% | 3.24% | 2.59% | 3.50% | 0.27% | 3.31% | 1.34% | 4.52% | 0.59% | 0.32% | 1.25% |
Drawdowns
PHSKX vs. MERFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PHSKX drawdown since its inception was -81.79%, which is greater than MERFX's maximum drawdown of -20.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PHSKX and MERFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PHSKX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -81.79% | -20.82% | -60.97% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -23.77% | -0.52% | -23.25% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -46.87% | -5.95% | -40.92% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.87% | -9.35% | -37.52% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -38.21% | 0.00% | -38.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -29.38% | -2.68% | -26.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.55% | 0.11% | +7.44% |
Volatility
PHSKX vs. MERFX - Volatility Comparison
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap Growth Fund (PHSKX) has a higher volatility of 5.63% compared to The Merger Fund (MERFX) at 0.49%. This indicates that PHSKX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MERFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PHSKX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.63% | 0.49% | +5.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.98% | 0.97% | +13.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.67% | 1.54% | +21.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.76% | 3.45% | +21.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.43% | 3.76% | +19.67% |