Royce International Smaller-Companies RYGSX Service Class Fund

Another alternative investment strategy is investing in small /mid cap international stock fund. As we know, international stock funds don’t have a straight correlation to domestic stock funds. These international stock funds also have outperformed some of the domestic stock funds. These funds can also be useful for portfolio diversification. One of the best rated international stock funds is listed below. More of top fund review can be found in my MEPB Financial website.

Royce International Smaller-Companies Service Class (MUTF: RYGSX)

The Royce International Smaller-Companies fund’s objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. The fund invests >80% of assets in the equity securities of companies with market capitalizations up to $5 billion at the time of investment. The fund also typically invests majority of assets (>65%) in the equity securities of international companies domiciled in >3 different countries. The fund invests <35% of assets in the securities of companies domiciled in developing countries. Generally, developing countries include every country in the world other than the United States, Japan, Western European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, etc.

RYGSX Fund Details

Royce International Smaller Companies

• Fund Inception Date: June 30, 2008
• Ticker Symbol: RYGSX (Service Class)
• CUSIP: 780905139
• Beta (3yr): 0.96
• Rank in category (YTD): 76
• Category: Foreign Small/ Mid Value
• Distribution: 0.75%
• Net Assets: $ 22.01 million
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.69%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years

Updated on 10/1/2011

Top 25 Balanced Mutual Funds of Sep 2011 for past 3 months

The following is about the 25 top performing balanced mutual funds September 2011. The top performers include PIMCO Real Income 2029 A, Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2050 A, Federated Market Opportunity A, Hussman Strategic Total Return and more.

Volatility for the past 3 month has reminded us (i.e. investor) to remember to diversify our portfolio allocation. One of the easiest ways is to use balanced funds. Balanced funds or hybrid funds invest in equity and bond. Depending on their objective, these balanced mutual funds can allocate their asset accordingly. With European monetary crisis, this fund has relatively outperformed other classes of mutual funds, especially stock funds or equity funds.

For a refresh, there are several balanced funds. They can be classified as: Aggressive allocation balanced funds, conservative allocation balanced funds, moderate allocation balanced funds, world allocation balanced funds, retirement income funds, and target date balanced funds (Target date 2000-2010, target date 2021-2025, etc).

The 25 Top Performer Balanced Mutual Funds September 2011 for the past 3 month are:

Top Performer Balanced Funds 2011

1. PIMCO Real Income 2029 A (POIAX)
2. Invesco Balanced Risk Retire 2050 A (TNEAX)
3. Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation A (ABRZX)
4. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2030 A (TNAAX)
5. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2020 A (AFTAX)
6. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2040 A (TNDAX)
7. Federated Market Opportunity A (FMAAX)
8. Hussman Strategic Total Return (HSTRX)
9. JHFunds2 Retirement 2010 Portfolio 1 (JRTOX)
10. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire Now A (IANAX)

25 Top Performer Taxable Bond Mutual Funds 2011

Bond mutual fund or fixed income fund has enjoyed one of the longest bull markets for the past 30 years. While stock funds have stagnant for the past 10 year, bond funds have outperformed. With market volatility for the past 3months, bond funds have relatively stable and achieve better return. There are two types of bond funds: taxable bond funds and municipal bond funds. The following is the 25 top performing bond funds (3 month performance). I also include the short fund review.

Note: Bond funds include: Government bond, inflation protection bond fund (TIP), general bond, bank loan bond fund, world bond fund, multisector bond fund, emerging market bond fund, municipal bond fund, etc.

The 25 Top Performer bond mutual funds September 2011 for the past 3 month are:

Top Performer Bond Funds 2011

1. PIMCO Extended Duration Instl (PEDIX)
2. Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Instl (VEDTX)
3. ProFunds US Government Plus Inv (GVPIX)
4. Rydex Govt Long Bond 1.2x Strategy Inv (RYGBX)
5. Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury (WHOSX)
6. American Century Zero Coupon 2025 Inv (BTTRX)
7. Fidelity Spartan L/T Term Bond Index Inv (FLBIX)
8. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Inv (VUSTX)
9. Vanguard Long-Term Government Bond Index Instl (VLGIX)
10. T. Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term (PRULX)

Turner Emerging Growth Fund (TMCGX)

Small cap US stock funds have outperformed large cap US stock funds. This small cap stock fund can be very volatile. One of the best small growth US stock funds is Turner Emerging Growth Investor fund. Details about the fund review can be found below.

