iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an index stock ETF (Exchange Traded Fund). This iShares ETF is investing in large U.S. companies.

Its objective is to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of large-capitalization U.S. equities. This stock fund provide low cost access to 500 top US stocks in a single fund.

IVV Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 05/15/2000
• Ticker Symbol: IVV
• CUSIP: 464287200
• Rank in category (YTD): 23%
• Category: Large Blend
• Yield: 1.85%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.04%
• Total Assets: $ 110.58 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: -

This stock ETF has a dividend yield of 1.75%. The total assets are $59 billion. As one of popular ETFs, this large blend fund has low expense fee of 0.07%, the current share price is $200.48. This fund price has 52 week range between $165.44 and $202.90.

Best Sector Stocks Week 39, 2014: Research Services & Drug Delivery

Find best industry stocks of week 39 of 2014. Top stock industries are manufactured housing, research services, photographic equipment & supplies, etc

Top Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of -1.34%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of -1.48%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of -0.96%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -2.34%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 39, 2014 (September 22, 2014 – September 28, 2014) are:

1. Manufactured Housing 27.27%
2. Research Services 9.70%
3. Photographic Equipment & Supplies 8.43%
4. Drug Delivery 6.92%
5. Semiconductor- Memory Chips 6.06%
6. Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories 5.52%
7. Music & Video Stores 2.80%
8. Home Furnishing Stores 2.17%
9. Drug Related Products 2.06%
10. Wholesale, Other 1.70%

Top Performing Large Value Mutual Funds 2014

Large value mutual funds invest mainly in U.S. large companies which are undervalued. These investment funds may provide high dividend yield for income. Some of the popular large value mutual funds include: American Funds Washington Mutual Fund (AWSHX), Dodge & Cox Stock Fund (DODGX), and Vanguard Windsor II Fund (VWNFX).

YTD Best Performing Funds

The list is compiled based on the fund year-to-date performance in 2014. The top fund means it managed to rank in top 1% in this large-cap blend category. You can find other fund information such as expense ratio, review, management, risk, top holdings, fund sector, etc.

Top performing large value mutual funds 2014 are:

1. Snow Capital Focused Value Fund (SFOAX)
2. Buffalo Dividend Focus Fund (BUFDX)
3. Poplar Forest Partners Fund (PFPFX)
4. Valley Forge Fund (VAFGX)
5. Snow Capital Market Plus Fund (SPLAX)
6. DoubleLine Shiller Enhanced CAPE Fund (DSENX)
7. Payden Equity Income Fund (PYVLX)
8. Touchstone Premium Yield Equity Fund (TPYAX)
9. Destra Dividend Total Return Fund (DHDAX)
10. Hillman Focused Advantage Fund (HCMAX)

PIMCO Dynamic Credit Income Fund (PCI)

This PIMCO Dynamic Credit Income Fund (PCI) objective is to provide current income with capital appreciation. This fixed income fund uses its assets to purchase multiple fixed-income sectors in the global credit markets, including corporate debt, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities. This bond closed end fund is a leveraged, tax-paying closed end fund.

PCI Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 01/29/2013
• Ticker Symbol: PCI
• CUSIP: 72201Y101
• Rank in category (YTD): 58%
• Category: Taxable Income-Multi-Sector
• Distribution: 8.03%
• Effective Leverage: 43.23%
• Capital Gains: -
• Base Expense Ratio: 1.30%
• Net Assets: $ 6.06 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: -

This PIMCO Dynamic Credit Income Fund has a high yield of 8.03%. This distribution rate is paid every month. The fund managers Sai S. Devabhaktuni, Daniel J Ivascyn, Mark Kiesel, Elizabeth O. MacLean, and Alfred Murata since 2013. This bond fund has net asset value of $6.06 billion.

Top Stocks Week 38, 2014: Building Materials & Drugs

Find top industry stocks of week 38 of 2014. Top stock industries are building materials wholesale, publishing books, drug related products, generic drugs etc

Best Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of 1.27%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of 0.27%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of 1.73%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -1.16%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 38, 2014 (September 15, 2014 – September 21, 2014) are:

1. Building Materials Wholesale 5.25%
2. Publishing - Books 3.85%
3. Drug Related Products 3.80%
4. Drugs - Generic 3.50%
5. Home Improvement Stores 3.31%
6. Beverages - Brewers 3.20%
7. Agricultural Chemicals 3.18%
8. Toy & Hobby Stores 3.15%
9. Telecom Services - Domestic 2.86%
10. Basic Materials Wholesale 2.85%

SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is an index stock ETF (Exchange Traded Fund). This SPDR ETF is one of the largest ETFs.

This ETF's objective is to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index. Please check with your brokerage for additional commission.

