May 27, 2014

Small Growth ETFs: How to Invest

Find article about how to invest in small growth ETFs. This small growth stock exchange trade funds provide high risk and high reward opportunities for investors.

Small Growth Funds

For growth seeker investors, small growth funds provide a right risk and reward. These small growth funds utilize their assets to purchase stocks of small size companies with high growth potential. These companies are fast growing and often richly valued. The stocks may be volatile and easily swing up/down.

Exchange traded funds or ETFs are used by investors to seek investing in this small growth stocks. Investor can buy or sell the ETFs through your brokerage. These ETFs are traded like stocks through variety of stock exchange/market such as NASDAQ, NYSE, or AMEX. Most of the small growth ETFs are index ETFs (i.e. passively managed & tracking their benchmark).

Top ETFs

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below. The list is sorted based on its 1 year total return up to May 19, 2014.

Small Growth ETFs: How to InvestTop performing small growth exchange trade funds 2014 are:
  1. Guggenheim S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Growth
  2. SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
  3. iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth
  4. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth Idx ETF
  5. PowerShares Fundamental Pure Small Grow
  6. iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Growth
  7. iShares Russell 2000 Growth
  8. Vanguard Small Cap Growth ETF
  9. Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index ETF
  10. First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX
Updated on May 19, 2014

May 25, 2014

Top Stocks Week 21, 2014: Internet Providers

Find best performing sector stocks of week 21 of 2014. Top stock industries are internet service providers, dairy products, electronic stores, internet information providers, etc.

Top Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, sector, and market capitalization. Major market indices have turned positive in 2014. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of 1.25%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of 2.33%. The Russell 2000 has a positive return of 2.13%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 21, 2014 (May 19, 2014 – May 25, 2014) are:
    Top Stocks Week 21, 2014: Internet Providers
  1. Internet Service Providers – 10.54%
  2. Dairy Products – 8.55%
  3. Toy & Hobby Stores – 6.61%
  4. Electronics Stores – 6.07%
  5. Internet Information Providers – 6.06%
  6. Jewelry Stores – 5.69%
  7. Hospitals
  8. Computer Peripherals
  9. Synthetics
  10. Healthcare Information Services
  11. Broadcasting - Radio
  12. Movie Production, Theaters
  13. Drug Delivery
  14. Drug Related Products
  15. Manufactured Housing
  16. Semiconductor- Memory Chips
  17. Auto Parts
  18. General Entertainment

May 23, 2014

Investing in Convertible Closed End Funds

Investing in convertible closed end funds can be done easily. You can buy these closed end funds from your brokerage.

Convertible Bond Funds

Investing in Convertible Closed End FundsInvesting in convertible securities can be very attractive for investors. Generally, these convertible bonds are interest-paying bonds that can be swapped for shares of the issuing company's stock at a predated price. The bond-like yield aspect of a convertible protects against stock declines, while the ability to convert into stock offers shelter against falling bond prices.

Using closed end funds, investors can maximize its return if there is an arbitrage between the fund’s NAV and fund’s price. The yield of these convertible closed end funds can be higher than convertible ETFs or convertible mutual funds.

Top Closed End Funds

These top performing closed end funds are selected based on its year-to-date performance in 2014. Most of these convertible bond mutual funds are also rated among the best in their category. I have also provided some details about its management, performance, expense ratio, initial investment requirement, risk, top holdings, etc.

Top performing convertible closed end funds in 2014 are:
  1. AGIC Convertible & Income II
  2. Calamos Convertible & High Income
  3. AGIC Convertible & Income
  4. Bancroft Fund
  5. Advent Claymore Convertible Securities & Income
  6. Ellsworth Fund
  7. Calamos Convertible Opportunities & Income
  8. Advent Claymore Convertible & Income
Updated on 5/18/2014

May 21, 2014

Top Foreign Large Growth Mutual Funds 2014

Find top foreign large growth mutual funds 2014 review. Foreign large growth funds invest in non-US companies located in developed countries.

Foreign Large Growth Funds

Top Foreign Large Growth Mutual Funds 2014Foreign large-growth funds focus on high-priced growth stocks, mainly outside of the United States. The mutual funds invest mainly in variety of developed markets such as Japan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, etc. The funds invest in stocks of big companies with high growth potential. They may invest in U.S. stocks as well (less than 20% of assets).

Top Stock Mutual Funds

This best performing funds list is sorted based on the fund’s performance for the past 1 year. You may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below.

