Top 5 Best Performing Healthcare Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
March 21 2012 - 12:37PM
Zacks
During difficult market conditions, investors often depend on
the healthcare sector to safeguard their investments. Since the
demand for healthcare and related services does not vary with
market conditions, they are a safe haven during tough times. Many
pharmaceutical companies also generate regular dividends, which aid
in combating losses from falling share prices. Mutual funds are the
perfect choice for investors looking to enter this sector since
they possess the analytical insight needed to keep abreast of the
latest advancements in this domain.
Below we will share with you the 5 best performing healthcare
mutual funds year to date. To view the Zacks Rank and past
performance of all healthcare funds, investors can click here to
see the complete list of funds.
Mutual Fund |
Zacks Rank |
Total Return YTD |
ProFunds Biotech Ultra Sector
|
#1 Strong Buy |
18.1% |
Rydex Biotechnology
|
#2 Buy |
15.1% |
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences
|
#1 Strong Buy |
13.7% |
Fidelity Select Biotechnology
|
#2 Buy |
13.6% |
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A |
#3 Hold |
12.9%
|
ProFunds Biotechnology UltraSector (BIPSX)
invests in equity securities and derivatives that in the opinion of
the fund advisors possess daily return characteristics identical to
one and a half times the daily return of the Dow Jones U.S.
Biotechnology Index. The remainder of the funds assets are utilised
to invest in money market securities. The healthcare mutual fund is
non-diversified and returned 27.02% over the last one year
period.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$15,000 and an expense ratio of 2.87% compared to a category
average of 1.57%.
Rydex Biotechnology (RYOIX) seeks capital
growth. The fund invests a large share of its assets in equity
securities and derivatives issued by domestic biotechnology
companies. The fund is non-diversified and seeks long-term capital
growth. The healthcare mutual fund returned 28.45% over the last
one year period.
Michael P. Byrum is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 1998.
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (PRHSX) invests
the majority of its assets in common stocks of companies whose
primary operations are related to healthcare products medicine or
life sciences. The fund focuses on investing in large and mid-cap
firms but may also purchase stock of smaller companies. The
healthcare mutual fund returned 18.16% over the last one year
period.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.82% compared to a category average
of 1.57%.
Fidelity Select Biotechnology (FBIOX) seeks
capital growth. The fund invests the majority of its assets in
companies seeking to benefit from advances in the biotechnological
sector. It focuses on acquiring common stocks and may also
purchases securities issued by foreign companies. The healthcare
mutual fund returned 32.35% over the last one year period.
As of January 2012, this healthcare mutual fund held 134 issues,
with 10.76% of its total assets invested in Amgen Inc.
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (FBDIX)
invests a large proportion of its assets in biotechnology companies
and discovery research companies. The fund focuses on acquiring
equity securities, with an emphasis on common stock. The healthcare
mutual fund returned 23.15% over the last one year period.
Evan S. McCulloch is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 1997.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all healthcare
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 at http://www.zacks.com/funds
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