PSSMX vs. VEXRX
Compare and contrast key facts about Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) and Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX).
PSSMX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Dec 6, 2000. VEXRX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001.
Performance
PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Performance Comparison
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PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSSMX Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund | 3.33% | 5.34% | 16.60% | 15.18% | -16.69% | 25.39% | 10.65% | 21.99% | -9.42% | 12.46% |
VEXRX Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares | -0.08% | 7.19% | 17.40% | 19.90% | -23.23% | 16.07% | 31.51% | 31.42% | -2.34% | 22.64% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PSSMX achieves a 3.33% return, which is significantly higher than VEXRX's -0.08% return. Over the past 10 years, PSSMX has underperformed VEXRX with an annualized return of 9.90%, while VEXRX has yielded a comparatively higher 12.16% annualized return.
PSSMX
- 1D
- 2.81%
- 1M
- -4.74%
- YTD
- 3.33%
- 6M
- 4.72%
- 1Y
- 19.51%
- 3Y*
- 12.61%
- 5Y*
- 4.99%
- 10Y*
- 9.90%
VEXRX
- 1D
- 3.79%
- 1M
- -5.77%
- YTD
- -0.08%
- 6M
- 1.70%
- 1Y
- 17.15%
- 3Y*
- 12.10%
- 5Y*
- 4.38%
- 10Y*
- 12.16%
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PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PSSMX has a 0.73% expense ratio, which is higher than VEXRX's 0.29% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PSSMX vs. VEXRX — Risk / Return Rank
PSSMX
VEXRX
PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) and Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX). 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.
| PSSMX | VEXRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.88 | 0.79 | +0.08 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.37 | 1.26 | +0.12 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.17 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.37 | 1.21 | +0.16 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.53 | 5.07 | +0.46 |
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
| PSSMX | VEXRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.88 | 0.79 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 | 0.21 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 | 0.56 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.44 | -0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between PSSMX and VEXRX is 0.94, 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
PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Dividend Comparison
PSSMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.66%, more than VEXRX's 7.55% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSSMX Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund | 9.66% | 9.98% | 15.91% | 3.75% | 10.45% | 8.23% | 1.67% | 6.56% | 13.08% | 6.03% | 6.15% | 8.07% |
VEXRX Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares | 7.55% | 7.54% | 12.72% | 0.89% | 5.22% | 16.17% | 6.76% | 5.08% | 11.13% | 11.46% | 4.63% | 10.89% |
Drawdowns
PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PSSMX drawdown since its inception was -58.43%, roughly equal to the maximum VEXRX drawdown of -57.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSSMX and VEXRX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PSSMX | VEXRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.43% | -57.26% | -1.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.85% | -14.14% | -0.71% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.01% | -32.67% | +5.66% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.85% | -39.86% | -4.99% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.83% | -6.76% | +0.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.58% | -10.00% | +0.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.68% | 3.38% | +0.30% |
Volatility
PSSMX vs. VEXRX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) is 6.28%, while Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares (VEXRX) has a volatility of 7.50%. This indicates that PSSMX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VEXRX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PSSMX | VEXRX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.28% | 7.50% | -1.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.05% | 13.17% | -0.12% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.67% | 22.25% | +0.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.87% | 21.32% | +0.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.92% | 21.81% | +1.11% |