Virtus AlphaSimplex Managed Futures Strategy Fund
Name
As of 11/19/2024Price
Aum/Mkt Cap
YIELD
Exp Ratio
Watchlist
Vitals
YTD Return
-4.1%
1 yr return
-5.6%
3 Yr Avg Return
4.0%
5 Yr Avg Return
6.6%
Net Assets
$2.26 B
Holdings in Top 10
25.7%
52 WEEK LOW AND HIGH
Expenses
OPERATING FEES
Expense Ratio 1.38%
SALES FEES
Front Load N/A
Deferred Load N/A
TRADING FEES
Turnover N/A
Redemption Fee N/A
Min Investment
Standard (Taxable)
$1,000,000
IRA
N/A
Fund Classification
Fund Type
Open End Mutual Fund
Name
As of 11/19/2024Price
Aum/Mkt Cap
YIELD
Exp Ratio
Watchlist
AMFNX - Profile
Distributions
- YTD Total Return -4.1%
- 3 Yr Annualized Total Return 4.0%
- 5 Yr Annualized Total Return 6.6%
- Capital Gain Distribution Frequency N/A
- Net Income Ratio -1.29%
- Dividend Yield 1.0%
- Dividend Distribution Frequency Annual
Fund Details
-
Legal NameVirtus AlphaSimplex Managed Futures Strategy Fund
-
Fund Family NameVirtus Funds
-
Inception DateMay 01, 2017
-
Shares OutstandingN/A
-
Share ClassR6
-
CurrencyUSD
-
Domiciled CountryUS
-
ManagerRobert Rickard
Fund Description
The fund seeks to generate positive absolute returns over time. Under normal market conditions, the fund’s subadviser, AlphaSimplex Group, LLC (“AlphaSimplex”), typically will make extensive use of a variety of derivative instruments, including futures and forward contracts, to capture the exposures suggested by its absolute return strategy while also seeking to add value through volatility management. These market exposures, which are expected to change over time, may include primarly exposures to the returns of U.S. and non-U.S. equity and fixed-income securities indices (including both broad- and narrow-based securities indices), currencies and commodities. AlphaSimplex will have great flexibility to allocate the fund’s derivatives exposure among various securities, indices, currencies, commodities and other instruments; the amount of the fund’s assets that may be allocated to derivative strategies and among these various instruments is expected to vary over time. AlphaSimplex uses proprietary quantitative models to identify price trends in equity, fixed-income, currency and commodity instruments across time periods of various lengths. AlphaSimplex believes that asset prices may show persistent trending behavior due to a number of behavioral biases among market participants as well as certain risk-management policies that will identify assets to purchase in upward-trending markets and identify assets to sell in downward-trending markets. AlphaSimplex believes that following trends across a widely diversified set of assets, combined with active risk management, may allow it to earn a positive expected return over time. The fund may have both “short” and “long” exposures within an asset class based upon AlphaSimplex’s analysis of multiple time horizons to identify trends in a particular asset class. A “short” exposure will benefit when the underlying asset class decreases in price. A “long” exposure will benefit when the underlying asset class increases in price. AlphaSimplex will scale the notional exposure of the fund’s futures and currency forward positions with the objective of targeting a relatively stable level of annualized volatility for the fund’s overall portfolio. As of the date of this prospectus, AlphaSimplex targets an annualized volatility level of 17% or less (as measured by the standard deviation of the fund’s returns). The standard deviation is a measure of how dispersed the data are in relation to the average data point. For a particular time period, the standard deviation of the fund’s returns is, therefore, a measure of how dispersed daily fund returns are relative to the average daily fund return during this period. A low standard deviation means that daily returns are clustered around the average daily return. On the other hand, a high standard deviation means that daily returns are more spread out. Some investors use standard deviation as a measure of risk to compare the expected risk and volatility of various investment options. For example, a typical equity fund will have a higher standard deviation of returns than a typical money market fund, as equity funds generally experience higher volatility of returns as compared to a money market fund. The fund’s actual or realized volatility during certain periods or over time may materially exceed its target volatility for various reasons, including changes in market levels of volatility and because the fund’s portfolio may include instruments that are inherently volatile. This would increase the risk of investing in the fund.
