Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund (VTENX)

Vanguard Group offers wide range of low cost mutual funds. It also provides life cycle funds or target date funds or age-based funds. These target date funds are similar to regular balanced funds. Depending upon its category, it will allocate its assets in bonds, stocks and cash. One of the Vanguard life cycle funds is Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 fund.

Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Inv (VTENX)

The investment objective of Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 fund is seeking to provide growth of capital and current income. The fund primarily invests in other Vanguard mutual funds according to an asset allocation strategy designed for investors planning to retire within a few years of 2010. It distributes about 50% of assets to stocks and 50% of assets to bonds & money market instruments. The fund’s asset allocation will become more conservative over time. Over time, the bonds and other fixed income portion in its asset will increase and the stocks portion will decrease.

Fund Profile

Vanguard Target Retirement 2010

• Fund Inception Date: 06/07/2006
• Ticker Symbol: VTENX
• CUSIP: 92202E706
• Beta (3yr): 0.95
• Rank in category (2011): 8%
• Category: Target Date 2000-2010
• Yield: 2.65%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.17%  
• Net Assets: $ 5.13 billion
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Duration: 5.87 years
• Average Maturity: 7.81 years

Updated on 02/03/2012

Allianz AGIC Convertible A (ANZAX) Fund

As the top rated convertible bond mutual fund, Allianz AGIC Convertible A fund offers an alternative investment choice for investors. This convertible bond fund provide a choice for investor a fixed income investment with coupon payments (yield) and chance to benefit from an increase in the company’s stock. Details review about this best fund is described below.

Allianz AGIC Convertible A (ANZAX)

Allianz AGIC Convertible A (ANZAX) fund seeks maximum total return which consist of capital appreciation and current income. The fund invests most of its net assets (>80%) in convertible securities. The investment may include corporate bonds, debts, notes or preferred stocks, and their hybrids. It may invest in securities of any size market capitalization or credit quality. It may rarely invest a significant amount of its assets in securities of smaller companies. The fund also invests <20% of net assets in nonconvertible debt securities.

ANZAX Fund Profile

Allianz AGIC Convertible

• Fund Inception Date: 04/12/2010
• Ticker Symbol: ANZAX
• CUSIP: 01900C680
• Beta (3yr): 1.06
• Rank in category (2011): 6%
• Category: Convertibles
• Yield: 2.70%
• Expense ratio: 0.96%
• Sales Load: 5.50%
• Total Assets: $656.6 million
• Capital Gains: $1.573 (2011)
• Number of Years Up: 12 years (Class I)
• Number of Years Down: 6 years (Class I)

Updated on 2/1/2012

Top 12 Best Precious Metals Mutual Funds 2012

Investing in Precious metals can be used as a hedge against economic crisis or turmoil. One of the easiest way to invest in this precious metals category is by choosing mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), and closed end funds (CEFs). I’ll focus on precious metals mutual funds. The best performing funds include Tocqueville Gold, Van Eck International Investors Gold A, First Eagle Gold A, etc.

Reasons to Invest

There are several reasons to invest in precious metals funds such as:

Top Precious Metals Mutual Funds

• The precious metals funds can provide portfolio diversification against other asset classes such as stock funds or bond funds. There is very little correlation against stocks or bonds. It may outperform other asset classes.
• The funds can provide a hedging tool against uncertain time such as economic crisis, inflation, etc.
• Investors can select well known management to manage their investment through various precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. It is less costly than investing in precious metals directly.

Best Funds

The following top performer funds list has been compiled by sorting through its performance for the past 5 years. Most of these precious metals equity funds are also rated among the best fund in their category. I have provided each of these top performing fund review such as its performance, sales load, expense ratio fee, initial investment requirement, risk, top sectors, rating, top holdings or top stocks, turnover rate, etc.

The Top 12 Best Precious Metals Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Tocqueville Gold (TGLDX)
2. Van Eck Intl Investors Gold A (INIVX)
3. First Eagle Gold A (SGGDX)
4. USAA Precious Metals and Minerals (USAGX)
5. Franklin Gold and Precious Metals A (FKRCX)
6. Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals A (OPGSX)
7. OCM Gold Investor (OCMGX)
8. Wells Fargo Advantage Precious Metals B (EKWBX)
9. GAMCO Gold AAA (GOLDX)
10. Invesco Gold & Precious Metals Investor (FGLDX)
11. Fidelity Select Gold (FSAGX)
12. American Century Global Gold Inv (BGEIX)

Updated on 2/4/2012

T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Fund (PRWCX)

As an asset management company, T Rowe Price Group offers variety of top mutual funds. According to latest count, there are over 90 no load mutual funds and over 45 top rated mutual funds. These funds are rated 4 & 5 star by Morningstar. One of these best rated funds is T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation (PRWCX) fund. More fund’s review can be found below.

