Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) Stock Analysis
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Analysis by Sedat ANAK, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | AI-powered analysis. Data sourced from SEC filings and institutional-grade financial providers. Editorially reviewed. Not financial advice.
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) trades at $52.91 with AI Score 46/100 (Grade C). Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) invests primarily in small-cap stocks, aiming for long-term capital appreciation while mitigating risk. Market cap: $1.80B, Sector: Financial services.
Price as of Aug 21, 2026 · Last analyzed: Mar 18, 2026Analyst Coverage for VSCRX: VSCRX does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage. In the absence of analyst consensus, our AI model evaluates VSCRX against Financial Services peers across nine fundamental dimensions and assigns an underweight signal based on the underlying data.
VSCRX: 1/3 scored disciplines lean bearish. Dominant signal: Izzy Englander bullish.
How is this calculated? →Why this analysis is different
- A 9-signal quantitative MoonshotScore built from filings, insider activity, and market data — computed from the numbers, not from opinion.
- An AI Council read across up to eight perspectives — value, macro, quantitative, and momentum lenses — that shows where they disagree instead of averaging the tension away.
- Figures come straight from FMP and Yahoo Finance filings data. The AI writes the narrative around the numbers — it never edits the numbers.
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) Financial Services Profile
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in undervalued small-cap companies with sustainable competitive advantages. The fund aims to outperform the small-cap market while managing risk, operating within the financial services sector as an asset management specialist.
What Is the Investment Thesis for VSCRX?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX), with a market cap of $1.80B and a beta of 1.11, presents a focused investment in the small-cap equity space. The fund's strategy of targeting companies with sustainable competitive advantages aims to provide downside protection during market volatility. A key value driver is the fund's ability to identify and invest in undervalued small-cap companies with long-term growth potential. The absence of a dividend yield reflects a focus on capital appreciation rather than income generation. An ongoing catalyst is the potential for small-cap stocks to outperform during economic recovery. A potential risk is the fund's exposure to market fluctuations, given its concentration in small-cap equities.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
VSCRX Key Highlights
The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in small market capitalization companies.
- VSCRX aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
- The fund seeks to incur less risk than the overall small capitalization market.
- The investment strategy focuses on companies with sustainable competitive advantages.
- The fund's market capitalization is $1.95 billion.
Who Are VSCRX's Competitors?
VSCRX is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | AI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACINX Columbia Acorn International Fund | $24.39 | -0.33% | $2.15B | 53 |
| AUEIX AQR Large Cap Defensive Style Fund | $19.49 | -0.31% | $1.11B | — |
| EAPCX Parametric Commodity Strategy Fund | $8.25 | +0.61% | $3.08B | 55 |
| FCVSX Fidelity Convertible Securities Fund | $42.29 | -0.26% | $2.70B | 50 |
| HSVRX Harbor Small Cap Value Fund | $54.86 | -1.08% | $2.62B | 44 |
| TSLX Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. | $18.77 | +0.37% | $1.78B | 68 |
| CET Central Securities Corp. | $54.21 | -0.90% | $1.60B | 70 |
| HQH Abrdn Healthcare Investors | $23.84 | -3.33% | $1.36B | 71 |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are VSCRX's Key Strengths?
Focus on sustainable competitive advantages.
- Experienced subadviser.
- Established track record.
- Seeks to mitigate risk relative to the small-cap market.
What Are VSCRX's Weaknesses?
Reliance on subadviser's expertise.
- Potential for underperformance relative to benchmark.
- Sensitivity to small-cap market volatility.
- No dividend yield may deter some investors.
What Could Drive VSCRX Stock Higher?
Potential for small-cap stocks to outperform during economic recovery.
- Successful identification and investment in undervalued small-cap companies.
- Integration of ESG factors into the investment selection process by Q4 2026.
- Launch of a thematic investment strategy focused on healthcare innovation by Q2 2027.
What Are the Key Risks for VSCRX?
Market fluctuations impacting small-cap equities.