Under normal market conditions, it is expected that no more than 25% of the fund’s total assets will be dedicated to initial and variation margin payments relating to the fund’s derivative transactions. The gross notional value of the fund’s derivative investments, however, will generally exceed 25% of the fund’s total assets, and may significantly exceed the total value of the fund’s assets. The fund expects that under normal market conditions it will invest at least 75% of its total assets in money market and other short-term, high-quality securities (such as bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, loan participations, repurchase agreements and time deposits) (the “Money Market Portion”), although the fund may invest less than this percentage. AlphaSimplex will determine the percentage of the fund’s assets that will be invested in the Money Market Portion at any time. The assets allocated to the Money Market Portion will be used primarily to support the fund’s investments in derivatives and, secondarily, to provide the fund with incremental income and liquidity. Although the fund will invest a significant portion of its assets in money market instruments, the fund is not a “money market” fund and the value of the Money Market Portion as well as the value of the fund’s shares may decrease. The fund is not subject to the portfolio quality, maturity and net asset value requirements applicable to money market funds, and the fund will not seek to maintain a stable net asset value. The fund will concentrate its investments in the financial services industry, which means it will normally invest at least 25% of its total assets in securities and other obligations (for example, bank certificates of deposit, repurchase agreements and time deposits) of issuers in such industry.
AlphaSimplex will only invest the assets of the Money Market Portion in high-quality securities which are denominated in U.S. dollars, and will select securities for investment based on various factors, including the security’s maturity and rating. Duration for all assets in the Money Market Portion is limited to 397 days or less and the weighted average maturity is limited to 120 days or less. AlphaSimplex will invest primarily in: (i) short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government Obligations”); (ii) securities issued by foreign governments, their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities; (iii) certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic banks, foreign branches of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks; (iv) variable amount master demand notes; (v) participation interests in loans extended by banks to companies; (vi) commercial paper or similar debt obligations; and (vii) repurchase agreements.
Although the fund does not intend to invest in physical commodities directly, the fund expects to seek to gain its exposure to commodities and commodity-related derivatives by investing in a wholly-owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands that will make commodity-related investments (the “Subsidiary”). The fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The strategies and risks described herein for the fund are therefore also applicable to the Subsidiary. Under normal market conditions, no more than 10% of the fund’s total assets are expected to be dedicated to initial and variation margin payments relating to these transactions.
Although the fund seeks positive absolute returns over time, it is likely that the fund’s investment returns may be volatile over short periods of time. The fund may outperform the overall securities market during periods of flat or negative market performance and may underperform during periods of strong market performance. There can be no assurance that the fund’s returns over time or during any period will be positive or that the fund will outperform the overall security markets over time or during any particular period.
The fund may engage in active and frequent trading of securities and other instruments, including derivatives. Due to the short-term nature of the fund’s investment portfolio, the fund does not calculate a portfolio turnover rate. Active and frequent trading of derivatives, like active and frequent trading of securities, will result in transaction costs which reduce fund returns.
The percentage limitations set forth herein are not investment restrictions and the fund may exceed these limits from time to time.
AMFNX - Performance
Return Ranking - Trailing
Period | AMFNX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
YTD | -4.1% | -7.4% | 14.6% | 34.04% |
1 Yr | -5.6% | -16.1% | 36.5% | 21.51% |
3 Yr | 4.0%* | -7.9% | 13.3% | 19.10% |
5 Yr | 6.6%* | -5.3% | 10.0% | 43.37% |
10 Yr | N/A* | -2.4% | 4.3% | 17.86% |
* Annualized
Return Ranking - Calendar
Period | AMFNX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | -11.2% | -16.4% | 12.9% | 4.30% |
2022 | 2.5% | -9.3% | 17.5% | 22.83% |
2021 | -2.3% | -25.8% | 2.2% | 80.23% |
2020 | 9.9% | -5.1% | 21.0% | N/A |
2019 | 3.3% | -20.3% | 4.6% | N/A |
Total Return Ranking - Trailing
Period | AMFNX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
YTD | -4.1% | -7.4% | 14.6% | 34.04% |
1 Yr | -5.6% | -20.3% | 36.5% | 18.28% |
3 Yr | 4.0%* | -9.0% | 11.1% | 14.61% |
5 Yr | 6.6%* | -5.7% | 8.7% | 39.76% |
10 Yr | N/A* | -2.4% | 4.3% | 17.86% |
* Annualized