T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation (Symbol: PRWCX)

The T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation fund aims to provide long-term capital appreciation. This balanced fund typically invests in stock and bonds. It invests primarily in the common stocks of established U.S. companies with above-average potential for capital growth. It invests at > ½ of assets in common stocks and the remaining assets in other securities such as convertible securities, corporate and government bonds, foreign securities, futures, and options.

Fund Details

T Rowe Price Capital Appreciation

• Fund Inception Date: 06/30/1986
• Ticker Symbol: PRWCX
• CUSIP: 77954M105
• Beta (3yr): 1.10
• Rank in category (2011): 12 %
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Yield: 1.60%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.70%  
• Net Assets: $ 11 billion
• Number of Years Up: 23 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Effective Duration: 3.74 years
• Average Maturity:  N/A

Updated on 02/05/2012

Best Performing Real Estate Mutual Funds of 2012

The best real estate mutual funds of 2012 are PIMCO Real Estate Real Return Strategy, CGM Realty, Fidelity Real Estate Income, etc. These mutual funds also provide higher regular dividend income.

Intro

Direct investment in the real estate sector may be difficult for most regular investors. There are several of requirements and skills to manage real estate such as loan, maintenance, law, tenant relationship, marketing, etc. Using mutual funds, investors can instantly get a cost effective method of investing in this industry. You can also check my previous Top Performer Real Estate Funds of June 2011 article.

Top Real Estate Funds 2012

Although a real estate market has not been great for the past 3 to 4 years, the long term performance has been great for investors. There are 3 main reasons why investors should consider REIT funds:

• Real estate mutual funds can provide protection against inflationary pressures due to government policy, economic condition, and currency risk. 
• Recent research has presented that they perform better compared to precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and rare coins. 
• Using mutual funds, investors can diversify their assets portfolio by reducing investment risks and enhance its returns.

Note: REIT= Real Estate Investment Trust

Top Performers

The following list has been compiled by sorting through its performance for the past 5 years. Most of these REIT funds are also rated among the best in their class. Please check details about its performance, expense ratio, sales load, initial investment requirement, risk, top holdings, etc.

The 12 Best Performing Real Estate Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. PIMCO Real Estate Real Return Strategy A (PETAX)
2. CGM Realty (CGMRX)
3. REMS Real Estate Value Opportunity Institutional (HLRRX)
4. Fidelity Real Estate Income (FRIFX)
5. Forward Select Income A (KIFAX)
6. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Trust (NBRFX)
7. Stratton Real Estate (STMDX)
8. Managers Real Estate Securities (MRESX)
9. Nuveen Real Estate Securities I (FARCX)
10. REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Institutional (RREIX)
11. ING Real Estate Institutional (CRARX)
12. Eaton Vance Real Estate I (EIREX)

updated on 2/4/2012

Davis NY Venture A (NYVTX) Fund

As part of Davis Funds, this Davis New York Venture A fund is popular among investors. It is one of the largest US stock funds with $25.49 billion total assets. It receives Gold analyst rating from Morningstar. More fund’s review can be found below.

Davis NY Venture A (Symbol: NYVTX)

The investment objective of Davis NY Venture fund is to provide long-term growth of capital. This US equity fund uses the Davis Investment Discipline to invest the most of the fund’s assets in equity securities issued by large companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. The fund may invest in common stocks, preferred stocks, and convertible bonds. It may invest minority of its assets in foreign securities.

Fund Profile

Davis NY Venture A

• Fund Inception Date: February 17, 1969 
• Ticker Symbol: NYVTX
• CUSIP: 239080-104
• Beta (3yr): 1.08
• Rank in category (2011): 82%
• Category: Large Blend
• Distribution Rate: 1.15%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.89%  
• Net Assets: $ 25.49 billion
• Number of Years Up: 32 years
• Number of Years Down: 9 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 8%

Updated on 2/1/2012

Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund (DODBX)

Dodge & Cox funds are popular among the long term investor. This article will provide the Dodge & Cox Balanced fund review.

Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund (DODBX)

The objective of Dodge & Cox Balanced fund is to seek regular income, conservation of principal, and an opportunity for long-term principal growth and income. This hybrid fund invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks, preferred stocks, and fixed income securities. For stocks, the management invests in undervalued and have a favorable outlook for long-term growth companies. This balanced fund will focus on the underlying financial condition and prospects of each companies.

Fund Details

Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund

• Fund Inception Date: 06/26/1931
• Ticker Symbol: DODBX
• CUSIP: 256219106
• Beta (3yr): 1.37
• Rank in category (2011): 69%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Yield: 2.40%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.53%  
• Net Assets: $ 12.39 billion
• Number of Years Up: 41 years
• Number of Years Down: 10 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 12.0%

Updated on 1/20/2012