DFA Emerging Markets Fund | DFEMX

For the past 3 years, emerging markets economic has seen a significant gain compare to developed countries (USA and Europe). Investing in this market can be done through Emerging Markets stock mutual fund. One of the best rated diversified emerging markets equity funds is DFA Emerging Markets I fund. Details about the fund's review is described below.

DFA Emerging Markets I (MUTF: DFEMX)

As part of international stock fund, the DFA Emerging Markets fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation. This EM Equity fund usually invests most of its assets (>80%) in the Emerging Markets Stocks. It buys broad market coverage of larger companies associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development).

DFEMX Fund Details

DFA Emerging Markets I fund

• Fund Inception Date: April 25, 1994
• Ticker Symbol: DFEMX
• CUSIP: 233-203-785
• Beta (3yr): 1.09
• Rank in category (YTD): 32
• Category: Diversified Emerging Markets
• Distribution Rate: 1.46%
• Net Assets: $ 2.5 billion
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.60%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 10 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years

Updated on 9/13/2011

Frost Total Return Bond A (FATRX) Fund

To diversify your investment portfolio, investor should consider to have several bond mutual funds. One of the best rated taxable bond funds is Frost Total Return Bond fund. This fund is rather new but is has provided consistent return. The following article will provide the fund's review.

Frost Total Return Bond A (MUTF: FATRX)

The Frost Total Return Bond fund seeks to maximize total return (i.e. provide income and capital appreciation), consistent with the preservation of principal. The fund usually invests majority of net assets (>80%) in investment grade fixed income securities. The fund typically has the average weighted duration of plus or minus 3 years of the fund benchmark's duration. This Frost fund may invest in below investment grade bonds.

FATRX Fund Details

Frost Total Return Bond fund

• Fund Inception Date: July 1, 2008
• Ticker Symbol: FATRX
• CUSIP: 00766Y679
• Beta (3yr): 0.58
• Rank in category (YTD): 20%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Yield: 4.57%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Sales Load: 3.75%
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Total Net Assets: $544.26 million
• Effective Duration: 3.24 years
• Average Maturity: 5.13 years

Updated on 8/23/2011

Fidelity Select IT Services Fund | FBSOX

Fidelity is one the most well known mutual fund and brokerage. It also has one of the largest sector equity funds. One of the best rated technology sector equity funds is Fidelity Select IT Services. The fund's review can be found below.

Fidelity Select IT Services (MUTF: FBSOX)

The Fidelity Select IT Services fun is seeking to provide capital appreciation. This Fidelity sector equity fund invests mainly in information technology services companies’ common stocks (>80% assets). The fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. It uses fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions to select investments. The top rated fund is non-diversified equity mutual fund.

FBSOX Fund Details

Fidelity Select IT Services fund details

• Fund Inception Date: February 4, 1998
• Ticker Symbol: FBSOX
• CUSIP: 316390483
• Beta (3yr): 1.02
• Rank in category (YTD): 17
• Category: Miscellaneous Sector
• Distribution: 0.0%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 9 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Total Net Assets: $166.1 million

updated on 8/23/2011

MFS International Value Fund | MGIAX

International stock mutual funds should be part of your investment portfolio. They are useful for asset diversification. One of the best foreign large international stock funds is MFS International Value fund. This fund review is described below. I have included various information such as dividend yield, fund's CUSIP, expense ratio and more.

MFS International Value A (MUTF: MGIAX)

The MFS International Value investment seeks capital appreciation. This MFS fund typically invests assets primarily in foreign equity securities, including emerging-market companies’ stocks. It may invest a relatively high percentage of the fund's assets in a single country or a small number of countries. The fund focuses on investing assets in the undervalue stocks of companies.

MGIAX Fund Details

MFS International Value

• Fund Inception Date: October 24, 1995
• Ticker Symbol: MGIAX
• CUSIP: 55273E301
• Beta (3yr): 0.86
• Rank in category (YTD): 3
• Category: Foreign Large Value
• Distribution rate: 1.05%
• Net Assets: $ 3.49 billion
• Sales Load: 5.75%
• Expense Ratio: 1.28%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years

Updated 8/23/2011

PIMCO Income Fund (PONAX)

PIMCO Income fund (PONAX) is one of the best rated taxable bond mutual funds. PIMCO has been well known with its bond fund investment. The fund's review can be found below.

PIMCO Income Fund (MUTF: PONAX)

The PIMCO Income Fund investment seeks to maximize current income. It also tries to provide long-term capital appreciation as its secondary objective. The fund invests >65% of total assets in a multi-sector portfolio of fixed-income instruments of varying maturities. It may invest <50% of total assets in high-yield securities rated below investment-grade but rated at least Caa by Moody’s, or equivalently rated by S&P or Fitch, or, if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. This PIMCO bond fund may invest <20% of total assets in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries.

PONAX Fund Details

PIMCO Income Fund

• Fund Inception Date: March 30, 2007
• Ticker Symbol: PONAX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 72201F474
• Beta (3yr): 0.94
• Rank in category (YTD): 11
• Category: Multisector Bond
• Distribution Rate / Yield: 5.04%
• Net Assets: $ 79.1 billion
• Sales Load: 3.75%
• Expense Ratio: 0.85%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Maturity: 6.57 years
• Average Duration: 4.29 years

updated on May 2017

T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund (PRHSX)

Sector equity fund can provide an alternative for investor to invest in certain attractive stock or equity market.  The following health sector can provide growth and value for you. One of these best sector equity funds is described below.


T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (MUTF: PRHSX)

The T. Rowe Price Health Sciences fund objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund generally invests most of assets (>80%) in the common stocks of companies engaged in the research, development, production, or distribution of products or services related to health care, medicine, or the life sciences. While it can invest in companies of any size (i.e. large cap, mid cap, small cap), this TRP fund invests the majority of assets in large- and mid-capitalization companies.

T. Rowe Price Health Sciences fund

PRHSX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: December 29, 1995
• Ticker Symbol: PRHSX
• CUSIP: 741480107
• Beta (3yr): 0.85
• Rank in category (YTD): 4
• Category: Health
• Distribution: 0.0%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 12 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Total Net Assets: $3.28 billion
• Turnover Rate: 25.2%

Updated on 8/18/2011

HighMark NYSE ArcaTech 100 Index A (PPTIX) Fund

Technology sector has been one of the market leader for the past 3 years. Investing in best technology sector funds should be part of investor portfolio. One of the best rated funds is HighMark NYSE ArcaTech 100 index fund. I have provided the fund's review below.

HighMark NYSE ArcaTech 100 Index A (MUTF: PPTIX)

HighMark NYSE ArcaTech 100 Index

The HighMark NYSE ArcaTech 100 Index fund objective is to seek to track the total return of the NYSE Arca Tech 100 Index, before deducting for fund expenses. This HighMark fund invests majority all of its assets in substantially all of the component securities included in the NYSE Arca Tech 100 Index. The NYSE Arca Tech 100 Index, which consists of at least 100 individual technology-related securities, is a price-weighted index of stocks of companies from different industries that produce or deploy innovative technologies to conduct their business. It may also invest 5% of assets in cash.

PPTIX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: June 10, 1996
• Ticker Symbol: PPTIX
• CUSIP: 431113836 
• Beta (3yr): 0.98
• Rank in category (YTD): 8
• Category: Technology
• Distribution: 0.0%
• Sales Load: 5.50%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 10 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Total Net Assets: $217.62 million 

updated 8/16/2011