PSSMX vs. PMAQX
PSSMX (Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund) and PMAQX (Principal MidCap R6) are both mutual funds - PSSMX is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Principal, while PMAQX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Principal. Over the past 5 years, PSSMX returned 8.35%/yr vs 4.56%/yr for PMAQX. Their correlation of 0.80 means they have usually moved in the same direction. PSSMX charges 0.73%/yr vs 0.60%/yr for PMAQX.
Performance
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PSSMX achieves a 21.15% return, which is significantly higher than PMAQX's -3.68% return.
PSSMX
- 1D
- 0.85%
- 1M
- -0.64%
- 6M
- 14.80%
- YTD
- 21.15%
- 1Y
- 35.09%
- 3Y*
- 15.43%
- 5Y*
- 8.35%
- 10Y*
- 10.79%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.60%
PMAQX
- 1D
- -1.38%
- 1M
- -0.58%
- 6M
- -3.05%
- YTD
- -3.68%
- 1Y
- -7.25%
- 3Y*
- 9.39%
- 5Y*
- 4.56%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 12.28%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
PMAQX Principal MidCap R6 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSSMX Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund | 21.15% | 5.34% | 16.60% | 15.18% | -16.69% | 25.39% | 10.65% | 21.99% | -9.42% | 12.46% |
PMAQX Principal MidCap R6 | -3.68% | 1.71% | 23.74% | 26.02% | -23.09% | 25.29% | 18.38% | 49.59% | -6.79% | 24.68% |
Correlation
The correlation between PSSMX and PMAQX is 0.71, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.71 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.78 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.82 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 2017 | 0.80 |
The correlation between PSSMX and PMAQX shifts across timeframes, from 0.71 (1 year) to 0.82 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PSSMX vs. PMAQX — Risk / Return Rank
PSSMX
PMAQX
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) and Principal MidCap R6 (PMAQX). 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.
| PSSMX | PMAQX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.47 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 0.91 | +0.40 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.59 | -0.48 | +4.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.27 | -0.94 | +13.20 |
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Drawdowns
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PSSMX drawdown since its inception was -58.43%, which is greater than PMAQX's maximum drawdown of -40.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSSMX and PMAQX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PSSMX | PMAQX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.43% | -40.56% | -17.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.76% | -19.25% | +10.49% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.30% | -19.25% | -5.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.01% | -31.10% | +4.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.85% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.87% | -9.95% | +8.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.47% | -6.89% | -2.58% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.57% | 9.79% | -7.22% |
Volatility
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) is 3.47%, while Principal MidCap R6 (PMAQX) has a volatility of 5.19%. This indicates that PSSMX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PMAQX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PSSMX | PMAQX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.47% | 5.19% | -1.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.69% | 12.03% | -0.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.41% | 15.17% | +2.24% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.62% | 18.75% | +2.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.86% | 19.43% | +3.43% |
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PSSMX has a 0.73% expense ratio, which is higher than PMAQX's 0.60% expense ratio.
Dividends
PSSMX vs. PMAQX - Dividend Comparison
PSSMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.24%, more than PMAQX's 6.02% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMAQX Principal MidCap R6 | 6.02% | 5.80% | 6.46% | 2.58% | 3.18% | 7.96% | 1.08% | 9.14% | 12.39% | 3.39% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
PSSMX Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund | 8.24% | 9.98% | 15.91% | 3.75% | 10.45% | 8.23% | 1.67% | 6.56% | 13.08% | 6.03% | 6.15% | 8.07% |
Frequently Asked Questions
PSSMX and PMAQX have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PMAQX has higher volatility (5.19%) compared to PSSMX (3.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PSSMX dropped -58.43% vs PMAQX's -40.56%.
PSSMX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.81 vs -0.60), 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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