4 Newly Rated ETFs for Your Portfolio

NEW YORK (TheStreet Ratings) -- TheStreet.com Ratings initiated coverage of 34 exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, that accrued a sufficient track record of risk and performance data by the end of March 2012. Of the 34 newly rated exchange-traded funds, only four start out at 'Buy' with grades of B- or better on superior first year results.

13 funds get initial 'Hold' level ratings of C+ to C- by finishing in the middle of the pack. Lastly, 17 ETFs begin at 'Sell' with grades of D+ or worse after underperforming alternative ETF investments in the past year on a risk-adjusted return basis.

Here are the four newly rated ETFs ranked at 'Buy':

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4. Focus Morningstar Health Care Index ETF

Focus Morningstar Health Care Index ETF (FHC) seeks to provide investment result that correspond, before fees and expenses, generally to the price and yield performance of the underlying Morningstar Health Care Index which consists of companies involved in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research services, home healthcare, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and medical equipment.

Expense Ratio: 0.19%

One Year Total Return: 14.69%

Rated "B-" by TheStreet Ratings:

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3. PowerShares DB 3x German Bund Futures ETN

PowerShares DB 3x German Bund Futures ETN (BUNT) seeks to offer investors three times leveraged exposure to the monthly performance of the German Bond Futures Index plus the monthly T-Bill index return, reduced by the investor fee.

While this fund turned in a spectacular first year performance, it was also much more volatile than the other top rated funds. Tripe leverage funds like this warrant extra caution as they tend to decline as fast as they rise.

Expense Ratio: 0.95%

One Year Total Return: 55.0%

Rated "B-" by TheStreet Ratings:

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2. Focus Morningstar Consumer Cyclical Index ETF

Focus Morningstar Consumer Cyclical Index ETF (FCL) seeks to provide investment results that correspond, before fees and expenses, generally to the price and yield performance of the underlying Morningstar Consumer Cyclical Index.

Expense Ratio: 0.19%

One Year Total Return: 14.6%

Rated "B+" by TheStreet Ratings:

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1. Focus Morningstar Technology Index ETF

Focus Morningstar Technology Index ETF (FTQ) seeks to provide investment results that correspond, before fees and expenses, generally to the price and yield performance of the underlying Morningstar Technology Index, which consists of companies engaged in the design, development, and support of computer operating systems and applications.

Expense Ratio: 0.19%

One Year Total Return: 15.9%

Rated "A" by TheStreet Ratings:

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Here are the 13 newly rated ETFs ranked at 'Hold':

13. PowerShares Senior Loan

PowerShares Senior Loan (BKLN) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an index called the S&P/LSTA U.S. Leveraged Loan 100 Index. The fund will normally invest at least 80 percent of its total assets in bank loans.

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