January 19, 2013

Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund (PGNAX)

Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund (Ticker: PGNAX) is one of the best equity sector mutual funds. It invests mainly in stock of natural resource companies.

Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund (PGNAX)

The investment objective of Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund is to seek long-term capital growth. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase equity securities of natural resource companies and in asset-based securities. Natural resource companies are U.S. and foreign (non-U.S. based) companies that own, explore, mine, process or otherwise develop, or provide goods and services with respect to, natural resources. Asset-based securities are stocks, the values of which are related to the market value of a natural resource. It mainly invests in common stocks. It is non-diversified.

Fund Profile
    Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund
  • Fund Inception Date: 10/21/1990
  • Ticker Symbol: PGNAX
  • CUSIP: 74441K107
  • Beta (3yr): 1.36
  • Rank in category (YTD): 84%
  • Category: Natural Resources
  • Distribution: 0.00%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 1.16%
  • Net Assets: $ 4.59 billion
  • Number of Years Up: 15 years
  • Number of Years Down: 6 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 34%
Updated on 1/19/2013

January 17, 2013

Top Performing Bank Loan Mutual Funds January 2013

Top performing bank loan mutual funds January 2013 are Pyxis Floating Rate Opportunities fund, ING Senior Income fund, Invesco Senior Loan A, etc.

Top Performing Bank Loan Mutual Funds 2013

A bank loan mutual fund is one of the taxable bond mutual fund categories. This bank loan fund utilizes its assets to purchase a floating-rate bank loans instead of bonds. This bond fund provides high interest income for investors. It does have a higher investment risk than typical short term bond fund.

The list is sorted based on the funds’ YTD performance in 2012. You can find fund review and information in this article. Other information such as expense ratio, management, top holdings, top sector, sales load, and shares price can be found as well.

Top performing bank loan mutual funds January 2013 are:
  1. Pyxis Floating Rate Opportunities A (HFRAX)
  2. ING Senior Income A (XSIAX)
  3. Invesco Senior Loan A (VSLAX)
  4. Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income A (LSFAX)
  5. Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies A (GIFAX)
  6. Fidelity Series Floating Rate High Inc (FFHCX)
  7. Nuveen Symphony Floating Rate Income A (NFRAX)
  8. PL Floating Rate Income A (PLFLX)
  9. Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Advantage A (EAFAX)
  10. Columbia Floating Rate A (RFRAX)
Updated on 1/5/2013

January 16, 2013

Vanguard REIT Index Fund (VGSIX)

Vanguard REIT Index Fund (Ticker: VGSIX) is a real estate mutual fund. This sector fund focuses its investment in stock of real estate companies. You can find the fund review below.

Vanguard REIT Index Fund (MUTF: VGSIX)

The investment aim of Vanguard REIT Index Fund is to provide a high level of income and moderate long-term capital appreciation. It tracks the performance of the publicly traded equity REITs index, the MSCI US REIT Index. The fund will replicate the index by investing all, or majority, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index. The fund may hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.

Fund Details
    Vanguard REIT Index Fund
  • Fund Inception Date: 05/12/1996
  • Ticker Symbol: VGSIX
  • CUSIP: 921908703
  • Beta (3yr): 0.90
  • Rank in category (YTD): 34%
  • Category: Real Estate
  • Distribution: 3.26%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 0.24%
  • Net Assets: $ 28.29 billion
  • Number of Years Up: 11 years
  • Number of Years Down: 4 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 10.00%
Updated on 1/16/2013

January 14, 2013

Top Performing World Stock Mutual Funds January 2013

The top performing world stock mutual funds January 2013 are Artisan Global Equity fund, Third Avenue Value fund, Wasatch Global Opportunities, etc.

Top Performing World Stock Mutual Funds 2013Best Performing World Stock Funds 2013

World stock mutual funds invest mainly in equities of companies around the world. The fund invests mostly in companies located in developed countries such as U.S., German, United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, etc. It may invest in other globe’s smaller markets including emerging markets, and developing countries.

The top performing list is sorted based on its YTD performance in 2012. Investors can find the review and other fund information such as expense ratio, fund manager, yield, turnover rate, sales load, top holdings, top sectors, etc.

