Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX)

One of the most popular index funds is Vanguard 500 Index fund. This Vanguard fund has low fee and has rated among the best fund by Morningstar. This fund track S&P 500 index performance and it is managed passively. Details about the fund’s review are below.

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares (VFINX)

Vanguard 500 Index fund details

The investment objective of this Vanguard 500 index fund is to track the S&P 500 index performance which measures the large-capitalization stocks investment returns. The fund employs a passive management or indexing investment approach designed to track the index performance. This Standard & Poor 500 index is a widely recognized benchmark of U.S. stock market performance that is dominated by the stocks of large U.S. companies.

VFINX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 08/31/1976
• Ticker Symbol: VFINX (Investor Shares)
• CUSIP: 922908108
• Beta (3yr): 1.00
• Rank in category (YTD): 18%
• Expense Fee: 0.14%
• Yield: 1.80%
• Total Assets: $316 billion
• Fund Manager: Donald M. Butler and Scott E. Geiger
• Min to Invest: $3,000
• Category: Large Blend

Updated May 2017

American Funds SMALLCAP World Fund (SMCWX) Class A

This next world stock fund has invested in small cap / mid cap international stocks. American Funds SMALLCCAP World A fund is another popular mutual fund for investor. Investor can use this fund for portfolio diversification. More details about the fund’s review can be found below.

American Funds SMALLCAP World A (Ticker: SMCWX)

American Funds SMALLCAP World

The investment objective of American Funds SMALLCAP World A (SMCWX) fund is to achieve long-term growth of capital. This American Funds fund invests >80% of net assets in growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type securities, including preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, and convertible bonds, of companies with small market capitalizations.

According to the fund’s prospectus, the small capitalization companies are companies with market capitalizations of $3.5 billion or less. This international stock fund invests majority of its assets outside the United States.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: April 30, 1990
• Ticker Symbol: SMCWX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 831681101
• Beta (3yr): 0.98
• Rank in category (YTD): 87%
• Category: World Stock

Updated on 11/7/2011

Franklin Income A (FKINX) Fund

Franklin Income A (FKINX) Fund is a balance mutual fund. This Franklin Templeton fund invests in stocks and bonds.

This next mutual fund has delivered a record of consistent dividend for the past 60 years. This fund is Franklin Income A fund. This fund is classified as conservative allocation balanced fund. More details on fund’s review can be found below.

Franklin Income A (MUTF: FKINX)

FKINX Fund Details

Franklin Income A fund details

• Fund Inception Date: 08/31/1948
• Ticker Symbol:  FKINX (Share Class A)
• CUSIP: 353496300
• Beta (3yr): 1.04
• Rank in category (YTD): 86%
• Category: Conservative Allocation
• Sales Load: 4.25%
• Yield: 5.11%
• Expense Fee: 0.61%
• Assets: $82.9 billion
• Number of Years Up: 50 years
• Number of Years Down: 12 years

Updated on May 3, 2017

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 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

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

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.

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

• 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