Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund (VIMSX)

US Stock fund can be categorized into three main categories such as Large Cap US Stock fund, Mid Cap US stock fund, and Small Cap US stock fund. These funds invest according to its naming. Large Cap stock fund will invest in large US Companies stocks and so on. Vanguard has been the leader of US stock index fund. One of these US stock index funds is Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund. This fund invests mainly in companies with mid-capitalization.

Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Investor Shares (VIMSX)

The investment objective of Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund is to track the performance of the MSCI US Mid Cap 450 Index, a benchmark index. This index measures the investment return of mid-capitalization stocks. The fund employs a passive management or indexing investment approach. This US Stock Index Fund will try to replicate the target index by investing all or most of its assets in the stocks that make up the index based on its index weighting.

Fund Details

Vanguard Mid Cap Index fund

• Fund Inception Date: 05/1/1998
• Ticker Symbol: VIMSX
• CUSIP: 922908843
• Beta (3yr): 1.11
• Rank in category (2011): 34%
• Category: Mid-Cap Blend
• Distribution Rate: 1.18%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.26%  
• Net Assets: $ 25.99 billion
• Number of Years Up: 9 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 16.00%

updated on 1/20/2012

Top Performer Target Date Mutual Funds 2011

Target Date Mutual Funds are popular among retirees and long term investors. These article will look into 10 categories of best target date mutual funds. These mutual funds are typically offered in tax deferred accounts such as regular brokerage account, traditional IRA, ROTH IRA, 401k account, 403b, 529 plan, etc. Some of the best performer target date mutual funds of 2011 are: PIMCO Real Income 2029 A, Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 Inv, Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2030 A, etc.

Intro

Target Date Mutual Funds are very smart choice for passive investors. These funds invest in stocks, bonds, and other short term securities (cash or money market fund). The fund’s portfolio is adjusted accordingly based on the target date or fund’s objective. The funds' allocation moves toward stressing cash and fixed income (bond) as the funds approach their maturity dates or target dates. These target date funds are known as lifecycle funds or age-based funds.

Top Performer Target Date Funds 2011

Based on their target date, there are currently 10 classes of these target date mutual funds: retirement income fund, Target 2001-2010 fund, Target 2011-2015 fund, Target 2016-2020 fund, Target 2021-2025 fund, Target 2026-2030 fund, Target 2031-2035 fund, Target 2036-2040 fund, Target 2041-2045 fund, and Target 2050+ fund. These target date funds are essentially similar to balanced funds. Investor can buy this fund and get instant portfolio diversification into different sectors of stocks and bonds.

Matthews Pacific Tiger Fund (MAPTX)

Matthew Asia Funds are popular among investor who invest in South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia region. One of the top rated Matthew Asia Funds is Matthews Pacific Tiger fund. This international stock fund invests in Pacific Tiger Countries such as China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. More fund’s review is described below.

Matthews Pacific Tiger (MAPTX)

The primary objective of this Matthews Pacific Tiger fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. This equity fund typically invests most of net assets (>80%) in the common and preferred stocks of companies located in Asia excluding Japan such as China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Fund Details

Matthews Pacific Tiger

• Fund Inception Date: 09/12/1994
• Ticker Symbol: MAPTX (Investor class)
• CUSIP: 577-130-107
• Beta (3yr): 0.97
• Rank in category (2011): 18%
• Category: Pacific/Asia ex-Japan Stock
• Yield: 0.54%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Expense Ratio: 1.09%  
• Net Assets: $ 4.82 billion
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years

Updated on 11/27/2011

Top Performer Balanced Mutual Funds of 2011

During the crisis situation or not, balanced mutual funds has remained steady. These balanced funds, also known as hybrid funds, invest in stocks (equities), bonds (fixed income), money market fund (cash), convertible, preferred, etc. Depending upon the fund’s objective, the asset allocation is distributed accordingly. Some of the top performer balanced funds of 2011 are Federated Muni and Stock Advantage A, FBR Balanced Investor, Value Line Asset Allocation, Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation A, etc.

