Tag Archives: mutual funds

5 Best Performing High Yield Mutual Funds Of 2015

Investors were lured to invest in high yield bond mutual funds following the financial crisis. And why not, as these funds were a better investment destination since there weren’t enough opportunities elsewhere to seek high yields. These funds provided better returns than those investing in securities with higher ratings, including government and corporate bonds. Also, due to their higher yield feature, these funds were less susceptible to interest rate fluctuations. High yield bond mutual funds provide the best choice for those looking to invest in below investment-grade bonds, also known as junk bonds. Talking of junk bonds, it surged an incredible 85% in 2011 since its Great Recession low and continued its winning run. However, in 2015, U.S. junk bonds registered their worst performance since 2008. Rate hike apprehensions throughout the year and finally the lift-off in December dealt a severe blow to these funds. Meanwhile, the weak Chinese economy raised concerns about future demand for oil, eventually dragging global oil prices down. This decline in oil prices also adversely affected junk bond funds. Activist shareholder, Carl Ichan, has tweeted: “Unfortunately I believe the meltdown in High Yield is just beginning.” Under such circumstances, investors may choose to stay away from high-yield mutual funds. Granted that the outlook is bleak, but still if you are a junk bond investor, we have presented those funds that have turned out to be the best gainers in 2015 despite several bottlenecks. These funds also possess a favorable Zacks Rank that should help these funds to continue gaining in 2016 as well. What Went Wrong for High-Yield Mutual Funds? In 2015, the high yield funds category lost an average 4.1%. Anticipation of a rate hike for the first time in nearly a decade and finally the Fed hiking its benchmark interest rates in December had a negative impact on the junk bond market. The Federal Reserve’s easy monetary policy for the last several years, which kept interest rates at record low, had been a boon for the junk bond market. Investors had flocked to this market in search of bigger payoffs. Following the Fed rate hike, net outflows from high-yield bond funds were $3.8 billion in the week ending Dec 16. It marked the third largest outflow on record and the largest since 2014, according to Lipper. During December, net outflows totaled $6.29 billion, higher than November’s net outflow of $3.3 billion. With this outflow, total outflow of high yield bond funds for 2015 came to $13.88 billion, with high-yield funds posting a negative flow in 7 out of 12 months of 2015. The adverse effect could easily be spotted when New York-based Third Avenue Management blocked investors from redeeming money from the near $1 billion Third Avenue Focused Credit Fund (MUTF: TFCVX ) last December. The failure and the embargo on investors on withdrawals also highlighted the concerns related to liquidity in corporate bond markets. The continuous slide in commodity prices also affected junk bond funds. Decline in commodity prices means that energy and material companies may soon have trouble repaying their debts, as they constitute a major portion of the high-yield bond market. Fears about economic slowdown and market volatility in China were instrumental in the plunge in commodity prices. Fed Rate Hike Through 2015, Fed rate hike expectation kept high-yield funds under pressure. Ultimately, on Dec 16, the Fed raised its key interest rate for the first time in nearly a decade. The Fed increased its short-term borrowing rate to a range of 0.25% to 0.50%. Meanwhile, the Fed stressed that the pace of rate hikes will be ‘gradual’ in nature. The junk bond market had been a strong beneficiary of low interest rate and capital had flowed strongly into the debt sector. However, the lift-off spooked investors and they started exiting junk bond positions. Weak Chinese Economy and Oil Price Slump China’s economy and financial markets suffered for a large part of 2015. Economic data remained weak through the year though markets soared during the first half of 2015. Ultimately, markets crashed over a two and a half month period, erasing nearly $5 trillion in value terms. A bubble had built up steadily and valuations had hit levels which were difficult to justify. Weak Chinese economic data raised concerns about decelerating growth in the world’s second largest consumer of oil, which eventually dragged oil prices down. Additionally, persistent supply glut and a stronger dollar also adversely affected oil prices. Price of a barrel of U.S. crude was down more than 30% in 2015 from year-ago levels. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy hardly helped high yield funds in 2015. For the first three months, it expanded at an annual rate of 0.6%. The growth was mostly affected by harsh winter weather and disruptions in West Coast ports. However, the economy picked up pace in the second quarter, gaining 3.9%, but slowed down to a gain of 2% in the third quarter. Best Performing High-Yield Mutual Funds in 2015 In 2015, the junk bond market had a torrid ride due to decreasing liquidity within and rising borrowing costs. Moreover, concerns about junk-rated energy and material companies’ ability to repay debts due to fall in commodity prices continued to weigh on junk bonds. As declines outweighed gains, the funds finishing in the green could post only modest gains. Below we present the best-performing high yield mutual funds of 2015, which are under Zacks Mutual Fund coverage. We have considered those funds that have a minimum initial investment of $5000 and net assets over $50 million. From the above list, we present the top five best-performing high yield mutual funds of last year. These funds also possess a relatively low expense ratio and boast a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Aquila Three Peaks High Income Y (MUTF: ATPYX ) seeks high current income. ATPYX invests a large portion of its assets in income-producing securities. Its portfolio includes high-yield/high-risk securities rated below investment grade. ATPYX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. ATPYX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 3.6% and 4.8%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.94% is lower than the category average of 1.06%. The Buffalo High-Yield Fund (MUTF: BUFHX ) invests a major portion of its net assets in higher yielding, higher-risk fixed income securities. BUFHX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. BUFHX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 4.1% and 5.2%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 1.02% is lower than the category average of 1.06%. The Credit Suisse Floating Rate High Income Fund (MUTF: CHIAX ) seeks high current income. CHIAX invests in a diversified portfolio of high yield and high risk fixed income securities (junk bonds). CHIAX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. CHIAX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 2.3% and 4%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.95% is lower than the category average of 1.07%. The Wells Fargo Short-Term High Yield Bond Fund (MUTF: SSTHX ) seeks total return and invests primarily in medium and lower quality corporate debt obligations. SSTHX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. SSTHX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 1.9% and 3.1%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.81% is lower than the category average of 1.06%. The MassMutual Premier High Yield Fund (MUTF: MPHZX ) seeks to achieve a high level of total return and mostly invests in high yield debt and related securities. MPHZX currently carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1. MPHZX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 3.8% and 10.1%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.55% is lower than the category average of 1.06%. Link to the original post on Zacks.com

