VESMX vs. RYSEX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about VELA Small Cap Fund (VESMX) and Royce Special Equity Fund (RYSEX).

VESMX is managed by VELA Funds. It was launched on Sep 29, 2020. RYSEX is managed by Royce Investment Partners. It was launched on May 1, 1998.

Performance

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in VELA Small Cap Fund (VESMX) and Royce Special Equity Fund (RYSEX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
VESMX VELA Small Cap Fund	-1.56%	8.12%	10.77%	11.22%	-5.53%	31.60%	21.26%
RYSEX Royce Special Equity Fund	3.35%	3.66%	2.93%	12.96%	-6.60%	22.24%	11.56%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VESMX achieves a -1.56% return, which is significantly lower than RYSEX's 3.35% return.

VESMX

• 1D: -0.20%
• 1M: -6.89%
• YTD: -1.56%
• 6M: 4.15%
• 1Y: 11.94%
• 3Y*: 9.59%
• 5Y*: 5.88%
• 10Y*: —

RYSEX

• 1D: 0.35%
• 1M: -3.72%
• YTD: 3.35%
• 6M: 5.06%
• 1Y: 17.66%
• 3Y*: 6.41%
• 5Y*: 4.67%
• 10Y*: 7.57%

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

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VESMX and RYSEX have an expense ratio of 1.20%.

VESMX

VELA Small Cap Fund

RYSEX

Royce Special Equity Fund

Return for Risk

VESMX vs. RYSEX — Risk / Return Rank

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

VESMX

VESMX Risk / Return Rank: 26
VESMX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 25
VESMX Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
VESMX Omega Ratio Rank: 24
VESMX Calmar Ratio Rank: 27
VESMX Martin Ratio Rank: 27

RYSEX

RYSEX Risk / Return Rank: 52
RYSEX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
RYSEX Sortino Ratio Rank: 58
RYSEX Omega Ratio Rank: 44
RYSEX Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
RYSEX Martin Ratio Rank: 46

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.

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VELA Small Cap Fund (VESMX) and Royce Special Equity Fund (RYSEX). 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.

	VESMX	RYSEX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.64	0.96	-0.32
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.03	1.51	-0.49
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.14	1.19	-0.05
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.79	1.41	-0.61
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	2.97	4.67	-1.70
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VESMX Sharpe Ratio is 0.64, which is lower than the RYSEX Sharpe Ratio of 0.96. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VESMX and RYSEX, 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

	VESMX	RYSEX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.64	0.96	-0.32
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34	0.29	+0.05
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.44	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.74	0.51	+0.22

Correlation

The correlation between VESMX and RYSEX is 0.86, 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

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Dividend Comparison

VESMX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, less than RYSEX's 11.96% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VESMX VELA Small Cap Fund	1.02%	1.01%	0.22%	0.66%	0.69%	0.98%	0.06%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
RYSEX Royce Special Equity Fund	11.96%	12.36%	16.35%	5.32%	12.34%	16.53%	3.70%	11.56%	13.11%	8.24%	7.72%	11.68%

Drawdowns

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VESMX drawdown since its inception was -20.35%, smaller than the maximum RYSEX drawdown of -43.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VESMX and RYSEX.

Drawdown Indicators

	VESMX	RYSEX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-20.35%	-43.25%	+22.90%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.74%	-10.97%	-1.77%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.35%	-23.03%	+2.68%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-32.13%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.20%	-6.33%	-1.87%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.58%	-6.39%	+1.81%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.41%	3.30%	+0.11%

Volatility

VESMX vs. RYSEX - Volatility Comparison

VELA Small Cap Fund (VESMX) has a higher volatility of 4.71% compared to Royce Special Equity Fund (RYSEX) at 3.43%. This indicates that VESMX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than RYSEX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VESMX	RYSEX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.71%	3.43%	+1.28%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.01%	9.64%	+0.37%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.97%	18.16%	+0.81%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.51%	16.43%	+1.08%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.34%	17.40%	+0.94%