The top performing world stock mutual funds January 2013 are:
  1. Artisan Global Equity Fund
  2. Artisan Global Opportunities Fund
  3. Third Avenue Value Fund
  4. Wasatch Global Opportunities Fund
  5. MFS Global New Discovery Fund
  6. Alpine Global Infrastructure Fund
  7. Oakmark Global Select Fund
  8. Beck Mack & Oliver Global Fund
  9. MFS Global Equity Fund
  10. USAA World Growth Fund
  11. Hartford Global Growth Fund
  12. MFS Global Leaders Fund
Updated on 1/6/2013

January 12, 2013

Matthews China Fund (MCHFX)

Matthews China Fund (Ticker: MCHFX) is an international stock mutual fund. The mutual fund focuses its investment in Chinese and Taiwanese companies.

Matthews China Fund (Ticker: MCHFX)

The investment objective of Matthews China Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The fund utilizes its assets to buy the common and preferred stocks of companies located in China and Taiwan. It seeks to invest in companies capable of sustainable growth based on the fundamental characteristics of those companies. The current shares price is $23.05.

Fund Profile
    Matthews China Fund
  • Fund Inception Date: 02/18/1998
  • Ticker Symbol: MCHFX
  • CUSIP: 577-130-701
  • Beta (3yr): 0.81
  • Rank in category (YTD): 84%
  • Category: China Region
  • Yield: 1.16%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 1.13%
  • Net Assets: $ 1.93 billion
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 8.43%
Updated on 1/12/2013

January 11, 2013

Fidelity Latin America Fund (FLATX)

Fidelity Latin America Fund (Ticker: FLATX) is a popular international stock. This equity mutual fund focuses on investing in equities of companies located in Latin America.

Fidelity Latin America Fund (FLATX)

The investment objective of Fidelity Latin America Fund is to provide long-term growth of capital. The fund invests >80% of assets in securities of Latin American issuers and other investments that are economically related to Latin America. It typically invests in common stocks and allocates investment across different Latin American countries. It uses fundamental analysis of factors such as each company’s financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions to select investments. The fund is non-diversified.

Fidelity Latin America FundFund Details
  • Fund Inception Date: April 19, 1993
  • Ticker Symbol: FLATX
  • CUSIP: 315910844
  • Beta (3yr): 1.01
  • Rank in category (YTD): 76%
  • Category: Latin America Stock
  • Distribution: 1.67%
  • Capital Gains: 0%
  • Expense Ratio: 1.00%
  • Net Assets: $ 2.48 billion
  • Number of Years Up: 10 years
  • Number of Years Down: 8 years
  • Annual Turnover Rate: 11.00%
Updated on 1/11/2013

January 10, 2013

Top Performer Inflation Protected Bond Mutual Funds January 2013

The top performer inflation protected bond mutual funds January 2013 are PIMCO Real Return Asset Fund, GMO Inflation Indexed Plus Bond III, Lord Abbett Inflation Focused A, etc.

Best Performing Inflation Protected Bond FundsBest Performing Inflation Protected Bond Funds

The inflation protected bond mutual funds invest mainly in bonds that adjust their principal values in line with the inflation rate. Most of the inflation protected bonds are issued by U.S. Treasury. Some other foreign governments have issued inflation protected bonds as well. Investor may receive an interest income from this mutual fund.

You can find this top performer list is sorted based on its performance in 2012. You may find the fund review information such as expense ratio, turnover rate, dividend yield, average maturity, management, fund’s NAV, etc.

The top performer inflation protected bond mutual funds January 2013 are:
  1. PIMCO Real Return Asset Fund (PRAIX)
  2. GMO Inflation Indexed Plus Bond III fund (GMITX)
  3. Lord Abbett Inflation Focused Fund (LIFAX)
  4. PIMCO Real Return Fund (PRTNX)
  5. Harbor Real Return Fund (HARRX)
  6. VALIC Company I Inflation Protected Fund (VCTPX)
  7. Columbia Inflation Protected Securities Fund (APSAX)
  8. DFA Inflation-Protected Securities I (DIPSX)
  9. Transamerica Partners Institutional Inflation Protected Securities (DIIGX)
  10. Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (VIPSX)
Updated on 1/10/2013

The Importance of Diversification in Investing

Diversification is a key principle in investing, and it's especially important in today's uncertain economic climate. By spreading y...