Total Return Ranking - Calendar
Period | AMFNX Return | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | -10.3% | -16.4% | 12.9% | 4.30% |
2022 | 35.9% | -9.3% | 17.5% | 22.83% |
2021 | 3.6% | -20.3% | 2.5% | 70.93% |
2020 | 13.8% | -5.1% | 21.0% | N/A |
2019 | 8.4% | -20.3% | 6.7% | N/A |
NAV & Total Return History
AMFNX - Holdings
Concentration Analysis
AMFNX | Category Low | Category High | AMFNX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Net Assets | 2.26 B | 2.12 M | 1.74 B | 9.57% |
Number of Holdings | 156 | 3 | 876 | 45.74% |
Net Assets in Top 10 | 593 M | -100 M | 2.04 B | 17.02% |
Weighting of Top 10 | 25.70% | 20.3% | 94.0% | 81.48% |
Top 10 Holdings
- SUMTNY YCD 5.3100 07/11/24 3.81%
- Mizuho Bank Ltd/New York NY 3.53%
- Dreyfus Government Cash Management 3.04%
- BNPPNY YCD 5.2000 12/19/24 2.25%
- Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Banking Corp/NY 2.23%
- Nordea Bank Abp/New York NY 2.17%
- TDNY YCD 5.9700 10/07/24 2.17%
- Bank of Nova Scotia/Houston 2.17%
- Royal Bank of Canada New York Branch 5.96 CD 20/09/2024 USD 2.17%
- BMOCHG YCD 5.4800 05/08/25 2.17%
Asset Allocation
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | AMFNX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bonds | 74.41% | -50.36% | 717.59% | 47.87% |
Cash | 25.65% | -687.11% | 117.03% | 28.72% |
Stocks | 0.00% | -1.78% | 72.26% | 57.45% |
Preferred Stocks | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.13% | 35.11% |
Convertible Bonds | 0.00% | 0.00% | 2.27% | 46.81% |
Other | -0.06% | 0.00% | 58.63% | 76.60% |
Bond Sector Breakdown
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | AMFNX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cash & Equivalents | 3.04% | 1.07% | 100.00% | 21.28% |
Government | 1.10% | 0.00% | 82.10% | 56.38% |
Securitized | 0.00% | 0.00% | 64.73% | 46.81% |
Corporate | 0.00% | 0.00% | 31.20% | 51.06% |
Municipal | 0.00% | 0.00% | 6.83% | 38.30% |
Derivative | -0.06% | 0.00% | 63.99% | 67.02% |
Bond Geographic Breakdown
Weighting | Return Low | Return High | AMFNX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | 74.41% | -169.44% | 233.08% | 37.23% |
Non US | 0.00% | -77.11% | 655.95% | 64.89% |
AMFNX - Expenses
Operational Fees
AMFNX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Expense Ratio | 1.38% | 0.75% | 12.88% | 81.72% |
Management Fee | 1.25% | 0.65% | 2.99% | 45.74% |
12b-1 Fee | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.00% | 6.56% |
Administrative Fee | N/A | 0.09% | 0.45% | N/A |
Sales Fees
AMFNX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Front Load | N/A | 3.50% | 5.75% | N/A |
Deferred Load | N/A | 1.00% | 5.00% | N/A |
Trading Fees
AMFNX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Max Redemption Fee | N/A | 1.00% | 1.00% | N/A |
Related Fees
Turnover provides investors a proxy for the trading fees incurred by mutual fund managers who frequently adjust position allocations. Higher turnover means higher trading fees.
AMFNX Fees (% of AUM) | Category Return Low | Category Return High | Rank in Category (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Turnover | N/A | 0.00% | 198.00% | N/A |
AMFNX - Distributions
Dividend Yield Analysis
AMFNX | Category Low | Category High | AMFNX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dividend Yield | 0.96% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 29.79% |
Dividend Distribution Analysis
AMFNX | Category Low | Category High | Category Mod | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dividend Distribution Frequency | Annual | Annually | Quarterly | Annually |
Net Income Ratio Analysis
AMFNX | Category Low | Category High | AMFNX % Rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Net Income Ratio | -1.29% | -3.14% | 1.55% | 62.37% |
Capital Gain Distribution Analysis
AMFNX | Category Low | Category High | Capital Mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Capital Gain Distribution Frequency | Annually | Annually | Annually |
Distributions History
Date | Amount | Type |
---|---|---|
Dec 20, 2023 | $0.085 | OrdinaryDividend |
Dec 29, 2022 | $1.018 | OrdinaryDividend |
Dec 29, 2022 | $0.762 | CapitalGainShortTerm |
Dec 29, 2022 | $1.537 | CapitalGainLongTerm |
Apr 07, 2022 | $0.031 | OrdinaryDividend |
Dec 30, 2021 | $0.620 | OrdinaryDividend |
Dec 30, 2020 | $0.360 | OrdinaryDividend |
Dec 30, 2019 | $0.467 | OrdinaryDividend |
Apr 10, 2018 | $0.113 | CapitalGainShortTerm |
Apr 10, 2018 | $0.005 | CapitalGainLongTerm |
Dec 28, 2017 | $0.013 | OrdinaryDividend |
AMFNX - Fund Manager Analysis
Managers
Robert Rickard
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
Jul 30, 2010
11.84
11.8%
As a Portfolio Manager at AlphaSimplex, Mr. Rickard is responsible for managing the cash portion of the firm’s strategies. He has over 25 years of industry experience. Mr. Rickard joined AlphaSimplex in 2015. Prior to this, Mr. Rickard served as the Senior Vice President, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading, and Portfolio Manager at Reich & Tang Asset Management, LLC. Rickard focused on the management of short-term assets at Reich & Tang from 1992 to 2015. Mr. Rickard began managing the money market portion of AlphaSimplex’s products while at Reich & Tang Asset Management, and continues that work at AlphaSimplex. Mr. Rickard earned a B.S. in Accounting from Siena College and an M.B.A. from Pace University.
