Virtus KAR Small-Cap Value Fund (VQSRX) is an open-end mutual fund that seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in value stocks of U.S. small-cap companies exhibiting durable competitive advantages, excellent management, lower financial risk, and strong growth trajectories; it employs a disciplined, fundamental research process to identify high-quality businesses with above-average returns on capital trading at attractive valuations, focusing on 20-35 high-conviction holdings characterized by solid balance sheets, consistent profitability, high free cash flow, and low earnings variability. The fund offers multiple share classes, including Class R6 (VQSRX), Class I (PXQSX), and Class A (PQSAX), with assets under management exceeding $666 million as of December 2025; it targets institutional and retail investors seeking risk-adjusted returns in the small-cap value segment, with a portfolio heavily weighted toward industrials (approximately 41%), financials (29%), and consumer discretionary (14%) sectors. Subadvised by Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC (KAR), founded in 1984 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the fund is managed within the Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. multi-boutique platform, based in Hartford, Connecticut; the fund itself was incepted on June 28, 2006.
Portfolio managers Craig Stone, Chief Investment Officer, and Julie Kutasov, both with KAR since the early 2010s for this strategy, oversee a low-turnover approach emphasizing lower volatility through quality filters that avoid unprofitable or highly leveraged firms.
In recent developments, effective January 21, 2026, Class C shares of the fund will no longer be available for purchase by new or existing shareholders, as announced in a Prospectus Supplement; this follows similar Class C eliminations and expense limitation adjustments across Virtus KAR funds in 2025, including conversions and new caps on Class R6 expenses implemented in July 2025.