ClearBridge Investments Ad: Star-Studded Solutions Mutual Funds

Find ad of Star-studded solutions mutual funds from ClearBridge Investments. This financial ad provides top mutual funds and is published in Barron’s newspaper.

ClearBridge Investments Ad

If you read a financial newspaper, you may find ClearBridge Investments ad about “Star-studded solutions.” The recent ad is published in Barron’s on September 16, 2013 at page 6. The ad provides 8 best mutual funds by ClearBridge, a Legg Masson Company. These top stock mutual funds are mainly U.S. domestic and international stock mutual fund.

Having so many high rated mutual funds, do you need to invest in all of these best mutual funds? Find out my final words and fund review below. Whether the investment is for your regular brokerage account or retirement account or 401(k), you should review each investment in details.

The ad details are as follows:

Star-studded solutions from ClearBridge Investments. 

• ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Fund (LSIFX) – 5 stars (among 1,483 Large Growth Funds)
• ClearBridge Appreciation Fund (SAPYX) – 5 stars (among 1,351 Large Blend Funds)
• ClearBridge Small Cap growth Fund (LMOIX) – 5 stars (among 622 Small Growth Funds)
• ClearBridge Equity Income Fund (SOPYX) – 4 stars (among 1,020 Large Value Funds)
• ClearBridge International All Cap Opportunity Fund (SBIYX) – 4 stars (among 702 Foreign Large Blend Funds)
• ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund (SBLYX) – 4 stars (among 1,483 Large Growth Funds)
• ClearBridge Large Cap Value Fund (SAIFX) – 4 stars (among 1,020 Large Value Funds)
• ClearBridge Mid Cap Core Fund (SMBYX) – 4 stars (among 333 Mid-Cap Blend Funds)

Overall Morningstar Ratings, as of 7/3/2013. The ratings are based on risk-adjusted returns and are derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with a fund’s 3-, 5-, and 10-year (as applicable) rating metrics. 

Consider our equity-focused funds:

• Research-intensive strategies emphasizing high-quality companies
• Growth potential without undue risk
• Consistent delivery by long-tenured managers

ClearBridge Investments | A Legg Mason Company

Investing Review

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Fund (LSIFX) and ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund (SBLYX) are both the top large growth mutual funds. They invest in large market capitalization companies located in U.S. Both of the funds are IS class funds. ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Fund manager is Richard A. Freeman and Evan Bauman. The ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund is managed by Peter Bourbeau and Margaret Vitrano. Both funds don’t have a yield (i.e. it is 0%).

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Fund has managed to remain on top of its categories for the past 5 years. It has a 5 year average returns of 18.02%. The ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund has a 5 year annualized return of 13.86%.

The top holdings of LSFIX are Biogen Idec Inc, UnitedHealth Group In, Anadarko Petroleum Corp, Compcast Corp, and Amgen Inc. The top 3 stocks in SBLYX fund are Visa Inc, Google Inc, and Celgene Corporation.

If you are interested in high yield dividend mutual fund, you should consider ClearBridge Equity Income Fund (SOPYX) and ClearBridge Large Cap Value Fund (SAIFX). The SOPYX fund has a dividend yield 2.02%, while SAIFX fund has a dividend yield of 1.61%. This ClearBridge Equity Income Fund (SOPYX) utilizes its assets to purchase equity securities of U.S. companies and non-U.S. companies. The expense ratio of this SOPYX is 0.81%.

The ClearBridge Large Cap Value Fund has returned 17.24% over the past 3 years, and 11.05% over the past 5 year. ClearBridge Equity Income Fund has a 3 year average return of 15.20%. Please check with your brokerage account, retirement account, or 401(k) plan for investment.

The top 3 stocks of ClearBridge Large Cap Value Fund are JPMorgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo & Co, and U.S. Bancorp. The top 2 equities of ClearBridge Equity Income Fund are Exxon Mobile Corp, and Procter & Gamble Co.

If you have higher risk tolerance, you can consider ClearBridge Small Cap growth Fund (LMOIX). Investing mainly in small cap companies with high potential growth, it is managed by Aram E. Green and Jeffrey J. Russell. The total assets are $2.8 billion. Its expense ratio is only 0.80% per year.

This LMOIX fund has a year to date return of 35.27%. For the past 5 years, this small growth mutual fund has managed to remain on top in its category. It has returned 23.36% over the past 3 year, and 18.08% over the past 5 year.

If you are a growth and a value investor, you can choose ClearBridge Appreciation Fund (SAPYX). This large blend mutual fund invests mainly in equity securities of U.S. companies with medium and large capitalization. It has a yield of 1.49%. Popular with investors, it has $5.07 billion of total assets. The annual expense ratio is 0.66%.

The fund performance has been slightly above average for the past 3 years and 5 years. Its 3 year annualized return of 15.58%. The top 3 stocks are Travelers Companies Inc, Exxon Mobil Corporation and Comcast Corp.

To diversify even more, ClearBridge International All Cap Opportunity Fund (SBIYX) is another alternative to invest internationally. With expense ratio of 1.15%, it uses its assets to purchase stocks of non-U.S. companies. It invests in developed countries and emerging market countries.

Morningstar has ranked it with 4 stars rating. It has returned 21.20% over the past 1 year, 10.93% over the past 3 years, and 8.44% over the past 5 years. The top 3 stocks are Teleperformance, AXA SA, and Lloyds Banking Group PLC.

ClearBridge Mid Cap Core Fund (SMBYX) is another U.S. stock mutual fund. This best domestic stock fund invests mainly in medium capitalization companies. The total assets are $1.4 billion. Its expense ratio is 0.86%. The portfolio turnover rate is 47%. Its dividend yield is 0.37%.

This ClearBridge Mid Cap Core Fund has a 5 year annualized returned of 15.70%. Ranked with 4 stars and bronze rating by Morningstar, the top 3 sectors are consumer cyclical, technology, and financial services. The top 3 stocks are Signet Jewelers Ltd, Oil States International Inc, and Mednax Inc.

Bottom Line

• Choose only some of the mutual funds. If you invest in large growth category already, don’t invest in another large growth mutual fund.
• Diversified your investment in various mutual funds is important.
• Good choice for investment include ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Fund (LSIFX), ClearBridge Large Cap Value Fund, ClearBridge International All Cap Opportunity Fund (SBIYX)
• Since it is an IS class, the minimum to invest is high, $1,000,000 per investment.