SPY Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 01/22/1993
• Ticker Symbol: SPY
• CUSIP: 78462F103
• Rank in category (YTD): 25%
• Category: Large Blend
• Yield: 1.90%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.10%
• Total Assets: $ 231.45 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: 21%

The current dividend yield is 1.78%. This index ETF has total assets of $172 billion. With low expense fee of 0.09%, the current share price is $200.71. This large blend fund price has 52 week range between $163.17 and $200.82.

25 Largest Closed End Funds (CEFs)

There are two classes of mutual funds: open-end funds and closed-end funds. You can buy these funds for your brokerage or retirement accounts. Open-end funds can sell an unlimited number of shares to investors. Closed-end funds only issue a set number of shares at the fund’s origin that trade on the stock exchange (NYSE, NASDAQ) throughout the day.

As a prospective buyer, you need to ask whether you should invest in the biggest and most popular closed end funds. Are these popular closed end funds really worth your money? The answer isn’t as easy to find as you might think. You can find many companies which provide ratings on closed end funds including Morningstar, CEFConnect, CEFA, Money, Kiplinger, etc.

Popular Closed End Funds for Investment

The 25 largest closed end funds are:

1. Kayne Anderson MLP (KYN) $4.4B
2. Central Fund of Canada (CEF) $3.5B
3. PIMCO Dynamic Credit Income Fund (PCI) $3.2B
4. EV Tax-Managed Global Fund (EXG) $3.1B
5. DNP Select Income Fund (DNP) $2.8B
6. Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Fund (TYG) $2.3B
7. DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund (DSL) $2.2B
8. Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund (UTF) $2.1B
9. ClearBridge Energy MLP Fund (CEM) $2.0B
10. Nuveen Municipal Value Fund (NUV) $1.9B

Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBIX)

Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBIX) is a popular bond mutual fund. This vanguard fund invests in US bond markets.

This Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund (VTBIX) objective is to track the performance of a broad, market-weighted bond index. The index benchmark is the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index. This fixed income fund invests mainly in a diversified exposure to investment-grade U.S. bond market. This index fund has an Intermediate-duration portfolio.

VTBIX Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 01/26/2009
• Ticker Symbol: VTBIX
• CUSIP: 92203C105
• Beta (3yr): 0.96
• Rank in category (YTD): 47%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution Yield: 2.34%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.09%
• Net Assets: $ 126.2 billion
• Fund Manager: Joshua C. Barrickman
• Number of Years Up: 3 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 111%

Updated on May 2017

This Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund is managed by Joshua C. Barrickman since 2010. It has 12-month dividend yield of 2.21%. The total net assets are $84.7 billion. It has an annual holdings turnover of 111%. This index mutual fund has a low expense ratio is 0.12%.

Top Stocks Week 37, 2014: Research Services

Find top industry stocks of week 37 of 2014. Top stock industries are research services, hospitals, other drug manufacturers, etc.

Best Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of -1.05%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of -0.33%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of -0.81%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -0.77%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 37, 2014 (September 8, 2014 – September 14, 2014) are:

1. Research Services 7.82%
2. Long Distance Carriers 6.45%
3. Hospitals 4.16%
4. Drug Manufacturers - Other 3.30%
5. Publishing - Books 3.17%
6. Basic Materials Wholesale 3.08%
7. Electronic Equipment 2.45%
8. Drug Delivery 2.41%
9. Processing Systems & Products 2.30%
10. Diversified Investments 2.24%

Kayne Anderson MLP Fund (KYN)

This Kayne Anderson MLP Fund (KYN) objective is to seek a high total return. It invest most of its assets through investment in energy related MLPs (master limited partnerships) and other industrial transport companies. This MLB fund is a leveraged, tax-paying closed end fund.

KYN Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 09/28/2004
• Ticker Symbol: KYN
• CUSIP: 486606106
• Rank in category (YTD): 30%
• Category: US Equity-MLP
• Distribution: 6.02%
• Effective Leverage: 32.22%
• Capital Gains: -
• Base Expense Ratio: 2.61%
• Net Assets: $ 6.01 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: 21%

This US stock fund has a dividend yield of 6.02%. This distribution rate is paid every quarter. The fund managers are J.C. Frey and Kevin S McCarthy since 2004. The current share price is $41.02. Its net asset value is $40.91. The fund sponsor is Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP. The annual expense ratio fee is 2.61%.

30 Largest ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)

ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are introduced to investors since 1990. The first fund was launched in Canada. Nowadays, there are more than 1,500 ETFs. Most of the ETFs are index funds; they are tracking their index benchmark such as S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, FTSE, MSCI, etc.

More ETFs mean more tools for investors trying to diversify their portfolios and profit from targeted industry trends. Traded like stocks, you can buy or sell ETFs from stock market or exchange like NYSE or NASDAQ.

