8 Best ETFs for 2013

Best ETFs for 2013; top exchange traded funds: best bond, stock ETF funds. The 8 best ETFs for 2013 are PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund, Vanguard MSCI EAFE ETF, Schwab Large-Cap Core, iShares S&P National Municipal Bond Fund, etc.

Top ETFs for 2013

Best Exchange Traded Funds 2013

Exchange traded funds, ETFs, are becoming popular investment vehicle for individual and institutional investors. There are more than 1,000 ETFs in the marketplace. For regular investors, it may be difficult to pick the right one or the best choice for future. ETFs are traded like stock; they provide investors a great opportunity to diversify.

These best ETFs for 2013 are selected based several things such as future performance, low cost, and growth opportunity. The funds are ranked with among the best in its category. You may find the fund review below and other fund information. If you are interested in top mutual funds, you can check my previous article, Best Mutual Funds for 2013.

The followings are my ways to choose good ETFs for investment are:

• Choose the low expense ratio fund for higher long term returns
• Buy exchange traded fund that invests in broad market (i.e. diversified)
• Buy active funds if they are managed by great manager(s)
• Don’t invest in single sectors or single country fund

The 8 best ETFs for 2013 are:

1. PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund (BOND)
2. Schwab Large-Cap Core (SCHX)
3. iShares S&P National Municipal Bond Fund (MUB)
4. Vanguard MSCI EAFE ETF (VEA)
5. Market Vectors Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (EMLC)

Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Fund (FDFAX)

Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Fund (FDFAX) is a popular sector stock mutual fund. It invests in equities of consumer staples companies.

Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Fund (FDFAX)

The Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Fund objective is to achieve capital appreciation. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase stocks of companies engaged in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of consumer staples. It invests in common stocks of domestic and foreign issuers. The fund manager uses fundamental analysis of factors to choose its investment.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 07/28/1985
• Ticker Symbol: FDFAX
• CUSIP: 316390848
• Beta (3yr): 0.60
• Rank in category (YTD): 16%
• Category: Consumer Defensive
• Distribution: 1.47%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.82%
• Net Assets: $ 2.01 billion
• Number of Years Up: 22 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 35%

Updated on 3/3/2013

Best Invesco Mutual Funds for 2013

Best Invesco mutual funds for 2013; top balanced, bond, stock fund by Invesco. The 25 best mutual funds for 2013 are Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Fund, Invesco European Small Company, Invesco High Yield Municipal, Invesco Corporate Bond, etc.

Best Invesco Mutual Funds 2013

As one of the popular fund family, Invesco has over $580 billion of assets under management. Invesco is also one of the world’s largest and most diversified investment management firms. It has disciplined investment process, based on insight gathered through on the ground research in over 13 countries.

Invesco offers investment opportunity in equity, fixed income and cash management based strategies. It also provides investment in closed end funds and exchange traded funds. It also offers alternative holdings such as real estate, precious metals, commodities and natural resources.

These best mutual funds are sorted based on its performance and quality. I have provided a review of my favorite funds. You can find various funds to invest in as well.  Please check the fund prospectus for investment risk, fund details, etc.

The 25 best Invesco mutual funds for 2013 are:

1. Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Fund
2. Invesco European Small Company Fund
3. Invesco Balanced-Risk Retire 2030 Fund
4. Invesco High Yield Municipal Fund
5. Invesco Diversified Dividend Fund
6. Invesco International Growth Fund
7. Invesco Developing Markets Fund
8. Invesco SmallCapValue Fund
9. Invesco Corporate Bond Fund
10. Invesco Equally-Weighted S&P 500 Fund

Fidelity Select Retailing Fund (FSRPX)

Fidelity Select Retailing Fund (FSRPX) is a consumer cyclical mutual fund. This sector stock fund invests in equities of companies which operate in merchandising finished goods and services to consumer.

