Top 5 Zacks #1 Ranked Precious Metals Funds
Investors often seek solace in precious metals instruments during a downturn. These investments are considered to be a natural hedge against a rapidly declining currency. Even a small portion of precious metals in a portfolio can provide significant protection against inflation. In addition, when markets are slowing down, securities related to these industries acquire greater significance. At such times they provide better returns than equity securities, even outperforming them. Precious metals funds are the best option for investing in this sector since they possess the advantages of professional insight and well-diversified portfolios.
Below we will share with you 5 top rated precious metals mutual funds. Each has earned a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) as we expect the fund to outperform its peers in the future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all precious metals funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of funds.
Invesco Gold & Precious Metals Investor Fund (FGLDX) invests a majority of its assets in equity securities of companies involved in mining, processing or dealing of precious metals. The fund may also invest directly in gold bullion. The precious metals fund has a ten year annualized return of 15.17%.
The fund manager is Andrew Lees and he has managed this precious metals mutual fund since January 2008.
Rydex Precious Metals Investor Fund (RYPMX) seeks to generate long term capital appreciation by investing a majority of its assets in precious metal companies. The fund also invests in publicly traded derivative contracts. This precious metals mutual fund is non-diversified and has a ten year annualized return of 8.89%
As of July 2012, this precious metals fund held 37 issues with 9.92% of its total assets invested in Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Class B.
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals A (OPGSX) invests primarily in domestic and foreign companies whose major operations include mining, processing or dealing in metals and minerals. The precious metals fund has a ten year annualized return of 17.7%.
The precious metals mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 1.07% compared to a category average of 1.40%.
Tocqueville Gold Fund (TGLDX) seeks long term capital growth by investing a large share of its assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign companies engaged in mining and processing of gold. The fund has exposure to developed as well as emerging markets. The precious metals mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 18.15%.
The fund manager is Douglas B. Groh and he has managed this precious metals mutual fund since 2011.
First Eagle Gold A (SGGDX) invests directly in gold and other precious metals. The fund may also invest in financial instruments issued by companies principally engaged in the gold industry, including gold finance companies. This precious metals mutual fund is non-diversified has a ten year annualized return of 15.62%.
The precious metals mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $2,500 and an expense ratio of 1.20% compared to a category average of 1.40%.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all precious metals 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.
Read the analyst report on FGLDX
Read the analyst report on RYPMX
Read the analyst report on OPGSX
Read the analyst report on TGLDX
Read the analyst report on SGGDX
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