Best Ranked Balanced Mutual Funds of 2012

End of the year of 2011 is approaching, and the year 2012 will mark another year for picking the mutual fund's winner for the past decade. Some mutual funds may have outperformed its peer or its benchmark and some may be trailing its benchmark. The following article will look into the best performer balanced funds for the past 10 year (2002-2011). The best balanced funds include Bruce fund, First Eagle Global A, Permanent Portfolio, Ivy Asset Strategy, and more.

This balanced fund is also known as hybrid fund. This mutual fund invests in variety type of assets such as equities or stocks, bonds or fixed income, commodities (gold bullion), cash, preferred, convertible, etc. The fund assets may be allocated in US or foreign based depending upon its fund’s objective.

The Top 10 Balanced Mutual Funds for the past decade (2012 version) are:

Best Balanced Fund 2011

1. Bruce (BRUFX)
2. First Eagle Global A (SGENX)
3. Permanent Portfolio (PRPFX)
4. Waddell & Reed Asset Strategy A (UNASX)
5. Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Y (LSWWX)
6. Ivy Asset Strategy C (WASCX)
7. FPA Crescent (FPACX)
8. Berwyn Income (BERIX)
9. GMO Global Asset Allocation III (GMWAX)
10. ING T Rowe Price Cap Appreciation Portfolio S (ITCSX)

Updated on 12/18/2011

American Funds American Balanced Fund (ABALX) Class A

American Funds American Balanced A (ABALX) fund is a popular world allocation balanced mutual fund. This hybrid fund has a decent yield.

Balanced fund can be used as the only investment vehicle for investor to invest. Finding the right balanced fund can be difficult. One of the largest and popular hybrid funds is American Funds American Balanced fund. Details review can be found below.

American Funds American Balanced A (ABALX)

The investment objective of this American Funds American Balanced fund is seeking conservation of capital, current income and to provide long-term capital growth or income. This AF fund invests in a broad range of securities such as stocks, bonds. It usually maintains >50% of assets in common stocks and >25% of assets in debt securities, including money market securities. This fund may invest in foreign companies as well.

ABALX Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 01/03/1933
• Ticker Symbol: ABALX
• CUSIP: 024071102
• Beta (3yr): 1.05
• Rank in category (YTD): 6%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution: 1.65%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.59%  
• Net Assets: $ 110.10 billion
• Number of Years Up: 56 years
• Number of Years Down: 21 years
• Average Life: 7.2 years
• Average Duration: 4.7 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 79%

Updated May 2017

Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Fund (FUSEX)

Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Fund (FUSEX) is an investor class of U.S. domestic stock mutual fund. This index fund is classified as large blend fund.

Index mutual fund has become more popular nowadays for investor. For 2011, most of the index fund has outperformed other actively managed mutual funds. One of the well-known index funds is Fidelity Spartan 500 Index fund. This mutual fund is tracking S&P 500 index which consists mainly the large cap US companies. The fund’s review is described below.

Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Investor (MUTF:FUSEX)

Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Fund (FUSEX) is an investor class of U.S. domestic stock mutual fund. This index fund is classified as large blend fund. It has low expense ratio fee.

The Fidelity Spartan 500 Index fund is seeking to provide investment results that correspond to the total return performance of common stocks publicly traded in the U.S. The fund invests most of assets (>80%) in common stocks included in the S&P 500 Index.

FUSEX Fund Details

Fidelity Spartan 500 Index

• Fund Inception Date: 02/17/1988
• Ticker Symbol: FUSEX (Investor Class)
• CUSIP: 315911206
• Beta (3yr): 1.0
• Rank in category (YTD): 18%
• Category: Large Blend
• Yield: 1.81%
• Capital Gains: check fund
• Expense Ratio: 0.09%  
• Net Assets: $ 118.5 billion
• Number of Years Up: 17 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 5%

Updated May 2017

American Funds New World Fund (NEWFX) Class A

Since 2008-2009 global economic crisis, Emerging Markets Equities and Bonds have outperformed other asset classes for the past 3 years. One of the most popular diversified emerging markets stock funds is American Funds New World fund. The fund review is described below.

