Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund (VWESX) Investor Shares

Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund (VWESX) is a popular taxable bond mutual fund. It invests in long term bonds such as corporate or government. It provides higher yield as well.

Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund(Ticker: VWESX)

The Vanguard Long-Term Investment-Grade fund aim is to seek a high and sustainable level of current income. The mutual fund uses its assets to purchase a variety of high-quality and medium-quality fixed income securities. It invests mainly in intermediate- and long-term investment-grade bonds. These high-quality fixed incomes are rated A3 or better by Moody’s Investors Service; medium-quality fixed income securities are those rated the equivalent of Baa1, Baa2, or Baa3.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: July 8, 1973
• Ticker Symbol: VWESX
• CUSIP: 922031109
• Beta (3yr): 2.31
• Rank in category (YTD): 49%
• Category: Long-Term Bond
• Distribution: 4.57%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.22%
• Net Assets: $ 13.58 billion
• Number of Years Up: 34 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Average maturity: 24.5 years
• Average duration: 14.1 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 29%

Updated on 01/02/2013

Fidelity Series International Value Fund (Ticker: FINVX)

Fidelity Series International Value Fund (Ticker: FINVX) is an international stock mutual fund. It focuses its assets in non-U.S. companies including emerging markets. It provides diversification opportunity.

Fidelity Series International Value Fund (Ticker: FINVX)

The Fidelity Series International Value Fund investment aim is to seek capital appreciation. The mutual fund invests mainly in non-U.S. securities especially in common stocks, including securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The fund invests in securities of companies that are undervalued in the marketplace in relation to factors such as assets, sales, earnings, growth potential, or cash flow, or in relation to securities of other companies in the same industry. It allocates investments across different countries and regions and uses fundamental analysis of factors.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: December 2, 2009
• Ticker Symbol: FINVX
• CUSIP: 31618H770
• Beta (3yr): N/A
• Rank in category (YTD): 18%
• Category: Foreign Large Value
• Distribution rate: 2.48%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.93%
• Net Assets: $ 9.09 billion
• Number of Years Up: 1 year
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 78%

Updated on 1/2/2013

Best Performing Mid Cap Growth Mutual Funds December 2012

Best performing mid cap growth mutual funds December 2012 are Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth fund, Kinetics Internet fund, Harbor Mid Cap Growth, etc.

Mid Cap Growth Funds

Mid cap growth mutual funds may invest in equities of all sizes or in equities of midsize companies with high potential growth. They invest mainly in U.S. companies or corporation. These companies have market capitalization between $2 billion - $10 billion. The fund managers may use different matrices such as high growth rate for earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow) and high valuation (high price ratios and low dividend yield).

These top performers are sorted based on its year to date performance in 2012 (up to December 28, 2012). You can find the fund review and other fund information such as expense ratio, Morningstar rating, fund’s market price, managers, fund’s holdings, yield, etc.

Best Performing Mutual Funds

The 10 best performing mid cap growth mutual funds December 2012 are:

1. Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund (ATGAX)
2. Kinetics Internet No Load (WWWFX)
3. Davenport Equity Opportunities (DEOPX)
4. PRIMECAP Odyssey Aggressive Growth (POAGX)
5. Harbor Mid Cap Growth Fund (HIMGX)
6. Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund (TEGAX)
7. Legg Mason ClearBridge Mid Cap Growth Fund (LBGAX)
8. Hartford Midcap Fund (HFMCX)
9. Goldman Sachs Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund (GSMAX)
10. Artisan Mid Cap Fund (ARTMX)

Updated on 12/30/2012

ING Global Real Estate Fund (IGLAX)

ING Global Real Estate fund (Ticker: IGLAX) is an international stock mutual fund. It focuses its investment in real estate companies around the world.

