PNSAX vs. FXAIX
Compare and contrast key facts about Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX).
PNSAX is managed by Putnam. It was launched on Dec 31, 1997. FXAIX is a passively managed fund by Fidelity that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Feb 17, 1988.
Performance
PNSAX vs. FXAIX - Performance Comparison
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PNSAX vs. FXAIX - 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% |
FXAIX Fidelity 500 Index Fund | -7.05% | 17.84% | 25.01% | 26.29% | -18.14% | 28.71% | 18.42% | 31.48% | -4.43% | 21.82% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PNSAX achieves a -5.03% return, which is significantly higher than FXAIX's -7.05% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with PNSAX having a 13.42% annualized return and FXAIX not far ahead at 13.75%.
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%
FXAIX
- 1D
- -0.39%
- 1M
- -7.68%
- YTD
- -7.05%
- 6M
- -4.59%
- 1Y
- 14.42%
- 3Y*
- 17.17%
- 5Y*
- 11.40%
- 10Y*
- 13.75%
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PNSAX vs. FXAIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PNSAX has a 1.23% expense ratio, which is higher than FXAIX's 0.02% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PNSAX vs. FXAIX — Risk / Return Rank
PNSAX
FXAIX
PNSAX vs. FXAIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX). 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 | FXAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.62 | 0.84 | -0.21 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.03 | 1.30 | -0.26 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.20 | -0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.93 | 1.05 | -0.13 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.25 | 5.13 | -1.88 |
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 | FXAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.62 | 0.84 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | 0.68 | -0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | 0.77 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.41 | 0.75 | -0.34 |
Correlation
The correlation between PNSAX and FXAIX is 0.83, 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. FXAIX - Dividend Comparison
PNSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.45%, less than FXAIX's 1.20% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% | 0.00% |
FXAIX Fidelity 500 Index Fund | 1.20% | 1.11% | 1.25% | 1.45% | 1.69% | 1.22% | 1.60% | 2.06% | 2.72% | 1.97% | 2.52% | 2.83% |
Drawdowns
PNSAX vs. FXAIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PNSAX drawdown since its inception was -69.47%, which is greater than FXAIX's maximum drawdown of -33.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PNSAX and FXAIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PNSAX | FXAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.47% | -33.79% | -35.68% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.00% | -12.13% | -1.87% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.77% | -24.50% | -14.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.77% | -33.79% | -4.98% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.00% | -8.89% | -5.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.68% | -3.83% | -19.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.00% | 2.50% | +1.50% |
Volatility
PNSAX vs. FXAIX - Volatility Comparison
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) has a higher volatility of 9.02% compared to Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) at 4.24%. This indicates that PNSAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FXAIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PNSAX | FXAIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.02% | 4.24% | +4.78% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.97% | 9.08% | +7.89% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.41% | 18.13% | +6.28% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 16.88% | +6.08% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.38% | 18.03% | +5.35% |