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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.
  • Time for a Second Look at REITs -- M*
    @Mark My thinking involves income but also sometimes involves the potential for continued capital gains in our low interest rate environment. My nibbles included a little SPG. It is my only REIT purchase from last year that is currently in the red (by a few %). The others have done fairly well so far. SPG has reached agreement to participate in the purchase of the Forever 21 assets. Hopefully, they will be able to help turn that lemon into lemonade. Also, they are talking to Taubman Centers again about a possible merger. It will be interesting to watch how all the dust settles out from the retail mall apocalypse.
  • Time for a Second Look at REITs -- M*
    No second look needed here, I've held them for some time now. I bought them primarily for the income but I've enjoyed handsome capital gains as well. Most are a bit stretched at this time so I'm not adding but I do keep an eye out. SPG is a case in point.
  • BUY - SELL - OR PONDER February 2020
    Hi guys,
    You know the drill. I bought a little on Friday......will post later.
    God bless
    the Pudd
  • Minimum Long Term CG?
    "Long-term capital gains tax is a tax on profits from the sale of an asset held for more than a year. The long-term capital gains tax rate is 0%, 15% or 20% depending on your taxable income and filing status. They are generally lower than short-term capital gains tax rates."
    2019-2020 Capital Gains Tax Rates — and How to Avoid a Big Bill
  • New Decade Begins: MFO Ratings Updated - January 2020
    All ratings have been updated on MFO Premium, including MultiSearch, Great Owls, Fund Alarm (Three Alarm and Honor Roll), Averages, Dashboard of Profiled Funds, and Fund Family Scorecard. The site now includes several analysis tools, including Correlation, Rolling Averages, Trend, Ferguson Metrics, Calendar Year and Period Performance.
    While the decade for equity funds began flat or mixed, bonds were up, especially long-term (e.g., TLT +7.0%). Dodge & Cox Income (DODIX), a long-time MFO Great Owl, returned 1.6% in Januray. It's delivered nearly 10% this past year and regularly rewards with a 3% dividend.
    You can read more about the update here.
  • Minimum Long Term CG?
    If I wanted to take long term capital gains on a stock, what percent would that be and what is the lowest amount it could be based on? Thank you.
  • MFO, February 2020 Issue
    Welcome to the “It’s not the Super Bowl without the Steelers, but it’s great that Troy was recognized as a first-ballot Hall of Famer” edition of the Mutual Fund Observer which is posted at https://www.mutualfundobserver.com/issue/february-2020/. Highlights include:

    • my publisher's letter takes a swipe at robo-writers, and reports on an unusually fervent hug between Rob Arnott and Cliff Asness. Good news: the long-time sparring partners have agreed on something important. Bad news: it’s that 10-year returns look uniformly low. Both point you toward the long-unloved emerging markets, while Mr. Asness offers a version of “it’s time to be a bit grown-up” financial advice.

    • a long-overdue profile of FAM Dividend Focus (FAMEX). Over the past year, we’ve done a series of data-driven articles that focused on equity-oriented funds that thrive when all others falter, but that still make decent returns. FAM Dividend Focus has earned its way into more of those articles than any other single fund. It was time to say just a bit more about it.

    • Edward Studzinski has been meeting with, and sparring with, some very fine independent fund managers. He shares what he's learned about researching management strategies, the changing landscape, hubris and managers' insistence on tripping themselves up.

    • “Getting More Bang” explores high capture / low downside capture equity funds. Capture ratio is a sort of “bang for the buck” measure: funds with a capture ratio over 1.0 are delivering more of the market’s upside than its downside. By picking a downside target (“I’m willing to take 90% of the market’s losses, but no more”), you can use the capture ratio to identify the funds which offer the greatest return for the risk you endure. It’s a simple and intuitive way to create your due diligence list. We offer the top 20 domestic and international funds.

    • Lynn Bolin continues to explore the six rules of successful investing. This month: knowing your investment environment.

    • Charles Boccadoro has responded to user requests for more fund portfolio data at MFO Premium; traditionally, we were analytics-rich but portfolio-poor. As he explains, that changed on February 1st.