ING Global Real Estate A (MUTF: IGLAX)

The investment objective of ING Global Real Estate fund is to provide high total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The mutual fund utilizes its net assets to purchase a portfolio of equity securities of companies that are principally engaged in the real estate industry. It may invest in companies located in countries with emerging securities markets. The fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 11/4/2001
• Ticker Symbol: IGLAX
• CUSIP: 44980R326
• Beta (3yr): 0.98
• Rank in category (YTD): %
• Category: Global Real Estate
• Distribution: 2.02%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.31%
• Net Assets: $ 4.48 billion
• Number of Years Up: 7 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 37.99%

Updated on 12/29/2012

PIMCO Unconstrained Bond Fund (PUBAX)

PIMCO Unconstrained Bond Fund (Ticker: PUBAX) is part of taxable bond fund. It invests in nontraditional bonds and provides regular income for investors.

PIMCO Unconstrained Bond A (Ticker: PUBAX)

The PIMCO Unconstrained Bond fund aim is to achieve maximum long-term return, consistent with capital preservation and prudent investment management. The mutual fund invests majority of its assets (>80%) in a diversified portfolio of both investment-grade securities and high yield securities (“Junk bonds”). The fund’s NAV is $11.68 (as of 12/2/2012).

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 06/29/2008
• Ticker Symbol: PUBAX
• CUSIP: 72201M479
• Beta (3yr): 0.31
• Rank in category (YTD): 29%
• Category: Nontraditional Bond
• Yield: 1.94%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.30%
• Net Assets: $ 15.08 billion
• Number of Years Up: 3 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Effective duration: 0.24 years
• Effective maturity: -0.37 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 1,001%

Updated on 12/28/2012

Top Performer Small Blend Mutual Funds December 2012

The 10 top performer small blend mutual funds December 2012 are Hennessy Cornerstone Growth fund, Mairs & Power Small Cap, PIMCO Small Cap StocksPLUS TR, etc.

Best Performer Mutual Funds

Small blend mutual fund invests mainly in U.S. companies with small market capitalization. It invests in a mix of value and growth stocks where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. This equity fund provides higher risk and higher reward opportunity for investors. It is higher risk than typically large cap mutual funds.

These top performers are sorted based on its year to date performance in 2012 (up to December 13, 2012). You can find the fund review from this article. Other fund information can be found below such as expense ratio, Morningstar rating, fund’s NAV, managers, fund’s holdings, yield, etc.

The 12 top performer small blend mutual funds December 2012 are:

1. Hennessy Cornerstone Growth Investor (HFCGX)
2. Mairs & Power Small Cap (MSCFX)
3. PIMCO Small Cap StocksPLUS TR A (PCKAX)
4. Cortina Small Cap Value (CRSVX)
5. Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap (VVPSX)
6. Bogle Small Cap Growth Investor (BOGLX)
7. RBC Enterprise A (TETAX)
8. Keeley Small Cap Value A (KSCVX)
9. Touchstone Small Cap Core A (TSFAX)
10. Brown Advisory Small-Cap Fundamental Val Investor (BIAUX)
11. Fidelity Small Cap Discovery (FSCRX)
12. Olstein Strategic Opportunities A (OFSAX)

Updated on 12/27/2012

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (VPACX)

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (Ticker: VPACX) is a popular international stock mutual fund. The mutual fund focuses its investment in stocks of companies located in Pacific/Asia region.

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (MUTF: VPACX)

The Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund objective is to track the performance of the MSCI Pacific Index, a benchmark index.  The index comprises of stocks issued by companies located in the major markets of the Pacific region. The MSCI Pacific Index consists of approximately 470 common stocks of companies located in Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 06/17/1990
• Ticker Symbol: VPACX
• CUSIP: 922042106
• Beta (3yr): 0.77
• Rank in category (YTD): 83%
• Category: Diversified Pacific/ Asia
• Distribution: 4.42%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.26%
• Net Assets: $ 3.91 billion
• Number of Years Up: 13 years
• Number of Years Down: 8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 4.00%

Updated on 12/26/2012