Balanced Mutual Funds

Top Performer Balanced funds of 2011

This balanced fund can be used to diversify investor’s portfolio. Asset diversification is important during volatile market. Based on its asset allocation, the Balanced Funds can be divided into 4 main categories such conservative allocation, moderate allocation, aggressive allocation, and world allocation. There are other classes of balanced funds as well such as retirement income, and target-date funds. I also will highlight some of the main characteristics from these top performing funds such as expense ratio fee, Morningstar rating, analyst rating, sales load, dividend yield, turnover rate, management, top holding, etc.

Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities Fund (VIPSX)

To protect against inflation, investor can buy TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities). Choosing the individual TIPS bond may be tedious. Easiest way is to choose the inflation protected bond fund through mutual fund or exchange traded fund (ETF). One of the big and popular TIPS bond funds is Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities fund.

Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Investor (VIPSX)

The Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities fund objective is to provide inflation protection and income consistent with investment in inflation-indexed securities. This Vanguard fund invests majority of assets (>80%) in inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and corporations. It may invest in bonds of any maturity, typically its dollar-weighted average maturity is in the range of 7 to 20 years. This fund will invest in investment grade bonds.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: June 29, 2000
• Ticker Symbol: VIPSX
• CUSIP: 922031869
• Beta (3yr): 1.16
• Rank in category (YTD): 45%
• Category: Inflation-Protected Bond
• Yield: 3.61%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%  
• Net Assets: $ 41.80 billion
• Number of Years Up: 10 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 28%

updated on 5/23/2012

Artisan International Value Fund (ARTKX) Investor Class

This next fund, Artisan International Value Fund, is one of the best performing and top rated international stock funds. This Artisan fund invests mainly in undervalued international companies which are located outside U.S. It is also one of the best performing international stock funds for year 2011.

Artisan International Value Investor (ARTKX)

The investment objective of Artisan International Value fund is to pursue long term capital growth. This equity fund invests most of assets in undervalued Non-U.S companies of all market capitalizations. The fund’s performance is compared with the index benchmark, MSCI EAFE Index, over a full market cycle. This international stock fund typically holds about 40-60 stocks, diversified across most major sectors. It also invest in >5 countries. It may invest small part of its assets (<20%) in emerging markets countries.

ARTKX Fund Details

Artisan International Value fund

• Fund Inception Date: 09/23/2002
• Ticker Symbol: ARTKX
• CUSIP: 04314H881
• Beta (3yr): 0.90
• Rank in category (2011): 3%
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 0.06%
• Net Assets: $ 2.5 billion
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.18%
• Capital Gains:  $0.0681 (2011)
• Number of Years Up: 6 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years

Updated on 01/10/2012

Vanguard Equity Income Fund (VEIPX)

Vanguard Equity Income fund (VEIPX) is a top stock mutual fund. This large value equity fund has high dividend yield.

Vanguard is known with its index mutual funds. These index funds provide low cost mutual fund for investors. It also offers several actively managed mutual funds such as Vanguard Wellington fund, Vanguard Wellesley fund, Vanguard Windsor II, and more. Another popular and top rated actively managed stock fund is Vanguard Equity Income fund. This equity fund is recognized as the top performer mutual fund of 2011.

Vanguard Equity Income (VEIPX)

This Vanguard Equity Income fund invests in common stocks of medium-sized and large companies which pay above-average dividend income level and are considered to have the potential for capital appreciation. In addition, the fund’s advisors typically look for companies which commit to paying dividends consistently. The fund invests most of assets (>80%) in stocks or equity securities.

VEIPX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 03/21/1988
• Ticker Symbol: VEIPX
• CUSIP: 921921102
• Beta (3yr): 0.95
• Rank in category (YTD): 4%
• Category: Large Value
• Yield: 2.26%
• Net Assets: $ 27.8 Billion
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.26%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 16 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years

Updated on May 2017