Philippe Lüdi
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
Mar 05, 2014
8.24
8.2%
As a Senior Research Scientist at AlphaSimplex, Dr. Lüdi conducts applied research and product engineering. He also serves as a co-portfolio manager of certain mutual funds advised by AlphaSimplex. Dr. Lüdi joined AlphaSimplex in 2006. He has been involved in system engineering as well as global macro strategies. Dr. Lüdi earned the equivalent of an M.A. in Molecular and Computational Biology from the University of Basel. He also received a M.Sc. in Statistics and a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, both from Duke University. In his doctoral program, Dr. Lüdi applied a Monte Carlo approach to risk analysis and developed a machine-learning algorithm applied to medicine that was subsequently featured in The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Lüdi is also a CFA® Charterholder.
Alexander Healy
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
Mar 05, 2014
8.24
8.2%
As Deputy Chief Investment Officer of AlphaSimplex, Dr. Healy is responsible for applied research and product engineering, including asset allocation, portfolio construction, and adaptive risk management strategies. Dr. Healy is a member of the Investment and Risk Committees and the Board of Directors. He also serves as a co-portfolio manager of certain mutual funds advised by AlphaSimplex. Dr. Healy joined AlphaSimplex in 2007 and has held the roles of Senior Research Scientist and Director of Strategic Research. He has developed various key elements of AlphaSimplex’s investment platform, including non-parametric investment models, volatility management overlays, and dynamic approaches to portfolio construction. Dr. Healy earned an A.B. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Harvard University, where he also received a Ph.D. in Theoretical Computer Science. His doctoral research focused on the uses of randomness in algorithms and cryptography, and introduced novel approaches to generating pseudo-random numbers together with new applications of these methods.
John Perry
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
May 01, 2017
5.08
5.1%
As a Senior Research Scientist, Portfolio Manager at AlphaSimplex, Dr. Perry focuses on research and portfolio management. Dr. Perry joined AlphaSimplex in 2012. Dr. Perry has served as co-portfolio manager of the AlphaSimplex Managed Futures Strategy Fund since 2017 and the AlphaSimplex Multi-Asset Fund since 2020. Prior to this, he worked for Soros Fund Management, where he researched and developed quantitative equity trading strategies and risk models. Previously, he worked on the proprietary trading desk at J.P. Morgan. Dr. Perry earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Utah, an M.S. in Management and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. His dissertation provided new insights into the neuroeconomics of market makers..
Kathryn Kaminski
Start Date
Tenure
Tenure Rank
May 01, 2018
4.08
4.1%
As Chief Research Strategist at AlphaSimplex, Dr. Kaminski conducts applied research, leads strategic research initiatives, focuses on portfolio construction and risk management, and engages in product development. She also serves as a co-portfolio manager for the AlphaSimplex Managed Futures Strategy. Dr. Kaminski joined AlphaSimplex in 2018 after being a visiting scientist at the MIT Laboratory for Financial Engineering. Prior to this, she held portfolio management positions as a director, investment strategies at Campbell and Company and as a senior investment analyst at RPM, a CTA fund of funds. Dr. Kaminski co-authored the book Trend Following with Managed Futures: The Search for Crisis Alpha (2014). Her research and industry commentary have been published in a wide range of industry publications as well as academic journals. She is a contributory author for both the CAIA and CFA reading materials. Dr. Kaminski has taught at the MIT Sloan School of Management, the Stockholm School of Economics and the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology, KTH. Dr. Kaminski earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Ph.D. in Operations Research from MIT where her doctoral research focused on stochastic processes, stopping rules, and investment heuristics. Dr. Kaminski is also a CAIA® Charterholder.
Tenure Analysis
Category Low | Category High | Category Average | Category Mode |
---|---|---|---|
0.16 | 14.09 | 5.41 | 5.06 |