VISAX vs. PSTAX
VISAX (Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Class A) and PSTAX (Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund) are both mutual funds - VISAX is a Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI All Country World ex USA Small-Mid Cap Index, while PSTAX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Virtus. Over the past 10 years, VISAX returned 7.52%/yr vs 12.65%/yr for PSTAX. Their 0.54 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. VISAX charges 1.44%/yr vs 1.20%/yr for PSTAX.
Performance
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VISAX achieves a 2.74% return, which is significantly higher than PSTAX's 1.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VISAX has underperformed PSTAX with an annualized return of 7.52%, while PSTAX has yielded a comparatively higher 12.65% annualized return.
VISAX
- 1D
- -0.76%
- 1M
- 0.62%
- 6M
- -1.36%
- YTD
- 2.74%
- 1Y
- -0.75%
- 3Y*
- 8.26%
- 5Y*
- -1.34%
- 10Y*
- 7.52%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.00%
PSTAX
- 1D
- 1.21%
- 1M
- -3.66%
- 6M
- 3.03%
- YTD
- 1.26%
- 1Y
- 2.83%
- 3Y*
- 12.35%
- 5Y*
- 4.01%
- 10Y*
- 12.65%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.79%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VISAX Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Class A | 2.74% | 13.92% | 3.87% | 21.99% | -34.52% | 5.48% | 24.02% | 27.25% | -7.04% | 28.20% |
PSTAX Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund | 1.26% | 6.85% | 25.19% | 34.35% | -35.74% | 11.70% | 46.13% | 42.83% | -8.07% | 35.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between VISAX and PSTAX is 0.52, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.52 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.50 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.59 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.56 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2013 | 0.54 |
The correlation between VISAX and PSTAX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.50 to 0.59 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VISAX vs. PSTAX — Risk / Return Rank
VISAX
PSTAX
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Class A (VISAX) and Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund (PSTAX). 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.
| VISAX | PSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.13 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.02 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.09 | 0.04 | -0.12 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.20 | 0.11 | -0.32 |
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Drawdowns
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VISAX drawdown since its inception was -50.44%, smaller than the maximum PSTAX drawdown of -76.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VISAX and PSTAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VISAX | PSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -50.44% | -76.37% | +25.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.58% | -19.58% | +6.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.06% | -29.63% | +14.57% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -50.44% | -44.54% | -5.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -50.44% | -44.54% | -5.90% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.57% | -9.24% | -1.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.50% | -31.78% | +20.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.66% | 6.48% | -0.82% |
Volatility
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Class A (VISAX) is 3.84%, while Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund (PSTAX) has a volatility of 5.42%. This indicates that VISAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PSTAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VISAX | PSTAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.84% | 5.42% | -1.58% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.90% | 16.42% | -5.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.10% | 19.27% | -6.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.27% | 25.50% | -9.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.40% | 23.80% | -8.40% |
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VISAX has a 1.44% expense ratio, which is higher than PSTAX's 1.20% expense ratio.
Dividends
VISAX vs. PSTAX - Dividend Comparison
VISAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.21%, less than PSTAX's 7.49% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSTAX Virtus KAR Capital Growth Fund | 7.49% | 7.58% | 14.19% | 6.07% | 23.19% | 7.73% | 3.15% | 2.71% | 11.57% | 6.28% | 8.98% | 4.59% |
VISAX Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Class A | 3.21% | 3.30% | 1.78% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 8.03% | 0.90% | 1.75% | 1.12% | 1.68% | 2.54% | 3.17% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VISAX and PSTAX have a correlation of 0.52, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PSTAX has higher volatility (5.42%) compared to VISAX (3.84%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VISAX dropped -50.44% vs PSTAX's -76.37%.
PSTAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.04 vs -0.09), 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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