VLPIX vs. MERFX
Compare and contrast key facts about Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund (VLPIX) and The Merger Fund (MERFX).
VLPIX is managed by Virtus. It was launched on Sep 8, 2015. MERFX is managed by Virtus. It was launched on Jan 30, 1989.
Performance
VLPIX vs. MERFX - Performance Comparison
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VLPIX vs. MERFX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VLPIX Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund | 21.79% | 3.49% | 41.45% | 11.99% | 30.81% | 44.75% | -18.60% | 9.59% | -17.20% | -1.13% |
MERFX The Merger Fund | 0.70% | 8.11% | 3.27% | 4.17% | 0.71% | -0.19% | 4.87% | 5.96% | 7.68% | 2.39% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VLPIX achieves a 21.79% return, which is significantly higher than MERFX's 0.70% return. Over the past 10 years, VLPIX has outperformed MERFX with an annualized return of 13.71%, while MERFX has yielded a comparatively lower 3.90% annualized return.
VLPIX
- 1D
- -0.63%
- 1M
- 0.96%
- YTD
- 21.79%
- 6M
- 21.59%
- 1Y
- 20.93%
- 3Y*
- 26.34%
- 5Y*
- 25.70%
- 10Y*
- 13.71%
MERFX
- 1D
- 0.23%
- 1M
- 0.06%
- YTD
- 0.70%
- 6M
- 1.91%
- 1Y
- 6.44%
- 3Y*
- 5.38%
- 5Y*
- 3.06%
- 10Y*
- 3.90%
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VLPIX vs. MERFX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VLPIX has a 1.17% expense ratio, which is lower than MERFX's 1.50% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VLPIX vs. MERFX — Risk / Return Rank
VLPIX
MERFX
VLPIX vs. MERFX - 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 The Merger Fund (MERFX). 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.
| VLPIX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.21 | 4.26 | -3.06 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.57 | 8.13 | -6.56 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 2.10 | -0.85 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.51 | 12.89 | -11.38 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.70 | 61.05 | -56.34 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VLPIX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.21 | 4.26 | -3.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.28 | 0.89 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 1.04 | -0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.43 | 0.68 | -0.26 |
Correlation
The correlation between VLPIX and MERFX is 0.32, 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
VLPIX vs. MERFX - Dividend Comparison
VLPIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 7.91%, more than MERFX's 7.37% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VLPIX Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund | 7.91% | 9.63% | 2.61% | 3.32% | 3.01% | 3.66% | 5.40% | 4.28% | 4.04% | 2.81% | 2.50% | 0.92% |
MERFX The Merger Fund | 7.37% | 7.42% | 3.24% | 2.59% | 3.50% | 0.27% | 3.31% | 1.34% | 4.52% | 0.59% | 0.32% | 1.25% |
Drawdowns
VLPIX vs. MERFX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VLPIX drawdown since its inception was -64.56%, which is greater than MERFX's maximum drawdown of -20.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VLPIX and MERFX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VLPIX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -64.56% | -20.82% | -43.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.61% | -0.52% | -14.09% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.26% | -5.95% | -15.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -64.56% | -9.35% | -55.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.30% | 0.00% | -1.30% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.79% | -2.68% | -8.11% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.71% | 0.11% | +4.60% |
Volatility
VLPIX vs. MERFX - Volatility Comparison
Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund (VLPIX) has a higher volatility of 3.57% compared to The Merger Fund (MERFX) at 0.49%. This indicates that VLPIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MERFX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VLPIX | MERFX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.57% | 0.49% | +3.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.43% | 0.97% | +8.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.10% | 1.54% | +16.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.18% | 3.45% | +16.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.70% | 3.76% | +20.94% |