Royce Micro-Cap Fund (RYOTX, RMCFX, RYMCX, RMCIX)
61

At a Glance

Why invest in Micro-Cap?

  • One of the oldest open-end funds dedicated to investing in micro-cap stocks, which Royce defines as companies with market caps no higher than that of the largest company in the Russell Microcap® Index.
  • Core approach that combines multiple investment themes and offers wide exposure to micro-cap stocks by investing in companies with strong fundamentals and/or prospects selling at prices that Royce believes do not fully reflect these attributes.
  • Average annual total return of 9.6% since inception (12/31/91) through 3/31/24.

As of 03/31/24

  • Micro-Cap
    Core Approach
    $613.0M
    Avg. Market Cap
  • High
    Volatility
    89%
    Active Share
  • Fund
    Longevity
    32+
    Years of History

Portfolio Management

"The micro-cap universe offers plenty of opportunities for us to find companies that are lightly researched or mispriced. Using multiple approaches gives us exposure to the entire asset class while our discipline keeps us focused on the fundamental business strengths that we think can create strong long-term performance."
—Jim Stoeffel

Manager Tenure

Manager Tenure

Performance

Average Annual Total Returns (%)

Outperformed Russell Microcap for the 1-Year, 3-Year and 5-Year periods as of 03/31/24. Outpaced Russell 2000 for the 1-Year, 3-Year, 5-Year and since inception (12/31/91) periods as of 03/31/24.
QTR YTD 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR 15YR 20YR 25YR 30YR SINCE INCEPT.
(12/31/91)
Micro-Cap 4.23 4.2320.391.3410.495.129.515.968.938.649.63
Russell Microcap 4.68 4.6817.78-4.896.905.9612.216.29N/AN/AN/A
Russell 2000 5.18 5.1819.71-0.108.107.5812.898.058.378.849.26

Annual Operating Expenses: Gross 2.37 Net 2.24

MAR YTD 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR 15YR 20YR 25YR 30YR SINCE INCEPT.
(12/31/91)
Micro-Cap 2.70 4.2320.391.3410.495.129.515.968.938.649.63
Russell Microcap 2.53 4.6817.78-4.896.905.9612.216.29N/AN/AN/A
Russell 2000 3.58 5.1819.71-0.108.107.5812.898.058.378.849.26

Annual Operating Expenses: Gross 2.37 Net 2.24

APR YTD 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR 15YR 20YR 25YR 30YR SINCE INCEPT.
(12/31/91)
Micro-Cap -8.12 -4.2312.57-2.398.064.408.115.528.378.399.33
Russell Microcap -9.17 -4.926.41-7.644.735.4210.535.81N/AN/AN/A
Russell 2000 -8.28 -3.539.73-3.555.866.9711.307.657.748.548.96

Annual Operating Expenses: Gross 2.37 Net 2.24

Important Performance and Expense Information

All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, reflects the reinvestment of distributions, and does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Consultant Class shares redeemed within 365 days of purchase may be subject to a 1% contingent deferred sales charge, payable to the Fund's distributor, Royce Fund Services, LLC, which is not reflected in the performance shown above; if it were, performance would be lower. Current month-end performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted and may be obtained at www.royceinvest.com. Gross operating expenses reflect the Fund's gross total annual operating expenses for the Consultant Class and include management fees, 12b-1 distribution and service fees, and other expenses. Net operating expenses reflect contractual fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. All expense information is reported as of the Fund's most current prospectus. Royce has contractually agreed, without right of termination, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to maintain the Consultant Class's net annual operating expenses (excluding brokerage commissions, taxes, interest, litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other expenses not borne in the ordinary course of business) at or below 2.24% through April 30, 2024.

All performance and risk information presented in this material prior to the commencement date of Consultant Class shares on 5/1/98 reflects Investment Class results. Consultant Class shares bear an annual distribution expense that is not borne by Investment Class shares. If Consultant Class's annual distribution expense had been reflected, total returns prior to 5/1/98 would have been lower.

Rolling Returns

For 75% of the periods, 10-year average annual total returns were greater than 5%.

