Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX)

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX) is one of top index mutual funds. This Vanguard fund is also one of the largest investment funds in the world.

Vanguard not only provide various investment funds. It also provides brokerage services, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and more. One of the top and popular mutual funds is Vanguard Total Stock Market fund. Details review can be found below.

Vanguard Total Stock Market Inv (Ticker: VTSMX)

As part of index fund, the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index fund objective is to mimic the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of the overall stock market in US stock market. This Vanguard fund uses MSCI US Broad Market Index. This fund invests in more than 3,000 stocks representative of the whole U.S. market. This index fund represents 99.5% or more of the total market capitalization of all the U.S. common stocks regularly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq over-the-counter market.

VTSMX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: August 1994
• Ticker Symbol: VTSMX (Investor Class)
• CUSIP: 922908306                                   
• Beta (3yr): 1.03 
• Rank in category (YTD): 29
• Category: Large Blend    
• Dividend Yield: 1.76%
• Expense Ratio: 0.15%
• Sales Load: 0%
• Capital Gains: N/A           
• Number of Years Up: 13 years     
• Number of Years Down: 5 years

Updated May 2017

T. Rowe Price High-Yield Fund (PRHYX)

High Yield bond provide higher income for investor. During the low interest environment, this taxable bond can provide additional income for investor. One of the best high yield bond funds is T. Rowe Price High-Yield. Details of the fund's review is as follow.

T. Rowe Price High-Yield (Ticker: PRHYX)

The T. Rowe Price High-Yield fund investment objective is to seek high current income; capital appreciation is a secondary consideration. The fund usually invests most of assets (>80%) in a widely diversified portfolio of high-yield corporate bonds, income-producing convertible securities, and preferred stocks. High-yield bonds are rated below investment grade (BB and lower). Its weighted average maturity generally is expected to be in the 5- to 10-year range. This T Rowe Price fund may invest in futures, options, and swaps.

PRHYX Fund Details

PRHYX fund details

• Fund Inception Date: December 1984
• Ticker Symbol: PRHYX
• CUSIP: 741481105
• Beta (3yr): 0.99
• Rank in category (YTD): 29
• Category: High Yield Bond
• Type: Taxable Bond mutual fund
• Distribution: 7.48%
• Net Asset: $8.54 billion
• Expense Ratio: 0.76%
• Sales Load: 0%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years
• Average Duration: 3.55 years
• Average Maturity: 6.61 years

updated on 7/6/2011

Royce Premier Investment Fund (RYPRX)

The following article is about fund review of Royce Premier Investment fund. As one of the best fund in Mid Cap Blend domestic stock funds, this RYPRX fund has consistently outperformed its peer. Details about the investment fund performance and characteristics are described below.

Royce Premier Investment (Ticker: RYPRX)

The Royce Premier Investment fund is seeking long-term capital growth. The fund invests most of its net assets (>80%) in the equity securities of such premier companies. The fund will invest <65% in companies with market capitalizations up to $2.5 billion at the time of investment. This Royce fund may invest <25% of net assets in foreign securities although the fund normally focuses on the securities of U.S. companies. The fund may sell securities to, among other things, secure gains, limit losses, and redeploy assets into what Royce deems to be more promising opportunities and/or manage cash levels in the fund’s portfolio.

RYPRX Fund Details

Royce RYPRX fund details

• Fund Inception Date: December 1991
• Ticker Symbol: RYPRX
• CUSIP: 780905600
• Beta (3yr): 1.10
• Rank in category (YTD): 35
• Category: Mid-Cap Blend
• Type: Stock Fund
• Yield: 0.0%
• Morningstar Rating: 5 Stars
• Expense Ratio: 1.12%
• Sales Load: 0%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 17 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years

updated on July 7th, 2011

Templeton Global Bond Fund (TPINX)

Templeton Global Bond Fund (TPINX) Fund is a popular fixed income mutual fund. This Franklin Templeton fund invests in government and corporate bonds.

Franklin Templeton is among the top fund family in the US. One of the best taxable bond funds is Templeton Global Bond A fund. This fund has performed consistently for the past 24 years. The following is the fund's review.

