Fund Evaluator:
Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv (ZSCCX)
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Best Performing in Small Blend Over the Last Year
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Fund Details
Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv Overview
Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv (ZSCCX) is an actively managed U.S. Equity Small Blend fund. Zacks Funds launched the fund in 2011.
The investment seeks capital appreciation. The fund pursues its investment objective by applying a hybrid research process which uses both quantitative and qualitative criteria. It will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of small capitalization companies, with an emphasis on equity securities of U.S. issuers. The fund may engage in short-sale transactions up to 25% of its net assets. It also may invest in equity securities of Canadian issuers and American Depository Receipts.
About Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv (ZSCCX)
There are 1 members of the management team with an average tenure of 15.10 years: Mitch Zacks (2011). 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 2000 TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv has 102 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 20.1% 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.
Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the U.S. Equity fund group. Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv has 1.7% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 96.4%. There is 1.7% 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). Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv has 1.9% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $16 million in total assets, which is below the $685 million average for the Small 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.
ZSCCX 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 Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Small Blend category. Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv has an expense ratio of 1.40%, which is 34% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. 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. Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv has a portfolio turnover rate of 107%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 66% for the Small Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv returned -7.3%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Small Blend category had an average return of -2.8%. 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.
Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 0.42% 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.
Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 23.1%, 4.9 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 36.6% over the past year (grade of A), 14.2% over the past three years (grade of C) and 10.0% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 10.6% per year over the past 10 years (grade of C).
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ZSCCX 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 |
|
| ZSCCX Return (NAV) | -7.3% | 8.5% | 36.6% | 14.2% | 10.0% | 10.6% |
| ZSCCX Grade | F | A | A | C | A | C |
| +/- Category | -4.5% | 3.3% | 8.4% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 0.3% |
| Small Blend Avg | -2.8% | 5.2% | 28.3% | 13.5% | 7.6% | 10.3% |
| ZSCCX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.0% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
ZSCCX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| ZSCCX Return (NAV) | 23.1% | 10.3% | 5.9% | 17.9% | -11.8% | 32.6% | -1.4% | 21.2% | -12.2% | 14.2% | 21.6% |
| ZSCCX Grade | A | B | F | B | A | A | F | F | C | C | B |
| +/- Category | 4.9% | 2.3% | -5.7% | 1.5% | 4.7% | 9.4% | -15.8% | -4.3% | -0.3% | 0.1% | 1.4% |
| Small Blend Avg | 18.2% | 7.9% | 11.6% | 16.5% | -16.5% | 23.2% | 14.4% | 25.5% | -11.8% | 14.1% | 20.2% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 20.3% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.66 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.10 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (95% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.10 |
| R-Squared: | 50% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Small-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $35 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 16 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Other |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 107% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 1 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 15.1 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 15.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Zacks Mitch (2011) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 2/28/26)
| # of Holdings: | 102 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 20.1% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 1.7% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 96.4% |
| Foreign Stock: | 1.7% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.9% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Zacks Funds |
| Phone Number: | 888-453-4003 |
| Website: |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | June 30, 2011 |
| 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: | 2.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.40% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.05% |
| Share Class: | Zacks Small-Cap Core Inv |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 100 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 50 |
