Putnam Convertible Securities Fund (PCONX)

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund (ticker: PCONX) is a balanced mutual fund. The mutual fund invests in convertible securities: bonds, preferred stocks, etc.

Putnam Convertible Securities A (PCONX)

The investment aim of Putnam Convertible Securities fund is to provide current income and capital appreciation. It also has a secondary objective which is capital conservation. This mutual fund invests majority of assets in convertible securities of U.S. companies. Convertible securities mix the investment characteristics of bonds and common stocks.

Convertible securities may include bonds, preferred stocks and other instruments that can be converted into or exchanged for common stock. Many convertible securities are below-investment-grade. The convertible bonds typically have average maturities about three years or longer.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: June 28, 1972
• Ticker Symbol: PCONX
• CUSIP: 746476100
• Beta (3yr): 1.13
• Rank in category (YTD): 7%
• Category: Convertibles
• Distribution: 2.87%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.12%
• Net Assets: $ 611.75 million
• Number of Years Up: 29 years
• Number of Years Down: 10 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 79%

Updated on 11/22/2012

Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund (FFFEX)

Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund (Ticker: FFFEX) is a target date 2026-2030 mutual fund. This balanced fund invests in stocks and bonds. It is suitable for people seek to retire around year 2030.

Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund (Ticker: FFFEX)

The investment aim of Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund is to provide high total return until its target retirement date. The mutual fund invests in a mix of Fidelity domestic equity funds, international equity funds, bond funds, and short-term funds. It is using a moderate asset allocation strategy designed for investors expecting to retire around the year 2030. This balanced fund utilizes an asset allocation strategy that converts gradually conservative until it reaches about 15% in domestic equity funds, 5% in international equity funds, 40% in bond funds, and 40% in short-term funds.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: October 17, 1996
• Ticker Symbol: FFFEX
• CUSIP: 31617R704
• Beta (3yr): 1.34
• Rank in category (YTD): 19%
• Category: Target Date 2026-2030
• Distribution: 1.85 %
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.00%
• Net Assets: $ 10.94 billion
• Number of Years Up: 10 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 26%

Updated on 11/20/2012

Best Consumer Defensive Mutual Funds 2013

The 4 best consumer defensive mutual funds 2013 are Fidelity Select Consumer Staples fund, Vanguard Consumer Staples Index fund, etc.

Top Consumer Defensive Mutual Funds

The consumer defensive mutual fund is part of domestic stock mutual fund. This sector stock fund utilizes its assets to purchase stocks of companies that are engaged in manufacturing, sales or distribution of customer staples. The consumer staples company products are food, beverages, tobacco, and household items. It may invest in U.S. companies or non-U.S. companies. This stock fund is considered as non-cyclical stock fund.

These top consumer defensive mutual funds are selected based on its expense ratio fee, turnover rate, management, fund performance, etc. You can find the fund review and fund performance or return below.

The 4 best consumer defensive mutual funds 2013 are:

1. Fidelity Select Consumer Staples (FDFAX)
2. Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Adm (VCSAX)
3. Rydex Consumer Products Investor (RYCIX)
4. ICON Consumer Staples A (ICRAX)

Updated on 11/18/2012

Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund (VCVSX)

Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund (Ticker: VCVSX) is another popular low cost balanced fund. It invests in U.S. and non-U.S. convertibles.

Vanguard Convertible Securities Investor (VCVSX)

The Vanguard Convertible Securities fund aim is to achieve current income and long-term capital appreciation. It utilizes its assets to purchase U.S. and foreign convertible securities. These convertibles are hybrid securities that have characteristics of bonds and common stocks. It may include corporate bonds and preferred stocks that are convertible into common stock, and debt securities with warrants or common stock attached.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: June 16, 1986
• Ticker Symbol: VCVSX
• CUSIP: 922023106
• Beta (3yr): 1.16
• Rank in category (YTD): 3%
• Category: Convertibles
• Distribution: 3.84%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.59%
• Net Assets: $ 1.66 billion
• Number of Years Up: 18 years
• Number of Years Down: 7 years
• Average Duration: 4.3 years
• Average Maturity: 4.9 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 90.00%

Updated on 11/16/2012

Best Performing Moderate Allocation Mutual Funds November 2012

The 10 best performing moderate allocation mutual funds 2012 are Putnam Capital Spectrum fund, Fairholme Allocation, Dodge & Cox Balanced, etc.

