VLPIX vs. BRK-B

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

VLPIX (Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund) is Energy Equities fund managed by Virtus, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, VLPIX returned 12.39%/yr vs 13.57%/yr for BRK-B. Their 0.45 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.

Performance

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund (VLPIX) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VLPIX achieves a 24.52% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's 1.77% return. Over the past 10 years, VLPIX has underperformed BRK-B with an annualized return of 12.39%, while BRK-B has yielded a comparatively higher 13.57% annualized return.

VLPIX

• 1D: 0.31%
• 1M: 1.05%
• 6M: 16.18%
• YTD: 24.52%
• 1Y: 28.63%
• 3Y*: 24.12%
• 5Y*: 23.52%
• 10Y*: 12.39%
• ALL TIME*: 10.76%

BRK-B

• 1D: 0.36%
• 1M: 0.74%
• 6M: 6.45%
• YTD: 1.77%
• 1Y: 8.18%
• 3Y*: 13.24%
• 5Y*: 12.95%
• 10Y*: 13.57%
• ALL TIME*: 10.71%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	$2.04B	$2.04B	$2.42B
VLPIX Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VLPIX Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund	24.52%	3.49%	41.45%	11.99%	30.81%	44.75%	-18.60%	9.59%	-17.20%	-1.13%
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	1.77%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%

Correlation

The correlation between VLPIX and BRK-B is 0.12, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.12
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.29
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.43
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.45
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 11, 2015	0.45

Over the past year, the correlation between VLPIX and BRK-B has dropped to 0.12 - well below their long-term average of 0.45, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

VLPIX vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

VLPIX

VLPIX Risk / Return Rank: 85
VLPIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 84
VLPIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 81
VLPIX Omega Ratio Rank: 77
VLPIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
VLPIX Martin Ratio Rank: 86

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 61
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 65
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 56
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 55
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 64

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund (VLPIX) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). 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.

	VLPIX	BRK-B	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.04	0.57	+1.47
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.87	0.89	+1.98
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.11	+0.24
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.42	0.90	+3.52
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	11.13	1.88	+9.25

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VLPIX Sharpe Ratio is 2.04, which is higher than the BRK-B Sharpe Ratio of 0.57. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VLPIX and BRK-B, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VLPIX drawdown since its inception was -64.56%, which is greater than BRK-B's maximum drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VLPIX and BRK-B.

Drawdown Indicators

	VLPIX	BRK-B	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-64.56%	-53.86%	-10.70%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.65%	-9.42%	+2.77%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-17.54%	-14.95%	-2.59%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.26%	-26.58%	+5.32%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-64.56%	-29.57%	-34.99%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.51%	-5.24%	+1.73%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.54%	-11.06%	+0.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.64%	4.49%	-1.85%

Volatility

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison

Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund (VLPIX) has a higher volatility of 5.30% compared to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) at 4.59%. This indicates that VLPIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VLPIX	BRK-B	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.30%	4.59%	+0.71%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.56%	11.13%	+0.43%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.39%	14.79%	-0.40%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.00%	17.12%	+2.88%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.58%	19.42%	+5.16%

Dividends

VLPIX vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison

VLPIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.87%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VLPIX Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund	7.87%	9.63%	2.61%	3.32%	3.01%	3.66%	5.40%	4.28%	4.04%	2.81%	2.50%	0.92%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VLPIX and BRK-B in my portfolio?

VLPIX and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, VLPIX or BRK-B?

VLPIX has higher volatility (5.30%) compared to BRK-B (4.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VLPIX dropped -64.56% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VLPIX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.04 vs 0.57), 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.