Absolute Returns: 10-Year Monthly Rolling Return PeriodsNumber of 10-Year Average Annual Return Periods Since the Fund’s Inception

Return Range Periods % in Range
> 10% 103 38
> 5% and ≤ 10% 97 36
> 0% and ≤ 5% 68 25
≤ 0% 0 0

The Fund averaged a 8.4% return over all 268 10-year monthly rolling return periods.

Market Cycle Performance

The Fund outperformed the Russell Microcap from the 3/12/21 index peak through current (3/31/24).
Peak-Peak - 06/23/15 - 08/31/18
Micro-Cap21.5%
Russell Microcap36.1%

Peak-Peak - 08/31/18 - 03/12/21
Micro-Cap43.3%
Russell Microcap48.9%

Peak-Current - 03/12/21 - 03/31/24
Micro-Cap-2.0%
Russell Microcap-20.1%

Royce defines market cycles as those that have retreated at least 15% from a previous market peak and have rebounded to establish a new peak above the previous one. 

Royce defines market cycles as those that have retreated at least 15% from a previous market peak and have rebounded to establish a new peak above the previous one. 

Calendar Year Total Returns (%)

 

Growth of Investment

Value of $10,000 invested between 06/30/00 and 03/31/24

Micro-Cap$56,446.71
Russell Microcap$51,506.51

The since inception performance above dates to the inception of the Russell Microcap on 6/30/2000. The Fund's inception date (12/31/1991) preceded the inception of the index.

Risk

High Volatility vs. Peer Group as of 03/31/24

The Fund has a high volatility within its peer group of 517 Small-Cap Funds based on 5-year rolling standard deviation.

Down Market Performance Comparisonas of 03/31/24

The Fund outperformed the Russell Microcap during eight out of nine downturns of 15% or more from the index’s prior historical high since the index’s inception.

Market Downturns (%)

DownMarketImg
Outperformed in 13 out of 19 down quarters.

Russell Microcap Down Quarters

QUARTER ENDRUSSELL MICROCAP (%)MICRO-CAP (%)SPREAD (%)
09/30/23-7.9-3.5+4.4
03/31/23-2.8+2.2+5.0
09/30/22-0.5-3.9-3.4
06/30/22-19.0-18.1+0.9
03/31/22-7.6-12.6-5.0
12/31/21-2.7+6.9+9.6
09/30/21-5.0-2.8+2.2
03/31/20-32.0-31.9+0.1
09/30/19-5.5-3.0+2.5
12/31/18-22.1-19.8+2.3
03/31/16-5.4-1.4+4.0
09/30/15-13.8-15.9-2.1
09/30/14-8.2-10.2-2.0
06/30/14-1.4+1.5+2.9
06/30/12-2.0-8.8-6.8
09/30/11-22.7-22.3+0.4
06/30/11-3.5-4.5-1.0
06/30/10-8.9-6.0+2.9
12/31/09-0.5+6.2+6.7

Capture Ratios From 06/30/00 (Russell Microcap Inception) to 03/31/24

Upside Capture Ratio measures a manager's performance in up markets relative to the Fund's benchmark. It is calculated by measuring the Fund's performance in quarters when the benchmark goes up and dividing it by the benchmark's return in those quarters.

Downside Capture Ratio measures a manager's performance in down markets relative to the Fund's benchmark. It is calculated by measuring the Fund's performance in quarters when the benchmark goes down and dividing it by the benchmark's return in those quarters.

Long Term Risk Measurementas of 03/31/24

Over the past 10 years, the Fund produced lower volatility than the Russell Microcap Index.
Over the past 5 years, the Fund outperformed the Russell Microcap Index.
Over the past 3 years, the Fund outperformed the Russell Microcap Index.
From the Index's inception, the Fund outperformed the Russell Microcap Index with lower volatility.

