SMSAX vs. GAAVX

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund (SMSAX) and GMO Alternative Allocation Fund (GAAVX).

SMSAX is managed by SEI. It was launched on Mar 30, 2010. GAAVX is managed by GMO. It was launched on May 1, 2019.

Performance

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund (SMSAX) and GMO Alternative Allocation Fund (GAAVX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
SMSAX SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund	2.01%	10.62%	6.42%	7.21%	-4.95%	1.47%	12.06%	1.43%
GAAVX GMO Alternative Allocation Fund	3.33%	15.19%	-5.70%	6.07%	3.63%	-5.12%	-0.28%	3.49%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SMSAX achieves a 2.01% return, which is significantly lower than GAAVX's 3.33% return.

SMSAX

• 1D: 1.20%
• 1M: -1.74%
• YTD: 2.01%
• 6M: 4.75%
• 1Y: 14.04%
• 3Y*: 8.43%
• 5Y*: 4.11%
• 10Y*: 4.36%

GAAVX

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: -0.37%
• YTD: 3.33%
• 6M: 10.87%
• 1Y: 13.78%
• 3Y*: 5.94%
• 5Y*: 3.63%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Expense Ratio Comparison

SMSAX has a 1.35% expense ratio, which is higher than GAAVX's 0.61% expense ratio.

SMSAX

SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund

GAAVX

GMO Alternative Allocation Fund

Return for Risk

SMSAX vs. GAAVX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SMSAX

SMSAX Risk / Return Rank: 95
SMSAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
SMSAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 96
SMSAX Omega Ratio Rank: 94
SMSAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
SMSAX Martin Ratio Rank: 95

GAAVX

GAAVX Risk / Return Rank: 90
GAAVX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
GAAVX Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
GAAVX Omega Ratio Rank: 86
GAAVX Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
GAAVX Martin Ratio Rank: 83

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund (SMSAX) and GMO Alternative Allocation Fund (GAAVX). 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.

	SMSAX	GAAVX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.42	1.95	+0.46
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.61	3.08	+0.53
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.49	1.38	+0.11
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.77	3.79	-0.02
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	13.93	9.05	+4.89
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SMSAX Sharpe Ratio is 2.42, which is comparable to the GAAVX Sharpe Ratio of 1.95. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SMSAX and GAAVX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SMSAX	GAAVX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.42	1.95	+0.46
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.91	0.63	+0.28
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.96	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.71	0.47	+0.24

Correlation

The correlation between SMSAX and GAAVX is 0.33, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Dividend Comparison

SMSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.98%, less than GAAVX's 8.49% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SMSAX SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund	4.98%	5.08%	5.54%	4.35%	2.13%	7.61%	2.79%	1.01%	4.94%	2.20%	0.07%	2.66%
GAAVX GMO Alternative Allocation Fund	8.49%	8.78%	0.00%	5.18%	0.91%	4.10%	2.41%	2.61%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SMSAX drawdown since its inception was -10.98%, which is greater than GAAVX's maximum drawdown of -9.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMSAX and GAAVX.

Drawdown Indicators

	SMSAX	GAAVX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-10.98%	-9.59%	-1.39%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.73%	-3.09%	-0.64%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-9.72%	-9.59%	-0.13%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-10.98%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.12%	-1.20%	-0.92%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.12%	-3.11%	+0.99%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.01%	1.54%	-0.53%

Volatility

SMSAX vs. GAAVX - Volatility Comparison

SEI Institutional Managed Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund (SMSAX) has a higher volatility of 2.30% compared to GMO Alternative Allocation Fund (GAAVX) at 1.85%. This indicates that SMSAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GAAVX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SMSAX	GAAVX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.30%	1.85%	+0.45%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.03%	4.81%	-0.78%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.83%	6.82%	-0.99%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.55%	5.81%	-1.26%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	4.55%	5.87%	-1.32%