Fund Evaluator:
Putnam Large Cap Growth A (POGAX)
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Fund Details
Putnam Large Cap Growth A Overview
Putnam Large Cap Growth A (POGAX) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Large Growth fund. Franklin Templeton Investments launched the fund in 1995.
The investment seeks capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in companies of a size similar to those in the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The fund invests mainly in common stocks of large U.S. companies, with a focus on growth stocks. Growth stocks are stocks of companies whose earnings are expected to grow faster than those of similar firms, and whose business growth and other characteristics may lead to an increase in stock price. The fund is non-diversified.
About Putnam Large Cap Growth A (POGAX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 8.09 years: Greg McCullough (2019), Richard Bodzy (2017). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 2 primary benchmarks: Russell 3000 TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Russell 1000 Growth TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Putnam Large Cap Growth A has 56 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 54.3% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Putnam Large Cap Growth A is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity fund group. Putnam Large Cap Growth A has 3.0% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 95.9%. There is 3.0% 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). Putnam Large Cap Growth A has -0.3% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $7 billion in total assets, which is above the $2 billion average for the Large Growth 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.
POGAX 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 Putnam Large Cap Growth A expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Large Growth category. Putnam Large Cap Growth A has an expense ratio of 0.93%, which is 3% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. 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. Putnam Large Cap Growth A has a portfolio turnover rate of 34%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 54% for the Large Growth category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Putnam Large Cap Growth A returned -5.9%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Large Growth category had an average return of -3.1%. 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.
Putnam Large Cap Growth A has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 0.06% 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.
Putnam Large Cap Growth A Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 0.3%, 3.5 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 5.8% over the past year (grade of D), 18.0% over the past three years (grade of C) and 10.3% per year over the past five years (grade of B) and 17.1% per year over the past 10 years (grade of A).
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POGAX 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 |
|
| POGAX Return (NAV) | -5.9% | -1.6% | 5.8% | 18.0% | 10.3% | 17.1% |
| POGAX Grade | F | F | D | C | B | A |
| +/- Category | -2.9% | -3.3% | -3.2% | -0.1% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
| Large Growth Avg | -3.1% | 1.7% | 9.1% | 18.1% | 8.7% | 15.4% |
| POGAX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 1.0% |
POGAX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| POGAX Return (NAV) | 0.3% | 14.2% | 33.2% | 44.2% | -30.3% | 22.5% | 38.4% | 36.4% | 2.3% | 31.0% | 6.3% |
| POGAX Grade | D | D | B | B | C | C | C | B | A | B | B |
| +/- Category | -3.5% | -1.5% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 1.8% | 2.2% | -3.9% | 3.2% | 2.9% | 1.1% | 3.6% |
| Large Growth Avg | 3.7% | 15.7% | 29.7% | 38.9% | -32.1% | 20.4% | 42.3% | 33.2% | -0.7% | 29.8% | 2.7% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 17.4% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.41 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.98 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | D (60% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.22 |
| R-Squared: | 85% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $13490 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $7,953 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | A |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 34% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 9.0 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 8.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Bodzy Richard (2017), McCullough Greg (2019) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 56 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 54.3% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 3.0% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 95.9% |
| Foreign Stock: | 3.0% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 1.5% |
| Cash: | -0.3% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Franklin Templeton Investments |
| Phone Number: | 800-225-1581 |
| Website: | www.putnam.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | October 2, 1995 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 5.75% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.93% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.96% |
| Share Class: | Putnam Large Cap Growth A |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