    • on a bright note, several first-rate funds have reopened to new investors, including RiverPark Short-term High Yield (RPHYX). RPHYX seems forever maligned because its portfolio doesn’t fit neatly in any box. RPHYX had the distinction of having the highest Sharpe ratio of any fund in existence for years. It's a low volatility / low-risk fund that's best used as a strategic cash fund. (I've owned it for a long time and use it in lieu of a savings account.) It has averaged 3.1% annually with a maximum drawdown, lifetime, of 0.6%. David Sherman's current reading of the market, bond as much as equity, is that it's time to maximize caution and his funds are positioned commensurately.
    Liquidations, 74 manager changes, a dozen new names, two retirements and more …
    The long scroll version is available at https://www.mutualfundobserver.com/2020/2/.
    As ever,
    David
  • Road to Retirement: Fleeing one investment bubble for another?
    https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/02/road-to-retirement-charlie-farrell-fleeing-one-investment-bubble-for-another/
    Road to Retirement: Fleeing one investment bubble for another?
    The Denver Post
    With technology companies driving the stock market up seemingly week after week, it’s making some investors nervous and bringing up bad memories of the technology crash of 2000. So, is this just a repeat of what we saw before and is the stock market really in a bubble? Let’s take a look at some numbers.
  • Opinion: Why it can pay to buy the stocks of companies you love to hate
    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-it-can-pay-to-buy-the-stocks-of-companies-you-love-to-hate-2020-01-31
    Opinion: Why it can pay to buy the stocks of companies you love to hate
    By Mark Hulbert
    Published: Jan 31, 2020 6:24 a.m. ET
    Start your search for diamonds in the rough by looking through the list of the most despised companies
    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — To find a prince you sometimes have to kiss a frog.
    That’s what we learned from fairy tales when we were children, and it may still be true on Wall Street. Consider Fortune magazine’s annual ranking of the most admired companies in America, the latest version of which was released in January. Historically, companies at the bottom of that ranking — the ones that are most despised — have outperformed those of the most admired.
  • PTIAX bond fund Jan, 2020
    Weird, small, mid-month dividend. Nothing, as expected and per usual, toward the end of Jan. How come?
  • Godfather’ of technical analysis says stock-market downturn is going to get worse: ‘I am looking at
    Just be aware that on January 4, 2018 he said this:
    "“I am so bullish I have to sit down and calm down,” the director of technical research for Altaira Capital Partners said in an interview with “Closing Bell.”".
    All I'm saying is that you should have an investment plan in place before reacting to either of these statements otherwise you're just guessing/gambling.
    Ralph Acampora: I am so bullish I have to sit down and calm down
  • *
    "Gary1952">I opted for NVHAX over BTMIX when I bought on 1-2-2020. The allocation to NVHAX was in my taxable account with money for future (most likely 2 years down the road) monthly expenses. I like the stronger performance over BTMIX. The short duration downturn recovered quickly in 2017 but I will watch NVHAX closely and switch to BTMIX or possibly AAHMX if I see the need to change. I am not a trader so holding on thru a downturn is similar to holding equities in a correction. Thanks for the update.
    Gary, best wishes on your decision. Comparing a HY Short Duration Muni fund with a BB credit rating, to an Investment Grade Short Term Muni fund with a A credit rating, is all about risk and return and having your eyes wide open. NVHAX has been a good fund but it is much more risky than BTMIX--in downmarkets, and outside of seasonally strong periods,Muni bond oef risks need to be appreciated.
  • *
    I opted for NVHAX over BTMIX when I bought on 1-2-2020. The allocation to NVHAX was in my taxable account with money for future (most likely 2 years down the road) monthly expenses. I like the stronger performance over BTMIX. The short duration downturn recovered quickly in 2017 but I will watch NVHAX closely and switch to BTMIX or possibly AAHMX if I see the need to change. I am not a trader so holding on thru a downturn is similar to holding equities in a correction. Thanks for the update.
  • Even in hot stock market TSP investors love super-cool G fund
    https://federalnewsnetwork.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2020/01/even-in-hot-stock-market-tsp-investors-love-super-cool-g-fund/
    Even in hot stock market TSP investors love super-cool G fund
    Despite 20-30-plus-percent returns for the TSP’s C, S and I stock index funds last year, a slight majority of federal workers investing for retirement have most of their optional retirement nest egg money in the super-safe, Treasury securities G fund.
    The C fund, which tracks the S&P 500 index, returned 31.45% in 2019. The small cap S fund return was 27.97% and the international stock index I fund was up 27.97%. The F fund (bonds) return was 8.68% while the popular G fund returned 2.24% in calendar 2019.
    As of Dec. 31, 2019, the TSP total value was $632.6 billion.
  • Know These 3 Facts to Avoid Paying Half Your Retirement Income to the IRS - January 30, 2020
    Zacks is just recycling its pablum. It's not all nonsense, but it has a fair share of misstatements, errors, and opinion masquerading as facts.
