Top 5 Best Performing Healthcare Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
18 October 2012 - 1:38AM
Zacks
When markets are passing through choppy waters, investors often
rely on the healthcare sector to safeguard their investments. This
is because the demand for healthcare services does not vary with
market conditions, making them a safe haven during difficult times.
Many pharma companies also generate regular dividends, which go a
long way in softening the blow dealt by plummeting share prices.
Mutual funds are the perfect choice for investors looking to enter
this sector since they possess the advantages of wide
diversification and analytical insight.
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, then click here.
Mutual Fund
|
Zacks Rank
|
Total Return YTD
|
ProFunds Biotech Ultra Sector
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
65.4%
|
Rydex Biotechnology
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
41.6%
|
Fidelity Select Biotechnology
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
40.9%
|
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
36.0%
|
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
35.2%
|
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 has a three year annualized return of
21.16%.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$15,000 and an expense ratio of 2.73% compared to a category
average of 1.49%.
Rydex Biotechnology (RYOIX) seeks capital growth. The
fund utilises a minimum of 80% of its assets to purchase equity
securities and derivatives issued by domestic biotechnology
companies. It focuses on acquiring securities of small and mid-cap
companies. The healthcare mutual fund has a three year annualized
return of 19.55%.
Michael P. Byrum is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 1998.
Fidelity Select Biotechnology (FBIOX) invests the
majority of its assets in biotechnology companies as well as those
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
has a three year annualized return of 22.3%.
As of August 2012, this healthcare mutual fund held 155 issues,
with 11.59% of its total assets invested in Gilead Sciences
Inc.
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (FBDIX) seeks capital
growth. The fund 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. Not more than 20% of its assets may be invested in
securities of any kind of domestic or foreign issuer. The
healthcare mutual fund has a three year annualized return of
19.42%.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$1,000 and an expense ratio of 1.26% compared to a category average
of 1.49%.
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (PRHSX) invests heavily 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 has a three year
annualized return of 22.85%.
Kris H. Jenner is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 2000.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all healthcare
mutual funds, then click here.
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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