Go to Relative Risk Spectrum Tool

Morningstar Statistical Measures as of 03/31/24

The Fund produced lower volatility than the Russell Microcap, as shown by its standard deviation.
Sharpe RatioStandard Deviation
Micro-Cap0.2721.58
Russell Microcap0.3121.88
Category Median0.4120.12
Best Quartile Breakpoint0.4619.27

Category Median and Best Quartile Breakpoint based on 434 small-cap objective funds (oldest class only) with at least ten years of history.
Sharpe Ratio Standard Deviation
Micro-Cap
Russell Microcap
Category Median
Best Quartile Breakpoint

Composition

Morningstar Style Map™as of 12/31/23

mstar-RYMCX

The Morningstar Style Map is the Morningstar Style Box™ with the center 75% of fund holdings plotted as the Morningstar Ownership Zone™. The Morningstar Style Box is designed to reveal a fund's investment strategy. The Morningstar Ownership Zone provides detail about a portfolio's investment style by showing the range of stock sizes and styles. The Ownership Zone is derived by plotting each stock in the portfolio within the proprietary Morningstar Style Box. The shaded area represents the center 75% of the Fund's assets while the plot point in the middle represents the weighted average of its holdings. Over time, the shape and location of a fund's ownership zone may vary.

Portfolio Diagnosticsas of 03/31/24

  RYMCX Russell Microcap
Average Market Cap
613.0M
609.7M
Active Share
89%
-
2023 Portfolio Turnover
19%
-
Weighted Average P/B,
1.8x
1.7x
U.S. Investments (% of Net Assets)
85.7%
-
Non-U.S. Investments (% of Net Assets)
11.6%
-

Portfolio Allocation

  • Total
    Holdings
    124


SECTORS		RYMCX (%) RUSSELL
MICROCAP (%)
Information Technology
26.1
11.3
Industrials
25.9
14.3
Consumer Discretionary
12.4
9.4
Financials
11.9
19.7
Health Care
6.8
26.9
Communication Services
4.7
2.8
Materials
4.5
3.7
Energy
3.9
5.9
Consumer Staples
0.6
1.7
Real Estate
0.6
3.4
Utilities
-
0.8
Cash and Cash Equivalents
2.6
-
POSITIONS% OF NET ASSETS
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
QuinStreet
1.4
IES Holdings
1.4
Graham Corporation
1.4
Natural Gas Services Group
1.4
Quanex Building Products
1.4
Modine Manufacturing
1.3
CECO Environmental
1.3
VSE Corporation
1.3
Nova
1.3
CRA International
1.3
Distribution Solutions Group
1.3
Shoe Carnival
1.3
Arlo Technologies
1.2
Wabash National
1.2
Camtek
1.2
Transcat
1.2
Clarkson
1.2
Artivion
1.2
Customers Bancorp
1.2
Northwest Pipe
1.2
Top 20 as % of Net Assets
25.7

SECTORS		RYMCX (%) RUSSELL
MICROCAP (%)
Information Technology
26.1
11.3
Industrials
25.9
14.3
Consumer Discretionary
12.4
9.4
Financials
11.9
19.7
Health Care
6.8
26.9
Communication Services
4.7
2.8
Materials
4.5
3.7
Energy
3.9
5.9
Consumer Staples
0.6
1.7
Real Estate
0.6
3.4
Utilities
-
0.8
Cash and Cash Equivalents
2.6
-
POSITIONS% OF NET ASSETS
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
QuinStreet
1.4
IES Holdings
1.4
Graham Corporation
1.4
Natural Gas Services Group
1.4
Quanex Building Products
1.4
Modine Manufacturing
1.3
CECO Environmental
1.3
VSE Corporation
1.3
Nova
1.3
CRA International
1.3
Distribution Solutions Group
1.3
Shoe Carnival
1.3
Arlo Technologies
1.2
Wabash National
1.2
Camtek
1.2
Transcat
1.2
Clarkson
1.2
Artivion
1.2
Customers Bancorp
1.2
Northwest Pipe
1.2
Top 20 as % of Net Assets
25.7

Portfolio Holdings

Unaudited schedules of portfolio holdings are presented for informational purposes only.

View the complete list of holdings (unaudited) for this fund as of the previous quarter-end: 03/31/24.

