Top 5 Best Performing Utilities Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
25 April 2013 - 5:47PM
Zacks
During difficult economic conditions, the demand for essential
services such as utilities remains more or less constant. Since
this category of funds protects investments during a downturn, they
are viewed as a defensive choice, and have gained strength in
current market conditions. They are also an excellent choice for
investors seeking a steady income flow from consistent dividends
yields. Investments in this sector are usually considered to be a
conservative investment option. However, many utilities funds are
now venturing into emerging markets and provide appreciably higher
returns at relatively lower levels of risk.
Below we will share with you the 5 best performing utilities
mutual funds year to date. To view the Zacks Rank and past
performance of all utilities funds, investors can click here to see
the complete list of funds.
Mutual Fund
|
Zacks Rank
|
Total Return
YTD
|
ProFunds Utilities UltraSector
|
#2 Buy
|
20.01%
|
Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio
|
#2 Buy
|
14.29%
|
Fidelity Advisor Utilities A
|
#2 Buy
|
14.13%
|
Vanguard Utilities Index
|
#5 Strong Sell
|
13.51%
|
Rydex Utilities Advisor
|
#5 Strong Sell
|
13.24%
|
ProFunds Utilities UltraSector
(UTPIX) seeks to provide 150% of the daily return of the Dow Jones
U.S. Utilities Index by investing in equity securities and
derivatives with identical daily returns. The balance of the fund’s
assets is utilized to purchase money market securities. The
utilities mutual fund has a three year annualized return of
19.40%.
Hratch Najarian is the fund manager and has managed this
utilities mutual fund since 2011.
Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio (FSUTX) invests the
majority of its assets in utility companies or those deriving a
large share of their revenues from operations in this sector. The
fund focuses in acquiring common stocks. The fund may invest in
both domestic and foreign instruments. The utilities mutual fund
has a three year annualized return of 16.12%.
The utilities mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.84% compared to a category average
of 1.33%.
Fidelity Advisor Utilities A (FUGAX) seeks capital
growth. The fund invests a large share of its assets in firms from
the utilities sector as well as those which derive a large share of
revenues from related operations. It purchases both domestic and
foreign securities. The utilities mutual fund has a three year
annualized return of 15.82%.
As of February 2013, this utilities mutual fund held 26 issues,
with 13.78% of its total assets invested in Duke Energy
Corporation.
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VUIAX)
invests all its assets in stocks that constitute the MSCI U.S.
Investable Market Index (IMI)/ Utilities 25/50. This index consists
of companies from the utilities sector regardless of their market
capitalization. The utilities mutual fund has a three year
annualized return of 14.76%.
Donald M. Butler is the fund manager has managed this utilities
mutual fund since 2004.
Rydex Utilities Advisor (RYAUX) seeks capital growth. The
fund invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of
utilities firms traded on domestic exchanges as well as
derivatives. It focusses on investing in small to mid-sized
companies. The utilities mutual fund has a three year annualized
return of 13.47%.
The utilities mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 1.84% compared to a category average
of 1.33%.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all utilities
mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of
funds.
About Zacks Mutual Fund Rank
By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find
funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also
expected to outperform going forward. Learn more about the Zacks
Mutual Fund Rank.
Get Your Free (FSUTX): Fund Analysis Report
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Get Your Free (UTPIX): Fund Analysis Report
Get Your Free (VUIAX): Fund Analysis Report
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