Top foreign large growth mutual funds 2014 are:
  1. Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. International Opportunity Portfolio Class A
  2. Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor International Growth Equity Fund
  3. Selected International Fund Class D
  4. Nuveen International Growth Fund Class A
  5. Davis International Fund Class A
  6. Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Class A
  7. MassMutual Premier International Equity Fund Class A
  8. Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Class N
  9. DFA International Large Cap Growth Portfolio
  10. Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares
  11. WHV International Equity Fund Class A

May 19, 2014

Top Stocks Week 20, 2014: Home Health Care & Networking

Find best performing sector stocks of week 20 of 2014. Top stock industries are Home Health Care, Internet Service Providers, Networking & Communication Devices, etc.

Top Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, sector, and market capitalization. Major market indices have turned negative or flat in 2014. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of 0.03%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of 0.46%. The Russell 2000 has a negative return of -0.34%.

Best weekly performance of industry stocks of week 20, 2014 (May 12, 2014 – May 18, 2014) are:
  1. Home Health Care – 8.54%
  2. Internet Service Providers – 7.93%
  3. Music & Video Stores – 5.54%
  4. Networking & Communication Devices – 5.16%
  5. Dairy Products
  6. Photographic Equipment & Supplies
  7. Copper
  8. Beverages - Wineries & Distillers
  9. Drugs Wholesale
  10. Long-Term Care Facilities
  11. Drugs - Generic
  12. Data Storage Devices
  13. Synthetics
  14. Security Software & Services
  15. Apparel Stores
  16. Foreign Utilities
  17. Steel & Iron

May 17, 2014

Best Short Term Bond ETFs 2014

Find best short term bond ETFs 2014 list. These short term bond exchange traded funds provide low risk and income for investors.

Short Term Bond ETFs

Best Short Term Bond ETFs 2014Exchange Traded Funds or ETFs are popular among active investors. With their low cost and liquidity, you can use ETFs to build your investment core assets. You can invest in bond, stock, or money market. There is variety of ETFs offered by ETF providers such as Vanguard, iShares, SPDR, etc.

Short term bond ETFs are investing mainly in high grade corporate and government with short duration (1 to 3.5 years). These debt ETFs typically great for conservative investors or retiree, hence they are less sensitive to interest rates hikes. The funds do provide yield for income.

Top Bond ETFs

These top performer ETFs are sorted based on its 1 year to date performance in 2014 (up to May 2014). 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.

Best short term bond ETFs 2014 are:
  1. AdvisorShares Newfleet Multi-Sector Income ETF
  2. iSharesBond Mar 2016 Corp ex-Fincls Term
  3. Vanguard Short-Term Corp Bd Idx ETF
  4. iShares 0-5 Year Invmt Grd Corp Bd
  5. Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF
  6. SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term Corp Bd
  7. iShares Short Maturity Bond
  8. iShares Core Short-Term US Bond
  9. iSharesBond Mar 2016 Corporate Term
  10. iShares 1-3 Year Credit Bond

May 15, 2014

Top Covered Call Closed End Funds 2014

Find top covered call closed end funds 2014 review. Best option strategies CEFs are: Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, ING Risk Management Natural Resources, etc.

Covered Call CEFs

Top Covered Call Closed End Funds 2014Covered call portfolios invest in stocks and also sell call options on stock indices or individual stocks. The indices include U.S. markets (NASDAQ, NYSE, S&P, and Dow) or international markets (FTSE, Nikkei). Some funds may also purchase put options to try to shield the portfolio from extreme decreases in the stock market. Potential return from these funds comes from stock dividends, premiums received from selling call options, and stock appreciation/depreciation.

Covered call portfolio may be suitable for income seeker investors. Some of the fund’s yields are higher than your typical mutual funds, ETF, or stocks.

Best Closed End Funds

The top performing list is sorted based on its year to date performance in 2014. You can find the fund review, performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, fund’s NAV, management, leverage, fund’s sponsor, premium/discount info, etc.

Top covered call closed end funds 2014 are:
  1. Columbia Seligman Premium Tech
  2. ING Risk Mgt Natural Resources
  3. Cohen & Steers Glb Income Builder
  4. EV Tax-Managed Buy-Write Income
  5. JH Hedged Equity & Income Fund
  6. GAMCO Nat Res Gold & Income
  7. ING Glb Eqty Div & Prem Opps
  8. Madison Strategic Sector Premium

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...