Joel Tillinghast to take short leave, FLPSX fund Manager

As one of the star manager from Fidelity, Joel Tillinghast is taking a short leave during the fourth quarter of 2011. The absence will begin from September 6th, 2011 until January 2012. Joel Tillinghast has been the lead fund manager of Fidelity Low-Priced Stock fund (Ticker: FLPSX) since 1989. This Fidelity fund also has 4 stars rating from Morningstar.

During his absence, this Fidelity Low-Priced Stock fund will be managed by Jamie Harmon, lead manager of Fidelity Advisor Small Cap. He will be supported by five member supporting cast with sector specialties. Harmon will consult with Tillinghast if he want to trade stocks in the fund's top 50 holdings.

Full article can be found here.

Cohen & Steers Realty Shares Fund (CSRSX)

Cohen & Steers Realty Shares fund (Ticker: CSRSX) is a U.S. domestic stock mutual fund. This real estate sector equity fund has a decent yield.

REIT sector stock fund can be attractive for investor since it relatively has higher dividend income. One of the best Real Estate sector equity mutual funds is Cohen & Steers Realty Shares. Details fund's review can be found below.

Cohen & Steers Realty Shares (Ticker: CSRSX)

The Cohen & Steers Realty Shares fund objective is to provide total return through investment in real estate securities. The Cohen & Steers fund invests >80% or more of its total assets in common stocks and other equity securities of real estate companies. This fund may invest in real estate companies of any market capitalization such as large cap, mid cap, or small cap. The CSRSX fund may invest some of assets (<20%) of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers which meet the same criteria for investment as domestic companies. Please note, this actively managed fund is non-diversified equity mutual fund.

CSRSX Fund Details

Cohen & Steers Realty Shares fund details

• Fund Inception Date: July 2, 1991
• Ticker Symbol: CSRSX
• CUSIP: 192476109
• Net Assets: $5.1 billion
• Beta (3yr): 1.50 
• Rank in category (YTD): 27
• Category: Real Estate Sector Equity
• Yield: 2.91%
• Expense Ratio: 0.96%
• Sales Load: 0%
• Capital Gains: N/A           
• Number of Years Up: 16 years     
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Turnover: 106%

Updated on May 2017

PIMCO Emerging Local Bond D Fund (PLBDX)

With higher growth prospect, investor has been focusing on emerging markets bond fund. This bond has higher yield than any typical US government bond fund. One of the best taxable emerging markets bond funds is PIMCO Emerging Local Bond D.

PIMCO Emerging Local Bond D (Ticker: PLBDX)

The PIMCO Emerging Local Bond fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with capital preservation and prudent investment management. This PIMCO fund invests most of assets (>80%) in Fixed-Income Instruments denominated in currencies of emerging securities markets countries. This investment may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements. It may invest without limit in Fixed-Income Instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. This fund is classified as a non-diversified bond fund.

PLBDX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: July 31, 2007
• Ticker Symbol: PLBDX (Class D)
• CUSIP: 72201F383
• Beta (3yr): 2.39
• Rank in category (YTD): 14
• Category: Emerging Markets Bond
• Dividend Yield: 6.76%
• Dividend Frequency: Monthly
• Morningstar Rating: 4
• Net Assets: $8.5 billion
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Duration: 4.18 years
• Average Maturity: 5.86 years

updated on July 12th, 2011

American Funds New Perspective Fund (ANWPX) Class A

American Funds is among the top 3 largest mutual fund families in the U.S. It has several funds with large asset. American Funds New Perspective is one the best international equity fund. This fund's review can be found below.

American Funds New Perspective - Ticker: ANWPX

As part of world stock fund, the American Funds New Perspective fund is seeking capital appreciation and income. The fund mainly invests in companies stocks located around the world to take advantage of investment opportunities generated by changes in international trade patterns and economic and political relationships. To achieve its primary investment objective, this American Funds invests primarily in common stocks that the investment adviser believes have the potential for growth. In pursuing its secondary objective, the fund invests in common stocks of companies with the potential to pay dividends in the future.

