PNSAX vs. NESIX
Compare and contrast key facts about Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX).
PNSAX is managed by Putnam. It was launched on Dec 31, 1997. NESIX is managed by Needham. It was launched on Dec 30, 2016.
Performance
PNSAX vs. NESIX - Performance Comparison
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PNSAX vs. NESIX - 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% | 19.51% |
NESIX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 9.63% | 11.16% | 13.47% | 5.85% | -29.71% | 11.36% | 73.06% | 55.28% | -4.87% | 12.63% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PNSAX achieves a -5.03% return, which is significantly lower than NESIX's 9.63% return.
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%
NESIX
- 1D
- -4.46%
- 1M
- -7.08%
- YTD
- 9.63%
- 6M
- 12.40%
- 1Y
- 48.73%
- 3Y*
- 11.47%
- 5Y*
- 1.26%
- 10Y*
- —
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PNSAX vs. NESIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PNSAX has a 1.23% expense ratio, which is higher than NESIX's 1.18% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PNSAX vs. NESIX — Risk / Return Rank
PNSAX
NESIX
PNSAX vs. NESIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX). 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 | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.62 | 1.34 | -0.72 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.03 | 1.91 | -0.88 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.25 | -0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.93 | 2.44 | -1.51 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.25 | 8.21 | -4.97 |
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 | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.62 | 1.34 | -0.72 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | 0.04 | +0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.41 | 0.53 | -0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between PNSAX and NESIX is 0.82, 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. NESIX - Dividend Comparison
PNSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.45%, while NESIX 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% |
NESIX Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.93% | 23.92% | 13.26% | 8.25% | 21.96% | 8.89% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
PNSAX vs. NESIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PNSAX drawdown since its inception was -69.47%, which is greater than NESIX's maximum drawdown of -49.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PNSAX and NESIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PNSAX | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.47% | -49.61% | -19.86% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.00% | -17.25% | +3.25% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.77% | -49.61% | +10.84% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.77% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.00% | -9.15% | -4.85% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.68% | -15.27% | -8.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.00% | 5.12% | -1.12% |
Volatility
PNSAX vs. NESIX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) is 9.02%, while Needham Small Cap Growth Fund Institutional (NESIX) has a volatility of 10.99%. This indicates that PNSAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NESIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PNSAX | NESIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.02% | 10.99% | -1.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.97% | 22.90% | -5.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.41% | 35.06% | -10.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 29.10% | -6.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.38% | 26.30% | -2.92% |