November 8, 2011

PIMCO Low Duration Fund (PTLAX)

This next fund, PIMCO Low Duration A, is part of best taxable bond funds. This fund is rated with 4 stars by Morningstar. It is categorized as short term bond fund. More details about the fund’s review can be found below.

PIMCO Low Duration A (Ticker: PTLAX)

PIMCO Low Duration Fund (PTLAX)
PIMCO Low Duration A
The investment objective of PIMCO Low Duration Fund is to provide maximum total return. This PIMCO fund invests >65% of total assets in a diversified portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments of varying maturities. It invests mainly in investment-grade debt securities, but may invest <10% of total assets in high-yield securities rated B or higher by rating agencies. The fund may invest <30% of total assets in securities denominated in non US currencies, and may invest beyond this limit in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers.

Fund Details
  • Fund Inception Date: January 13, 1997
  • Ticker Symbol: PTLAX
  • CUSIP: 693390411
  • Beta (3yr): 0.28
  • Rank in category (YTD): 59%
  • Category: Short-Term Bond
  • Distribution: 1.93%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 0.85%  
  • Net Assets: $ 21.34 billion
  • Number of Years Up: 12 years
  • Number of Years Down: 1 year
  • Average Duration: 3.83 years
  • Average Maturity: 2.94 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 461.0%
Updated on 11/8/2011

November 7, 2011

Top Performer Closed End Funds of Nov 2011 for Week 44

The following is the top performer CEFs (Closed End Funds) for week 44 of 2011. The top performing funds include Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Bond (EIO), Equus Total Return (EQS), Invesco Insured Municipal Bond (IMC), ClearBridge Energy MLP Opportunity (EMO), etc.

The 12 Top Performer Closed End Funds CEFs 2011 (Week 44) are:
Weekly Top Performer CEFs 2011
  1. Eaton Vance Ohio Municipal Bond (EIO)
  2. Equus Total Return (EQS)
  3. Invesco Insured Municipal Bond (IMC)
  4. ClearBridge Energy MLP Opportunity (EMO)
  5. Western Asset Global Partners Income (GDF)
  6. Guggenheim Build America Bond Managed Duration (GBAB)
  7. Nuveen CA Select Quality Municipal (NVC)
  8. BlackRock Municpial Bond Investment (BIE)
  9. RENN Global Entrepreneurs (RCG)
  10. PCM Fund (PCM)
  11. Dreyfus Strategy Muni Bond (DSM)
  12. Invesco CA Quality Municipal (IQC)
Note: Week 44 = October 31, 2011 till November 6, 2011

November 6, 2011

Montrusco Bolton Quantitative Canadian Equity Fund Review

The following is the fund's review of another Canadian Equity Mutual Fund. Montrusco Bolton Quantitative Canadian Equity fund is another popular option for investor to invest in mutual fund.

Montrusco Bolton Quantitative Canadian Equity

Montrusco Bolton Quantitative Canadian Equity
The fundamental investment objective of the Quantitative Canadian Equity Fund is to achieve long-term growth of capital through the investment of its assets in a very concentrated group of stocks included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index and traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The lead manager of this fund is Ismael Chiadmi. This fund was introduced to public in February 1996. It has 1.21% annual expense ratio. This fund applies higher minimum initial investment of $150.000. There is no sales load fee. The benchmark of this fund is S&P/TSX Composite Index.

The top sector exposure of this fund as of June 2011 is Energy (28.7%), Information Technology (19.4%), Health Care (19.2%) and Materials (9.6%). The top ten holdings of this fund as of March 2011 represent 97.13% of the total portfolio. They are Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl. (11.89%), Precision Drilling (10.72%), Lundin Mining (9.83%), First Quantum Minerals (9.60%), Silver Wheaton (9.52%), Baytex Energy Corp. (9.36%), Viterra Inc. (9.23%), Trican Well Service (9.15%), Ivanhoe Mines (9.02%) and Suncor Energy (8.81%).

The risks investing in this fund include currency risk, interest rate risk, price risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

November 5, 2011

American Funds Washington Mutual A (AWSHX) Fund

American Funds Washington Mutual A Fund (AWSHX) focuses its investment in established U.S. companies. It is a large value mutual fund.

The following American Funds Washington Mutual A fund is among the oldest and popular US stock mutual fund. This us equity fund is also among the largest mutual fund. Details about the fund’s review can be found below.

American Funds Washington Mutual A (MUTF: AWSHX)

The investment objective of American Funds Washington Mutual A fund is to provide income and to provide an opportunity for growth of principal consistent with sound common stock investing. This US stock fund invests mainly in common stocks of established companies that are listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and have a strong record of dividends and earnings.

AWSHX Fund Details

    American Funds Washington Mutual A (AWSHX) Fund
  • Fund Inception Date: 07/31/1952
  • Ticker Symbol: AWSHX (Class A)
  • CUSIP: 939330106
  • Beta (3yr): 0.92
  • Category: Large Value
  • Expense Fee: 0.58%
  • Yield: 1.77%
  • Total Assets: $90 billion
  • Category: Large Value
  • Number of Years Up: 46 years
  • Number of Years Down: 12 years
  • Sales Load: 5.75% (Front End)
  • Turnover Rate: 30%
Updated May 2017

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

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