Top 12 High Yield Municipal Bond Mutual Funds 2012

The best high yield muni bond funds of 2012 are: Ivy Municipal High Income A, Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond A, etc. These muni bond funds provide high tax free yield for investor.

Intro

There are two types of national municipal bond mutual funds: investment grade muni bond mutual funds and high yield muni bond mutual funds. These high yield municipal bond funds are very similar to regular high yield bond mutual funds. The only difference is the yield from municipal bond funds are exempted from federal income tax. Typically high yield munis also has higher yield than investment grade munis.

Top High Muni Bond Mutual Funds

According to the Moody’s study, the high yield munis has lower default rate than regular high yield corporate. High yield munis have 4.3% default rates on an annual basis and high yield corporate bonds have 32.7% per year default rates. This study was done based on 1970-2005 data.

Best High Yield Municipal Funds

These high yield municipal bond mutual funds are rated based on its performance for the past 5 years. Most of these high yield municipal funds are also rated among the best in their class. Please check details about its expense ratio, sales load, initial investment requirement, performance, risk, top holdings, turnover rate, etc.

Top 12 Best High Yield Muni Bond Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Ivy Municipal High Income A (IYIAX)
2. Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond A (CXHYX)
3. Franklin High Yield Tax-Free Income A (FRHIX)
4. DWS Strategic High Yield Tax Free A (NOTAX)
5. Waddell & Reed Municipal High-Income A (UMUHX)
6. Legg Mason WA Muni High Income A (STXAX)
7. MFS Municipal High-Income A (MMHYX)
8. Putnam Tax-Free High Yield A (PTHAX)
9. Prudential Municipal High-Income A (PRHAX)
10. T. Rowe Price Tax-Free High-Yield (PRFHX)
11. Oppenheimer Limited Term Municipal A (OPITX)

Updated on 2/25/2012

Delaware Corporate Bond A (DGCAX) Fund

There are various taxable bond mutual funds such as corporate bond funds, U.S. Government bond funds, convertible bond funds, and hybrid taxable bond funds. One of the top corporate bond funds is Delaware Corporate Bond fund. Details are described below.

Delaware Corporate Bond A (Ticker: DGCAX)

The investment objective of this Delaware Corporate Bond fund is to provide total return. This fixed income fund generally invests >80% of assets in investment grade credit ratings corporate bonds. The average portfolio duration of the fund is comparable to the current average duration of the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Investment Grade Index. The fund may also invest <20% of its net assets in high yield corporate bonds and <35% of total assets in foreign bonds.

DGCAX Fund Profile

Delaware Corporate Bond fund

• Fund Inception Date: 09/15/1998
• Ticker Symbol: DGCAX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 245908785
• Beta (3yr): 1.00
• Rank in category (YTD): 20%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Yield: 4.89%
• Net Assets: $ 952 million
• Sales Load: 4.50%
• Expense Ratio: 0.95%
• Capital Gains:  N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Maturity: 6.77 years
• Average Duration: 11.95 years

Updated 2/5/2012

Oppenheimer Global A (OPPAX) Fund

To participate in global economy expansion, investors need to invest in world stock mutual funds. These global stock funds are investing in various part of world such as developed countries (USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, etc), emerging markets or developing countries (Brazil, India, Indonesia, Russia, China, etc), and frontier markets (Nigeria, Serbia, Tunisia, etc). One of the popular world stock funds is Oppenheimer Global fund.

Oppenheimer Global A (OPPAX)

The Oppenheimer Global fund uses its assets to buy common stock of U.S. and foreign companies. It can invest without limit in foreign securities and can invest in any country, including countries with developing or emerging markets. The fund currently concentrates its investments in developed markets such as the United States, Western European countries and Japan. It may invest in any capitalization range, but mainly invests in mid- and large-cap companies.

Top 12 Small Cap Stock Mutual Funds 2012

Small cap stock mutual funds have been outperformed other US stock mutual funds for the past 3 years. Some of the best small cap stock mutual funds are: Oceanstone Fund, Intrepid Small Cap, Brown Capital Management Small Company Inv, etc.

Best Small Cap Mutual Funds 2012

Intro

Small cap stock mutual funds could be the correct choice for higher risk tolerance investors. During the bull market, these small cap mutual funds can generate higher return which leads to better performance for their overall portfolio. Smaller companies also can reinvest their profits from their sales back into their business. This reassures shareholders of great performance and higher profit potential from such companies. To achieve a well-diversified portfolio, small cap stock mutual funds are an excellent choice for investment.

Note: Small Cap stock funds are part of domestic stock mutual fund. There are three type of small cap funds such as small growth funds, small value funds, and small blend funds.

Best Small Cap Mutual Funds

These funds are rated based on its past 5-year performance. Most of these small cap mutual funds are also rated among the best in their class. Please check details about its performance, expense ratio, sales load, top sectors, initial investment requirement, risk, top holdings, etc.