American Funds New World A (NEWFX)

The investment objective of American Funds New World fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The fund invests majority of assets in common stocks of companies with significant exposure to developing countries. It invests >35% of assets in equity and debt securities of issuers in developing economies and/or markets.

Fund Details

American Funds New World 

• Fund Inception Date: 06/17/1999
• Ticker Symbol: NEWFX
• CUSIP: 649280104
• Beta (3yr): 0.86
• Rank in category (YTD): 11%
• Category: Diversified Emerging Markets
• Distribution: 1.56%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.04%  
• Net Assets: $ 18.65 billion
• Number of Years Up: 7 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 20.00%

Updated on 12/16/2011

BlackRock Global Allocation Investor A (MDLOX) Fund

Known for its Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) line up through iShares, BlackRock also offers various popular mutual funds. One of the popular funds is BlackRock Global Allocation Investor fund. This fund is part of balanced fund which invests in stocks and bonds. You can find the fund’s review below.

BlackRock Global Allocation Investor A (MDLOX)

The BlackRock Global Allocation Investor A fund’s objective is to provide high total investment return. This BlackRock balanced fund invests in a portfolio of equity, debt and money market securities. It may invest <35% of its total assets in junk bonds, corporate loans, and distressed securities. The fund may also invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs. It may invest in any part of the world with any market capitalization.

Fund Details

BlackRock Global Allocation Inv

• Fund Inception Date: 10/21/1994
• Ticker Symbol: MDLOX
• CUSIP: 09251T103
• Beta (3yr): 1.03
• Rank in category (YTD): 44%
• Category: World Allocation
• Distribution: 1.69%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.08%  
• Net Assets: $ 52.37 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 29.0%

Updated on 12/17/2011

American Funds Capital World Growth and Income Fund (CWGIX) Class A

The following fund review is one of the most popular world stock mutual funds. This American Funds Capital World G/I fund invests in companies around the world. More details about the fund’s review can be found below.

American Funds Capital World G/I A (CWGIX)

The American Funds Capital World Growth and Income fund investment fund’s objective is to provide long-term growth of capital while providing current income. This AF fund invests most of assets in common stocks of well-established companies located around the world. These companies also have the potential to pay dividends. It invests, on a global basis, in common stocks that are denominated in U.S. dollars or other currencies. This equity fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers domiciled outside the United States. The fund may also invest in issuers in developing countries.

CWGIX Fund Details

CWGIX fund

• Fund Inception Date: 03/26/1993
• Ticker Symbol: CWGIX
• CUSIP: 140543109
• Beta (3yr): 0.90
• Rank in category (YTD): 56%
• Category: World Stock
• Yield: 2.18%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.79%  
• Net Assets: $ 89.0 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 35.0%

Updated May 2017

Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWELX)

Vanguard Wellington Investor (VWELX) fund is a top rated moderate allocation balanced mutual fund. This Vanguard fund focuses its investment in bonds and stocks.

Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor (VWELX)

The investment objective of Vanguard Wellington fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation and reasonable current income. This equity fund invests about 60%-70% of its assets in dividend-paying and, to a lesser extent, non-dividend-paying common stocks of established, mid and large companies. Most of these stocks are known as value stocks.

It invests the rest of assets (30%-40%) of the assets in fixed income securities that the advisor believes will generate a reasonable level of current income. These securities include investment-grade corporate bonds, U.S. Treasury and government agency bonds, and mortgage-backed securities.

Fund Details

Vanguard Wellington Fund

• Fund Inception Date: 07/01/1929
• Ticker Symbol: VWELX (Investor Shares)
• CUSIP: 921935102
• Beta (3yr): 1.00
• Rank in category (YTD): 11%
• Category: Moderate Allocation
• Distribution/ Yield: 2.43%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.25%  
• Net Assets: $ 55.24 billion
• Number of Years Up: 63 years
• Number of Years Down: 18 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 31%

Updated May 2017