Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund

Home / Mutual Fund / Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund
Mutual Fund Equity International Equity

Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund

Image specific to each asset class and market style grouping.
Ticker
VISAX
CUSIP
92828W841
POP
$ (as of )
Inception
09/05/2012
Total Assets by Class
$43,859,281.11 (as of 03/27/2024)
Total Assets by Fund
$1,010,135,085.15 (as of 03/27/2024)
Morningstar Category
Foreign Small/Mid Growth

Portfolio Overview

Investment Overview

The Fund seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted long-term returns by investing in the stocks of international small- and mid-cap companies with durable competitive advantages, excellent management, lower financial risk, and strong growth trajectories. A disciplined investment process is employed to identify businesses that are differentiated by above-average returns on capital and trading at attractive valuations.

Management Team

Investment Partner

Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC

Kayne Anderson Rudnick believes that superior risk-adjusted returns may be achieved through investment in high-quality companies with market dominance, excellent management, financial strength, and consistent growth, purchased at reasonable prices.


Learn more about Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC

Investment Professionals

Craig Thrasher

Craig Thrasher, CFA

Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst

Industry start date: 2003
Start date as fund Portfolio Manager: 2012

Show More
Kim, Hyung 400 x 400

Hyung Kim

Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst

Industry start date: 2004
Start date as fund Portfolio Manager: 2018

Show More

Key Features

High-Quality Businesses

Searches for quality international small- and mid-cap companies with solid balance sheets, consistent growth, profitability, and market dominant business models

Lower Volatility Approach

Extensive fundamental research favors companies with less business risk, as defined by lower earnings variability, consistent and profitable growth, high returns on capital, strong free cash flow, and a low organic need for external financing, all of which can help to protect profits in difficult markets

High-Conviction Portfolio

Focused on the portfolio team's 30-60 strongest investment opportunities, with a long-term, low-turnover approach to realize full stock value potential

Portfolio Characteristics

Characteristics4

(as of 12/29/2023)
Average Weighted Market Cap (billions) $3.13
Median Market Cap (billions) $1.36
Trailing P/E Ex-Negative Earnings 18.20
Price-to-Cash Flow 17.54
Price-to-Book Value 3.87

Top Holdings (% Fund)

(as of 12/29/2023)
Security
Baltic Classifieds Group PLC
8.62
 8.62%
Rightmove PLC
5.32
 5.32%
Corp Moctezuma SAB de CV
4.64
 4.64%
Auto Trader Group PLC
4.32
 4.32%
Haw Par Corp Ltd
3.99
 3.99%
Mortgage Advice Bureau Holdings Ltd
3.60
 3.60%
Gruppo MutuiOnline SpA
3.54
 3.54%
AJ Bell PLC
3.47
 3.47%
Howden Joinery Group PLC
3.38
 3.38%
FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA
3.22
 3.22%

Holdings are subject to change.

Sector Allocation (% Equity)

(as of 12/29/2023)
Communication Services
27.75
 27.75%
Industrials
21.46
 21.46%
Financials
18.10
 18.10%
Information Technology
8.98
 8.98%
Materials
7.11
 7.11%
Consumer Discretionary
6.55
 6.55%
Consumer Staples
4.33
 4.33%
Health Care
4.16
 4.16%
Energy
1.56
 1.56%

Top Countries (% Invested Assets)

(as of 12/29/2023)

Performance & Risk

Growth of $10,000 Investment

From to
This chart assumes an initial investment of $10,000 made on for Class ddd shares including any applicable sales charges. Performance assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions.

Performance

As of
As of

Performance data quoted represents past results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Sales Charge and Expenses

The Index shown represents the Fund's performance index, which may differ from the Fund's regulatory index included in the Fund's Prospectus.

Risk Statistics3

(as of )
Fund Index
R2
Beta
Alpha
Std Dev

Risk Considerations

Equity Securities: The market price of equity securities may be adversely affected by financial market, industry, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or on small, medium, or large-sized companies may enhance that risk.
Foreign & Emerging Markets: Investing in foreign securities, especially in emerging markets, subjects the portfolio to additional risks such as increased volatility, currency fluctuations, less liquidity, and political, regulatory, economic, and market risk.
Industrial Concentration: Because the portfolio is presently heavily weighted in the industrial sector, it will be impacted by that sector's performance more than a portfolio with broader sector diversification.
Limited Number of Investments: Because the portfolio has a limited number of securities, it may be more susceptible to factors adversely affecting its securities than a portfolio with a greater number of securities.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the portfolio may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Local, regional, or global events such as war or military conflict, terrorism, pandemic, or recession could impact the portfolio, including hampering the ability of the portfolio's manager(s) to invest its assets as intended.
Prospectus: For additional information on risks, please see the fund's prospectus.

