Top 5 Best Performing Healthcare Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
14 June 2012 - 12:33AM
Zacks
The healthcare sector is one of the most desirable avenues for
parking investments when markets are headed south. The demand for
such services usually remains unchanged even during an economic
downturn and investments in the sector provide sufficient
protection to the capital invested. Several pharmaceutical
companies also provide regular dividends, which can help mitigate
losses from falling share prices. Healthcare mutual funds provide
the perfect avenue for investors looking to invest in this
sector.
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
|
#2 Buy
|
31.0%
|
Rydex Biotechnology
|
#3 Hold
|
23.3%
|
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences
|
#3 Hold
|
19.8%
|
Fidelity Select Biotechnology
|
#4 Sell
|
19.6%
|
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A
|
#3 Hold
|
18.4%
|
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 healthcare mutual fund is
non-diversified and returned 20.24% over the last one year
period.
The healthcare mutual fund has an expense ratio of 2.87%
compared to a category average of 1.51%.
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 16.49% 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 12.18% 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 appreciation
of capital. The fund invests a large share 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 19.57% over the last one year period.
As of April 2012, this healthcare mutual fund held 149 issues,
with 11.41% of its total assets invested in Gilead Sciences
Inc.
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (FBDIX) seeks capital
growth. The fund invests the majority of its assets in securities
issued by biotechnology and drug discovery companies. The fund
primarily purchases equity securities, focusing on common stock.
Not more than 20% of its assets may be invested in securities from
other sectors. The healthcare mutual fund returned 13.18% 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
(BIPSX): ETF Research Reports
(FBDIX): ETF Research Reports
(FBIOX): ETF Research Reports
(PRHSX): ETF Research Reports
(RYOIX): ETF Research Reports
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