    Its last NASDAQ contribution, dated Jan 14, was also linked to in a post
    https://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/54970/retirees-should-know-these-3-facts-about-required-minimum-distributions-january-14-2020
    Compare and contrast with the excerpt above:
    Retirees Should Know These 3 Facts About Required Minimum Distributions - January 14, 2020
    Failing to withdraw a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your own or an inherited IRA by the deadline results in a big tax code penalty: 50%. That's right. If you were supposed to take out a minimum of $4,000 and (oops!) did not do so, you have the privilege of writing the IRS a check for $2,000. It's important to remember that the rules related to RMDs changed on January 1, 2020.
  • Know These 3 Facts to Avoid Paying Half Your Retirement Income to the IRS - January 30, 2020
    https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/know-these-3-facts-to-avoid-paying-half-your-retirement-income-to-the-irs-january-30-2020
    Know These 3 Facts to Avoid Paying Half Your Retirement Income to the IRS - January 30, 2020
    If you do not make a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your own or an inherited IRA by the specified deadline, the IRS could hit you with a big penalty - 50%! For example, if you were required to withdraw a minimum of $4,000 and you did not, you would be obliged to pay $2,000. Plus, beginning January 1, 2020, the rules concerning RMDs were updated.
  • More Than Half of Retirement Savers Don't Know This
    More Than Half of Retirement Savers Don't Know This
    /You might be missing the very information you need to succeed in retirement.
    Catherine Brock
    Running a marathon without training is a bad idea. Same goes for betting your last $100 on lucky 17 at the roulette table, or trying to save for a comfortable retirement when you know little about investing. The odds of coming out ahead all around are pretty low./
    https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/01/29/more-than-half-of-retirement-savers-dont-know-this.aspx
    •••I do believe most or more than 95% of regular MFOers know about diversification distributions and reimbursements issues regarding investments firms /investments related issues
  • Janus Henderson Small Cap Value Fund to close to new investors on 2/28/2020
    https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277751/000119312520018227/d870665d497.htm
    497 1 d870665d497.htm JANUS HENDERSON SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
    Janus Investment Fund
    Janus Henderson Small Cap Value Fund
    Supplement dated January 29, 2020
    to Currently Effective Prospectuses
    Effective at the close of business on February 28, 2020 the following is added to the Shareholder’s Guide (or Shareholder’s Manual if you hold Class D Shares) of the Prospectuses following the “Redemptions” section.
    CLOSED FUND POLICIES – JANUS HENDERSON SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
    The Fund has limited sales of its shares because Janus Capital and the Trustees believe continued sales are not in the best interests of the Fund. Sales to new investors have generally been discontinued; however, investors who meet certain criteria described below may be able to purchase shares of the Fund. You may be required to demonstrate eligibility to purchase shares of the Fund before your investment is accepted. If you are a current Fund shareholder and close an existing Fund account, you may not be able to make additional investments in the Fund unless you meet one of the specified criteria. The Fund may resume sales of its shares at some future date, but it has no present intention to do so. Investors who meet the following criteria may be able to invest in the Fund: (i) existing shareholders invested in the Fund are permitted to continue to purchase shares through their existing Fund accounts (and, for shareholders of Class D Shares, by opening new Fund accounts) and to reinvest any dividends or capital gains distributions in such accounts, absent highly unusual circumstances; (ii) registered investment advisers (“RIAs”) may continue to invest in the Fund through an existing omnibus account at a financial institution and/or intermediary on behalf of existing or new clients; (iii) under certain circumstances, all or a portion of the shares held in a closed Fund account may be reallocated to a different form of ownership; this may include, but is not limited to, mandatory retirement distributions, legal proceedings, estate settlements, and the gifting of Fund shares; (iv) employer-sponsored retirement plans that are offered through existing retirement platforms which held a position in the Fund as of the date of the Fund’s closure, as well as employees of JHG and any of its subsidiaries covered under the JHG retirement plan; (v) Janus Capital encourages its employees to own shares of the Janus Henderson funds, and as such, employees of Janus Capital and its affiliates may open new accounts in the closed Fund; Trustees of the Janus Henderson funds and directors of JHG may also open new accounts in the closed Fund; (vi) Janus Capital “fund of funds,” which is a fund that primarily invests in other Janus Henderson mutual funds, may invest in the Fund; (vii) accounts maintained by a financial intermediary that invest pursuant to Janus Henderson proprietary model strategies; (viii); certain institutional investors approved by Janus Henderson Distributors, including but