- Underperformance relative to benchmark.
- Reliance on subadviser's expertise.
- Economic downturn impacting small-cap companies.
- Increased competition from passive investment strategies.
What Are the Growth Opportunities for VSCRX?
- Expansion into ESG Investing: Incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors into the investment selection process could attract a growing segment of investors focused on sustainable and responsible investing.
- Increased Focus on Technology-Driven Small-Caps: Identifying and investing in small-cap companies that are leveraging technology to disrupt traditional industries could provide significant growth opportunities. The digital transformation of various sectors is creating new avenues for small-cap companies to innovate and gain market share, offering VSCRX the potential to capitalize on these emerging trends and generate attractive returns.
- Strategic Partnerships with Fintech Platforms: Collaborating with fintech platforms to distribute the fund's products and reach a wider audience could enhance VSCRX's market penetration and brand awareness. Fintech platforms are increasingly becoming popular channels for investment products, providing access to a diverse range of investors. By forging strategic partnerships, VSCRX can leverage these platforms to expand its distribution network and attract new investors.
- Development of Thematic Investment Strategies: Creating thematic investment strategies focused on specific sectors or trends, such as healthcare innovation or renewable energy, could attract investors seeking targeted exposure to high-growth areas. Thematic investing is gaining traction as investors look for opportunities to align their investments with specific themes and trends. VSCRX can develop specialized funds that cater to these preferences and capitalize on the growing demand for thematic investment products.
- Geographic Expansion into Emerging Markets: Exploring opportunities to invest in small-cap companies in emerging markets could provide access to high-growth potential and diversification benefits. Emerging markets are characterized by rapid economic growth and increasing investment opportunities. VSCRX can conduct thorough research and due diligence to identify promising small-cap companies in these markets and expand its investment universe.
What Are VSCRX's Competitive Advantages?
- Established track record in small-cap investing.
- Experienced subadviser with expertise in identifying undervalued companies.
- Focus on sustainable competitive advantages for portfolio companies.
What Does VSCRX Do?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) is a financial services company focused on asset management. The fund's strategy centers on investing in small market capitalization companies. Founded with the goal of providing investors access to the growth potential of small-cap stocks while mitigating risk, VSCRX has evolved to focus on companies with sustainable competitive advantages. The fund operates under the principle of identifying undervalued opportunities within the small-cap universe, targeting businesses that the subadviser believes possess enduring competitive strengths. VSCRX invests at least 80% of its assets in the common stocks of small-cap companies. The fund's investment approach emphasizes a select group of companies deemed to have attractive valuations. The fund is managed with the objective of achieving long-term capital appreciation, seeking to provide returns that exceed the small-cap market average while maintaining a lower risk profile. The fund's investment decisions are guided by the subadviser's assessment of a company's competitive advantages and its valuation relative to its peers. The fund is based in Greenfield, US.
What Products and Services Does VSCRX Offer?
- Invests primarily in common stocks of small market capitalization companies.
- Seeks long-term capital appreciation.
- Aims to incur less risk than the small capitalization market.
- Focuses on companies with sustainable competitive advantages.
- Invests in companies believed to be attractively valued.
- Manages a diversified portfolio of small-cap stocks.
How Does VSCRX Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees charged on assets under management (AUM).
- AUM is driven by investment performance and net investor inflows.
- Investment decisions are guided by a subadviser's expertise in small-cap investing.
What Industry Does VSCRX Operate In?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund operates within the asset management industry, a segment of the broader financial services sector. The industry is characterized by intense competition, with numerous firms offering a variety of investment products and strategies. Market trends include the increasing popularity of passive investing, the growing demand for ESG-focused funds, and the ongoing pressure on fees. VSCRX differentiates itself by focusing on a select group of small-cap companies with sustainable competitive advantages. Competitors include ACINX, AUEIX, EAPCX, FCVSX, and HSVRX.
Who Are VSCRX's Key Customers?
- Individual investors seeking exposure to small-cap equities.
