Wasatch International Opportunities Fund (WAIOX)

Wasatch International Opportunities fund (WAIOX) is an international stock mutual fund. This foreign small / mid growth stock fund invests in non-U.S. companies. The fund review can be found below.

Wasatch International Opportunities (Ticker: WAIOX)

The investment objective of Wasatch International Opportunities fund is to provide long-term growth of capital. This equity fund mainly invests in equity securities of foreign companies with market capitalizations of <$1 billion. It may invest in companies domiciled in emerging markets and in initial public offerings (IPOs). The fund may invest in a few sectors such as industrials, consumer discretionary, information technology, materials, consumer staples, energy, financials and health care.

Fund Details

Wasatch International Opportunities 

• Fund Inception Date: January 26, 2005
• Ticker Symbol: WAIOX
• CUSIP: 936793702
• Beta (3yr): 0.94
• Rank in category (YTD): 2%
• Category: Foreign Small/ Mid Growth
• Distribution: 0.00%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 2.25%
• Net Assets: $192.47 million
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 108%

Updated on 9/4/2012

Best Intermediate Term Bond Exchange Traded Funds 2012

This post provides the 10 best intermediate term bond exchange traded funds of 2012. The top funds are Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF, iShares Barclays Credit Bond, etc.

Top ETFs

Top Taxable Bond ETFs

As part of taxable bond mutual fund, intermediate term bond fund invests mainly in debt obligations or bonds with intermediate term duration (i.e. duration between 5 and 10 years). These funds provide higher yield than short term bond and have higher risks than short term bond as well. There are about 16 ETFs in this intermediate term bond category. The fund sponsors are Vanguard, iShares, State Street, Guggenheim, PIMCO, Columbia, etc. The expense ratios are in the range of 0.10% and 0.35%.

These top intermediate term bond ETFs are selected based on its expense ratio fee, portfolio turnover rate, management or index approach, performance, etc. You can find the fund review and comparison below.

USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Mutual Fund (USAGX)

USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund is a precious metals equity mutual fund. It invests in companies involved in gold, precious metals and minerals.

USAA Precious Metals and Minerals (Ticker: USAGX)

The investment aim of this USAA Precious Metals and Minerals fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation and to protect against inflation. This equity fund invests majority of assets in the equity securities of domestic and foreign companies mainly engaged in the exploration, mining, or processing of gold and other precious metals and minerals. The other precious metals or minerals can be platinum, silver, and diamonds.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: August 14, 1984
• Ticker Symbol: USAGX
• CUSIP: 903287100
• Beta (3yr): 0.82
• Rank in category (YTD): 55%
• Category: Equity Precious Metals
• Distribution: 0.25%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.15%
• Net Assets: $ 1.91 billion
• Number of Years Up: 15 years
• Number of Years Down: 11 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 24.00%

Updated on 8/29/2012

Best Large Growth Domestic Stock Exchange Traded Funds 2012

This article will provide the 10 best large growth domestic stock exchange traded funds of 2012. The top ETFs include PowerShares QQQ, Vanguard Growth ETF, iShares S&P 500 Growth Index, etc.

Top Large Cap Stock ETFs

Top Large Growth ETFs

As part of U.S. domestic stock fund, large growth equity fund invests mainly in equities of U.S. companies with high potential growth. There are about 16 ETFs in this large growth category. The fund sponsors are Invesco PowerShares, Vanguard, iShares, State Street, Guggenheim, Fidelity, First Trust, etc. The expense ratios are in the range of 0.10% and 0.70%.

These top large growth stock ETFs are chosen based on its expense ratio fee, portfolio turnover rate, management, performance, etc. You can find the fund review and comparison below.

The 10 best large growth domestic stock exchange traded funds of 2012 are:

1. PowerShares QQQ (QQQ)
2. Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG)
3. iShares S&P 500 Growth Index (IVW)
4. SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG)
5. Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Growth Index ETF (MGK)
6. iShares Morningstar Large Growth Index (JKE)

Franklin Templeton Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Fund FEMDX

Franklin Templeton Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Fund (FEMDX) is an international taxable bond mutual fund. This emerging market bond fund objective is to achieve total return.

Franklin Templeton Emerg Mkt Debt Opp (Ticker: FEMDX)

The investment objective of Franklin Templeton Emerging Market Debt Opportunities fund is to provide high total return. This mutual fund invests >80% of net assets in debt securities of emerging market countries and developing countries recognized by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the United Nations. It may invest in below investment grade bonds and defaulted debt securities.

Fund Profile

FT Emerg Mkt Debt Opp

• Fund Inception Date: May 24, 2006
• Ticker Symbol: FEMDX
• CUSIP: 353533813
• Beta (3yr): 0.41
• Rank in category (YTD): 61%
• Category: Emerging Markets Bond
• Distribution Rate: 5.75%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.00%
• Net Assets: $ 445.27 million
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Duration: 2.86 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 29%

updated on 8/23/2012

10 Best Long Government Bond Mutual Funds 2012

The following post provides the best long term government bond mutual funds. The top funds are Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury, American Century Zero Coupon 2025, Vanguard Long-Term Treasury, etc.

Best Long Government Bond Bond Funds

Government bond mutual funds are one of the popular taxable bond mutual funds. These fixed income funds invests in U.S. treasuries and other U.S. government bonds. There are three types of government bond mutual funds such as short government, intermediate term government, and long government.

The long term government bond funds invest in long duration government bonds with maturity of 15 to 30 years. These top bond funds are sorted based on its expense ratio, turnover rate, performance, management, etc.

The 10 best long government bond mutual funds 2012 are:

Mutual Funds

1. Wasatch-Hoisington US Treasury (WHOSX)
2. American Century Zero Coupon 2025 Inv (BTTRX)
3. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Inv (VUSTX)
4. American Century Zero Coupon 2020 Inv (BTTTX)
5. Fidelity Spartan Long Term Treasury Bond Index Inv (FLBIX)
6. PIMCO Extended Duration I (PEDIX)
7. Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Institutional (VEDTX)
8. T. Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term (PRULX)
9. PIMCO Long-Term US Government A (PFGAX)
10. Dreyfus US Treasury Long-Term (DRGBX)

updated on 8/23/2012

T. Rowe Price New Income Fund (PRCIX)

T. Rowe Price New Income fund (PRCIX) is a popular taxable bond mutual fund. This fixed income fund invests in income producing bonds such as government bonds, corporate bonds, etc.

T. Rowe Price New Income Fund

The investment objective of T. Rowe Price New Income fund is to provide the highest income level with the capital preservation. This fund utilizes its assets to purchase income-producing securities. These securities may include U.S. government and agency obligations, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, foreign securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, Treasury inflation protected securities. It may invest, on occasion, in equities.

Fund Profile

T. Rowe Price New Income

• Fund Inception Date: August 31, 1973
• Ticker Symbol: PRCIX
• CUSIP: 779570100
• Beta (3yr): 0.88
• Rank in category (YTD): 71%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Yield: 3.30%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.59%
• Net Assets: $ 17.97 billion
• Number of Years Up: 36 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Maturity: 7.44 years
• Average Duration: 4.77 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 110.70%

Updated on 8/22/2012