AlphaCentric Converts Hedge Fund Into New Managed Futures Mutual Fund

Managed futures funds provide investors with exposure to commodities, currencies, stocks, and bonds by investing in a range of securities, including futures, forwards, swaps and ETFs. Due to the trend following, long/short nature of their investment strategies, these funds have very low correlation to traditional asset classes. As markets continue to be volatile and correlations between asset classes continue to increase, managed future funds are gaining more and more interest. In fact, this category of funds has been the most popular single-strategy category of liquid alternative funds over the past year, pulling in $8.5 billion of assets over the twelve month period ending November 30, 2015, according to data from Morningstar. New AlphaCentric Fund While managed futures funds were available exclusively to high-net worth individuals and institutions in the past, today there more than 50 managed futures funds available as ’40 Act mutual funds, and on December 18, AlphaCentric and Integrated Managed Futures Corp (“IMFC”) added another to the growing roster: the AlphaCentric/IMFC Managed Futures Strategy Fund (MUTF: IMXAX ). Sub-advised by IMFC, the new fund differentiates itself from its peers by pursuing its investment objective of capital appreciation through IMFC’s proprietary investment program, which attempts to identify investment opportunities with limited downside and potentially large rewards. This investment program removes subjectivity and human emotion from the day-to-day decision-making process. The fund’s assets are allocated across asset classes using IMFC’s multi-factor models, which consider momentum, yield, value, relative buying power of different currencies, commodity cost of production and supply/demand statistics, price-to-earnings and -book ratios, the difference in yield between issuers or financial instruments, and more. The fund also maintains large cash positions as part of its investment strategy. Fund Details The AlphaCentric/IMFC Managed Futures Strategy Fund is available in three classes: A ( IMXAX ), C (MUTF: IMXCX ), and I (MUTF: IMXIX ). The Class I shares have been created through the conversion of a hedge fund (the Attain IMFC Macro Fund LLC) and will take on the performance track record of that fund dating back to March 10, 2014. The investment management fee for all shares of the fund is 1.75%, and the respective net-expense ratios are 2.24%, 2.99%, and 1.99%. The minimum initial investment for all three share classes is $2,500. Integrated Managed Futures Corp. will serve as the sub-advisor to the fund. Roland Austrup, Robert Koloshuk, and John Lukovich are listed in the fund’s prospectus as its portfolio managers. For more information, view a copy of the fund’s prospectus . Jason Seagraves contributed to this article.

