PMBMX vs. VO
Compare and contrast key facts about Principal MidCap Fund (PMBMX) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO).
PMBMX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Dec 6, 2000. VO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Mid Cap Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004.
Performance
PMBMX vs. VO - Performance Comparison
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PMBMX vs. VO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMBMX Principal MidCap Fund | -11.17% | 1.16% | 23.38% | 25.36% | -23.52% | 24.63% | 17.69% | 49.09% | -7.28% | 24.73% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | -0.05% | 11.62% | 15.31% | 16.03% | -18.73% | 24.70% | 18.10% | 30.98% | -9.24% | 19.28% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PMBMX achieves a -11.17% return, which is significantly lower than VO's -0.05% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PMBMX having a 11.26% annualized return and VO not far behind at 10.74%.
PMBMX
- 1D
- 2.16%
- 1M
- -7.75%
- YTD
- -11.17%
- 6M
- -13.90%
- 1Y
- -10.17%
- 3Y*
- 9.64%
- 5Y*
- 4.79%
- 10Y*
- 11.26%
VO
- 1D
- 0.63%
- 1M
- -5.18%
- YTD
- -0.05%
- 6M
- -0.76%
- 1Y
- 13.07%
- 3Y*
- 12.85%
- 5Y*
- 6.79%
- 10Y*
- 10.74%
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PMBMX vs. VO - Expense Ratio Comparison
PMBMX has a 1.15% expense ratio, which is higher than VO's 0.04% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PMBMX vs. VO — Risk / Return Rank
PMBMX
VO
PMBMX vs. VO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal MidCap Fund (PMBMX) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO). 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.
| PMBMX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.53 | 0.75 | -1.28 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.64 | 1.15 | -1.79 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.92 | 1.16 | -0.25 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.53 | 1.06 | -1.58 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.55 | 4.83 | -6.38 |
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
| PMBMX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.53 | 0.75 | -1.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 | 0.39 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.59 | 0.57 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.56 | 0.48 | +0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between PMBMX and VO is 0.94, 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
PMBMX vs. VO - Dividend Comparison
PMBMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.22%, more than VO's 1.50% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMBMX Principal MidCap Fund | 7.22% | 6.41% | 6.86% | 2.68% | 3.43% | 8.51% | 1.15% | 9.00% | 12.79% | 3.39% | 2.16% | 6.38% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 1.50% | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 1.45% | 1.48% | 1.82% | 1.35% | 1.45% | 1.47% |
Drawdowns
PMBMX vs. VO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PMBMX drawdown since its inception was -50.69%, smaller than the maximum VO drawdown of -58.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PMBMX and VO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PMBMX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.69% | -58.87% | +8.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.53% | -12.74% | -6.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.48% | -27.57% | -3.91% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.60% | -39.37% | -1.23% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.13% | -5.53% | -11.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.67% | -7.91% | +1.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.65% | 2.79% | +3.86% |
Volatility
PMBMX vs. VO - Volatility Comparison
Principal MidCap Fund (PMBMX) has a higher volatility of 5.25% compared to Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) at 4.83%. This indicates that PMBMX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PMBMX | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.25% | 4.83% | +0.42% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.60% | 9.73% | +0.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.40% | 17.57% | +0.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.57% | 17.61% | +0.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.12% | 18.94% | +0.18% |