Top Performer Moderate Allocation Balanced Funds

Moderate allocation mutual fund is suitable for investors who have balanced investment approach. This moderate allocation fund invests in stocks (equities), bonds (fixed incomes), money market or cash. It may have slightly higher stock portion (60%-80%) than bond portion (20%-40%). It may provide regular dividend or income through capital gain and yield.

Best Mutual Funds for 2013

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, management, fund’s NAV or share price, and yield or dividend from the table below. The list is sorted based on its year to date performance in 2012 (up to October 1, 2012).

The 10 best performing moderate allocation mutual funds 2012 are:

1. Putnam Capital Spectrum A (PVSAX)
2. Fairholme Allocation (FAAFX)
3. Dodge & Cox Balanced (DODBX)
4. Mairs & Power Balanced Investor (MAPOX)
5. Villere Balanced Investor (VILLX)
6. Camelot Premium Return A (CPRFX)
7. AllianceBern Balanced Shares A (CABNX)
8. JHancock Balanced A (SVBAX)
9. Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Income A (HWIAX)
10. Disciplined Growth Investors (DGIFX)

Updated on 11/14/2012

Waddell & Reed International Grade Fund (UNCGX)

Waddell & Reed International Grade Fund (UNCGX) is one of the best foreign large growth mutual funds. It invests in companies’ stocks of developed countries.

Waddell & Reed International Grade A (UNCGX)

The investment aim of Waddell & Reed International Grade fund is to provide capital growth. The mutual fund invests mainly in common stocks of foreign companies that are competitively well-positioned, gaining market share, have the potential for sustained and attractive long-term growth characteristics. It typically invests in issuers of developed countries, especially companies located in Continental Europe, the United Kingdom and Japan. It may also invest in emerging markets.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: June 2, 1970
• Ticker Symbol: UNCGX
• CUSIP: 930057799
• Beta (3yr): 0.94
• Rank in category (YTD): 34%
• Category: Foreign Large Growth
• Distribution: 1.56%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.50%
• Net Assets: $ 487.75 million
• Number of Years Up: 30 years
• Number of Years Down: 11 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 30%

Updated on 11/12/2012

Best Japan Stock Mutual Funds 2013

The 9 best Japan mutual funds 2013 are DFA Japanese Small Company fund, Matthews Japan Investor, Henderson Japan Focus fund, etc.

Top Japan Stock Mutual Funds 2013

Japan stock mutual fund invests mainly in Japanese companies. As one of the largest market in the world, the Japanese stock fund has varied portfolios' holdings. Some stock mutual funds concentrate on Japan's larger companies, while others concentrate on the small capitalization companies. These portfolios invest >70% of total assets in equities and invest at least 75% of stock assets in Japan.

These top Japanese stock mutual funds are selected based on its expense ratio fee, turnover rate, management, fund performance, shares price or net asset value (NAV), etc. You can find the fund review and fund performance or return below.

The 9 best Japan stock mutual funds 2013 are:

1. DFA Japanese Small Company I (DFJSX)
2. Hennessy Select SPARX Japan Fund Original (SPXJX)
3. Matthews Japan Investor (MJFOX)
4. Henderson Japan Focus A (HFJAX)
5. Nomura Partners The Japan A (NPJAX)
6. Fidelity Japan Smaller Companies (FJSCX)
7. Fidelity Japan Fund (FJPNX)
8. T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX)
9. Commonwealth Japan Fund (CNJFX)

Updated on 11/10/2012