Best Performing Long Term Bond Mutual Funds 2014

Year 2014 has been great for long duration bond mutual funds. Some of these best performing long term bond funds are managing to achieve double digits returns. They also provides higher yield for income.

Long Term Bond Funds

Long-term bond funds utilize its assets to purchase corporate and other investment-grade U.S. fixed-income issues. These fixed income funds have durations of more than six years (or, if duration is unavailable, average effective maturities greater than 10 years). Due to their long durations, these portfolios are exposed to greater interest rate risk.

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below. If you are interested in ETF, you can check my previous article. The list is sorted based on its year to date return up to October 19, 2014.

Best performing long term bond mutual funds 2014 are:

1. Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund (VBLTX)
2. PIMCO Long Duration Total Return Fund (PLRIX)
3. Schroder Broad Tax-Aware Value Bond Fund (STWTX)
4. SEI Long Duration Fund (LDRAX)
5. SEI Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund (SLDAX)
6. Spirit of America Income Fund (SOAIX)

DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund (DSL)

DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund (DSL) is an actively managed closed end fund. The fund’s objective is to provide high current income and capital appreciation. This fixed income fund invests most of its assets in debt securities and other income-producing investments anywhere in the world, including in emerging markets.

DSL Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 04/26/2013
• Ticker Symbol: DSL
• CUSIP: 258622109
• Rank in category (YTD): 26%
• Category: Multi Sector Bond
• Yield: 8.35%
• Effective Leverage: 30.87%
• Capital Gains: -
• Premium/ Discount: -8.32%
• Base Expense Ratio: 0.66%
• Net Assets: $ 3.40 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: 5.3%

DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund is managed by Bonnie Baha, Jeffrey Gundlach, and Luz Padilla. This popular closed end fund has a high yield of 8.35%. This fund has total annual expense ratio fee of 0.77% (including interest expense of 0.11%).

Bull Strikes Back Stocks on Week 43, 2014

Find top industry stocks of week 43 of 2014. Top sector stocks of week 43 2014 are major airlines, biotechnology, auto dealership, etc.

Bull Market Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of 4.14%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of 5.29%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of 2.62%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of 3.38%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 43, 2014 (October 20, 2014 – October 26, 2014) are:

1. Toy & Hobby Stores 14.06%
2. Major Airlines 13.17%
3. Biotechnology 9.77%
4. Auto Dealerships 8.81%
5. General Entertainment 8.72%
6. Processing Systems & Products 8.58%
7. Newspapers Publishing 8.37%
8. Paper & Paper Products 8.33%
9. Dairy Products 7.92%
10. Auto Parts Stores 7.76%
11. Industrial Equipment & Components 7.73%
12. Specialty Retail, Other 7.44%
13. Diagnostic Substances 7.44%
14. Memory Chips Semiconductor 7.35%
15. Drug Delivery 7.19%

PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ)

PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ) is an index exchange traded fund. This popular ETF is formerly known as QQQ or the NASDAQ-100 Index ETF.

This PowerShares fund will invest in all of stocks in the index. The index includes 100 largest domestic and international nonfinancial companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market based on market capitalization.

QQQ Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 03/10/1999
• Ticker Symbol: QQQ
• CUSIP: 73935A104
• Rank in category (YTD): 1%
• Category: Large Growth
• Yield: 2.27%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.14%
• Total Assets: $ 54.19 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: -

This popular ETF has a low expense fee of 0.20%. The total net assets are $38 billion. It has a decent dividend yield of 1.36%. The current share price is $94.45. The price 52 week ranges are between $78.40 & $100.56.

Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGRX)

Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGRX) is an index mutual fund. This equity fund invests mainly in growth stocks of large U.S. companies. This low-cost index fund follows a buy-and-hold approach and invests in substantially all of the stocks represented in its broad benchmark. The index benchmark is the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index.

VIGRX Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 11/02/1992
• Ticker Symbol: VIGRX
• CUSIP: 922908504
• Beta (3yr): 1.06
• Rank in category (YTD): 14%
• Category: Large Growth
• Distribution Yield: 1.02%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.24%
• Net Assets: $ 42.4 billion
• Number of Years Up: 17 years
• Number of Years Down: 14 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 32%

This Vanguard Growth Index Fund is managed by Gerard C. O'Reilly. The current dividend yield is 1.02%. Its annual expense ratio fee is 0.24%.

Best Utilities ETFs 2014

Utilities ETFs are investing mainly in stocks of utilities companies. These exchange traded funds provide high yield income for investors. The utilities companies include gas utilities, electric utilities, and water utilities. This sector ETFs may be more volatile than other diversified ETFs.

