PSSMX vs. VSCPX
Compare and contrast key facts about Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VSCPX).
PSSMX is managed by Principal. It was launched on Dec 6, 2000. VSCPX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Dec 17, 2010.
Performance
PSSMX vs. VSCPX - Performance Comparison
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PSSMX vs. VSCPX - 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% |
VSCPX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares | 1.90% | 8.86% | 12.98% | 19.52% | -17.59% | 17.75% | 19.09% | 27.40% | -9.31% | 16.27% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PSSMX achieves a 3.33% return, which is significantly higher than VSCPX's 1.90% return. Over the past 10 years, PSSMX has underperformed VSCPX with an annualized return of 9.90%, while VSCPX has yielded a comparatively higher 10.51% 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%
VSCPX
- 1D
- 3.14%
- 1M
- -5.70%
- YTD
- 1.90%
- 6M
- 3.42%
- 1Y
- 19.31%
- 3Y*
- 13.03%
- 5Y*
- 5.36%
- 10Y*
- 10.51%
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PSSMX vs. VSCPX - Expense Ratio Comparison
PSSMX has a 0.73% expense ratio, which is higher than VSCPX's 0.03% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
PSSMX vs. VSCPX — Risk / Return Rank
PSSMX
VSCPX
PSSMX vs. VSCPX - 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 Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VSCPX). 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 | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.88 | 0.91 | -0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.37 | 1.41 | -0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.19 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.37 | 1.38 | -0.01 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.53 | 5.96 | -0.43 |
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 | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.88 | 0.91 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 | 0.26 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 | 0.49 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.50 | -0.11 |
Correlation
The correlation between PSSMX and VSCPX is 0.96, 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. VSCPX - Dividend Comparison
PSSMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.66%, more than VSCPX's 1.35% 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% |
VSCPX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares | 1.35% | 1.35% | 1.32% | 1.56% | 1.56% | 1.26% | 1.16% | 1.41% | 1.69% | 1.37% | 1.52% | 1.51% |
Drawdowns
PSSMX vs. VSCPX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PSSMX drawdown since its inception was -58.43%, which is greater than VSCPX's maximum drawdown of -41.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSSMX and VSCPX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PSSMX | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.43% | -41.81% | -16.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.85% | -14.29% | -0.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.01% | -28.13% | +1.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.85% | -41.81% | -3.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.83% | -6.11% | +0.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.58% | -6.55% | -3.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.68% | 3.32% | +0.36% |
Volatility
PSSMX vs. VSCPX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (PSSMX) is 6.28%, while Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Plus Shares (VSCPX) has a volatility of 6.81%. This indicates that PSSMX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSCPX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PSSMX | VSCPX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.28% | 6.81% | -0.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.05% | 12.60% | +0.45% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.67% | 21.79% | +0.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.87% | 20.74% | +1.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.92% | 21.55% | +1.37% |