Top 5 Best Performing Utilities Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
February 21 2013 - 12:00PM
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
|
ProFunds Utilities UltraSector
|
#4 Sell
|
7.34%
|
Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio
|
#4 Sell
|
5.80%
|
Fidelity Advisor Utilities A
|
#4 Sell
|
5.74%
|
Hennessy Gas Utility Index
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
5.33%
|
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund
|
#4 Sell
|
5.16%
|
ProFunds Utilities UltraSector
(UTPIX) seeks to provide 150% of the daily return of the Dow Jones
U.S. Utilities Index by investing in equity securities and
derivatives with identical daily returns. The balance of the fund’s
assets is utilized to purchase money market securities. The
utilities mutual fund has a three year annualized return of
16.12%.
Hratch Najarian is the fund manager and has managed this
utilities mutual fund since 2011.
Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio (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. The fund may invest in
both domestic and foreign instruments. The utilities mutual fund
has a three year annualized return of 14.12%.
The utilities mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.84% compared to a category average
of 1.33%.
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 13.82%.
As of December 2012, this utilities mutual fund held 28 issues,
with 12.26% of its total assets invested in Duke Energy
Corporation.
Hennessy Gas Utility Index Investor (GASFX) invests not
less than 85% of its assets in companies that are engaged in
natural gas distribution and transmission. The fund seeks to
provide returns identical to that of the American Gas Association
Stock Index. It may invest in instruments of firms regardless of
their market capitalization. This utilities mutual fund has a three
year annualized return of 17.22%.
The utilities mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.69% compared to a category average
of 1.33%.
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VUIAX)
seeks to track the performance of the MSCI U.S. Investable Market
Index (IMI)/ Utilities 25/50. This index consists of companies from
the utilities sector regardless of their market capitalization The
utilities mutual fund has a three year annualized return of
12.64%.
Donald M. Butler is the fund manager has managed this utilities
mutual fund since 2004.
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.
(FSUTX): ETF Research Reports
(FUGAX): ETF Research Reports
(GASFX): ETF Research Reports
(UTPIX): ETF Research Reports
(VUIAX): ETF Research Reports
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research