Mutual Fund Investing
Best-Performing Stock Mutual Funds
Kevin Baker
05/13/08 - 12:58 PM EDT
With gasoline continuing to hit record levels, it's hardly a surprise that the group of energy and natural-resource stock mutual funds averaged the highest one-month return based on April 30 data.
The best performing open-end stock mutual fund in each objective is listed below, ranked by the average one-month total return for each fund category.
Of the 17 types of stock mutual funds listed below, energy and natural resources top the list, averaging 9.18% for the 48 similarly focused funds.
The best performing member of this group is the 150% leveraged, B- rated ProFunds-Oil & Gas UltraSector Inv ProFund(ENPIX - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), which gained 16.44% in April. Exxon Mobil(XOM - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Chevron(CVX - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), ConocoPhillips(COP - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and Schlumberger(SLB - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) are the largest holdings of this fund.
For more on energy funds, check out this recent article.
Next up is the best of the 87 technology and communications sector funds, the E- rated Fidelity Select Networking and Infrastructure Portfolio(FNINX - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), which added 11.52% in April. Cisco Systems(CSCO - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Juniper Networks(JNPR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and Marvell Technology Group(MRVL - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) are the top three holdings.
However, 48.29% from Switch & Data Facilities(SDXC - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), 43.75% from Allot Communications(ALLT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and 39.18% from Arris Group(ARRS - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) represented some of the fastest-advancing positions during the month.
You can find more tech-fund ideas here.
The unrated Profunds UltraEmerging Markets ProFund(UUPIX - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) tracks 200% of the performance of the Bank of New York Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index.
This is the top-performing emerging-market equity fund out of the 104 funds, which as a group averaged 7.43% for the month.
While the exact holdings are not disclosed, the one-month return of 22.74% and the one-year return of 50.09% do make a statement.
| Best Performing Open-End Stock Mutual Funds by Objective for April | ||||||
| Objective | Obj 1 Month Avg % | Fund (Ticker) Rating | Total Return 1 Month % | Total Return 3 Months % | Total Return 1 Year % | |
| Sector - Energy/Natural Res | 9.18 | ProFunds-Oil & Gas UltraSector Inv (ENPIX) B- | 16.44 | 24.10 | 37.59 | |
| Sector - Tech/Communications | 7.51 | Fidelity Select Netwrkg & Infrastr (FNINX) E- | 11.52 | 1.91 | -15.48 | |
| Emerging Market Equity | 7.43 | Profunds-Ultra Emerging Mkt Inv (UUPIX) U | 22.74 | 11.60 | 50.09 | |
| Mid Cap | 6.25 | Apex Mid-Cap Growth Fund (BMCGX) E+ | 12.30 | 5.39 | -12.18 | |
| Sector - Utilities | 5.85 | ProFunds-Utilities UltraSector Inv (UTPIX) B- | 8.62 | 3.06 | -6.84 | |
| Sector - Real Estate | 5.51 | Cohen & Steers Asia Pac Realty A (APFAX) U | 12.58 | -0.94 | -6.08 | |
| Non-US Equity | 5.38 | Direxion China Bull 2X Inv (DXHLX) U | 35.30 | 12.79 | NA | |
| Growth - Domestic | 5.09 | ProFunds-Mble Telcm UltraSector Inv (WCPIX) E- | 29.76 | -24.00 | -63.66 | |
| Global Equity | 4.86 | RS Investors Fund A (RSINX) U | 10.58 | 7.54 | -8.50 | |
| Aggressive Growth | 4.86 | ProFunds-Ultra Mid Cap Inv (UMPIX) E | 15.24 | 6.79 | -14.43 | |
| Sector - Financial Services | 4.64 | ProFunds-Financial UltraSector Inv (FNPIX) E- | 8.54 | -12.33 | -39.85 | |
| Small Cap | 4.50 | Direxion Mid Cp Bull 2.5X Inv (DXMLX) U | 19.02 | 8.03 | -22.37 | |
| Growth & Income | 4.25 | JennDry Jennison 20/20 Focus Fd A (PTWAX) B- | 10.14 | 7.03 | 3.39 | |
| Equity Income | 3.96 | Direxion Nasdaq 100 Bull 1.25X Fd (POTCX) D- | 9.78 | 5.41 | 0.77 | |
| Sector - Health/Biotechnology | 2.68 | Genomics Fund (SATSX) D | 6.91 | 0.62 | -1.22 | |
| Sector - Other | 2.29 | Direxion Developed Mkt Bull 2.0X Fd (DXDLX) U | 10.50 | 8.66 | -12.73 | |
| Sector - Precious Metals | -4.46 | Fidelity Adv Materials Fund A (FMFAX) A | 6.16 | 8.07 | 16.41 | |
| Source: TheStreet.com Ratings | ||||||