November 4, 2011

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (VEIEX)

Known for its index mutual funds, Vanguard offers brokerage service and exchange traded funds as well. One of the most popular index funds is Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index fund. This fund invests mainly in emerging market countries stocks. This fund may be suitable for long term investors who wish to diversify his/her portfolio. More reviews can be found below.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX)

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Idx
This Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index fund’s objective is to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index performance. This passively managed fund invests most of its assets (>95%) in the stocks included in the index.

This Vanguard fund tracks 21 emerging market countries equity returns such as Russia, China, India, Brazil, Korea, South Africa, etc. Please note: This EM equity fund may be more volatile than US domestic stock fund or other developed countries stock fund, though it may provide higher long term returns.

As mentioned before, this fund uses indexing approached to manage its assets. The fund’s manager is Michael Perre since 2008. The total net assets are $50.78 Billion. It also has a yield of 1.87%. This fund’s expense ratio is 0.35%. This fee is lower than the average category of 1.67%. As any typical Vanguard fund, there is no sales load.

Fund Details
  • Fund Inception Date: February 26, 1999
  • Ticker Symbol: VEIEX
  • CUSIP: 922042304
  • Beta (3yr): 1.10
  • Rank in category (YTD): 61 %
  • Category: diversified emerging markets
  • Yield: 1.96%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 0.33%
  • Net Assets: $ 67.7 billion
  • Number of Years Up: 10 years
  • Number of Years Down: 7 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 10%
Updated on 5/28/2012

This Diversified Emerging Market Stock fund is rated with 3 stars rating by Morningstar. It has the best 1 year total return in 2009 with 75.98% and the worst 1 year total return in 2008 with -52.81%. This EM stock fund has returned -17.63% over the past 1 year, 4.98% over the past 3 year, and 15.26% over the past 10 year.

This fund can be bought from 52 brokerages such as Vanguard, Northwestern Mutual, Schwab Retail, ETrade No Load Fee, Matrix Financial Solutions, Scottrade TF, etc. Investor may buy this Vanguard fund with $3,000 minimum investment for regular brokerage account and for retirement (IRA) account. This fund requires $100 for the minimum subsequent investment. The other class of this fund is the Admiral Shares (Ticker: VEMAX), Institutional Class (VEMIX), Institutional Plus (VEMRX), Signal Class (VERSX), and ETF (Ticker: VWO). The expense ratio of VEMRX is 0.12%.

Investing in this fund may include risks such as stock market risk, emerging markets risk, index sampling risk, currency and political risks.

As of October 2011, this fund has a total of 914 stocks. The median market cap is $15.4 Billion. The turnover rate is 16.2%. The top 10 largest holdings are Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Vale SA, China Mobile Ltd, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Gazprom OAO, America Movil SAB de CV, Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Hyundai Motor Co, and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.

Pros:
  • Low expense ratio fee
  • No sales load

Disclosure: No Position

Other International Stock Mutual Funds:

November 3, 2011

American Funds Capital Income Builder A (CAIBX) Fund

American Funds Capital Income Builder A Fund (CAIBX) is a balanced mutual fund. This American Funds fund invests in stocks and bonds around the world. This post provides the fund review in details.

One of the advantages to invest in balanced mutual fund is investor can get instant diversification into equity (stock) and fixed income (bond) market. The following American Funds Capital Income Builder fund is part of World Allocation balanced fund. This World Allocation fund may invest in global stocks and bonds including preferred stock, convertible, emerging markets, high yield, corporate bond, etc.

American Funds Capital Income Builder A (Ticker: CAIBX)

American Funds Capital Income Builder Fund (CAIBX) Class A
AF Capital Income Builder A
This American Funds Capital Income Builder fund’s objective is to provide a level of current income and a growing stream of income over the years. The fund’s secondary objective is to achieve capital growth. This American Funds fund invests most of its assets (>90%) in income-producing securities, including common stocks and bonds (with <50% of assets in stocks). CAIBX may also invest in foreign companies stocks.

CAIBX Fund Details

  • Fund Inception Date: 07/30/1987
  • Ticker Symbol: CAIBX (Class A)
  • CUSIP: 140193 10 3
  • Beta (3yr): 1.08
  • Yield: 3.37%
  • Expense Fee: 0.60%
  • Total Assets: $104 Billion
  • Minimum to Invest: $250
  • Number of Years Up: 20 years
  • Number of Years Down: 3 years
  • Sales Load: 5.75% (Front End)
updated May 2017

November 2, 2011

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

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX)
  • 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

November 1, 2011

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

October 31, 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

October 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

October 29, 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

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