IntroThese Foreign Small and Mid Cap Stock funds seek principal appreciation by investing in small- and mid-sized international stocks which are value- or growth- oriented. Small-and mid-cap stocks have market capitalizations less than $10 billion. It typically uses the MSCI EAFE Index as its benchmark. These stock mutual funds may invest in U.S. stocks or emerging markets stocks.
Best Foreign Small / Mid-Cap Funds
These best foreign small / mid cap mutual funds are selected based on its long term performance. You will find other fund review information such as fund objective, management, top holdings, dividend yield, performance, top sectors, beta or risk, etc.
Top 10 Foreign Small and Mid Cap Stock Mutual Funds of 2012 are:
- First Eagle Overseas A (SGOVX)
- Driehaus International Small Cap Growth (DRIOX)
- Templeton Institutional Foreign Smaller Company Series A (TFSCX)
- Westcore International Small Cap (WTIFX)
- Oberweis International Opportunities (OBIOX)
- Franklin Intl Small Cap Growth A (FINAX)
- Invesco International Small Company A (IEGAX)
- Wasatch International Growth (WAIGX)
- Wanger International (WSCAX)
- MFS International New Discovery A (MIDAX)
The investment objective of First Eagle Overseas fund is to provide long-term capital growth. This equity fund utilizes its assets to purchase equity securities of non-U.S. companies traded in developed countries like Japan, Germany and France. It may invest developing or emerging markets countries.
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| First Eagle Overseas A |
The top 5 holdings as of March 2012 are Gold bullion (6.8%), Shimano Inc (2.7%), Fanuc Ltd (2.2%), Heidelberg Cement AG (2.0%) and Secom Co Ltd (1.9%). The fund allocation by asset class is International Stocks (70.6%), Cash & Cash Equivalents (14.6%), Gold Related Investments (11.3%) and International Currency and U.S. Bonds (3.5%).
2. Driehaus International Small Cap Growth (DRIOX)
The Driehaus International Small Cap Growth fund invests mainly in equity securities of smaller capitalization non-U.S. companies with strong growth potential. It uses MSCI All Country World ex USA Small Cap Growth Index as its benchmark. This equity fund may also invest in the equity securities of U.S. companies.
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| DRIOX fund |
The regional weightings as of December 2011 are Europe (36.3%), Asia (32.8%), Americas (19.8%), Oceania (2.7%) and Africa (2.3%). The top holdings as of February 2012 are Fenner PLC (2.6%), Telecity Group PLC (2.3%), Melrose PLC (2.1%), Viscofan S.A. (2.0%) and Babcock International Group PLC (2.0%).
3. Templeton Institutional Foreign Smaller Company Series A (TFSCX)
The Templeton Institutional Foreign Smaller Company fund objective is seeking long-term capital growth. This Franklin Templeton fund uses its assets to buy equities of smaller companies located outside the U.S., including emerging markets. It may also invest in the large cap companies equity securities. It is a non-diversified mutual fund.
This Best Foreign Small/Mid Cap fund has a dividend yield of 1.38%. This fund has recently distributed its dividend on December 2011 in the amount of $0.24. As of March 13, 2012, the annual holdings turnover is 10.44%. It has annual expense ratio of 0.95%. The fund manager since 2007 is Harlan L. Hodes.
This TFSCX fund has YTD return of 14.83%. Since its inception, it has recorded 7 years of positive return and 2 years of negative return. Based on the load adjusted returns, this fund has returned 30.52% over the past 3-year and 3.41% over the past 5-year.
4. Westcore International Small Cap (WTIFX)
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| Westcore International Small Cap |
This stock fund has an expense ratio of 1.50%. The average expense ratio in the category is 1.58%. It was first introduced to public in December 1999. It has used MSCI EAFE Small-Cap Index as its benchmark. This foreign stock mutual fund is rated with 4-stars rating by Morningstar. The current fund dividend yield is 1.44%. There is no management fee and no sales charge for investing in it.
The top 4 countries in its assets are United Kingdom (26.5%), Australia (20.4%), Hong Kong (19.4%) and Japan (10.9%). The top 10 holdings represent 51.7% of the total portfolio out of 35 total holdings. The top 5 stocks are Credit Corp Group Ltd (7.1%), Cardno Ltd (6.6%), Pico Far East Holdings Ltd (5.7%), Xtep International Holding Ltd (5.4%) and IG Group Holdings PLC (4.7%).
5. Oberweis International Opportunities (OBIOX)
The investment aim of Oberweis International Opportunities fund is to achieve maximum long-term capital appreciation. It is typically invests most of assets in the securities of small-size companies based outside the United States. This international stock fund may also invest in securities of countries in developed and developing (or emerging) markets.
