Virtus KAR Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund Class A (VAESX)

Fund Assets	280.88M
Expense Ratio	1.696%
Min. Investment	$2,500
Turnover	34.00%
Dividend (ttm)	0.38
Dividend Yield	2.23%
Dividend Growth	85.92%
Payout Frequency	n/a
Ex-Dividend Date	Dec 16, 2025

Previous Close	17.25
YTD Return	5.92%
1-Year Return	5.44%
5-Year Return	8.43%
52-Week Low	15.91
52-Week High	17.80
Beta (5Y)	0.60
Holdings	42
Inception Date	Dec 17, 2013

About VAESX

Virtus KAR Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund Class A is an actively managed mutual fund designed to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in small-cap companies located in emerging markets. The fund employs a disciplined investment process focused on identifying businesses with durable competitive advantages, exceptional management teams, low financial risk, and robust growth prospects. Emphasizing quality over quantity, the fund typically holds a concentrated portfolio of 30-60 high-conviction holdings, selected through comprehensive fundamental analysis that targets companies with strong balance sheets, consistent and profitable growth, high returns on capital, and solid free cash flow generation. Managed by Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, the strategy aims to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns with a lower volatility profile relative to broader emerging markets small-cap benchmarks. The fund serves investors seeking diversification benefits and growth potential in a dynamic segment of the global equity market, often underrepresented in traditional portfolios. By focusing on quality and risk management, the Virtus KAR Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund Class A stands out as a specialized vehicle for participating in the long-term development and economic expansion of emerging economies through their smaller, high-potential companies.

• Fund Family: Virtus
• Category: Diversified Emerging Mkts
• Performance Rating: Below Average
• Risk Rating: Low
• Stock Exchange: Nasdaq
• Ticker Symbol: VAESX
• Share Class: Class A
• Index: MSCI EM (Emerging Markets) Small Cap NR USD

Performance

VAESX had a total return of 5.44% in the past year, including dividends. Since the fund's inception, the average annual return has been 6.43%.

Other Share Classes

These are alternative share classes of the same fund, from the same provider.

Symbol	Share Class	Expense Ratio
VRESX	Class R6	1.30%
VIESX	Class I	1.45%
VCESX	Class C	2.45%

Top 10 Holdings

42.55% of assets

Name	Symbol	Weight
CAIXA SEGURIDADE PARTICIPACOES SA COM NPV	CXSE3	7.07%
CORPORACION MOCTEZUMA SAB DE CV COM NPV	CMOCTEZ*	5.19%
HAW PAR CORP LTD NPV(SINGAPORE REG)	HPAR	4.62%
EPIROC AB SER'B'NPV	EPIB	4.36%
TEGMA GESTAO LOGISTICA SA COM NPV	TGMA3	3.79%
ALLETE, Inc.	ALE	3.78%
SPORTON INTERNATIONAL INC TWD10	6146	3.77%
BBB Foods Inc.	TBBB	3.50%
QUALITAS CONTROLADORA SAB DE CV COM NPV CLASS 'I'	Q*	3.27%
HEINEKEN MALAYSIA BHD MYR0.50	HEIM	3.20%

Dividend History

Ex-Dividend	Amount	Pay Date
Dec 16, 2025	$0.38286	Dec 16, 2025
Dec 18, 2024	$0.49987	Dec 18, 2024
Dec 22, 2021	$1.32103	Dec 22, 2021
Dec 22, 2020	$0.16986	Dec 22, 2020
Dec 20, 2019	$0.23382	Dec 20, 2019
Dec 17, 2018	$0.03402	Dec 17, 2018

Data Sources: Tiingo, Financial Modeling Prep, and more

Historical data is provided by Tiingo. Delayed stock pricing data is provided by Financial Modeling Prep. Several fund data points are also provided by Finnhub.

Last checked:

Oct 16, 2026

Data Sources Report a data error