Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX)

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index fund (VBMFX) is a popular taxable bond mutual fund. This Vanguard bond fund provides a decent yield. You will find the fund review in this article.

Vanguard has been well known with its wide selection of mutual funds. It also among the leader with low cost index funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). One of the most popular Vanguard’s bond index fund is Vanguard Total Bond Market Index fund. Please check the fund’s review below.

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Inv (MUTF: VBMFX)

This Vanguard Total Bond Market Index fund objective is to provide return by tracking the performance of Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted index, the bond index. The fund invests >80% of assets in bonds held in the index. This Vanguard fund keeps a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the index, ranging between 5 - 10 years.

VBMFX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 12/11/1986
• Ticker Symbol: VBMFX (Investor Shares)
• CUSIP: 921937108
• Beta (3yr): 1.01
• Rank in category (YTD): 7%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Yield: 2.36%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Fee: 0.15%
• Fund Manager: Joshua C. Barrickman
• Number of Years Up: 22 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Total Net Assets: $179 Billion
• Effective Duration: 6.09 years
• Average Maturity: 8.3 years

Updated May 2017

Sequoia Fund (SEQUX)

US stock investment can be done through mutual funds. One of the best U.S. Stock Funds is Sequoia fund. This domestic equity fund is rated 5 stars by Morningstar and is one of the oldest mutual fund. Details about the fund’s review can be found below.

Sequoia (MUTF: SEQUX)

This Sequoia fund is seeking long-term growth of capital. This large blend stock fund invests primarily on undervalued common stocks with potential for growth. While the fund typically invests in U.S. companies, it also may invest in foreign securities. It may invest in securities of issuers with any market capitalization. The fund is non-diversified.

SEQUX Fund Details

Sequoia fund details

• Fund Inception Date: July 15, 1970
• Ticker Symbol: SEQUX
• CUSIP: 817418106 
• Beta (3yr): 0.78
• Rank in category (YTD): 1
• Category: Large Blend
• Distribution Rate: 0.22%
• Net Assets: $ 4.38 billion
• Sales Load: 0.0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.00%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 34 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years

Updated on 10/18/2011

Top Performer Non Leveraged Mutual Funds of Oct 2011

This article will provide list of Monthly Top Performer Mutual Funds of October 2011. The top performing funds are: BlackRock Energy & Resources Inv A, Schneider Small Cap Value, Pacific Advisors Small Cap Value A, and more.

The market performance for the month of October has been outstanding. Most indices have produced double digits return whether it is international indices (DAX, Nikkei, FTSE 100, etc) or domestic indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq, NYSE, Dow Jones Industrial, Russell 2000, etc). On my previous article, I have provided the top performer mutual funds (leveraged version). This top performer list will only provide a list for non-leveraged mutual funds.

The 12 Monthly Top Performer Non Leveraged Mutual Funds of October 2011 are:

Top Performer Mutual Funds 2011 (NL)

1. BlackRock Energy & Resources Inv A
2. Integrity Williston Bsn/Md-N Amer Stk A
3. Schneider Small Cap Value
4. Pacific Advisors Small Cap Value A
5. Oracle Mutual A
6. Rydex Energy Services Inv
7. Dreyfus Emerging Leaders
8. Dreyfus Small Cap A
9. Dreyfus Opportunistic Small Cap
10. Pacific Advisors Mid Cap Value A
11. Saratoga Energy & Basic Materials A
12. Rydex Energy Inv

Updated on 10/30/2011

10 Monthly Top Performer Leveraged Mutual Funds of October 2011

As we know, market turned higher for this past 1 month. I will provide the monthly top performer mutual funds list. This fund list includes ProFunds Oil Equipment Service & Distribution Inv, Direxion Monthly Commodity Bull 2X, ProFunds UltraLatin America Inv, and more.

The list does include leverage mutual funds. Please be advised, these leveraged mutual funds may be too risky for you. If you are interested in non-leveraged mutual fund list, please check my next article. More fund’s review can be found below.

The 10 Monthly Top Performer Mutual Funds of October 2011 are:

Top Performer Funds Oct 2011

1. ProFunds Oil Equipment Services & Distribution Inv
2. Direxion Monthly Commodity Bull 2X
3. ProFunds UltraLatin America Inv
4. Rydex Russell 2000 2x Strategy A
5. ProFunds UltraSmall Cap Inv
6. Rady Contrarian Long/Short A
7. Direxion Monthly Small Cap Bull 2X
8. ProFunds UltraSector Oil & Gas Investor
9. Direxion Monthly Latin America Bull 2X Inv
10. ProFunds Basic Materials UltraSector Inv

updated 10/30/2011

10 Monthly Top Performer Closed End Funds October 2011

The market performance for this past October 2011 has been epic to say the least. Individual stocks gained at least 10% or more. Some stocks may even record between 30% and 50% returns for 1 month. This article will look into the top performing closed end funds for October 2011. The top performers include Equus Total Return (EQS) fund, Petroleum & Resources (PEO) fund, Korea Fund (KF) fund, and more.

The 10 Monthly Top Performer Closed End Funds (October 2011) are:

Monthly Top Performer CEFs Oct 2011

1. Equus Total Return (EQS)
2. Petroleum & Resources (PEO)
3. Korea Fund (KF)
4. Diamond Hill Financial Trends (DHFT)
5. BlackRock Real Asset Equity (BCF)
6. Aberdeen Chile (CH)
7. BlackRock Energy & Resources (BGR)
8. Royce Value Trust (RVT)
9. Morgan Stanley East Europe (RNE)
10. John Hancock Bank & Thrift (BTO)

updated on 10/29/2011

American Funds Growth Fund of America A (AGTHX)

American Funds Growth Fund of America fund (AGTHX) is a popular domestic stock mutual fund. The fund invests in common stocks of U.S. companies with high growth.

The following large growth stock fund is among the largest mutual funds in US with assets of $122.6 Billion. The Growth Fund of America is also popular among investor hence it offers in retirement account or regular brokerage account. Details about the fund’s review can be found below.

American Funds Growth Fund of America A (MUTF: AGTHX)

As part of American Funds fund family, the Growth Fund of America A fund objective is to deliver capital growth by investing in common stocks of best growth companies. The fund typically invest >65% of its assets in common stocks. It may also invest minority of its assets (<25%) in foreign stocks (outside the United States). This American Funds fund can invest in preferred stocks, convertibles, US Government securities, bonds, and cash equivalent. It also may invest <10% of assets in non-investment grade bonds or junk bonds.

AGTHX Fund Details

AGTHX fund details

• Fund Inception Date: November 30, 1973
• Ticker Symbol: AGTHX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 399874 10 6
• Beta (3yr): 0.96
• Rank in category (YTD): 70%
• Category: Large Growth
• Distribution Rate/ Yield: 0.51%
• Net Assets: $ 159 Billion
• Sales Load: 5.75%
• Expense Ratio: 0.69%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 31 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years

updated May 2017

Charlie Fernandez left Fairholme Capital Management

Charlie Fernandez, the comanager on the Fairholme mutual funds, has left the firm recently. Fernandez was the comanager of Fairholme (FAIRX) fund, Fairholme Focused Income (FOCIX) fund, and Fairholme Allocation (FAAFX) fund. This left these funds with the only manager, Bruce Berkowitz. Berkowitz is the firm’s founder. He is among one of the well-known fund’s manager. His recently bet on financial services has made the funds to underperform. Based on latest fund’s performance, the fund’s has loss 26% of its assets.

There are no details about the reason of his departure from the Fairholme firm. Fernandez joined the Fairholme fund in 2008.