Top ETFs

These top utilities funds are selected based on its year-to-date return in 2014. You can find the expense ratio fee, turnover rate, management, fund performance information below. Also, you will see the fund review and fund performance or return below.

Best utilities ETFs 2014 are:

1. Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (RYU)
2. SPDR Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)
3. Deutsche X-trackers Regulated Utilities (UTLT)
4. iShares US Utilities ETF (IDU)
5. Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU)
6. Fidelity MSCI Utilities ETF (FUTY)
7. First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU)
8. PowerShares DWA Utilities Momentum ETF (PUI)

Turnaround Sector Stocks Week 42, 2014

Find top industry stocks of week 42 of 2014. Top sector stocks of week 42 2014 are Building Materials Wholesale, Textile Industrial, Marketing Services, residential construction, etc.

Top Industry Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of -1.00%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of -0.42%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of -0.90%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of 2.76%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 42, 2014 (October 13, 2014 – October 19, 2014) are:

1. Toy & Hobby Stores 10.23%
2. Building Materials Wholesale 8.49%
3. Synthetics 7.41%
4. Dairy Products 7.12%
5. Textile Industrial 6.64%
6. Marketing Services 6.27%
7. Residential Construction 6.25%
8. Appliances 6.12%
9. Computer Peripherals 5.98%
10. Mortgage Investment 5.93%

DNP Select Income Fund (DNP)

DNP Select Income fund (DNP) is a popular stock closed end fund. This fund objective is to provide current income and long term growth of income with capital appreciation. This equity fund utilizes its assets to purchase equity and fixed income securities of companies in the public utilities industry.

DNP Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 01/21/1987
• Ticker Symbol: DNP
• CUSIP: 23325P104
• Rank in category (YTD): 71%
• Category: Utilities
• Distribution Rate: 7.72%
• Effective Leverage: 27.18%
• Capital Gains: -
• Base Expense Ratio: 1.10%
• Net Assets: $ 3.64 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: 42%

This closed end fund is incepted since 1987. It has a high dividend yield of 7.72%. The fund manager is Nathan Partain. This top closed end fund is sponsored by Duff & Phelps.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA)

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) is an index stock exchange traded fund. This popular ETF utilizes its assets to purchase a broad range of companies in Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Far East. The fund objective is to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada.

EFA Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 08/14/2001
• Ticker Symbol: EFA
• CUSIP: 464287465
• Rank in category (YTD): 23%
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 2.78%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.33%
• Total Assets: $ 71.86 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: 3%

This equity ETF provide convenient access to 900+ EAFE stocks. The expense fee is 0.34%. The current share value is $65.99. The dividend yield is 3.34%. This popular ETF has total assets of $54billion. It has a low portfolio turnover rate of 3%.

Diamond In The Rough Stocks of 2014

Find top industry stocks of week 41 of 2014. Diamond in the rough stocks of week 41 2014 are REIT, drug stores, water utilities, etc.

Best Performing

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of -3.09%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of -4.45%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of-2.70%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -4.64%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 41, 2014 (October 6, 2014 – October 12, 2014) are:

1. Healthcare Facilities REIT 4.21%
2. Drug Stores 2.70%
3. Water Utilities 2.40%
4. Residential REIT 2.38%
5. Soft Drinks Beverages 1.99%
6. Wholesale, Other 1.70%
7. Retail REIT 1.69%
8. Foreign Utilities 1.38%
9. Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration 1.30%
10. Office REIT 1.26%
11. Medical Instruments & Supplies 1.14%
12. Silver 1.03%

Stocks: Undervalue or More Pains

We’ll look at worst performing industry stocks in this article. Some of the industries have going down a lot in 2014. Worst performing sectors are commodity, oil sector, construction, shipping, and more. Are these stocks undervalued or will there be more pains for these stocks?

Worst Performing Industries

Worst performing industry stocks for week 41, 2014 (October 6, 2014 to October 12, 2014) are:

1. Semiconductor- Memory Chips -17.99%
2. Shipping -11.54%
3. Semiconductor - Specialized -11.17%
4. Major Airlines -10.61%
5. General Entertainment -9.20%
6. Computer Peripherals -9.15%
7. Broadcasting - Radio -8.89%
8. Semiconductor - Broad Line -8.88%
9. Networking & Communication Devices -8.42%
10. Semiconductor - Integrated Circuits -8.36%
11. Printed Circuit Boards -8.33%
12. Computer Based Systems -8.31%
13. Railroads -8.29%

Best Performing Closed End Funds October 2014

Closed end funds or CEFs are popular among value investors and income seekers. Like exchange traded funds (ETFs), closed end funds are being traded like a stock on a stock exchange. The fund is a publicly traded investment company that raises a fixed amount of capital through an IPO (Initial Public Offering).

