PNSAX vs. PXSGX
PNSAX (Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund) and PXSGX (Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund) are both Small Cap Growth Equities funds. Over the past 10 years, PNSAX returned 14.93%/yr vs 10.14%/yr for PXSGX. Their correlation of 0.86 means they have usually moved in the same direction. PNSAX charges 1.23%/yr vs 1.07%/yr for PXSGX.
Performance
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PNSAX achieves a 16.15% return, which is significantly higher than PXSGX's -1.68% return. Over the past 10 years, PNSAX has outperformed PXSGX with an annualized return of 14.93%, while PXSGX has yielded a comparatively lower 10.14% annualized return.
PNSAX
- 1D
- 3.67%
- 1M
- -4.68%
- 6M
- 10.87%
- YTD
- 16.15%
- 1Y
- 22.94%
- 3Y*
- 17.06%
- 5Y*
- 7.81%
- 10Y*
- 14.93%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.11%
PXSGX
- 1D
- -1.96%
- 1M
- -0.29%
- 6M
- -4.28%
- YTD
- -1.68%
- 1Y
- -13.66%
- 3Y*
- -3.04%
- 5Y*
- -5.13%
- 10Y*
- 10.14%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.32%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PNSAX Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund | 16.15% | 8.91% | 22.98% | 22.87% | -28.10% | 14.38% | 47.65% | 37.60% | -2.46% | 20.19% |
PXSGX Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund | -1.68% | -22.97% | 21.11% | 20.27% | -30.04% | 4.47% | 43.46% | 40.26% | 9.05% | 36.99% |
Correlation
The correlation between PNSAX and PXSGX is 0.45, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.45 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.67 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.77 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.80 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 29, 2006 | 0.86 |
Over the past year, the correlation between PNSAX and PXSGX has dropped to 0.45 - well below their long-term average of 0.86, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
PNSAX vs. PXSGX — Risk / Return Rank
PNSAX
PXSGX
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) and Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund (PXSGX). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| PNSAX | PXSGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.43 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 0.88 | +0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.41 | -0.61 | +2.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.27 | -1.00 | +5.27 |
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Drawdowns
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PNSAX drawdown since its inception was -69.47%, which is greater than PXSGX's maximum drawdown of -53.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PNSAX and PXSGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PNSAX | PXSGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.47% | -53.72% | -15.75% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.00% | -26.52% | +12.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.25% | -42.49% | +16.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.77% | -42.49% | +3.72% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.77% | -42.49% | +3.72% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.57% | -35.13% | +25.56% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.45% | -11.95% | -11.50% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.61% | 16.09% | -11.48% |
Volatility
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Volatility Comparison
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund (PNSAX) has a higher volatility of 8.02% compared to Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund (PXSGX) at 6.18%. This indicates that PNSAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PXSGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PNSAX | PXSGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.02% | 6.18% | +1.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.84% | 13.60% | +7.24% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.20% | 19.17% | +6.03% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.68% | 24.94% | -1.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.74% | 22.63% | +1.11% |
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PNSAX has a 1.23% expense ratio, which is higher than PXSGX's 1.07% expense ratio.
Dividends
PNSAX vs. PXSGX - Dividend Comparison
PNSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.37%, less than PXSGX's 48.73% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PNSAX Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund | 0.37% | 0.42% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 15.27% | 4.87% | 1.93% | 1.88% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PXSGX Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund | 48.73% | 47.91% | 20.72% | 5.31% | 17.32% | 14.31% | 9.64% | 1.52% | 2.31% | 0.00% | 2.69% | 2.99% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PNSAX and PXSGX have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PNSAX has higher volatility (8.02%) compared to PXSGX (6.18%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PNSAX dropped -69.47% vs PXSGX's -53.72%.
PNSAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.78 vs -0.84), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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