Least Portfolio Overlap - U.S. Equity Funds

Greatest Portfolio Overlap - U.S. Equity Funds

Geographical Breakdown

Distributions

NAV & Distributions


Start DateEnd Date
to
DOWNLOAD

Learn more about distributions

Distributions

RECORD
DATE		 EX-DATE PAYABLE
DATE		 INCOME ($) SHORT
TERM
GAINS ($)		 LONG
TERM
GAINS ($)		 RETURN OF
CAPITAL ($)		 TOTAL ($) REINVEST
PRICE ($)
12/13/23 12/14/23 12/14/23 0.0000 0.0000 0.5595 - 0.5595 7.82
12/14/22 12/15/22 12/15/22 0.0000 0.0505 0.3213 - 0.3718 7.27
12/15/21 12/16/21 12/16/21 0.0000 0.2785 2.0500 - 2.3285 9.45
12/09/20 12/10/20 12/10/20 0.0000 - 0.7120 - 0.7120 9.26
12/11/19 12/12/19 12/12/19 0.0000 - 0.2297 - 0.2297 8.20
12/12/18 12/13/18 12/13/18 0.0000 0.0000 1.0089 - 1.0089 7.55
12/13/17 12/14/17 12/14/17 0.0000 0.0708 0.6349 - 0.7057 8.93
12/14/16 12/15/16 12/15/16 0.0000 - 1.3023 - 1.3023 9.42
12/16/15 12/17/15 12/17/15 0.0000 - 1.4411 - 1.4411 8.97
12/16/14 12/17/14 12/17/14 0.0000 - 1.4830 - 1.4830 11.92
12/04/13 12/05/13 12/05/13 0.0000 - 1.1929 - 1.1929 14.08
12/27/12 12/28/12 12/28/12 0.0000 0.0259 - - 0.0259 12.82
12/05/12 12/06/12 12/06/12 0.0000 0.0273 0.8269 - 0.8542 12.56
12/07/11 12/08/11 12/08/11 0.0531 - 0.6977 - 0.7508 13.05
12/08/10 12/09/10 12/09/10 0.1274 - - - 0.1274 15.43
12/08/09 12/09/09 12/09/09 0.0938 - - - 0.0938 12.01

NAV History for

← Previous Month
Next Month →

Fees & Expenses

Shareholder Fees (%)

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases 0.00
Maximum deferred sales charge on purchases held for less than 365 days 1.00
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends 0.00

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (%)

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management fees 1.00
Distribution (12b-1) fees 1.00
Other expenses 0.37
Total annual Fund operating expenses 2.37
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (0.13)
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements2.24
Royce has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse operating expenses (excluding brokerage commissions taxes interest, litigation expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and other expenses not borne in the ordinary course of business) at or below 2.24% through April 30, 2024.

Important Disclosure Information

This material is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. The Fund invests primarily in micro-cap stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap stocks. (Please see "Primary Risks for Fund Investors" in the prospectus.) The Fund’s broadly diversified portfolio does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets (measured at the time of investment) in securities of companies headquartered in foreign countries, which may involve political, economic, currency, and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments. (Please see "Investing in Foreign Securities" in the prospectus.)

Sector weightings are determined using the Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS"). GICS was developed by, and is the exclusive property of, Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and MSCI Inc. ("MSCI"). GICS is the trademark of S&P and MSCI. "Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)" and "GICS Direct" are service marks of S&P and MSCI.

The Price-Earnings, or P/E, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company's share price by its trailing 12-month earnings-per-share (EPS). The Portfolio's P/E ratio calculation excludes cash holdings and companies with zero or negative earnings. The Price-to-Book, or P/B, Ratio is calculated by dividing a company's share price by its book value per share. Standard deviation is a statistical measure within which a client account’s total returns have varied over time. The greater the standard deviation, the greater a portfolio’s volatility.
Frank Russell Company (“Russell”) is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Frank Russell Company. Neither Russell nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the Russell Indexes and/or Russell ratings or underlying data and no party may rely on any Russell Indexes and/or Russell ratings and/or underlying data contained in this communication. No further distribution of Russell Data is permitted without Russell’s express written consent. Russell does not promote, sponsor or endorse the content of this communication. Source: MSCI.  MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein.  The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products.  This report is not approved, endorsed, reviewed or produced by MSCI. None of the MSCI data is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. The Russell Microcap Index includes 1,000 of the smallest securities in the small-cap Russell 2000 Index, along with the next smallest eligible securities as determined by Russell. The Russell 2000 is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of domestic small-cap stocks. It measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 index.  The performance of an index does not represent exactly any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index.

† Jim Stoeffel lead manager since 2015 (co-manager 2015), Brendan Hartman since 2015 (assistant portfolio manager 2013-2015)

5/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Share:

Subscribe:

Sign Up

Follow: