Fund Evaluator:
DWS Enhanced Core Equity S (DESSX)
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Best Performing in Large Blend Over the Last Year
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Fund Details
DWS Enhanced Core Equity S Overview
DWS Enhanced Core Equity S (DESSX) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Blend fund. DWS launched the fund in 2005.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital, current income and growth of income. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equities, mainly common stocks. Although the fund can invest in companies of any size and from any country, it invests primarily in large U.S. companies. Portfolio management may favor securities from different industries and companies at different times.
About DWS Enhanced Core Equity S (DESSX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 6.98 years: Pankaj Bhatnagar (2019), Hiten Shah (2020). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: Russell 1000 TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. DWS Enhanced Core Equity S has 97 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 48.1% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
DWS Enhanced Core Equity S is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity fund group. DWS Enhanced Core Equity S has 0.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 99.6%. There is 0.0% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). DWS Enhanced Core Equity S has 0.4% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $179 million in total assets, which is below the $6 billion average for the Large Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
DESSX Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The DWS Enhanced Core Equity S expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Large Blend category. DWS Enhanced Core Equity S has an expense ratio of 0.55%, which is 32% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. DWS Enhanced Core Equity S has a portfolio turnover rate of 16%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 48% for the Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, DWS Enhanced Core Equity S returned 0.7%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Large Blend category had an average return of 0.4%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all funds in that category.
DWS Enhanced Core Equity S has a trailing yield of 0.51%, which is below the 0.56% category average. The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
DWS Enhanced Core Equity S Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 13.1%, 3.8 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 26.8% over the past year (grade of A), 20.3% over the past three years (grade of A) and 13.9% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 13.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
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DESSX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| DESSX Return (NAV) | 0.7% | 5.2% | 26.8% | 20.3% | 13.9% | 13.3% |
| DESSX Grade | C | A | A | A | A | D |
| +/- Category | 0.3% | 1.2% | 9.3% | 3.0% | 2.8% | -0.4% |
| Large Blend Avg | 0.4% | 4.1% | 17.5% | 17.3% | 11.1% | 13.7% |
| DESSX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
DESSX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| DESSX Return (NAV) | 13.1% | 19.0% | 23.9% | 26.6% | -15.5% | 29.0% | 19.1% | 28.0% | -17.0% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| DESSX Grade | A | A | C | B | B | A | B | D | F | F | B |
| +/- Category | 3.8% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 2.9% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 1.5% | -1.8% | -11.1% | -8.3% | 1.4% |
| Large Blend Avg | 9.3% | 15.8% | 22.1% | 23.7% | -17.3% | 26.5% | 17.5% | 29.8% | -5.9% | 21.3% | 10.2% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 14.1% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.15 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.06 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (84% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.06 |
| R-Squared: | 97% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.5% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $310 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 179 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | S |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 16% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 7.5 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 7.0 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Bhatnagar Pankaj (2019), Shah Hiten (2020) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 5/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 97 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 48.1% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 0.0% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 99.6% |
| Foreign Stock: | 0.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.1% |
| Cash: | 0.4% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | DWS |
| Phone Number: | 800-728-3337 |
| Website: | www.dws-investments.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | August 1, 2005 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $2,500 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $1,000 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.55% ( Rating : Avg ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.81% |
| Share Class: | DWS Enhanced Core Equity Institutional |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 50 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 50 |
