Calamos International Growth Fund (CIGRX) Class A

Calamos International Growth fund is part of international stock mutual fund. This foreign large growth equity fund is ranked among the best mutual funds. More fund review can be found below.

Calamos International Growth A (MUTF: CIGRX)

The Calamos International Growth fund objective is to achieve long-term capital growth. This equity fund invests >40% of its assets in securities of foreign companies. It may invest in emerging markets companies. The fund may invest in all market capitalization companies such as well-established large companies and small companies.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: March 16, 2005
• Ticker Symbol: CIGRX
• CUSIP: 128119575
• Beta (3yr): 0.89
• Rank in category (YTD): 64%
• Category: Foreign Large Growth
• Distribution: 0.00%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.49%
• Net Assets: $ 729.18 million
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 59.60%

Updated on 6/6/2012

YTD Top Performer No Load Conservative Allocation Funds 2012

The year-to-date top performer no load conservative allocation mutual funds of 2012 are IMS Strategic Income, USAA Growth and Tax Strategy, Teberg, etc. You can find each fund review in this post.

There are 6 main balanced mutual funds. They are conservative allocation, moderate allocation, aggressive allocation, world allocation, convertibles, and target date portfolio. The conservative allocation fund objective is to provide income and capital growth through investment in equities, fixed incomes, and cash. This balanced fund has higher assets in bond portion than in stock portion.

Best Performing Funds

These top performer conservative allocation funds are sorted based on its performance in 2012. The last update on this list was done on 6/8/2012. These best performers do not have a sales load. You can find the fund review below as well.

The YTD top performer No Load Conservative Allocation Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. IMS Strategic Income (IMSIX)
2. USAA Growth and Tax Strategy (USBLX)
3. Teberg (TEBRX)
4. VALIC Company II Cnsrv Gr Lifestyle (VCGLX)
5. Toews Hedged Growth Allocation (THGWX)
6. TCW Global Conservative Allocation N (TGPNX)
7. Vanguard Tax-Managed Balanced Adm (VTMFX)
8. Sector Rotation Fund (NAVFX)

1. IMS Strategic Income (Ticker: IMSIX)

This IMS Strategic Income fund objective is to seek income and capital growth. It uses its assets to purchase corporate bonds, government bonds, dividend paying common stocks, preferred, convertible, income trusts, money market and cash equivalent. Carl W. Marker is the fund manager. It has an expense ratio of 1.95% per year. The last 12 month yield is 10.1%.

This balanced fund has a year to date return of 5.92%. The 5 year average return is -2.89%. Morningstar has rated it with 3 stars rating. You can buy this fund with $5,000 initial investment for brokerage or IRA account.

10 Best Utilities Sector Stock Mutual Funds 2012

This post is about the 10 best utilities sector stock mutual funds of 2012. The top funds are FBR Gas Utility Index, MFS Utilities, Franklin Utilities, etc. You may find each fund review.

Introduction

One of the income producing mutual funds is utilities sector mutual funds. These utilities funds consist of utilities companies. These companies engage in the production and service of electric power, water, natural gas, and other utility services. These funds have higher dividend yield than typical U.S. domestic stock mutual funds.

The utilities funds are typically less sensitive to economic cycles. They are also less volatile than other stock funds. Please check the fund prospectus for additional information about the fund objective.

Top Utilities Sector Mutual Funds

These top utilities sector funds are chosen based on its long term performance. You may find other fund information such as fund manager, dividend yield, top holdings, fund objective, etc.

The 10 Best Utilities Sector Stock Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. FBR Gas Utility Index Investor (GASFX)
2. MFS Utilities A (MMUFX)
3. Franklin Utilities A (FKUTX)
4. Gabelli Utilities A (GAUAX)
5. Flex Funds Utilities and Infrastructure (FLRUX)
6. Wells Fargo Advantage Utility & Telecom A (EVUAX)
7. Rydex Utilities Inv (RYUIX)
8. Reaves Select Research Inv (RSRAX)
9. American Century Utilities Inv (BULIX)
10. ICON Utilities A (ICTUX)

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund (TRBCX)

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth fund (TRBCX) is a popular U.S. domestic stock mutual fund. This investment fund provides capital growth. This large growth equity fund focuses its investment in stocks of large and mid-cap growth companies.

