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.
Reply to @TSP_Transfer:
ITOT is a great idea, although I would prefer VTI which is slightly less expensive and has a much higher average daily trading volume. The mutual fund equivalent of VTI is VTSMX/VTSAX/VITSX.
Kevin
Hi Heathbob,
According to M*, both SEMFX managers were prior analysts with no fund management experience. That is a huge red flag for me. I would watch but not buy this fund.
In the multi-cap EM equity space, I continue to like THDIX which has per…
Hi Michael,
ARTGX is a rock-solid fund with a stellar risk/reward profile, and I would definitely prefer it over OAKWX. We are currently using the following global (equity, allocation) funds: MSFAX, DGSCX, PQIIX and TIBIX.
Kevin
Thanks Scott.
I see no reason to be an early buyer of this fund, and prefer to place the fund on my watch list. QLEIX/QLENX have net expense ratios of 1.30% and 1.55%, respectively, as detailed HERE. According to a test trade I just made in my Fide…
Reply to @Investor:
WHGIX only had 14% in common stocks entering 2008 as shown in the bar chart HERE.
This is a solid allocation fund which can move between CA and MA as market conditions dictate.
Kevin
A recent cautionary WSJ article on bank-loan funds, "Bank-Loan Funds Pose Risk" may be found in the top link of this google SEARCH.
I continue to like and own PDI, which I purchased for an average 8.5% discount to NAV. Dan Ivascyn is one of the br…
The microcap space continues to be on fire, as AUMIX, BUFOX, BRSIX and WEIMX continue to rock. In this space, we own WEIMX as it has the most attractive risk/reward profile.
Kevin
I just test traded for the institutional classes of the Eventide funds, ETIHX and ETILX, at Scottrade, Firstrade, TDAmeritrade, Wellstrade and Fidelity, and the only access below the prospectus minimums appears to be at Fidelity, where the minimum f…
Reply to @BWG:
Hi BWG,
1. PRHSX has been tracking with the average HC fund over the past 1M, 3M, YTD, and 1-YR. So the fund has been average over this time period with the now-departed Kris Jenner and the new manager. I have found that TRP is a…
Hi Jim,
I work in the healthcare sector, and with an aging population and Obamacare, there will be more, not less, healthcare spending going forward. So I am extremely bullish on this sector. Both of these Eventide funds look solid for a play on …
Wow if you look at this portfolio, it has invested in all the assets which are not working:
1. Long Gold and gold miners: Wrong
2. Short the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, QQQ, and semiconductor stocks: Wrong
3. Not just short, but ultra-short European e…
Recently I added to SFLNX and WEIMX, and initiated a small position in ISTIX. Sold FMIHX down to a foothold. I plan on buying PVSYX and WHGIX in the near future.
Kevin
Reply to @Charles:
Hi Charles,
There was an interesting article in yesterday's WSJ entitled, "Fashionable Risk Parity Funds Hit Hard." Click on the top link in this google SEARCH.
Kevin
Hi Scott,
This fund is an Asian EM fund as detailed HERE. Unfortunately, M* misclassified this fund as a diversified EM fund. If I wanted an Asian EM fund, I would probably start with one of the Matthews funds. And if they don't have what I want t…
Hi BWG,
I have looked at FEO in the past, but I have never pulled the trigger. This CEF has performed well over the long haul, but it has a highish expense ratio and is relatively thinly traded. Right now, I would monitor the moving averages and w…
Hi Max,
I think that most common investors, like you and me, do not need a country-specific fund. European funds -- like PRESX or MEURX -- would be fine and might be worth considering. In our own portfolio, we tend to own global funds -- like TIBIX…
Even if investors don't own a dedicated EM equity fund, they likely have significant EM exposure in their portfolios as the S&P 500 companies and large European companies derive over 25% and 30%, respectively, of their revenues from emerging mar…
Reply to @DlphcOracl:
Amen to all that !
One concept that is not emphasized often enough is that GDP growth does not necessarily translate into attractive stock market returns.
Also, if you think that your portfolio is so finely tuned that al…
I sold my AQRIX down to a foothold when it breached the 50SMA on 5/23/2013. Fortunately I was on watch due to the use of levered bonds. Right here the RP funds do not interest me, especially in a rising interest rate environment.