ANWPX Fund Details

American Funds ANWPX fund details

• Fund Inception Date: March 13, 1973
• Ticker Symbol: ANWPX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 648018109
• Net Assets: $46.8 billion
• Beta (3yr): 0.84 
• Rank in category (YTD): 59
• Category: Large Growth
• Dividend Yield: 0.97%
• Expense Ratio: 0.79%
• Sales Load: 5.75%
• Capital Gains: N/A           
• Number of Years Up: 31 years     
• Number of Years Down: 6 years
• Turnover: 24%

Updated on July 11th, 2011

USAA High Income Fund (USHYX)

Since the federal reserve is going to maintain the current interest rate in USA until 2013, investing in High Yield bond fund can be very attractive. One of this best high yield bond fund is USAA High Yield Opportunities. I'll provide this fund review and the fund performance details.

USAA High Income Fund (Ticker: USHYX)

USAA High Income Fund is previously known as USAA High-Yield Opportunities fund. The mutual fund seeks attractive total return through high current income. The fund’s secondary objective is to provide capital appreciation. The fund usually invests most of assets (>80%) in high-yield securities, including bonds or debts, preferred stocks, or convertible bonds. Although the fund invests mainly in U.S. securities, it may invest without limit in dollar denominated foreign securities and to some securities in non-dollar-denominated foreign securities.

USHYX Fund Details

USAA USHYX fund details

• Fund Inception Date: August 2, 1999
• Ticker Symbol: USHYX
• CUSIP: 90328884
• Beta (3yr): 0.84
• Rank in category (YTD): 5
• Category: High Yield Bond
• Distribution: 7.08%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 8 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Average Effective Duration: 4.01
• Average Effective Maturity: 6.89

updated on 9/19/2011

Top Performer Bond & Stock Mutual Funds July 2011

The following article will provide the top performing mutual funds (up till July 2011). The list include Dynamic US Growth I, Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth A, PIMCO Real Estate Real Return Strategy A and more.

Introduction

Mutual funds have been the primary medium for many investors to invest. Many long term investors have either brokerage account or retirement account (Traditional IRA, ROTH IRA, 401k, etc). Mutual funds have 2 main categories: bond mutual fund (or fixed income fund) and stock mutual fund (or equity mutual fund).

The bond fund includes taxable bond fund and non taxable bond fund or municipal bond fund. The following fund is considered taxable bond fund:

• Government bond fund: Foreign or USA
• US Treasuries fund
• GNMA fund
• Mortgage bond fund
• Corporate bond fund
• High Yield bond fund

The non taxable bond fund is also called municipal bond fund or muni bond fund. These funds have a dividend yield which is exempted from federal tax rate. Some muni bond funds may also exempt from state and local tax.

The other fund is stock fund. This equity fund has 3 main categories such as domestic stock fund, foreign stock fund, and preferred stock fund. These stock funds may be classified as according to its style or category such as large growth, large blend, large value, mid value, mid blend, mid growth, small growth, small value, small blend, Europe, asia pacific, Japan, sector (real estate REIT, health, technology, basic materials, energy, precious metals, etc).

The following top performers are sorted based on its year to date performance up to July 8th, 2011. The 40 Top YTD Performer Mutual Funds 2011 (up to July 8th, 2011) are:

1. Dynamic US Growth I (DWUGX)
2. Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth A (PSGAX)
3. GMO US Small/Mid Cap Growth III (GMSPX)
4. PIMCO Real Estate Real Return Strategy A (PETAX)
5. Rice Hall James Small Cap Instl (RHJMX)
6. T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (PRHSX)
7. Delaware Smid Cap Growth A (DFCIX)
8. JHT Health Sciences Trust Ser I (JEHSX)
9. ProFunds UltraSector Health Care Inv (HCPIX)
10. VALIC Company I Health Sciences (VCHSX)

updated on July 8th, 2011

Latest Article: Best Performer Mutual Funds May 2012

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