As a prospective buyer, you need to ask whether you should invest in the biggest and most popular closed end funds. Are these popular closed end funds really worth your money? The answer isn’t as easy to find as you might think. You can find many companies which provide ratings on closed end funds including Morningstar, Money, US News, Kiplinger, Forbes, etc.

Popular ETFs for Investment

The 30 largest ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are:

1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) $171B
2. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) $61B
3. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) $55B
4. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) $50B
5. PowerShares QQQ (QQQ) $46B
6. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) $46B
7. Vanguard REIT ETF (VNQ) $45B
8. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) $44B

Best Stocks Week 36, 2014: Aluminum & Wireless Communication

Find top industry stocks of week 36 of 2014. Top stock industries are aluminum, wireless communication, etc.

Top Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of 0.24%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of 0.06%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of 0.25%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -0.35%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 36, 2014 (September 1, 2014 – September 7, 2014) are:

1. Music & Video Stores 10.94%
2. Aluminum 8.32%
3. Toy & Hobby Stores 8.04%
4. Research Services 7.69%
5. Internet Service Providers 5.46%
6. Wireless Communications 4.31%
7. Drug Stores 3.91%
8. Paper & Paper Products 3.86%
9. Recreational Goods, Other 3.73%
10. Healthcare Information Services 3.45%

Ad of Putnam Funds: Alternative Mutual Fund

Find alternative mutual funds offered by Putnam Funds include Putnam Absolute Return Funds, Putnam Diversified Income Trust, etc.

Popular Putnam Mutual Funds

Putnam mutual funds are provided by Putnam Investments. Putnam has $156 billion in assets under management. There are 80 mutual funds and 50 institutional strategies across a range of assets classes and investment styles.

Top 5 popular funds include Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund, Putnam Diversified Income Trust, Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund, Putnam Equity Income Fund, and Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund. These mutual funds can be invested in your brokerage account, 401k plan, retirement account (Roth IRA & traditional IRA).

You can find an investment ad by Putnam as follows:

Alternatives@Putnam 

Markets demand new ways of thinking. 

Discover Putnam’s proactive approach to managing volatility and pursuing superior results. 

Robert L. Reynolds 

President and CEO, Putnam Investments 

With today’s volatility, simply beating a benchmark may not be enough. Take a targeted approach. Putnam Absolute Return Funds 100 (PARTX), 300 (PTRNX), 500 (PJMDX), 700 (PDMAX) 

When economic factors weigh on an index, individual companies can offer opportunity. Pursue the best ideas, wherever they are. Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund (PVSAX), Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund (PYSAX)

20 Largest Mutual Funds

Most investors may have invested in mutual funds through their brokerage or retirement account (IRA or 401k plan). More than 50% of American households own a mutual fund. The stock market or bond market aren’t going away anytime soon – but it’s certainly one that investors can and should be a lot smarter about if they pick to keep mutual funds in their portfolios.

As a prospective buyer, you need to ask whether you should invest in the biggest and most popular mutual funds. Are these popular mutual funds really worth your money? The answer isn’t as easy to find as you might think. You can find many companies which provide ratings on mutual funds including Morningstar, US News, Lipper, Forbes, Money, Kiplinger, etc.

Popular Mutual Funds for Investment

The top 20 largest mutual funds are:

1. Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX) - $343 billion
2. PIMCO Total Return Fund (PTTAX) - $223 billion
3. Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX) - $176 billion
4. American Funds Growth Fund of America Fund (AGTHX) - $139 billion
5. Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX) - $129 billion
6. American Funds Europacific Growth Fund (AEPGX) - $125 billion
7. Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) - $119 billion
8. Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX) - $106 billion
9. Franklin Income Fund (FKINX) - $94 billion
10. American Funds Capital Income Builder Fund (CAIBX) - $94 billion

Principal Mutual Funds for Retirement Account

Find top Principal mutual funds for your retirement account. The mutual funds include Principal Global Real Estate Securities Fund, Principal LifeTime 2010 Fund, etc.

Principal Funds

Principal Financial Group (PFG) is a global financial services company.  It is offering a wide range of financial services including retirement solutions, insurance, investment, planning center, financial, and banking products. It offers mutual funds, annuities, saving accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs) in its investment business. The mutual funds are offered from its Principal Funds arm.

Should you invest in your brokerage, retirement, or 401(k) account? Find my fund review below. Select the best funds for your investing account or long term account. I provide various aspects of review including fund performance, expense fee, sales load, etc.

The investment ad by Principal is as follows:

We won the awards. 

You got the results. 

Lipper Fund Awards 2013 United States 

Top Asset Class 

Best Mixed-Asset Fund Manager over the 3-year period 

Among 40 Firms in the Large Company Category 

Top Individual Funds 

Principal Global Real Estate Securities Fund – Class I (POSIX)
Best Global Real Estate Fund over the 5-year period