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I'm really surprised that one of my very long-term investments, Franklin Mutual Global Discovery (MDISX), made this list, with an eye-popping outflow of 16%.
It has a great long-term record (even though Michael Price is just a fond memory). Solid team managing it. Guess that isn't enough.
If Dividends are the mother's milk for small investors, AUM and management fees are a similar elixir for fund managers.
An outflow of assets hurts a fund manager worse than an equity bear market when it comes to a fund manager's profits. Remember, even in a bear market they generate a positive return for themselves with regard to AUM and management fees.
The big difference between an asset loss (due to market pull back) and lost assets due to poor management.
I'm really surprised that one of my very long-term investments, Franklin Mutual Global Discovery (MDISX), made this list, with an eye-popping outflow of 16%.
It has a great long-term record (even though Michael Price is just a fond memory). Solid team managing it. Guess that isn't enough.
I'm a recent buyer in MDISX, but not a meaningful position. I used to own it long time back when I was with E*Trade and it was NTF. However, I couldn't stand E*Trade and with it I had to exit my MDISX position. Now I'm back, and let's hope people fleeing MDISX is a contrarian indicator.
I also own MALOX in one of my retirement accounts and VGHCX for a trade.
Keep in mind that much of this is RETAIL money, investors trying to follow whatever trend is hot. I would suggest that more than a few of the funds on this list could have banner years. MALOX is ahead of the S&P 500 ytd. TGBAX is up more than double the gain of VTABX. JPMorgan Core Bond is ahead of VBTLX. At some point, investors will abandon the current "hot" funds and sectors, and move on to something else that has caught the next trend.
On the other hand, this is not to suggest that more than a few of the funds on this list are in serious trouble, if not on the brink of liquidation. How many times can a fund sustain outflows of more than 50% and survive? WASYX is a case in point. M* numbers are incorrect on it. Current assets are only about $230 million, down from about $1.5 billion just 3.5 years ago. It would appear this one is a goner, for a number of reasons. M* numbers must include privately-managed dollars as well as mutual fund assets for each fund. This being the case, the situation is even more dire for the mutual-fund only assets.
Keep in mind that much of this is RETAIL money, investors trying to follow whatever trend is hot. I would suggest that more than a few of the funds on this list could have banner years. MALOX is ahead of the S&P 500 ytd. TGBAX is up more than double the gain of VTABX. JPMorgan Core Bond is ahead of VBTLX. At some point, investors will abandon the current "hot" funds and sectors, and move on to something else that has caught the next trend.
On the other hand, this is not to suggest that more than a few of the funds on this list are in serious trouble, if not on the brink of liquidation. How many times can a fund sustain outflows of more than 50% and survive? WASYX is a case in point. M* numbers are incorrect on it. Current assets are only about $230 million, down from about $1.5 billion just 3.5 years ago. It would appear this one is a goner, for a number of reasons. M* numbers must include privately-managed dollars as well as mutual fund assets for each fund. This being the case, the situation is even more dire for the mutual-fund only assets.
Hi Bob,
*M recently put MALOX "under review" due to the upcoming departure of one of the managers on Aug. 1. Does this departure concern you at all? Thanks.
Comments
It has a great long-term record (even though Michael Price is just a fond memory). Solid team managing it. Guess that isn't enough.
An outflow of assets hurts a fund manager worse than an equity bear market when it comes to a fund manager's profits. Remember, even in a bear market they generate a positive return for themselves with regard to AUM and management fees.
The big difference between an asset loss (due to market pull back) and lost assets due to poor management.
I also own MALOX in one of my retirement accounts and VGHCX for a trade.
On the other hand, this is not to suggest that more than a few of the funds on this list are in serious trouble, if not on the brink of liquidation. How many times can a fund sustain outflows of more than 50% and survive? WASYX is a case in point. M* numbers are incorrect on it. Current assets are only about $230 million, down from about $1.5 billion just 3.5 years ago. It would appear this one is a goner, for a number of reasons. M* numbers must include privately-managed dollars as well as mutual fund assets for each fund. This being the case, the situation is even more dire for the mutual-fund only assets.
*M recently put MALOX "under review" due to the upcoming departure of one of the managers on Aug. 1. Does this departure concern you at all? Thanks.