ZTR vs. CDX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR) and Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF (CDX).

ZTR is an actively managed fund by Virtus. It was launched on Feb 24, 2005. CDX is an actively managed fund by Simplify. It was launched on Feb 14, 2022.

Performance

ZTR vs. CDX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR) and Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF (CDX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

ZTR vs. CDX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
ZTR Virtus Total Return Fund	7.49%	18.63%	18.31%	-3.21%	-20.19%
CDX Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF	-2.19%	9.51%	7.71%	12.74%	-8.12%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZTR achieves a 7.49% return, which is significantly higher than CDX's -2.19% return.

ZTR

• 1D: -0.30%
• 1M: -5.54%
• YTD: 7.49%
• 6M: 7.46%
• 1Y: 21.98%
• 3Y*: 12.51%
• 5Y*: 5.15%
• 10Y*: 6.42%

CDX

• 1D: 0.52%
• 1M: -2.16%
• YTD: -2.19%
• 6M: -3.01%
• 1Y: 0.72%
• 3Y*: 7.73%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

ZTR vs. CDX - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZTR has a 3.77% expense ratio, which is higher than CDX's 0.26% expense ratio.

ZTR

Virtus Total Return Fund

CDX

Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF

Return for Risk

ZTR vs. CDX — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZTR

ZTR Risk / Return Rank: 81
ZTR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 80
ZTR Sortino Ratio Rank: 80
ZTR Omega Ratio Rank: 78
ZTR Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
ZTR Martin Ratio Rank: 86

CDX

CDX Risk / Return Rank: 14
CDX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 13
CDX Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
CDX Omega Ratio Rank: 16
CDX Calmar Ratio Rank: 15
CDX Martin Ratio Rank: 14

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.

ZTR vs. CDX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR) and Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF (CDX). 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.

	ZTR	CDX	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.49	0.04	+1.45
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.06	0.19	+1.87
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.04	+0.26
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.06	0.13	+1.93
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	8.93	0.21	+8.72
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZTR vs. CDX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZTR Sharpe Ratio is 1.49, which is higher than the CDX Sharpe Ratio of 0.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZTR and CDX, 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

	ZTR	CDX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.49	0.04	+1.45
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.31	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.30	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.31	0.40	-0.08

Correlation

The correlation between ZTR and CDX 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

ZTR vs. CDX - Dividend Comparison

ZTR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.06%, more than CDX's 8.43% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ZTR Virtus Total Return Fund	9.06%	9.52%	10.24%	15.25%	15.88%	10.96%	13.72%	11.89%	15.18%	13.85%	10.58%	9.11%
CDX Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF	8.43%	7.18%	12.60%	5.26%	7.51%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

ZTR vs. CDX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZTR drawdown since its inception was -57.25%, which is greater than CDX's maximum drawdown of -13.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZTR and CDX.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZTR	CDX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-57.25%	-13.24%	-44.01%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.17%	-8.88%	-2.29%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-42.64%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-57.25%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.07%	-7.17%	+1.10%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.38%	-4.24%	-5.14%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.58%	5.46%	-2.88%

Volatility

ZTR vs. CDX - Volatility Comparison

Virtus Total Return Fund (ZTR) has a higher volatility of 4.53% compared to Simplify High Yield PLUS Credit Hedge ETF (CDX) at 3.07%. This indicates that ZTR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CDX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZTR	CDX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.53%	3.07%	+1.46%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.35%	4.14%	+4.21%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.82%	16.11%	-1.29%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.84%	11.24%	+5.60%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.57%	11.24%	+10.33%