Ralf A. Scherschmidt has managed this top performer equity fund since 2007. It requires a minimum initial investment of $1,000 for a brokerage account and $500 for retirement (IRA) account. The management fee of this best foreign small /mid cap mutual fund is 0.25%. The expense ratio is 1.89% per year. The annual holdings turnover as of April 13, 2012 is 257% which is high.
The top 5 sectors as of March 2012 are Industrials (25.8%), Information Technology (16.9%), Consumer Discretionary (14.2%), and Energy (12.0%). The top 5 stocks in its holdings are Duerr AG (3.6%), GREE Inc ((3.5%), Net One Systems Co Ltd (3.0%), Ashtead Group PLC (3.0%), and Megane Top Co Ltd (2.8%).
6. Franklin International Small Cap Growth A (FINAX)
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| FINAX fund |
The other classes of this Foreign Small/Mid Growth fund are Class C (FCSMX) and Advisor Class (FKSCX). The maximum sales charge of Class A is 5.75%. The top ten holdings as of December 2011 are De La Rue PLC (4.38%), Carpetright PLC (4.10%), Sankyo Company Ltd (4.05%), Experian PLC (3.84%) and ASATSU-DK Inc (3.78%).
7. Invesco International Small Company A (IEGAX)
Morningstar Analysts has rated this Invesco International Small Company fund with silver rating. It also has 4 stars rating from its past performance. This Invesco fund is limited to new investors. The expense ratio is 1.49%. The sales load is 5.5%.
This international stock fund has returned 0.36% over the past 5 year, and 16.14% over the past decade. As of January 2012, the top 3 stocks in its assets are: IGB Corp Bhd, Total Energy services Trust, and First Gen Corp.
8. Wasatch International Growth (WAIGX)
This Wasatch International Growth fund invests mainly in Non-U.S. companies stocks. It invests in countries included in MSCI AC World Ex-U.S.A. Small Cap Index. Rated with 4 stars, this fund has total net assets of $282 million. The annual expense ratio is 1.66%.
9. Wanger International (WSCAX)
Rated with 4 stras, the Wanger International fund has a dividend yield of 4.82%. This no load fund has an annual turnover rate of 36%. It is open to new investors. The annual expense ratio is 1%. The fund has a 5 year annualized returns of 1.24%.
Best World Stock Mutual Funds 2012
The top 3 sectors of this Foreign Small/Mid cap fund are: Industrials, Consumer Cyclical, and Technology. The top 5 stocks are: Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd ADR, Hexagon AB, Far Eastone Telecommunications Co Ltd, Localiza Rent A Car S.A., and Gemalto.
10. MFS International New Discovery A (MIDAX)
This MFS International New Discovery fund uses its assets to buy stocks of foreign companies with high growth potential. It may invest in emerging markets stocks. The fund is ranked with 4 stars. The yield is 1.05%.
This MFS fund has returned 23.65% over the past 3 year, 0.82% over the past 5 year, and 10.80% over the past 10 year.
Disclosure: No Position
Fund Performance
| No | Name | Ticker | 1 Year Return % | 3 Year Return % | 5 Year Return % | 10 Year Return % | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Eagle Overseas A | SGOVX | 1.28% | 18.66% | 4.52% | 13.05% | 1.14% |
| 2 | Driehaus International Small Cap Growth | DRIOX | -6.04% | 28.31% | 4.51% | - | 1.75% |
| 3 | Templeton Instl Foreign Smaller Co Ser A | TFSCX | 0.24% | 32.82% | 4.08% | - | 0.95% |
| 4 | Westcore International Small Cap | WTIFX | 4.65% | 36.18% | 3.96% | 9.90% | 1.51% |
| 5 | Oberweis International Opportunities | OBIOX | -2.64% | 34.14% | 3.52% | - | 1.60% |
| 6 | Franklin Intl Small Cap Growth A | FINAX | -5.56% | 25.29% | 3.29% | - | 1.25% |
| 7 | Invesco International Small Company A | IEGAX | 4.70% | 33.93% | 2.82% | 17.37% | 1.58% |
| 8 | Wasatch International Growth | WAIGX | 6.86% | 39.43% | 2.46% | - | 1.57% |
| 9 | Wanger International | WSCAX | -3.33% | 28.57% | 2.42% | 12.70% | 1.04% |
| 10 | MFS International New Discovery A | MIDAX | 0.84% | 29.05% | 2.00% | 11.60% | 1.42% |
| 11 | Columbia Acorn International Select A | LAFAX | -1.93% | 22.66% | 1.97% | 10.77% | 1.58% |
| 12 | Columbia Acorn International A | LAIAX | -3.09% | 28.03% | 1.95% | 11.57% | 1.31% |
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