PNSAX vs. BDFIX
Compare and contrast key facts about Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Baron Discovery Fund (BDFIX).
PNSAX is managed by Putnam. It was launched on Dec 31, 1997. BDFIX is managed by Baron Capital Group, Inc.. It was launched on Sep 30, 2013.
Performance
PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Performance Comparison
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PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PNSAX Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund | -5.03% | 8.91% | 22.98% | 22.87% | -28.10% | 14.38% | 47.65% | 37.60% | -2.46% | 20.19% |
BDFIX Baron Discovery Fund | -13.78% | 10.96% | 16.28% | 22.58% | -35.12% | 4.84% | 66.15% | 26.85% | 0.66% | 35.84% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PNSAX achieves a -5.03% return, which is significantly higher than BDFIX's -13.78% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PNSAX having a 13.42% annualized return and BDFIX not far behind at 12.88%.
PNSAX
- 1D
- -2.60%
- 1M
- -11.12%
- YTD
- -5.03%
- 6M
- -7.13%
- 1Y
- 15.50%
- 3Y*
- 13.48%
- 5Y*
- 4.51%
- 10Y*
- 13.42%
BDFIX
- 1D
- -0.57%
- 1M
- -12.67%
- YTD
- -13.78%
- 6M
- -13.61%
- 1Y
- 1.96%
- 3Y*
- 7.04%
- 5Y*
- -2.90%
- 10Y*
- 12.88%
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PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PNSAX has a 1.23% expense ratio, which is higher than BDFIX's 1.05% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PNSAX vs. BDFIX — Risk / Return Rank
PNSAX
BDFIX
PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Baron Discovery Fund (BDFIX). 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.
| PNSAX | BDFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.62 | 0.06 | +0.57 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.03 | 0.27 | +0.76 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.03 | +0.10 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.93 | -0.05 | +0.98 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.25 | -0.19 | +3.44 |
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
| PNSAX | BDFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.62 | 0.06 | +0.57 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | -0.11 | +0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | 0.51 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.41 | 0.46 | -0.06 |
Correlation
The correlation between PNSAX and BDFIX is 0.90, 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
PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Dividend Comparison
PNSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.45%, while BDFIX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PNSAX Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund | 0.45% | 0.42% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 15.27% | 4.87% | 1.93% | 1.88% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
BDFIX Baron Discovery Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.68% | 3.05% | 0.13% | 8.78% | 0.21% | 1.97% |
Drawdowns
PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PNSAX drawdown since its inception was -69.47%, which is greater than BDFIX's maximum drawdown of -46.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PNSAX and BDFIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PNSAX | BDFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.47% | -46.39% | -23.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.00% | -17.94% | +3.94% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.77% | -45.38% | +6.61% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.77% | -46.39% | +7.62% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.00% | -21.60% | +7.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.68% | -14.64% | -9.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.00% | 4.86% | -0.86% |
Volatility
PNSAX vs. BDFIX - Volatility Comparison
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) has a higher volatility of 9.02% compared to Baron Discovery Fund (BDFIX) at 6.26%. This indicates that PNSAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BDFIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PNSAX | BDFIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.02% | 6.26% | +2.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.97% | 13.70% | +3.27% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.41% | 24.03% | +0.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 26.33% | -3.37% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.38% | 25.13% | -1.75% |