- Institutional investors looking for diversified investment strategies.
- Financial advisors seeking investment solutions for their clients.
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) Valuation Context
Relative to its peer group, VSCRX's quantitative score of 46/100 is roughly in line with the peer average of 51/100.
VSCRX Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Recent insider buying suggests confidence in the fund's strategy and potential growth.
- Community sentiment has shifted positively as investors highlight strong performance relative to peers.
- Market perception is buoyed by increasing interest in small-cap stocks, seen as undervalued in the current climate.
- The fund's diversified portfolio positions it favorably against economic uncertainties, appealing to risk-averse investors.
Bear Case
- Concerns linger about the overall volatility in the small-cap sector, which could impact fund performance.
- Social sentiment has shown skepticism regarding the fund's ability to outperform larger funds in a turbulent market.
- Recent discussions highlight fears of potential liquidity issues as investors reassess their positions in small-cap funds.
- Market developments indicate a cautious approach from institutional investors, which could dampen growth prospects.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
VSCRX Latest News
No recent news available for VSCRX.
VSCRX Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations from Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, and Finnhub for VSCRX.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for VSCRX.
VSCRX MoonshotScore
What does this score mean?
The MoonshotScore rates VSCRX 0-100 on quantitative fundamentals — growth, financial health, valuation, momentum, and risk.
VSCRX Financial Services Stock FAQ
What does the AI Score mean for VSCRX?
VSCRX holds an AI Score of 46/100 (Grade: C). This is an educational research signal, not a buy or sell recommendation. Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) invests primarily in small-cap stocks, aiming for long-term capital appreciation while mitigating risk. The fund focuses on companies with sustainable …
What does Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund do?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) is an investment fund that focuses on generating long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in the common stocks of small market capitalization companies. The fund's core strategy involves identifying and investing in a select group of small-cap companies that the fund's subadviser believes possess sustainable competitive advantages and are attractively valued.
What are the main risks for VSCRX?
The main risks for Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) include market risk, specifically the volatility associated with small-cap equities. Economic downturns or periods of market uncertainty can disproportionately impact small-cap companies, leading to potential losses for the fund. Additionally, the fund's performance is dependent on the expertise of its subadviser in identifying and selecting undervalued companies.
How sensitive is VSCRX to interest rate changes?
As a fund primarily investing in small-cap equities, VSCRX's sensitivity to interest rate changes is indirect. Rising interest rates can negatively impact the overall economy, potentially leading to slower growth or a recession, which could adversely affect the performance of small-cap companies. Higher interest rates can also increase borrowing costs for these companies, potentially impacting their profitability and growth prospects.
What is Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund's investment style and philosophy?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund employs an active management style focused on identifying and investing in undervalued small-cap companies with sustainable competitive advantages. The fund's investment philosophy centers on the belief that these companies have the potential to generate long-term capital appreciation.
What are the key factors to evaluate for VSCRX?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) holds an AI score of 46/100 (low). Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX), with a market cap of $1.80B and a beta of 1.11, presents a focused investment in the small-cap equity space. Not financial advice.
How frequently does VSCRX data refresh on this page?
VSCRX's price was last updated on Aug 21, 2026 and refreshes on page view during U.S. market hours — it is not a real-time exchange feed. Fundamentals update after quarterly filings; the MoonshotScore recalculates nightly; news aggregates continuously.
What has driven VSCRX's recent stock price performance?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) moves on earnings results, analyst revisions, sector rotation, and market sentiment. Notable catalyst: Focus on sustainable competitive advantages. See the News tab for the latest drivers. Past performance does not predict future results.
Should investors consider VSCRX overvalued or undervalued right now?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund (VSCRX) has no trailing P/E available here, so lean on price-to-sales and cash flow in the Financials tab. Compare P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA against sector peers for a full view.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- AI analysis pending for VSCRX. The information provided is based on available data and may be subject to change.
- Investment decisions should be based on individual risk tolerance and financial circumstances.