Top 12 Best Performing Small Cap Stock Mutual Funds 2012 are:

1. Oceanstone Fund (OSFDX)
2. Intrepid Small Cap (ICMAX)
3. Brown Capital Management Small Company Investor (BCSIX)
4. SouthernSun Small Cap Investor (SSSFX)
5. Janus Triton A (JGMAX)
6. Fidelity Small Cap Discovery (FSCRX)
7. Needham Aggressive Growth (NEAGX)
8. Lord Abbett Developing Growth A (LAGWX)
9. Transamerica Systematic Small/Medium Cap Value A (IIVAX)
10. Dreyfus Opportunistic Small Cap (DSCVX)
11. T. Rowe Price New Horizons (PRNHX)

Updated on 2/20/2012

Top 12 Best Diversified National Municipal Bond Mutual Funds 2012

Buying muni bond mutual fund can provide instant diversification for investor assets. Typically, these municipal bond mutual funds are less risky too. The following top ranked national municipal bond mutual funds of 2012 are: Legg Mason WA Managed Municipals A, First Investors Tax-Exempt II A, Lord Abbett Intermediate Tax Free A, etc.

Best Muni Bond Mutual Funds 2012

Intro

In general, investors like tax free income. We can find tax free benefits through Roth IRAs. After many of us max out our Roth contribution and employer 401k or traditional IRA accounts, we can start choosing municipal bonds to invest to get the same benefit. One of the best feature of this muni bond is the income from the bond is exempted from federal income tax.

One would ask how I can invest in municipal bonds. You can choose to buy individual municipal bonds, muni bond mutual funds, municipal bond closed end funds, or muni bond ETF. This article will focus on best muni bond mutual funds of 2012.

Best Municipal Bond Funds

These best performing funds are rated based on its 5 years performance. I have included a short review of these funds for your interest. The data include fund performance, fund manager, dividend yield, top holding, top sector, fund ranking, etc.

The Top 12 Best National Municipal Bond Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Legg Mason Western Asset Managed Municipals A (SHMMX)
2. First Investors Tax-Exempt II A (EIITX)
3. Lord Abbett Intermediate Tax Free A (LISAX)
4. State Farm Tax Advantaged Bond A (TANAX)
5. Waddell & Reed Municipal Bond A (UNMBX)
6. Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond A (HXBZX)
7. RidgeWorth Investment Grade Tax-Exempt Bond A (SISIX)
8. Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond A (FLAAX)
9. RidgeWorth High Grade Municipal Bond A (SFLTX)
10. BlackRock Intermediate Municipal Investor A (MEMTX)
11. Wells Fargo Advantage Municipal Bond Investor (SXFIX)
12. Invesco Tax-Free Intermediate A (ATFAX)

Updated on 2/20/2012

MFS Bond A (MFBFX) Fund

Bond Mutual Funds have achieved better result than stock mutual funds for the past decade. Finding the right bond funds to invest is important for investor. MFS Bond fund is considered as one of the top bond mutual funds.

MFS Bond A (MUTF: MFBFX)

The investment aim of this MFS Bond fund is to seek total return with an emphasis on current income. The secondary objective is capital appreciation. This bond mutual fund invests majority of net assets (>80%) in corporate debt instruments. It may also invest in other types of debt instruments, lower quality debt instruments, foreign securities, and emerging market securities.

Fund Details

• Inception Date: 05/08/1974
• Ticker Symbol: MFBFX
• CUSIP: 55272P208
• Beta (3yr): 0.87
• Rank in category (YTD): 10%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution: 5.25%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.85%  
• Net Assets: $ 1.97 billion
• Number of Years Up: 33 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Average Duration: 5.50 years
• Average Maturity: 8.60 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 58.00%

Updated on 2/18/2012

First Eagle Gold A (SGGDX) Fund

For the past 3 years, precious metals have managed to achieve outstanding performance. Many analysts have predicted year 2012 will be another good year for investors. As part of basic materials sector, precious metals include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, etc. To invest in these precious metals, investor can choose mutual funds. One of the top equity precious metals funds is First Eagle Gold fund.

First Eagle Gold A (MUTF: SGGDX)

First Eagle Gold A

The investment objective of First Eagle Gold fund is to provide long-term growth of capital by investing in gold investment for a portion of their overall portfolio. This equity fund typically invests majority of total assets (>80%) in gold or stocks directly related to gold or companies mainly engaged in the gold industry. It may invest <20% of assets in equity and, to a limited extent, debt securities unrelated to gold or the gold industry. This fund is considered as a non-diversified mutual fund.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 08/31/1993
• Ticker Symbol: SGGDX
• CUSIP: 32008F408
• Beta (3yr): 0.83
• Rank in category (2011): 2%
• Category: Equity Precious Metals
• Yield: 1.31%
• Capital Gains:  $0.8960 (2011)
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 7 years
• Total Net Assets: $3.11 Billion

Updated on 1/24/2012