Templeton Global Bond A (Ticker: TPINX)

The Templeton Global Bond fund seeks current income with capital appreciation and growth of income. The fund normally invests at least 80% of net assets in bonds including debt securities of any maturity, such as bonds, notes, bills and debentures. It may invest <25% of total assets in bonds that are issues rated in the top of four rating categories by independent rating agencies such as S&P or Moody’s Investors Service or, if unrated, determined by the fund’s investment manager to be comparable. This Templeton Global Bond fund is non-diversified.

TPINX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: September 1986
• Ticker Symbol: TPINX
• CUSIP: 880208103
• Beta (3yr): 0.79
• Rank in category (YTD): 32
• Category: World Bond
• Yield: 2.16%
• Expense Ratio: 0.90%
• Sales Load: 4.25%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Average Duration: 0.28 years
• Average Maturity: 3.80 years

Updated May 2017

Top Performer Real Estate Closed End Funds July 2011

Real Estate investment can be done in two different ways such as direct real estate investment and indirect real estate investment. Individual can buy a residential house or investment property directly for this real estate investing. The other way is by investing in REIT mutual fund.

REIT or Real Estate Investment Trust is a publicly-traded company that owns and operates income-producing commercial real estate, such as offices, apartments or residential, shopping centers, hotels or motel and warehouses or storage. REITs and funds that invest in them typically are designed to provide attractive, growing dividends or yields based on rents or consistent income received from the real estate investments. REIT performance is linked to the performance of the commercial real estate market. Property values and rents may fall due to economic, legal, or cultural developments.

Intro about CEF or Closed End Funds

More details about CEF can be found on my previous article. CEF can be very attractive hence:

Top Performer REIT CEF 2011

• Closed End Funds are traded like stocks in stock exchange such as NYSE, Nasdaq, AMEX, etc
• CEF can be traded on deep discount from its Net Asset Value (NAV)
• It consists of variety of REIT stocks either domestic REITs or international REITs

The 10 Top Performer Real Estate Closed End Funds July 2011 are:

1. Cohen & Steers REIT & Preferred
2. Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty
3. Nuveen Real Estate Income
4. RMR Real Estate Income Fund
5. ING Clarion Global Real Estate
6. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities
7. Nuveen Diversified Dividend & Income
8. LMP Real Estate Income
9. Alpine Global Premier Property
10. RMR Asia Pacific Real Estate

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund (VPMCX)

As the most popular fund family, Vanguard also offers variety of actively managed mutual fund. One of the best US domestic stock funds is Vanguard PRIMECAP fund. This fund has a very good long track record. Details about the fund's review is below.

Vanguard PRIMECAP Inv (VPMCX)

The Vanguard PRIMECAP fund objective is to seek long-term appreciation of capital. This Vanguard fund invests in stocks considered to have above-average earnings growth potential that is not reflected in their current market prices. Its portfolio consists predominantly of mid- and large-capitalization stocks.

Vanguard PRIMECAP fund details

VPMCX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: November 1984
• Ticker Symbol: VPMCX (Investor Class)
• CUSIP: 921936100
• Beta (3yr): 0.98
• Rank in category (YTD): 31
• Category: Large Growth
• Type: Large Cap Stock Fund
• Yield: 0.86%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Expense Ratio: 0.45%
• Sales Load: 0%
• Net Assets: $32.42 billion
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years

updated on 7/5/2011

TCW Total Return Bond Fund (TGLMX)

TCW Total Return Bond Fund (TGLMX) is one of the best fixed income mutual funds. This taxable bond fund objective is to provide total return with income. The fund review can be found in this post.

TCW Total Return Bond I (Ticker: TGLMX)

The TCW Total Return Bond fund is seeking to maximize current income and achieve above average total return consistent with prudent investment management over a full market cycle. This TCW fund invests >80% of net assets in debt obligations. It invests mostly in mortgage-backed securities of any maturity or type guaranteed by, or secured by collateral that is guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies, sponsored corporations, and in privately issued mortgage-backed securities rated Aa or higher by any nationally recognized statistical organization.

TGLMX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: June 1993

  

  TGLMX fund details

  
  

• Ticker Symbol: TGLMX (Institutional Class)
• CUSIP: 87234N880
• Beta (3yr): 0.42
• Rank in category (YTD): 50
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution: 7.13%
• Capital Gains: N/A 
• Number of Years Up: 15 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Duration: 3.8 years
• Average Maturity: 7.4 years

updated on 7/2/2011