Top 5 Best Performing Utilities Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
July 05 2012 - 12:02PM
Zacks
Even during difficult economic conditions, the demand for
essential services such as utilities remains more or less constant.
This is why utilities funds are an excellent choice for investors
who are seeking a steady income flow through consistent yields from
dividends. In fact, investments in this sector are usually
considered to be a conservative investment option. Moreover, in the
past utilities funds have ventured into emerging markets and
provided 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
|
|
Fidelity Select Utilities
|
#3 Hold
|
3.2%
|
|
Fidelity Adv Utilities Fd A
|
#3 Hold
|
3.0%
|
|
Franklin Utilities A
|
#3 Hold
|
2.6%
|
|
American Century Utilities
|
#2 Buy
|
1.4%
|
|
FBR Gas Utility Index
|
#3 Hold
|
0.2%
|
Fidelity Select Utilities (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. It is
non-diversified and may purchase foreign securities. The utilities
mutual fund has a three year annualized return of 16.19%.
Douglas Simmons is the fund manager has managed this utilities
mutual fund since 2006.
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 15.98%.
The utilities mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 1.20% compared to a category average
of 1.29%.
Franklin Utilities A (FKUTX) concentrates on purchasing
securities of public utilities companies. These are those companies
that provide electricity, gas, water and communication services.
More than 25% of its assets are invested in the utilities sector.
The fund focuses on acquiring equity securities, primarily common
stocks. The utilities mutual fund has a three year annualized
return of 16.49%.
John Kohli is the fund manager has managed this utilities mutual
fund since 1998.
American Century Utilities (BULIX) seeks current income
and capital appreciation. The fund invests the majority of its
assets in securities listed on at least one index made up entirely
of electricity, natural gas, cable television, water or sanitation
services companies. The utilities mutual fund has a three year
annualized return of 13.98%.
As of March 2012, this utilities mutual fund held 57 issues,
with 12.19% of its total assets invested in AT&T Inc.
FBR Gas Utility Index Investor (GASFX) invests nearly 85%
of its assets in companies from the natural gas distribution and
transmission domain. The fund seeks to provide returns identical to
that of the American Gas Association Stock Index. This utilities
mutual fund has a three year annualized return of 20.2%.
The utilities mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,000 and an expense ratio of 0.71% compared to a category average
of 1.29%.
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 at http://www.zacks.com/funds
(BULIX): ETF Research Reports
(FKUTX): ETF Research Reports
(FSUTX): ETF Research Reports
(FUGAX): ETF Research Reports
(GASFX): ETF Research Reports
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