Top 5 Best Performing Healthcare Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
29 November 2012 - 4:08AM
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
|
53.9%
|
Fidelity Select Biotechnology
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
32.3%
|
Rydex Biotechnology
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
31.0%
|
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
27.9%
|
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
27.7%
|
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 24.87%.
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 1.52%.
Fidelity Select Biotechnology (FBIOX) seeks capital
growth. The fund 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 24.99%.
Rajiv Kaul is the fund manager and has managed this healthcare
mutual fund since 2005.
Rydex Biotechnology (RYOIX) 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 21.53%.
As of August 2012, this healthcare mutual fund held 46 issues,
with 9.98% of its total assets invested in Amgen 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
20.61%.
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 1.52%.
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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