Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
Support MFO
Donate through PayPal
Posted: MFO Ratings Thru November and Flows Thru 20 December
The update includes the integration of the latest generation of Datatables, the main engine of our search tools. You will find subtle style changes in all the tools. And, hopefully, smoother operation throughout.
Also, our web host moved us to a new server this week.
All in the way of making things better and faster.
Just posted all ratings to MFO Premium site through March using Refinitiv's data drop of 29 March. The Friday holiday helped provide early look into 1st quarter performance.
S&P500 up nearly 11%.
Berkshire Hathaway up nearly 17%.
Momentum, energy, Nikkei, quality, growth, Europe, large-cap, mid-cap, commodities all double-digit gains so far this year.
We now have three fund flow tools on MFO Premium: Flow, Flows and TNAS (total net assets). Flow is a combo chart showing total return, total net flow, total net assets, and daily or monthly flows (depending on fund reporting) of a single fund. The other two chart up to 12 funds for comparison. All wrapped in a new Analytics user interface.
FLOW tool is very interesting in that it shows how AUM, fund flows & TR are related (or not).
Asset and flows data are monthly for mutual funds/OEFs, daily for ETFs.
But in checking some TIAA/CREF VAs (QREARX, QCSTIX, etc), daily data are shown. I thought that those are available only monthly (like mutual funds). So, are those daily data projections/estimates by Lipper?
Hi again ybb! Pretty excited about the new tools. Fund houses report flows differently, unfortunately. Some daily, like State Street; others monthly, like Dodge & Cox.
The tool uses whichever is available in database. There are indeed some mutual funds that report daily, like IOFIX.
My favorite is the FLOW combo tool you mentioned. I will keep that at the highest frequency flow data ... daily.
The FLOWS and TNAS comparative tools also now use highest frequency, but I plan to only use monthly flow data in future ... just too much data for 12 long-time funds reporting daily ... and, not needed for comparative work. (Unless someone convinces me otherwise.)
Also plan to include flow data in MultiSearch table so it can be searchable!
I don't know if these Flow-tools can indicate data frequency from the data source. The line-plots are shown as continuous, sometimes with lines connecting the discrete points - an acceptable practice - so it can be confusing.
Also be sure to update MFO Definitions for FLOW, FLOWS, TNAS.
The latest update includes Fund Flows Analytics by Calendar Year: fund flows, total net assets, ratings, including breakouts by category, subtype, type, active, passive, and ETFs. Working to bring to Fixed Period tools as well, which will enable search flows via MultiSearch.
I noticed that once on CATFLOWS, CATFLOWSP or CATTNA tabs, most other tabs become inactive, i.e. unclickable. This isn't a big issue because multiple old tabs remain open and I could easily go to them. Don't know if this was intentional.
Of course, as each MFO Premium click opens a new tab, I run into the problem of out of space and then have to restart MFO Premium.
Hi ybb. Thank you! Yes, I find the new flows data fascinating. Big flows out of funds performing well, like DODGX, but sticky on funds doing terrible, like ARKK.
So, the calendar year (and fixed period) category tools, like averages, count, catflows, are independent of fund selection. They are breakouts of category, subtype, type, passive, active, etf, etc. Once there, the other tools, like chart, don't really apply.
Best to return to a tool that requires fund selection, then bounce around from there. Basically, select or screen for the funds in MultiSearch (or even QuickSearch), then just click on any of the fund dependent tools in analytics and the selected tool will use those funds.
I do hope to feature in the commentary and add a couple more videos to the mfop youtube channel demonstrating the new analytics interface. But first want to finish adding flows to fixed period (and MultiSearch proper).
Not sure what you mean by "the problem of out of space"? You should never need to restart MFO Premium. Perhaps post or send me a screenshot? Or, let's Zoom.
Just posted all ratings to MFO Premium site through May, which includes month to date performance through Friday, 7 June.
Add annualized return to TipTool in Flow and Returns charts for periods greater than 12 months, plus several other enhancements to Flows and TNA charts, to make faster and more robust.
Word of caution on CD ... Schwab and Fidelity post highest yielding rates on their CD summary table. Unfortunately, nearly all these are callable. Non-callable seems to be about 0.5% lower. Something to consider, especially with ladders.
I've recommended that they add a row for highest yielding callable and well as non-callable rates; otherwise, it feels gimmicky and misleading. I'm confident they will take my recommendation to heart.
A good description of what I'm seeing from Fed site:
"Investors often turn to federally insured certificates of deposit, sold by banks or brokers, when stock markets are volatile. Rising interest rates and stock market drops have made CDs more attractive, especially to older investors. But what many investors don't realize - and some stockbrokers apparently aren't adequately disclosing - is that, unlike traditional CDs, with 'callable' CDs only the issuer, and not the investor, can redeem the CD without a substantial penalty. Callable CDs are being marketed via newspaper ads, telephone solicitations and direct mail."