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth (MUTF: TRBCX)

The investment objective of T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth fund is to provide long-term growth of capital. Its secondary objective is to provide income. This equity fund invests majority of assets in the common stocks of large and medium-sized blue chip growth companies. It may also purchase other securities including foreign stocks, futures, and options.

Fund Details

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth

• Fund Inception Date: June 30, 1993
• Ticker Symbol: TRBCX
• CUSIP: 77954Q106
• Beta (3yr): 1.10
• Rank in category (YTD): 7%
• Category: Large Growth
• Yield: 0.06%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.72%
• Net Assets: $ 36.0 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 44.20%

Updated on May 2017

John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio Fund (JALBX)

One of the popular moderate allocation balanced mutual funds is John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio. In general, this balanced fund has 4 categories such as conservative allocation, moderate allocation, aggressive allocation and world allocation.

John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio (JALBX)

The investment objective of John Hancock Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio fund is to provide a high level of current income and growth of capital. This moderate allocation mutual fund utilizes most of its assets to buy other funds which invest primarily in equity securities (<60%) and in fixed-income securities (40%). You can also check my top balanced mutual fund article.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 10/15/2005
• Ticker Symbol: JALBX
• CUSIP: 47803V481
• Beta (3yr): 1.14
• Rank in category (YTD): 29%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution: 2.96%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.54%  
• Net Assets: $ 22.35 billion
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 19.00%

updated on 6/6/2012

Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund CXHYX

The Delaware National High-Yield Municipal Bond fund (CXHYX) is a top rated muni bond mutual fund. This fixed income fund provides tax free high yield income from lower-grade municipal debts.

Delaware National High-Yield Muni Bond A (CXHYX)

The investment aim of Delaware National High-Yield Muni Bond fund is to achieve a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax. The fund utilizes majority of net assets to purchase the medium- and lower-grade municipal securities. It will invest its assets in securities with maturities of various lengths with effective maturity between 5 and 30 years.

Fund Profile

Delaware National Hi-Yld Muni Bd

• Fund Inception Date: 09/22/1986
• Ticker Symbol: CXHYX
• CUSIP: 928928241
• Beta (3yr): 1.41
• Rank in category (YTD): 30 %
• Category: High Yield Muni
• Yield: 4.74%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.85%
• Net Assets: $ 310.62 million
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Average Duration: 7.00 years
• Average Maturity: 11.44 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 57.00%

Updated on 6/5/2012

Best Vanguard Mutual Funds 2012

The Top 10 Best Vanguard Mutual Funds of 2012 are Vanguard Total Stock Market Index, Vanguard Total Bond Market Index, Vanguard Wellesley Income, etc. You will find each fund review.

Introduction

The three top mutual fund families are Vanguard, American Funds and Fidelity. The Vanguard mutual funds are popular among cost conscious investors. The funds provide low expense ratio and no sales load.

The funds also provide diversification hence mutual fund holds more bonds or stocks than anyone could ever buy. Investors can buy and sell these funds easily on any business day for easy access to their money.

Vanguard provides actively managed mutual funds and passively managed index mutual funds. These funds can be classified into variety categories. These categories are U.S. domestic stock, international stock, emerging markets stock, diversified bond, tax free municipal bond, and balanced fund.

New: Best Vanguard Mutual Funds for 2013

Best Vanguard Mutual Funds

These best Vanguard mutual funds are selected based on the following criteria:

• It has no transaction fees or sales load
• It has great long track record
• It has low minimum initial investment requirement of $3,000
• It provides diversification into variety of asset allocation

You will find other fund information and review such as fund manager, sales load, expense ratio fee, Morningstar rating, fund performance, top holdings, etc.

Top 10 Best Vanguard Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Vanguard Total Stock Market Index (VTSMX)
2. Vanguard Small-Cap Index (NAESX)
3. Vanguard Total International Stock Index (VGTSX)
4. Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX)
5. Vanguard REIT Index Fund Investor Shares (VGSIX)
6. Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (VBMFX)
7. Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities (VIPSX)