Worst-Rated Funds Lose Big on Real Estate

Unless you plan to hold a mutual fund's shares for at least five years, it might be wise to consider other investment options.

At TheStreet.com Ratings, A and B grades mean "buy," C equals "hold" and D or less means "sell."

Worst Rated Open-End Stock Mutual Funds Fund (Ticker) Overall Grade Reward Grade Risk Grade Objective Total Return 1 Year Kensington Strategic Realty A (KSRAX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -68.0% Seligman LaSalle Div Real Estate A (SREAX) E- E- E- Growth & Income -66.8% Embarcadero Small Cap Growth Fund (EMSMX) E- E- E- Growth - Domestic -53.5% Third Millennium Russia Fund A (TMRFX) E- E- E- Emerging Market Equity -71.9% Utopia Growth Fund (UTGRX) E- E- E- Growth - Domestic -64.2% Morgan Stanley Real Estate A (REFAX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -59.1% Kensington Real Estate Secs A (KREAX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -61.5% Russell Real Estate Securities A (RREAX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -56.5% Guinness Atkinson Alt Energy Fd (GAAEX) E- E- E- Sector - Energy/Natural Res -63.5% J Hancock II Real Estate Sec 1 (JIREX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -58.9% EII Realty Sec Fund Instl (EIIRX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -57.4% Alpine Intl Real Estate Y (EGLRX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -70.0% US Global Accolade East European (EUROX) E- E- E- Emerging Market Equity -66.6% AssetMark Real Estate Securities (AFREX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -62.5% Pioneer Real Estate Shares A (PWREX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -59.2% Adelante US Real Estate Sec K (LLUKX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -57.7% MassMutual Premier Sm Captlzn Val A (MPNAX) E- E E- Small Cap -45.9% J Hancock Intl Classic Value A (JHFAX) E- E E- Non-US Equity -50.7% Buffalo Micro Cap Fund (BUFOX) E- E E- Small Cap -42.6% Markman Core Growth Fund I (MTRPX) E- E E- Growth & Income -52.5% Schneider Value Fund PPP (SCMLX) E- E E- Growth - Domestic -56.0% REMS Real Estate Value Opp Fd (HLRRX) E- E E- Sector - Real Estate -53.4% J Hancock Trust Classic Val Ser I (JECVX) E- E E- Growth - Domestic -48.9% Legg Mason Opport Tr C (LMOPX) E- E- E Growth - Domestic -63.0% Van Kampen Real Estate Sec A (ACREX) E- E- E- Sector - Real Estate -58.3% Source: TheStreet.com Ratings. Data as of most recent month end.

Editor's Note: The writer own shares of the Alpine International Real Estate Fund as a long-term holding in a retirement account.

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