Commentary

z - Cover Image: Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Commentary
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Commentary
The commentary is the opinion of the subadviser. This material has been prepared using sources of information generally believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions represented are subject to change and should not be considered investment advice or an offer of securities.

Related Literature

Marketing Materials

Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Fact Sheet
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Enhanced Fact Sheet
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Commentary
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Presentation
Morningstar - Quarterly Ratings
Taking the Long View
Virtus KAR High-Quality Equity Funds Menu
KAR Market Review & Outlook

Financial Materials

Virtus Opportunities Trust Statutory Prospectus
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Summary Prospectus
Virtus Opportunities Trust SAI
Virtus Opportunities Trust Annual Report
Virtus Opportunities Trust Semiannual Report - Equity Funds

Holdings

Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Country Weights
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Quarterly Holdings
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Top Holdings
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Holdings Fiscal Q1
Virtus KAR International Small-Mid Cap Fund Holdings Fiscal Q3

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any Virtus Mutual Fund before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contains this and other information about the fund. Please contact your financial representative, call 1-800-243-4361 to obtain a current prospectus and/or summary prospectus. You should read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Performance data quoted represents past results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Average annual total return is the annual compound return for the indicated period. It reflects the change in share price and the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains. NAV returns do not include the effect of any applicable sales charges. POP and w/CDSC returns include the effect of maximum applicable sales charges.

Returns for periods of less than one year are cumulative total returns.

1 Yields/Distributions: 30-day SEC Yield is a standardized yield calculated according to a formula set by the SEC, and is subject to change. 30-day SEC Yield (unsubsidized) is the 30-day SEC Yield without the effect of applicable expense waivers. Distribution Rate is calculated by (a) annualizing the latest income distribution for fixed income funds or funds less than 1 year old, or (b) summing all income distributions over the preceding 12 months for all other funds, and dividing by the NAV on the last business date of the period, unless otherwise indicated. The Distribution Rate may be comprised of ordinary income, net realized capital gains and returns of capital.

2 Distribution History: Distributions are represented on a cash basis and may be reclassified at year end for tax purposes. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. STCG: Short Term Capital Gain, LTCG: Long Term Capital Gain

3 Risk Statistics: R2 is a statistical measure that represents the percentage of a fund or security's movements that can be explained by movements in a benchmark index. Beta is a quantitative measure of the volatility of a given portfolio to the overall market. Alpha is a risk adjusted measure of an investment's excess return relative to a benchmark. A positive Alpha indicates that the investment produced a return greater than expected for the risk (as measured by Beta) taken. Standard Deviation measures variability of returns around the average return for an investment fund. Higher standard deviation suggests greater risk. Risk Statistics are calculated using 36 monthly returns.

4 Characteristics: For Equity Funds: Avg. Weighted Market Cap (bn): The sum of each security's weight within the fund (or index) multiplied by the security's market capitalization. Trailing P/E Ex-Negative Earnings: Per-share stock price divided by the latest 12-months Earnings per Share; Price/Cash Flow: Per-share stock price divided by the per-share operating cash flow; Price/Book: Per-share stock price divided by the latest 12-month per-share Book Value; 3-Year EPS Growth Rate: Average of earnings per share growth for latest 3-year period. The 3-Year EPS Growth Rate is not a forecast of the fund's performance.

4 Characteristics: For Fixed Income Funds: Effective Duration represents the interest rate sensitivity of a fixed income fund. For example, if a fund's effective duration is five years, a 1% increase in interest rates would result in a 5% decline in the fund's price. Similarly, a 1% decline in interest rates would result in a 5% gain in the fund's price.

Morningstar Disclosures:
The Morningstar Rating for funds, or "star rating", is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product's monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods. Ratings do not take into account the effects of sales charges and loads.

© year Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.