Fidelity Select Retailing Fund (Ticker: FSRPX)

The Fidelity Select Retailing Fund aim is to seek capital appreciation. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase common stocks of companies engaged in merchandising finished goods and services primarily to individual consumers. The fund invests in domestic and foreign equities. The fund management uses fundamental analysis of factors such as financial condition and industry position, market and economic conditions to choose its investments. This fund is non-diversified.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 12/15/1985
• Ticker Symbol: FSRPX
• CUSIP: 316390731
• Beta (3yr): 0.84
• Rank in category (YTD): 20%
• Category: Consumer Cyclical
• Distribution: 0.44%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.88%
• Net Assets: $ 525.80 million
• Number of Years Up: 18 years
• Number of Years Down: 8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 217%

Updated on 2/23/2013

Best Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds for 2013

The 30 best Franklin Templeton mutual funds for 2013 include Templeton Global Bond Fund, Franklin CA High Yield Municipal, Franklin Income, Mutual Global Discovery, etc.

Franklin Templeton Funds

Franklin Templeton Investments offer three types of mutual funds: Franklin mutual funds, Templeton mutual funds, and Mutual Series. These mutual funds series offer various different classes or categories of mutual funds. The fund categories include world bond, emerging markets bond, money market, tax free income, growth, world allocation, value stock, global stock, balanced, etc.

Typically the Class A funds have sales load. You can invest in Class R or Class Z or Advisor Class for no load funds. These no load Franklin Templeton mutual funds are available through retirement account (IRA) or 401(k) account or other regular brokerage account.

Previous: Best Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds 2012

These best mutual funds are sorted based on its performance and quality. You can find various funds to invest in.  Please check the fund prospectus for investment risk, fund details, etc.

Top Mutual Funds

The 30 best Franklin Templeton mutual funds for 2013 are:

1. Templeton Global Bond Fund
2. Franklin CA High Yield Municipal Fund
3. Templeton China World Fund
4. Franklin Income Fund
5. Mutual Global Discovery Fund
6. Franklin High Yield Tax-Free Income Fund
7. Franklin Rising Dividends Fund
8. Franklin Growth Fund
9. Franklin OH Tax-Free Income Fund
10. Templeton Global Total Return Fund

Top Performing Large Growth Mutual Funds February 2013

The top performing large growth mutual funds February 2013 are Matthew 25 fund, Hartford Growth Opportunities, Parnassus, Federated Kaufmann Large Cap, etc.

Top Performing Large Growth Funds 2013

Large growth funds focus its investment in huge U.S. companies with higher grow potential than other large cap stocks. These large growth stocks have higher growth rates for earnings, sales, book value and cash flow. The stock prices have high valuations as well in term of high price ratios and low dividend yields.

The list is sorted based on the 1 year total return up to February 1, 2013. You can find fund review below. Other information such as expense ratio, management, top holdings, top sector, sales load, and shares price can be found as well.

The top performing large growth mutual funds February 2013 are:

1. Matthew 25 Fund (MXXVX)
2. Hartford Growth Opportunities Fund (HGOAX)
3. Parnassus Fund (PARNX)
4. Federated Kaufmann Large Cap Fund (KLCAX)
5. Vulcan Value Partners Fund (VVPLX)
6. American Funds New Economy Fund (ANEFX)
7. Janus Forty Fund (JDCAX)
8. Touchstone Sands Capital Select Growth Fund (TSNAX)

Updated on 2/13/2013

Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund (VSGBX)

Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund is a no load taxable bond mutual fund. It focuses its investment in short-term bonds issued by the U.S. government.

Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund (MUTF: VSGBX)

The Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund objective is to seek current income while maintaining limited price volatility. The mutual fund invests >80% of assets in short-term bonds issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities. It is expected to maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of 1 to 4 years.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 12/30/1987
• Ticker Symbol: VSGBX
• CUSIP: 922031604
• Beta (3yr): 0.43
• Rank in category (YTD): 57%
• Category: Short Government
• Distribution: 0.55%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%
• Net Assets: $ 5.7 billion
• Number of Years Up: 24 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Duration: 2.3 years
• Average Maturity: 2.4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 411.00%

Updated on 2/22/2013