Kevin
I would take a look at IJK and MDY among ETFs, and AKRIX/AKREX (MCG/LCG) and PRNHX (SCG/MCG) among mutual funds. I agree with BWG that POAGX is attractive among multi-cap growth funds.
Kevin
Reply to @BWG:
Hi BWG,
Dan Ivascyn, who manages PIMIX and PDI, is the real deal. We have a 5% position in PIMIX, and today I bought a 5% position in PDI. As you noted, the NAV has held up well and I think the market price will head up after this…
What are your thoughts about the use of leveraged CEF bond funds and unconstrained bond funds (SUBFX, MWCIX, PFIUX, HAUBX) at this time ? Thanks in advance.
Kevin
I agree, ARDFX looks decent but it certainly is not a gem.
In the microcap space, the leader of the pack continues to be AUMIX, despite its pricey 2.0% net ER. According to a test trade I just made, this fund appears to be available in TDAmeritrad…
The Matthews China Fund and the Matthews China Dividend Fund were fine, but my portfolio was still missing something. Thankfully, Matthews introduced their new Matthews China Small Company Fund, MCSMX, and now my portfolio is complete. While other …
Hi Skeeter,
Late last year, I began gradually reducing my FI exposure which is now at about 20%, and I am unlikely to go lower. Our FI allocation comes from PGDIX, PIMIX and TTRZX.
Kevin
Hi Max,
The chart for PREMX does not look pretty, so if it were my money, I would be inclined to shift money from PREMX to TRAMX. If you are willing to consider other TRP funds, then I would prefer PRHSX or PRNHX over TRAMX. Despite the recent ma…
As I see it, PAUIX has three strikes against it: the fund is bloated ($36B AUM), expensive (real expense ratio 1.65%) and lagging. Although PIMCO describes this as a world allocation fund able to be exposed to global equities, during the darkest day…
Hi nath,
You are describing a "stop" sell order. A "stop" order specifies the price at which your order becomes a market order, and a "limit" order specifies a specific price or better that you want this market order executed. The "limit" order p…
After my previous post, I called Fidelity twice and asked why EVBAX was the only Eaton Vance "A" class fund without the load waived. They said they would look into it. Well today I check Fidelity's web site and see that EVBAX is now NTF/LW.
Kevin
Reply to @Sven:
Looks like all of the Eaton Vance "A" class funds are NTF with LW at Fidelity except for EVBAX. Since this is new fund, I suspect that it is also NTF, LW, but interested folks will need to investigate further with a phone call to …
Reply to @Mark:
The information provided was based on a test-trades I made in my retirement accounts at the brokerages I listed. Such test-trades usually represent reality, especially at Fidelity.
I just checked and EVBIX is not available for less than a $250K minimum at Fidelity, Scottrade, and TDAmeritrade. Firstrade does not recognize the symbol and this fund is not available for online trading at Wellstrade.
Kevin
According to my calculations, investors in this fund actually pay a 2.94% expense ratio. One must understand the exclusions (in bold) in the following statement from the prospectus:
"Effective October 5, 2012, New York Life Investment Management LL…
Although I am clearly in the minority here, ARIVX does not interest me.
First, if one wants the diversification and long-term performance potential of owning SCV equities, owning ARIVX makes no sense to me. With ARIVX one will get the blended dive…
Noticed that as well, and the transports (IYT) are off 1.43%. Maybe the market is a little exhausted for now. But the biotech sector (BBH) continues to rock, up 1.43% today.
Kevin
Reply to @Investor:
Sorry, I just now noticed your response. Right now I own only a foothold in MLPZX, and I would not own it just to avoid a K-1. I would own it for a convenient exposure to a high-yielding, decently performing asset class which …
Ted, thanks for the article which quoted David Snowball:
"David Snowball of MutualFundObserver.com noted that the test is easy for investors to fail, in that it isn’t limited to bear-market funds. 'Even folks holding a lot of cash are getting derid…
My top choice would be FMIJX which is NTF at Fidelity. Although this fund is very young, the FMI team is top-notch and disciplined, and this fund has a reasonable net ER of 1.00%. We own FMIHX managed by the same team.
We do not own a dedicated d…