Closed end fund is also known as closed-end mutual fund or closed-end investment.

These best performing closed end funds are sorted based on its year to date return up to October 4, 2014. You may find other fund review information: expense ratio, fund’s NAV, management, objective, yield, top holdings, etc.

Best performing closed end funds October 2014 are:

1. MS India Investment (IIF) - 41.59%
2. Thai Fund Inc (TTF) - 36.12%
3. Kayne Anderson Energy Dev Co (KED) - 34.34%
4. India Fund Inc (IFN) - 33.72%
5. EV Municipal Income (EVN) 30.10%
6. Columbia Seligman Premium Tech (STK) - 29.88%

Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (VDVIX)

Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (VDVIX) is an index mutual fund. It uses its assets to purchase stocks of companies located in developed foreign markets. These companies are located in Europe, Asia, and Australia, which make up about 75% of the non-U.S. equity market.

VDVIX Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 12/19/2013
• Ticker Symbol: VDVIX
• CUSIP: 92206J107
• Beta (3yr): 0.96
• Rank in category (YTD): 22%
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Distribution Yield: -
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%
• Net Assets: $ 46.2 billion
• Number of Years Up: 0 year
• Number of Years Down: 0 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 13%

Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund Information

The fund advisor is Vanguard Equity Investment Group. It is managed by Christine D. Franquin. This foreign large blend mutual fund is tracking the FTSE Developed ex North America Index. The expense ratio fee is only 0.20%. This investor class has 1,369 holdings.

Top Stocks Week 40, 2014: Meat Products & Diagnostic Substances

Find top industry stocks of week 40 of 2014. Top stock industries are meat products, diagnostic substances, auto dealership, 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 -0.72%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of -0.81%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of-0.57%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -1.28%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 40, 2014 (September 29, 2014 – October 5, 2014) are:

1. Manufactured Housing 7.71%
2. Photographic Equipment & Supplies 5.86%
3. Meat Products 4.50%
4. Diagnostic Substances 4.08%
5. Drug Related Products 2.73%
6. Auto Dealerships 2.43%
7. Internet Service Providers 2.07%
8. Auto Parts Stores 2.00%
9. Toys & Games 1.99%
10. Networking & Communication Devices 1.92%
11. Education & Training Services 1.70%
12. Drugs Wholesale 1.70%
13. Wholesale, Other 1.70%
14. Diversified Utilities 1.57%
15. Medical Instruments & Supplies 1.45%

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Fund (EXG)

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Fund (EXG) is an actively managed closed end fund. This stock fund objective is to seek current income with capital appreciation through investment in global common stock and through utilizing an options strategy. The current common shares outstanding are about 300 million shares.

EXG Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 02/23/2007
• Ticker Symbol: EXG
• CUSIP: 27829F108
• Rank in category (YTD): 59%
• Category: US Equity-Covered Call
• Distribution Rate: 9.45%
• Effective Leverage: -
• Capital Gains: -
• Base Expense Ratio: 1.01%
• Net Assets: $ 3.23 billion
• Annual Turnover Rate: 163%

This largest closed end fund has a high dividend yield of 9.45%. The fund managers are Michael A. Allison and Walter A. Row III. Its net asset value (NAV) price is $10.86 per share. The market price is trading at 5.06% discount to its NAV. The expense ratio fee is 1.06% per year.

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Fund Performance

Morningstar has ranked this Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Fund with 3 stars and neutral rating. In 2014, the year-to-date return is 10.74%. This world stock fund has returned 17.24% over the past 1 year, 18.13% over the past 3 year, and 7.84% over the past 5 years.

Janus Global Unconstrained Bond Fund (JUCDX)

This Janus Global Unconstrained Bond Fund (JUCDX) is an actively managed mutual fund. The fund objective is to provide maximize total return and capital preservation. It may provide an active hedge against the effects of inflation and market volatility. This fixed income fund is previously known as Janus Unconstrained Bond Fund before October 2014.

This bond fund invests mainly in government notes and bonds, corporate bonds, convertible bonds, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, zero-coupon bonds, and derivatives. It may invest in high yield / high risk bonds.

JUCDX Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 05/27/2014
• Ticker Symbol: JUCDX
• CUSIP: 47103D447
• Beta (3yr): -
• Rank in category (YTD): -
• Category: Nontraditional Bond
• Distribution Yield: -
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 1.06%
• Net Assets: $ 12.9 million
• Number of Years Up: -
• Number of Years Down: -
• Annual Turnover Rate: 15%

The current 30 day SEC yield is 0.60%. The fund manager is William H. Gross since October 2014. Bill Gross is a former Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer, and a founding partner of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”). Previous managers are Gibson Smith and Darrell Watters. Its expense fee is 1.06%.