Just Sold Your Bond Funds? Consider QSPNX And Its Low Volatility Twin

Alternatives can provide superior risk-adjusted returns, less volatility, and proven downside protection. AQR Premia Style Alternative N Fund and AQR Premia Style Alternative Low Volatility N Fund. Integrating these two style premia alternative funds into your portfolio. Surfing beach near Tofino, B.C. Ⓒ Sandy Cliff Research Alternative funds come in many shapes and sizes these days. In the past six years, they have flooded the market. Why? Because, if structured properly, they can provide superior risk-adjusted returns and less volatility. As Vanguard pointed out in its August 2014 white paper Liquid alts: a better mousetrap? these new strategies “constitute a new industry with explosive growth. More than 70% of their cash flows and 68% of new product launches have come since 2009; 50% of these flows and products have come just in the three years through 2013.” For a detailed listing of alternative funds launched just last year, see DailyAlts.com New Funds listing . Long-short, market-neutral, style premia, managed futures, and multialternative are some examples of these offerings. Financial advisors are now recommending these types of investments to replace varying percentages of equities and bonds in a traditional portfolio. The AQR Style Premia Alternative Fund ( QSPNX ) and AQR Style Premia Alternative LV Fund ( QSLNX ): AQR Capital Management: AQR Funds started out as a hedge fund shop in 1998 and entered the mutual fund business in 2009 in order to make its strategies available to a wider range of investors. Quantitative research forms the basis for all of the firm’s strategies. The firm has an academic bent with many of its principals and associates holding Ph.Ds. Fund managers and associates continue to research and refine the methodologies used in their funds. Results of their findings are often published in academic journals and can be found at AQR.com . Additional information on the two Premia funds discussed below as well as other AQR funds can be found at funds.AQR.com Fund Classes and Purchase Information: The details offered for these two funds refer to the N share class. Both N and I share classes are available from Fidelity with a minimum purchase of $1,000,000 for the N class and a minimum of $5,000,000 for the I class. However, initial minimum investments of these funds into “group retirement accounts such as Fidelity Simplified Employee Pension-IRA, Keogh, Self-Employed 401(k), and Non-Fidelity Prototype Retirement accounts are $500 or higher. Additional investments into Regular, IRA, and Group accounts are $250 or higher.” I was able to buy both QSPNX and QSLNX for my Fidelity retirement IRA for a minimum purchase of $2,500. AQR funds, according to the Morningstar entry for each of these funds, can also be purchased at over a dozen U.S. other financial forms including Vanguard, Schwab, etc. Important note: All share classes of the AQR Style Premia Alternative Fund and the AQR Style Premia Alternative LV Fund will close to new investors effective at the close of business on January 29, 2016. In November 2015, AQR stated that these two funds were closing due to “capacity constraints associated with the investment strategy employed by these Funds.” However, prior to this announcement, AQR filed with the SEC for approval for a new AQR Style Premia Alternative Fund II. There is no word as yet on date launch, expenses or any details on whether a low volatility version of this will be launched as well. Investing Style: The Style Premia Alternative and the Style Premia Alternative LV invest long and short across six different asset groups: stocks of major developed markets – approximately fourteen hundred stocks (for QSLNX and up to 1800 stocks for QSPNX) across major markets equity indices – twenty-one equity indexes from developed and emerging markets fixed income – bond futures across six markets; short-term interest rate futures in four markets currencies – twenty-two currencies in developed and emerging markets commodities – eight commodity futures Management employs long-short strategies across all of these asset groups based on four investment styles: value – the tendency for relatively cheap assets to outperform relatively expensive ones momentum – the tendency for an asset’s recent relative performance to continue in the future carry – the tendency for higher-yielding assets to provide higher returns than lower-yielding assets defensive – the tendency for lower-risk and higher-quality assets to generate higher risk-adjusted returns Management since inception: Andrea Frazzini, Ph.D., M.S.; Jacques A. Friedman, M.S.; Ronen Israel, M.A.; Michael Katz, Ph.D., A.M. oversee both funds. Details specific to QSPNX: Opened on 10/31/13. 2015 Return: 11.08%. 2015 Return: 8.50%. Expenses: 1.75%. Annualized volatility target level: 10% (with a range of 8-12%). Fund size: $1.7 billion. The listed % of risk allocation is: Global Stock Selection 33.7% Equity Markets 18.8% Fixed Income 16.5% Commodities 16.2% Currencies 14.7% Number of long holdings 969; number of short holdings 732. Details specific to QSLNX: Opened on 9/17/14. Year 2015 Return: 3.85%. Expenses: 1.10%. Annualized volatility target level: 5% (similar to the historical volatility of intermediate-term government bonds; typical range between 3% and 7%). Fund size: $185.2 million. Percent of risk allocation is: Global Stock Selection 33.2% Equity Markets 20.3% Fixed Income 17.3% Currencies 15.9% Commodities 13.4% Number of long holdings 864; number of short holdings 659. Integrating These Two Style Premia Alternative Funds Into A Portfolio: The alternatives landscape is littered with suggestions for adding alternatives to a portfolio, but the deciding factors are simply the individual investor’s risk tolerance, including a risk of buying an alternative fund with a short track record, and the individual’s investment timeline. I view these two Style Premia funds as alternatives to bonds within my IRA retirement portfolio. Because of tax implications, they are best held in an IRA or similar account. I have also recently added a market neutral and an equity long-short fund to my allocation. The Vanguard Managed Payout Fund (MUTF: VPGDX ) makes use of stocks, bonds, alternatives, including the Vanguard Market Neutral Fund (MUTF: VMNFX ). It has a mix that is worth considering as a foundation if you are thinking about adding alternatives to your portfolio mix. Here is a listing of its current holdings: Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund 20.1% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund 19.7% Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund 15.1% Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund 12.0% Vanguard Alternative Strategies Fund 10.4% Vanguard Market Neutral Fund Investor Shares 7.0% Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund 5.8% Commodities 5.0% Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund 4.9 For further information on alternatives you might want to check out: Brian Haskin, “Retiring Baby Boomers to Continue Liquid Alts Boom?” at DailyAlts.com which gives a good summary of and access to the PDF of “Liquid Alternatives: The Next Wave in Asset Allocation” by Matthew Glaser, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager/Analyst at Lazard Asset Management.