Top 5 Zacks #1 Ranked Healthcare Mutual Funds - Best of Funds
07 7월 2012 - 1:24AM
Zacks
The healthcare sector is one of the most desirable avenues for
parking investments when markets are headed south. The demand for
such services usually remains unchanged even during an economic
downturn and investments in the sector provide sufficient
protection to the capital invested. Several pharmaceutical
companies also provide regular dividends, which can help mitigate
losses from falling share prices. Healthcare mutual funds provide
the perfect avenue for investors looking to invest in this
sector.
Below we will share with you 5 top rated health mutual funds.
Each has earned a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) as we expect these
mutual funds to outperform their peers in the future. To view
the Zacks Rank and past performance of all health funds, investors
can click here to see the complete list of funds.
Fidelity Select Health Care (FSPHX) seeks capital growth.
The fund invests the majority of its assets in companies whose
principal operations include production, design and sales of health
care related products or services. It focuses on acquiring common
stocks and purchases both domestic and foreign securities. The
healthcare mutual fund has a three year annualized return of
19.39%.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.80% compared to a category average
of 1.51%.
Schwab Health Care (SWHFX) invests heavily in the
healthcare sector. It primarily purchases equity securities but may
also invest in future contracts. It focuses on investing in
domestic firms, but may invest up to 25% of its assets in other
countries. The healthcare mutual fund has a three year annualized
return of 15.87%.
Paul Alan Davis is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 2006.
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (PRHSX) seeks capital
growth over the long term. The fund invests the majority of its
assets 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. The healthcare
mutual fund has a three year annualized return of 23.97%.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.82% compared to a category average
of 1.51%.
ProFunds Pharmaceuticals UltraSector (PHPSX) invests in
equity securities and derivatives which together should provide
daily returns which are 150% of the daily return of the Dow Jones
U.S. Pharmaceuticals Index. The balance of the fund’s assets is
utilized to purchase money market securities. The healthcare mutual
fund has a three year annualized return of 19.15%.
As of January 2012, this health mutual fund held 28 issues, with
15.60% of its total assets invested in Johnson & Johnson.
Vanguard Health Care Index (VHCIX) seeks to match the
performance of the MSCI U.S. Investable Market Health Care 25/50
index and invests primarily in healthcare stocks. This index
consists of stocks of companies of all sizes from this sector. The
healthcare mutual fund has a three year annualized return of
15.33%.
Ryan E. Ludt is the fund manager and has managed this healthcare
mutual fund since 2004.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all health mutual
funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of
funds.
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.
View All Zacks #1 Ranked Mutual Funds
(FSPHX): ETF Research Reports
(PHPSX): ETF Research Reports
(PRHSX): ETF Research Reports
(SWHFX): ETF Research Reports
(VHCIX): ETF Research Reports
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research