American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund (AEPGX) Class A

American Funds EuroPacific Growth fund (AEPGX) is one of best international stock mutual funds. This foreign large blend fund focusses its assets in Europe stocks and Pacific stocks.

American Funds EuroPacific Growth A (Ticker: AEPGX)

The American Funds EuroPacific Growth fund is seeking to provide long-term capital appreciation. This equity fund invests mainly in common stocks of issuers in Europe and the Pacific Basin which have growth potential. It may invest a portion of its assets in common stocks and other securities of companies in countries with developing or emerging markets economies.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: April 16, 1984
• Ticker Symbol: AEPGX
• CUSIP: 298706102
• Beta (3yr): 0.97
• Rank in category (YTD): 36%
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Distribution/ Yiels: 1.1%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.83%
• Net Assets: $ 137.8 billion
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years
• Min to invest: $250
• Annual Turnover Rate: 31%

Stephen B. Bepler has managed this AEPGX fund since its inception in April 1984. It has total net assets of $101.22 billion. Morningstar analysts have rated this international stock fund with Gold rating. The annual holdings turnover of 31.00% is lower than the average in Foreign Large Blend category (57.73%). The fund has an expense ratio of 0.82% per year.

AEPGX fund

This Foreign Large Blend fund has 4-stars rating from Morningstar. It has recorded 21 years of positive return and 6 years of negative return. The YTD return is 12.26%. The best 1-year total return was achieved in year 1999 with 55.97%. Based on the load adjusted returns, the fund has returned -11.66% over the past 1-year, and 6.98% over the past 10-year.

• Year 2017: 12.70% (YTD)
• Year 2016: 0.66%
• Year 2015: -0.82%
• Year 2014: -2.64%
• Year 2013: 20.15%

Investors in this best international stock fund receive their capital gains (if any) on annual basis in December. The minimum initial investment is $250 and the minimum subsequent investment is $50. This requirement applies for either brokerage or retirement account. There are 82 brokerages that offer this fund for investment. They are Merrill Lynch, Vanguard, JP Morgan, Edward Jones, Pershing Fund Center, E Trade Financial, Schwab Retail, Fidelity Retail Funds Network, etc.

This Euro Pacific Growth fund is available in many other classes, such as:

• Class B (AEGBX)
• Class C (AEPCX)
• Class F-1 (AEGFX)
• Class F-2 (AEPFX)
• Class 529-A (CEUAX)
• Class 529-B (CEUBX)

Fund Portfolio

The 10 largest industry holdings as of March 2012 are Commercial Banks (9.7%), Pharmaceuticals (8.7%), Automobiles (6.5%), Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (5.8%), Wireless Telecommunications Services (5.4%), Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (5.0%), Food Products (3.5%), Insurance (3.2%), Chemicals (3.2%) and Beverages (3.1%). The top geographic breakdown is Europe (48.6%), Asia & Pacific Basin (29.4%) and Others (Including Canada & Latin America) (15.0%).

more: Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund

The largest equity holdings as of March 31, 2012 are Novo Nordisk, Samsung Electronics, America Movil, Novartis, Nestle, Bayer, Softbank, British American Tobacco, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

According to the fund website, the investment risks include Market conditions risk, Investing in growth-oriented stocks, Investing outside the United States, Investing in developing countries, Management risk, etc.

Pros:

• Low expense fee
• Good long track record
• Good rating from Morningstar

Cons:

• Class A has a sales load

Disclosure: No Position