Turner Emerging Growth Investor (MUTF: TMCGX)

Turner Emerging Growth Investor

The Turner Emerging Growth Investor investment seeks capital appreciation. This Turner Investment Partners fund invests mainly in equity securities of U.S. companies with small and very small market capitalizations and also in securities of companies that are diversified across economic sectors. Its exposure is generally <5% of assets in any single stock, subject to exceptions for the most heavily weighted securities in the 2000 Growth Index.

This small growth domestic stock fund is on the top list of Forbes 10^th best mutual funds. Frank L Sustersic has managed this fund since its inception in February 1998. This fund has expense ratio of 1.40% per yeary. This expense fee is a bit lower compared to the average in the Small Growth category (1.52%). The total net asset of this fund is $595.72 million. This TMCGX fund is under the management of Turner Investment Partners. Currently it is on 24^th rank in the small growth category. The CUSIP of this fund is 872524301. Note: Previously, this fund is known as Turner Micro-Cap Growth fund.

Top Performer International Stock Funds of Sep 2011 (3 Month Return)

International stock funds have been taking a beating for the past 3 months. These equity funds have been underperformed their peer, domestic stock funds. These international stock funds can include European stock funds, diversified emerging markets stock funds, world stock funds, Japan stock funds, and many more.

The 24 Top Performer International Stock mutual funds September 2011 for the past 3 month are:

Top Performing International Stock Funds

1. The USX China C (HPCCX)
2. Commonwealth Japan (CNJFX)
3. GaveKal Platform Company Instl (GAVIX)
4. API Efficient Frontier Multiple Index A (APIMX)
5. Prasad Growth (PRGRX)
6. Nuveen Tradewinds Japan A (NTJAX)
7. DWS RREEF Global Infrastructure A (TOLLX)
8. DFA Japanese Small Company I (DFJSX)
9. Dynamic Infrastructure I (DWGIX)
10. Henderson Japan Focus A (HFJAX)
11. Virtus Global Opportunities A (NWWOX)
12. Morgan Stanley Inst Glbl Franchise I (MSFAX)

Best Performer US Stock Mutual Funds Sep 2011 (3 months)

The following is the top performer of US Domestic Stock Mutual Funds for the past 3 months. The data is updated on September 23, 2011. Based on the list, you will notice the ten top performer funds have been dominated by utilities stock fund. These utilities stock funds usually have higher dividend yield and lower volatility. I also include the fund review below. More details about top performer funds or best stock fund can be found in my MEPB Financial website.

The 24 Top Performer US Domestic Stock Mutual Funds September 2011 (3 Months period):

Top Performer US Stock Fund 2011

1. ICON Telecommunications & Utilities S (ICTUX)
2. Franklin Utilities A (FKUTX)
3. ProFunds Utilities UltraSector Inv (UTPIX)
4. Invesco Utilities Investor (FSTUX)
5. Rydex Utilities Adv (RYAUX)
6. Direxion HCM Freedom Svc (HCMFX)
7. Berkshire Focus (BFOCX)
8. Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio (FSUTX)
9. Delaware Pooled Select 20 (DPCEX)
10. Center Coast MLP Focus A (CCCAX)

American Century Zero Coupon 2015 Inv (BTFTX) Fund

Bond mutual funds can be attractive to short term investors. One of this bond funds is government bond fund. This type of fund typically is very safe and has investment grade credit rating. These bond funds typically invest majority of assets in US Treasuries. These funds can be short term, intermediate term, and long term bonds. One of these government bond funds are described below.

Note: Long term bond fund which has longer duration years may be susceptible to interest rate hikes.

American Century Zero Coupon 2015 Inv (MUTF: BTFTX)

The American Century Zero Coupon fund’s objective is to seek the highest return consistent with investment in U.S. Treasury securities. This American Century fund invests >80% of assets in zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities. This bond fund may invest <20% of assets in AAA-rated zero-coupon U.S. government agency securities. Zero-coupon securities make no periodic interest or principal payments. The fund is managed to mature in the year 2015 and will be liquidated near the end of its target maturity year.

American Century Zero Coupon 2015

BTFTX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: September 2, 1986
• Ticker Symbol: BTFTX
• CUSIP: 024935405
• Beta (3yr): 1.55
• Rank in category (YTD): 94
• Category: Long Government
• Yield: 3.35%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 18 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years
• Net Assets: $364.49 million

Updated on 9/25/2011