SCZ vs. MIDLX
SCZ (iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF) and MIDLX (MFS International New Discovery Fund Class R6) are both Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities funds - SCZ tracks the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index while MIDLX tracks the MSCI All Country World ex-US Small Mid Cap Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SCZ returned 8.64%/yr vs 7.03%/yr for MIDLX. Their correlation of 0.90 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SCZ charges 0.40%/yr vs 0.91%/yr for MIDLX.
Performance
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCZ achieves a 9.70% return, which is significantly higher than MIDLX's 5.73% return. Over the past 10 years, SCZ has outperformed MIDLX with an annualized return of 8.64%, while MIDLX has yielded a comparatively lower 7.03% annualized return.
SCZ
- 1D
- 0.47%
- 1M
- 1.01%
- YTD
- 9.70%
- 6M
- 11.43%
- 1Y
- 23.50%
- 3Y*
- 15.38%
- 5Y*
- 4.99%
- 10Y*
- 8.64%
MIDLX
- 1D
- 1.98%
- 1M
- 1.05%
- YTD
- 5.73%
- 6M
- 6.71%
- 1Y
- 9.34%
- 3Y*
- 10.40%
- 5Y*
- 3.11%
- 10Y*
- 7.03%
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCZ iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 9.70% | 32.08% | 1.52% | 12.98% | -21.27% | 10.12% | 11.71% | 24.68% | -17.64% | 32.72% |
MIDLX MFS International New Discovery Fund Class R6 | 5.73% | 17.03% | 3.33% | 13.21% | -18.52% | 5.17% | 10.15% | 24.97% | -10.29% | 30.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCZ and MIDLX is 0.88, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.88 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.91 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 1, 2012 | 0.90 |
The correlation between SCZ and MIDLX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.88 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SCZ vs. MIDLX — Risk / Return Rank
SCZ
MIDLX
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) and MFS International New Discovery Fund Class R6 (MIDLX). 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.
| SCZ | MIDLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.77 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.14 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.95 | 0.73 | +1.21 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.36 | 2.49 | +4.87 |
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Drawdowns
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCZ drawdown since its inception was -61.86%, which is greater than MIDLX's maximum drawdown of -34.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCZ and MIDLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCZ | MIDLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -61.86% | -34.70% | -27.16% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.43% | -11.75% | +0.32% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.06% | -13.15% | -1.91% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.87% | -33.58% | -3.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.07% | -34.70% | -6.37% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.66% | -2.76% | +1.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.05% | -6.91% | -6.14% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.02% | 3.46% | -0.44% |
Volatility
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) has a higher volatility of 5.27% compared to MFS International New Discovery Fund Class R6 (MIDLX) at 4.15%. This indicates that SCZ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MIDLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SCZ | MIDLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.27% | 4.15% | +1.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.52% | 9.98% | +2.54% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.93% | 11.93% | +3.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.81% | 13.29% | +3.52% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.43% | 14.02% | +3.41% |
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCZ has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is lower than MIDLX's 0.91% expense ratio.
Dividends
SCZ vs. MIDLX - Dividend Comparison
SCZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.01%, less than MIDLX's 3.19% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MIDLX MFS International New Discovery Fund Class R6 | 3.19% | 3.37% | 10.08% | 4.21% | 5.85% | 5.19% | 4.03% | 4.36% | 6.82% | 1.63% | 1.09% | 1.25% |
SCZ iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | 3.01% | 3.30% | 3.50% | 2.96% | 1.99% | 2.96% | 1.52% | 3.52% | 2.79% | 2.38% | 2.82% | 2.06% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SCZ and MIDLX have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SCZ has higher volatility (5.27%) compared to MIDLX (4.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCZ dropped -61.86% vs MIDLX's -34.70%.
SCZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.49 vs 0.72), 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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