not limited to, corporations, certain retirement plans, public plans, and foundations and endowments; (ix) certain accounts maintained by a self-clearing financial intermediary for which investment decisions are determined by such financial intermediary’s home office recommended list and/or pursuant to such home office’s model portfolios (approved and/or research-covered fund lists are not included within this exception); and (x) in the case of certain mergers or reorganizations, retirement plans may be able to add the closed Fund as an investment option. Such mergers, reorganizations, acquisitions, or other business combinations are those in which one or more companies involved in such transaction currently offers the Fund as an investment option, and any company that as a result of such transaction becomes affiliated with the company currently offering the Fund (as a parent company, subsidiary, sister company, or otherwise). Such companies may request to add the Fund as an investment option under its retirement plan. Requests for new accounts into a closed Fund will be reviewed by management and may be permitted on an individual basis, taking into consideration whether the addition to the Fund is believed to negatively impact existing Fund shareholders.
    Please retain this Supplement with your records.
    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Janus Investment Fund
    Janus Henderson Small Cap Value Fund
    Supplement dated January 29, 2020
    to Currently Effective Statement of Additional Information
    Effective at the close of business on February 28, 2020 the following is added to the Shares of the Trust section under “Closed Fund Policies” of the Fund’s SAI:
    CLOSED FUND POLICIES – JANUS HENDERSON SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
    The Fund has limited sales of its shares because Janus Capital and the Trustees believe continued sales are not in the best interests of the Fund. Sales to new investors have generally been discontinued; however, investors who meet certain criteria described below may be able to purchase shares of the Fund. You may be required to demonstrate eligibility to purchase shares of the Fund before your investment is accepted. If you are a current Fund shareholder and close an existing Fund account, you may not be able to make additional investments in the Fund unless you meet one of the specified criteria. The Fund may resume sales of its shares at some future date, but it has no present intention to do so.
    Investors who meet the following criteria may be able to invest in the Fund: (i) existing shareholders invested in the Fund are permitted to continue to purchase shares through their existing Fund accounts (and, for shareholders of Class D Shares, by opening new Fund accounts) and to reinvest any dividends or capital gains distributions in such accounts, absent highly unusual circumstances; (ii) registered investment advisers (“RIAs”) may continue to invest in the Fund through an existing omnibus account at a financial institution and/or intermediary on behalf of existing or new clients; (iii) under certain circumstances, all or a portion of the shares held in a closed Fund account may be reallocated to a different form of ownership; this may include, but is not limited to, mandatory retirement distributions, legal proceedings, estate settlements, and the gifting of Fund shares; (iv) employer-sponsored retirement plans that are offered through existing retirement platforms which held a position in the Fund as of the date of the Fund’s closure, as well as employees of JHG and any of its subsidiaries covered under the JHG retirement plan; (v) Janus Capital encourages its employees to own shares of the Janus Henderson funds, and as such, employees of Janus Capital and its affiliates may open new accounts in the closed Fund; Trustees of the Janus Henderson funds and directors of JHG may also open new accounts in the closed Fund; (vi) Janus Capital “fund of funds,” which is a fund that primarily invests in other Janus Henderson mutual funds, may invest in the Fund; (vii) accounts maintained by a financial intermediary that invest pursuant to Janus Henderson proprietary model strategies; (viii); certain institutional investors approved by Janus Henderson Distributors, including but not limited to, corporations, certain retirement plans, public plans, and foundations and endowments; (ix) certain accounts maintained by a self-clearing financial intermediary for which investment decisions are determined by such financial intermediary’s home office recommended list and/or pursuant to such home office’s model portfolios (approved and/or research-covered fund lists are not included within this exception); and (x) in the case of certain mergers or reorganizations, retirement plans may be able to add the closed Fund as an investment option. Such mergers, reorganizations, acquisitions, or other business combinations are those in which one or more companies involved in such transaction currently offers the Fund as an investment option, and any company that as a result of such transaction becomes affiliated with the company currently offering the Fund (as a parent company, subsidiary, sister company, or otherwise). Such companies may request to add the Fund as an investment option under its retirement plan. Requests for new accounts into a closed Fund will be reviewed by management and may be permitted on an individual basis, taking into consideration whether the addition to the Fund is believed to negatively impact existing Fund shareholders.