Energy mutual funds offer an attractive opportunity to investors with a long term horizon since they represent a stable industry with a bright future. The demand for energy continues to rise steadily and this is particularly true of nations growing at a rapid pace such as China and India. Along with this trend, the pressure on natural resources which are harnessed to provide energy and related services has also increased considerably. With the advantages of professional management and well diversified portfolios mutual funds are the most viable route to invest in this sector.
Below we will share with you 5 top rated energy 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 energy funds, then click here.
Vanguard Energy Index (NASDAQ:VENAX - News) invests in approximately all of the equity securities which make up its target index, the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index. This index is made of large, medium and small domestic companies from the energy sector. The energy mutual fund is non-diversified and returned 13.9% over the last one year period.
The fund manager is Jeffrey D. Miller and he has managed this energy mutual fund since 2010.
Putnam Global Natural Resources A (NASDAQ:EBERX - News) seeks capital growth. The fund primarily invests in common stocks of energy and natural resources companies across the world. It focuses on investing in large and mid-cap companies. The energy mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 9.94%.
The energy mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $500 and an expense ratio of 1.26% compared to a category average of 1.46%.
JHancock2 Natural Resources 1 (NASDAQ:JINRX - News) invests heavily in equity and related securities of companies across the world whose primary operations involve natural resources. The fund selects firms which are expected to gain from increasing demand for natural resources. This energy mutual fund has a three year annualized return of 14.54%.
As of December 2011, this energy mutual fund held 57 issues, with 4.82% of its total assets invested in EDP Renovaveis SA.
T. Rowe Price New Era (PRNEX) seeks both capital appreciation over the long term. At least two-thirds of the funds assets are invested in natural resource companies which could benefit from rising inflation. It also invests in companies outside the sector with strong earnings potential. The energy mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 2.08%.
The fund manager is Timothy E. Parker and he has managed this energy mutual fund since 2010.
Ivy Global Natural Resources A (NASDAQ:IGNAX - News) invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of companies, whose primary operations are related to natural resources, including suppliers and service providers. The energy mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 12.69%.
The energy mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $500 and an expense ratio of 1.39% compared to a category average of 1.46%.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all energy mutual funds, then click here.
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.
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