Just posted all ratings to MFO Premium site through May, which includes month to date performance through Friday, 5 July.
The holiday week was a good one for equities! Weeks To Date (through yesterday), QQQ up 21.5% and SPY 17.4.
The Mid-Year Review is now Wednesday, 10 July, at 11 a.m. Pacific, where we will discuss latest features, including Flows and ETF Benchmarks (a Deveshism). Please join in by registering here.
Comments
Also, our web host moved us to a new server this week.
All in the way of making things better and faster.
If you see anything amiss, please let me know.
c
S&P500 up nearly 11%.
Berkshire Hathaway up nearly 17%.
Momentum, energy, Nikkei, quality, growth, Europe, large-cap, mid-cap, commodities all double-digit gains so far this year.
Core bonds off a percent or so.
Long bonds -4.4%.
ADX Adams Diversified Equity CEF up 10.7%.
DODGX Dodge & Cox Stock up 8.1%.
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF 7.7%.
JEPI JPMorgan Equity Premium ETF 6.4%.
DFSVX DFA US Small Cap Value 4.6%.
PFF BlackRock iShares Preferred Income ETF 4.8%.
BIL State Street T-Bill ETF 1.3%.
PIMIX Allianz PIMCO Income 0.8%.
PRHYX T Rowe Price High Yield 0.2%.
A bit surprising that high yield is lagging.
Example: Flow Combo Chart [SPY]
Asset and flows data are monthly for mutual funds/OEFs, daily for ETFs.
But in checking some TIAA/CREF VAs (QREARX, QCSTIX, etc), daily data are shown. I thought that those are available only monthly (like mutual funds). So, are those daily data projections/estimates by Lipper?
The tool uses whichever is available in database. There are indeed some mutual funds that report daily, like IOFIX.
My favorite is the FLOW combo tool you mentioned. I will keep that at the highest frequency flow data ... daily.
The FLOWS and TNAS comparative tools also now use highest frequency, but I plan to only use monthly flow data in future ... just too much data for 12 long-time funds reporting daily ... and, not needed for comparative work. (Unless someone convinces me otherwise.)
Also plan to include flow data in MultiSearch table so it can be searchable!
Also be sure to update MFO Definitions for FLOW, FLOWS, TNAS.
It's pretty insightful!
I noticed that once on CATFLOWS, CATFLOWSP or CATTNA tabs, most other tabs become inactive, i.e. unclickable. This isn't a big issue because multiple old tabs remain open and I could easily go to them. Don't know if this was intentional.
Of course, as each MFO Premium click opens a new tab, I run into the problem of out of space and then have to restart MFO Premium.
So, the calendar year (and fixed period) category tools, like averages, count, catflows, are independent of fund selection. They are breakouts of category, subtype, type, passive, active, etf, etc. Once there, the other tools, like chart, don't really apply.
Best to return to a tool that requires fund selection, then bounce around from there. Basically, select or screen for the funds in MultiSearch (or even QuickSearch), then just click on any of the fund dependent tools in analytics and the selected tool will use those funds.
I do hope to feature in the commentary and add a couple more videos to the mfop youtube channel demonstrating the new analytics interface. But first want to finish adding flows to fixed period (and MultiSearch proper).
Not sure what you mean by "the problem of out of space"? You should never need to restart MFO Premium. Perhaps post or send me a screenshot? Or, let's Zoom.
Thanks again.
Add annualized return to TipTool in Flow and Returns charts for periods greater than 12 months, plus several other enhancements to Flows and TNA charts, to make faster and more robust.
Used the intermonth data to get peak of month ending June performance, which allows review at the mid-year mark.
Will announce Mid-Year Review, now Wednesday, 10 July, where we will discuss latest features, including Flows and ETF Benchmarks (a Deveshism).
MINT. 5.3% yield.
RPHIX. 5.7%.
CBUDX. 5.9%
CBLDX. 7.5%.
Come quickly to mind.
c
I've recommended that they add a row for highest yielding callable and well as non-callable rates; otherwise, it feels gimmicky and misleading. I'm confident they will take my recommendation to heart.
A good description of what I'm seeing from Fed site:
"Investors often turn to federally insured certificates of deposit, sold by banks or brokers, when stock markets are volatile. Rising interest rates and stock market drops have made CDs more attractive, especially to older investors. But what many investors don't realize - and some stockbrokers apparently aren't adequately disclosing - is that, unlike traditional CDs, with 'callable' CDs only the issuer, and not the investor, can redeem the CD without a substantial penalty. Callable CDs are being marketed via newspaper ads, telephone solicitations and direct mail."
The holiday week was a good one for equities! Weeks To Date (through yesterday), QQQ up 21.5% and SPY 17.4.
The Mid-Year Review is now Wednesday, 10 July, at 11 a.m. Pacific, where we will discuss latest features, including Flows and ETF Benchmarks (a Deveshism). Please join in by registering here.