Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I (PKSFX) Fund Overview
Educational signal · not a buy or sell recommendation · How to read this
Beta 1.11: the stock has moved about 11% more than the S&P 500.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Machine-generated analysis by Stock Expert AI — model gemini-2.0-flash, generated Mar 17, 2026. Editorial oversight is systemic, not page-by-page. Editorially accountable: Sedat ANAK, Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Data sources: Financial Modeling Prep, Yahoo Finance, SEC EDGAR
Quick AnswerVirtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I (PKSFX) trades at $49.19. Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I is a financial services company focused on asset management. Sector: Financials.
Price as of · Last analyzed: Mar 17, 2026Analyst Coverage for PKSFX: PKSFX does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage.
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I (PKSFX) Financial Services Profile
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I is an asset management fund focused on delivering long-term capital appreciation by investing in small market capitalization companies. The fund seeks to identify companies with sustainable competitive advantages, operating within the financial services sector, and aims to provide a risk-adjusted return compared to the broader small-cap market.
What Is the Investment Thesis for PKSFX?
The investment thesis for Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I centers on its ability to deliver long-term capital appreciation by strategically investing in undervalued small-cap companies. With a beta of 1.11, the fund exhibits slightly higher volatility than the market. The fund's focus on companies with sustainable competitive advantages is a key value driver, as these businesses are more likely to generate consistent earnings and withstand economic downturns. A potential catalyst is the continued growth of the small-cap market, driven by innovation and entrepreneurial activity. However, a risk factor is the potential for increased market volatility, which could negatively impact the fund's performance. The fund's success depends on the subadviser's ability to accurately identify and select companies with strong fundamentals and attractive valuations.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
PKSFX Key Highlights
The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of small market capitalization companies.
- The fund aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
- The fund seeks to incur less risk than the overall small capitalization market.
- The fund's subadviser focuses on companies with sustainable competitive advantages.
- The fund has a market capitalization of $1.95 billion.
Who Are PKSFX's Competitors?
PKSFX is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUENX AQR Large Cap Defensive Style Fund Class N | $19.47 | +0.26% | $1.11B | — |
| DIAMX Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund | $29.66 | -0.20% | $2.13B | — |
| HASCX Harbor Small Cap Value Fund Institutional Class | $53.73 | +1.49% | $2.60B | — |
| HISGX Harbor Small Cap Growth Fund Investor Class | $12.64 | +1.20% | $2.79B | — |
| PKSAX Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund | $44.22 | +0.43% | $1.70B | — |
| BLK BlackRock, Inc. | $1067.61 | +0.75% | $164B | 51 5-pillar |
| BX Blackstone Inc. | $111.74 | -0.01% | $136B | 68 5-pillar |
| APOS Apollo Global Management, Inc. | $25.55 | -0.16% | $74.8B | 56 5-pillar |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are PKSFX's Key Strengths?
Experienced investment team.
- Disciplined investment process.
- Focus on sustainable competitive advantages.
- Established track record.
What Are PKSFX's Weaknesses?
High expense ratio compared to passive funds.
- Vulnerability to market volatility.
- Dependence on subadviser's stock selection skills.
- Potential for underperformance relative to benchmark.
What Are the Key Risks for PKSFX?
Increased market volatility.
- Economic downturns.
- Regulatory changes.
- Competition from other asset managers.
- Dependence on subadviser's stock selection skills.
What Are PKSFX's Competitive Advantages?
- Established track record of managing small-cap portfolios.
- Experienced investment team with expertise in fundamental research.
- Disciplined investment process focused on risk management.
- Access to proprietary research and data analysis tools.
What Does PKSFX Do?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I is a fund within the financial services sector that specializes in asset management. The fund's strategy centers on investing at least 80% of its assets in the common stock of small market capitalization companies. The fund's investment philosophy is driven by the pursuit of long-term capital appreciation within the small-cap market, with a focus on managing and reducing risk compared to the overall volatility typically associated with this market segment. The fund's subadviser identifies and invests in a select group of small-cap companies that are believed to possess sustainable competitive advantages. These companies are chosen based on the subadviser's assessment of their intrinsic value and the attractiveness of their stock prices. Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I operates under the umbrella of Virtus Investment Partners, an organization that provides investment management services to individuals, institutions, and financial intermediaries. The fund is designed for investors seeking exposure to the growth potential of small-cap stocks, but with a more disciplined approach to risk management. The fund's investment decisions are based on fundamental research and a value-oriented approach, seeking to capitalize on market inefficiencies and identify undervalued companies with strong long-term prospects. The fund is accessible to investors through various channels, including financial advisors, retirement plans, and brokerage accounts.
What Products and Services Does PKSFX Offer?
- Invests primarily in common stocks of small market capitalization companies.
- Focuses on achieving long-term capital appreciation.
- Aims to incur less risk than the overall small-cap market.
- Selects companies believed to possess sustainable competitive advantages.
- Conducts fundamental research to identify undervalued companies.
- Manages a diversified portfolio of small-cap stocks.
- Provides investment management services to individuals and institutions.
How Does PKSFX Make Money?
- Generates revenue through management fees based on assets under management (AUM).
- Charges expense ratios to cover operational costs.
- Aims to outperform its benchmark index to attract and retain investors.
What Industry Does PKSFX Operate In?
Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I operates within the asset management industry, which is characterized by intense competition and evolving investor preferences. The industry is influenced by macroeconomic factors, regulatory changes, and technological advancements. The fund's focus on small-cap stocks positions it within a specific niche of the market, where there is potential for higher growth but also greater volatility. The competitive landscape includes other asset management firms offering similar small-cap funds, such as AUENX, DIAMX, HASCX, HISGX, and PKSAX. The fund's success depends on its ability to differentiate itself through superior stock selection and risk management.
Who Are PKSFX's Key Customers?
- Individual investors seeking exposure to small-cap stocks.
- Institutional investors, such as pension funds and endowments.
- Financial advisors who recommend the fund to their clients.
- Retirement plans offering the fund as an investment option.
Research confidence
Thin evidence — scoring coverage unknown. Treat this as a starting point, not a conclusion.
- ● Scoring coverage unknown
- ● Price is current
- ● No filing on record
- ● No analyst coverage
- ● This is a fund, not an operating company
PKSFX Financials
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Experienced investment team.
- Disciplined investment process.
- Focus on sustainable competitive advantages.
- Established track record.
Bear Case
- High expense ratio compared to passive funds.
- Vulnerability to market volatility.
- Dependence on subadviser's stock selection skills.
- Potential for underperformance relative to benchmark.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · March 2026
PKSFX Latest News
No recent news available for PKSFX.
PKSFX Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations collected by Financial Modeling Prep for PKSFX.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for PKSFX.
PKSFX MoonshotScore
MoonshotScore is Stock Expert AI's proprietary 0-100 research rating, not a buy or sell recommendation. No MoonshotScore is published for PKSFX; grades run from A+ (80-100) to F (below 30).
Common Questions About PKSFX (Financials)
What are the main risks for PKSFX?
The main risks for Virtus KAR Small-Cap Core Fund Class I include market volatility, economic downturns, and regulatory changes. As a small-cap fund, it is particularly vulnerable to market fluctuations and economic slowdowns.
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
MoonshotScore is not published for this security.
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- Information is based on available data and may be subject to change.