American Funds US Government Securities Fund (AMUSX)

American Funds US Government Securities Fund (AMUSX), top bond mutual fund. This mutual fund invests mainly in U.S. treasuries which provide yield for income.

Top American Funds

The investment objective of American Funds US Government Securities Fund is to achieve a high current income level consistent with prudent investment risk and capital preservation. It utilizes most of its assets to purchase securities that are guaranteed or sponsored by the U.S. government, including bonds and other debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars.

As top bond fund, it may also invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by federal agencies and instrumentalities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The fund invests in debt securities with a wide range of maturities.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 10/16/1985
• Ticker Symbol: AMUSX
• CUSIP: 026300103
• Beta (3yr): 0.99
• Rank in category (YTD): 49%
• Category: Intermediate Government
• Yield: 0.90%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.60%
• Net Assets: $ 6.9 billion
• Number of Years Up: 25 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Duration: 3.4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 353%

Updated on August 16, 2013

Top Lowest Cost International Stock Mutual Fund for 2014

Top lowest cost international stock mutual funds for 2014, best stock fund. The top mutual funds are American Funds New World HLS fund, DFA United Kingdom Small Company, etc.

Best Low Cost Mutual Funds

International stock mutual fund invests mainly in equities of foreign companies. It may invest in developed countries and emerging markets. Depending on the fund’s objective, it may invest in certain sector only. This mutual fund invests in countries such as Japan, German, UK, Spain, France, Brazil, Italy, China, Australia, and more.

These lowest cost five star mutual funds are sorted based on its expense ratio and top star rating. You can invest this mutual fund in your brokerage account and retirement account (Roth IRA, traditional IRA or 401k). These best mutual funds may provide high yield and high capital appreciation for investors.

Top lowest cost international equity mutual funds for 2014 are:

1. American Funds New World HLS IB (HVWBX)
2. DFA United Kingdom Small Company I (DFUKX)
3. GMO International Growth Equity III (GMIGX)
4. Hartford International Opportunities HLS IA (HIAOX)
5. Mutual Quest Z (MQIFX)
6. Lazard Intl Strategic Equity Institutional (LISIX)
7. MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield I (EPSYX)
8. FPA Paramount (FPRAX)
9. Franklin Intl Small Cap Growth Adv (FKSCX)
10. Morgan Stanley Institutional International Equity I (MSIQX)

Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund (VWEHX)

Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund (VWEHX) is a top bond mutual fund. This Vanguard fund provides high yield of income for investors.

Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund

The investment objective of Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund is to achieve a high level of current income. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase a diversified group of high-yielding, higher-risk corporate bonds-commonly known as “junk bonds”;-with medium- and lower-range credit-quality ratings. It invests >80% of its assets in corporate bonds that are rated below Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. The fund’s high-yield bonds and loans mostly have short- and intermediate-term maturities.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 12/26/1978
• Ticker Symbol: VWEHX
• CUSIP: 922031208
• Beta (3yr): 0.06
• Rank in category (YTD): 89%
• Category: High Yield Bond
• Distribution/ Yield: 5.36%
• Capital Gains: check fund
• Expense Ratio: 0.23%
• Net Assets: $ 23.0 billion

Best Performing Balanced ETFs August 2013

Best performing balanced ETFs August 2013, top balanced exchange traded fund. The top ETFs are SPDR Barclays Capital Convertible Securities fund, iShares Aggressive Allocation fund, and more.

Top Performer Balanced Funds

Balanced ETFs have become popular choice for investors. There are several types of balanced ETFs are convertible ETF, conservative allocation ETF, moderate allocation ETF, and aggressive allocation ETF. Balanced fund invests in stocks, bonds, and short term cash or money market. Some of these funds are index funds.

These top performing ETFs are sorted based on its 1 year return (up to August 19, 2013). You can find the fund review from this post. Other fund information can be found below such as fund performance, expense ratio, Morningstar rating, ETF share price, managers, fund’s holdings, yield, etc.

Best performing balanced ETFs August 2013 are:

1. SPDR Barclays Capital Convertible Securities (CWB)
2. iShares Aggressive Allocation (AOA)
3. db X-trackers In-Target Date ETF (TDX)
4. AdvisorShares Meidell Tactical Advantage ETF (MATH)
5. iShares Growth Allocation (AOR)
6. SPDR SSgA Global Allocation ETF (GAL)
7. Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF (GYLD)
8. AdvisorShares Global Echo ETF (GIVE)
9. iShares Moderate Allocation (AOM)
10. iShares Target Date 2010 (TZD)

T Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term Fund (PRULX)

T Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term Fund (PRULX) is a top taxable bond mutual fund. T  Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term Fund has high yield for income.

T Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term Fund

The investment objective of this mutual fund is to achieve the highest level of income consistent with maximum credit protection. This T. Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term fund utilizes its assets to purchase U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government. It also invests in other securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Its weighted average maturity is expected to vary between 15 and 20 years, but may range from 10 to 30 years.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 09/28/1989
• Ticker Symbol: PRULX
• CUSIP: 77957T206
• Beta (3yr): 3.95
• Rank in category (YTD): 87%
• Category: Long Government
• Yield: 2.58%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.55%
• Net Assets: $ 451.2 million
• Number of Years Up: 19 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 57.10%

Updated on August 18, 2013

Top Performer Intermediate Term Bond ETFs August 2013

Top performer intermediate term bond ETFs 2013, exchange traded funds. The best funds include iShares Core Total US Bond Market ETF (AGG), Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV), etc.

Best Performing Bond ETFs

Intermediate-term bond fund utilizes its assets to purchase a portfolio of high quality corporate and government debts with durations of 3.5 to 6 years. This intermediate-term bond fund has a higher yield than short term bond fund. It is also less sensitive to interest rates than long term bond fund. Most of the intermediate term bond ETFs funds are index bond fund with low expense rate fee.

These top performer ETFs are sorted based on its 1 year return (up to August 1, 2013). You can find the best exchange traded 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.

Top performer intermediate term bond ETFs 2013 are:

1. iShares Core Total US Bond Market ETF (AGG)
2. Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV)
3. Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
4. PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND)
5. Guggenheim BulletShares 2015 Corp Bond (BSCF)
6. Guggenheim BulletShares 2016 Corp Bond (BSCG)
7. Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 Corp Bond (BSCH)
8. Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 Corp Bond (BSCI)
9. Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 Corp Bond (BSCJ)
10. Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corp Bond (BSCK)
11. iShares Barclays Credit Bond (CFT)
12. iShares Barclays Intermediate Credit Bond (CIU)

Updated on August 2013

Waddell & Reed Science & Technology Fund (UNSCX)

Waddell & Reed Science & Technology Fund (UNSCX), popular mutual fund for investment. As a technology sector mutual fund, it may provide investor a capital growth opportunity.

Waddell & Reed Science & Technology Fund

The investment aim of Waddell & Reed Science & Technology Fund is to achieve capital growth. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase securities of science or technology. It may also invest in companies that utilize science and/or technology as an agent of change to significantly enhance their business opportunities. The fund may invest in securities issued by companies of any size, and may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including securities of issuers within emerging markets.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 05/16/1950
• Ticker Symbol: UNSCX
• CUSIP: 930057500
• Beta (3yr): 0.97
• Rank in category (YTD): 4%
• Category: Technology
• Distribution: 0.00%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.37%
• Net Assets: $ 2.8 billion
• Number of Years Up: 42 years
• Number of Years Down: 20 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 42%

Updated on July 29, 2013