Vanguard Intermediate Term Investment Grade Fund (VFICX)

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade fund is considered as one of the top rated taxable bond mutual fund. This Vanguard fund invests in US bond market. This intermediate term bond fund invests in a diversified portfolio of debt securities. This Vanguard fund is actively managed and has low expense ratio.

Details about this fund can be found below. You can also fund other best rated fund in my MEPB Financial website.

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Investor (VFICX)

This Vanguard Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade fund (investor class) seeks to provide a moderate and sustainable level of current income. This Vanguard fund invests in a variety of high-quality and, to a lesser extent, medium-quality fixed income securities, <80% of which will be short- and intermediate-term investment-grade securities. This bond fund will keep a dollar-weighted average maturity of 5 to 10 years.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: November 1, 1993
• Ticker Symbol: VFICX
• CUSIP: 922031885
• Beta (3yr): 1.35
• Rank in category (YTD): 8%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution Rate / Yield: 2.77%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%  
• Net Assets: $27.2 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Average Duration: 5.4 years
• Average Maturity: 6.6 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 68.0%

Updated May 2017

YTD Top Performer Mutual Funds Nov 2011

The following is the list of the Year-To-Date top performer mutual funds of 2011. The list includes Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Institutional, PIMCO Extended Duration Institutional, Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury, and more. Most of these top performers are bond funds especially Treasury bond and long term government bond.

YTD Top Performer Funds 2011

The 10 YTD Top Performer Funds 2011 include:

1. Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Institutional
2. PIMCO Extended Duration Institutional
3. ProFunds US Government Plus Inv
4. Rydex Govt Long Bond 1.2x Strategy Inv
5. Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury
6. American Century Zero Coupon 2025 Inv
7. Fidelity Spartan Long Term Treasury Bond Index Inv
8. Direxion Monthly 10 Year Note Bull 2X
9. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Inv
10. Vanguard Long-Term Government Bond Index Institutional

Updated on 11/22/2011

JPMorgan Core Bond Fund (PGBOX) Class A

This next bond fund invests primarily in investment grade bonds including corporate bond, US Treasuries, Mortgage based bond, etc. This JPMorgan Core Bond A is also one of the most popular fixed income fund hence it has $21 Billion total assets. Details review can be viewed below.

JPMorgan Core Bond A (PGBOX)

The investment objective of JPMorgan Core Bond fund is to maximize total return. This JPM fund is designed to maximize total return by investing in a portfolio of investment grade intermediate- and long-term bonds. This popular bond fund will invest at majority of assets (>80%) in bonds. The fund’s average weighted maturity will ordinarily range between 4 and 12 years.

Fund Details

JPMorgan Core Bond A fund

• Fund Inception Date: May 1, 1992
• Ticker Symbol: PGBOX
• CUSIP: 4812C0357
• Beta (3yr): 0.73
• Rank in category (YTD): 25%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution Rate: 3.50%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.74%  
• Net Assets: $ 21.14 billion
• Number of Years Up: 16 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Duration: 4.33 years
• Average Maturity: 5.68 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 24.0%

Updated on 11/15/2011

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund (VBISX) Investor Shares

This next fund review is another Vanguard index mutual fund. This index bond fund is Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index fund. This short term bond fund has low expense fee and best rated fund by Morningstar. More review is below.

Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Investor (Ticker: VBISX)

This Vanguard Short Term Bond Index fund’s objective is to seek to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with a short-term dollar-weighted average maturity. This Vanguard fund uses passive management approach to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. 1-5 Year Government/ Credit Float Adjusted Index. This fund invests >80% of assets in bonds held in the index. The fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the index, which generally less than 3 years.

Fund Details

Vanguard Short Term Bond Index

• Fund Inception Date: March 1, 1994
• Ticker Symbol: VBISX
• CUSIP: 921937207
• Beta (3yr): 0.47
• Rank in category (YTD): 11%
• Category: Short-Term Bond
• Distribution: 1.89%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.22%  
• Net Assets: $ 23.22 billion
• Number of Years Up: 16 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Average Duration: 2.6 years
• Average Maturity: 2.7 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 60.0%

Updated on 11/12/2011

Thornburg International Growth Fund (TIGAX)

Investing internationally is important for investor because of the global economy. Finding the right international companies to invest in can be challenging. The easiest way is to find the best rated international equity mutual fund. Thornburg International Growth A fund is one of the top international stock funds. Details fund’s review is described below.

Thornburg International Growth A (MUTF: TIGAX)

The Thornburg International Growth investment fund objective is to achieve long-term growth of capital. This Foreign Large Growth Equity fund invests mainly in companies stocks around the world with growth potential. It may own a variety of securities, including debt securities or bonds. The fund may invest in developing countries and in smaller companies with market capitalizations of <$500 million.

TIGAX Fund Details

Thornburg International Growth fund

• Fund Inception Date: February 1, 2007
• Ticker Symbol: TIGAX
• CUSIP: 885-215-319 
• Beta (3yr): 0.93
• Rank in category (YTD): 2%
• Category: Foreign Large Growth
• Distribution: 0.23%
• Net Assets: $ 196.33 million
• Sales Load: 4.50%
• Expense Ratio: 1.60%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year

updated on 10/19/2011

Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax Exempt Fund (VWITX)

Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax Exempt fund (VWITX) is top muni bond mutual fund.

Municipal bond mutual fund can be attractive if you are on higher income tax rate. The income from this fund is tax free from federal tax rate (possibly states tax and local tax). One of the popular muni bond funds is Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax Exempt Fund. Below is the fund’s review.

Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax Exempt Inv (MUTF: VWITX)

The Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax Exempt Fund invests mainly (>75% of assets) in investment grade rated municipal bonds. It may also small part of its assets (<25%) in high yield municipal bonds (junk rated). As any muni bond fund, this fund’s objective is to offer moderate and sustainable current income that is not subjected to federal personal income taxes.

Vanguard Intermediate Term Tax Exempt

VWITX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 09/01/1977
• Ticker Symbol: VWITX (Investor Shares)
• CUSIP: 922907209
• Beta (3yr): 0.91
• Rank in category (YTD): 34%
• Category: Muni National Intermediate

updated on 10/27/2011

American Funds Bond Fund of America A (ABNDX)

American Funds Bond Fund of America A (ABNDX) is a popular diversified bond mutual fund. This bond fund invests in U.S. government bonds, corporate debts.

American Funds is among the leader of mutual fund family. It offers variety of mutual funds including fixed income or bond funds, balanced funds, and equity or stock funds. One of the most popular funds is American Funds Bond Fund of America A fund. Details review is below.

American Funds Bond Fund of America A (ABNDX)

The American Funds Bond Fund of America fund’s objective is to provide as high a level of current income with consistent capital preservation. The fund generally invests >80% of assets in bonds and other fixed income securities. It invests a majority of its assets in debt securities rated A3/A- or better which is issued or guaranteed by US Government or other governments (including mortgages and other assets). It may invest its assets in corporate debts, mortgage related debts, and high yield bonds. This American Funds fund invests in debt securities with a wide range of maturities.

Fund Details

American Funds Bond Fund of America A

• Fund Inception Date: May 28, 1974
• Ticker Symbol: ABNDX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 097873103
• Beta (3yr): 0.95
• Rank in category (YTD): 33%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution: 1.75%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.61%  
• Net Assets: $ 31.90 billion
• Number of Years Up: 34 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Duration: 4.72 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 99.0%

Updated May 2017