Top 5 Best Performing Healthcare Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing Funds Year To Date
When markets are facing a downturn, investors often depend on
the healthcare sector to safeguard their investments. Since the
demand for healthcare and related services does not fluctuate with
changing market conditions, such investments are a safe haven
during tough times. Many pharmaceutical companies also pay out
regular dividends, which soften the blow investors receive from
falling share prices. Mutual funds are the perfect choice for
investors looking to enter this sector since they posses the
advantages of analytical insight gleaned form in depth research
which is needed to keep abreast of the latest advancements in this
domain.
Below we will share with you the 5 best performing healthcare
mutual funds year to date. To view the Zacks Rank and past
performance of all healthcare funds, investors can click here to
see the complete list of funds.
Mutual Fund
|
Zacks Rank
|
Total Return YTD
|
ProFunds Biotech Ultra Sector
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
34.9%
|
Rydex Biotechnology
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
29.6%
|
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
28.9%
|
Fidelity Select Biotechnology
|
#2 Buy
|
28.3%
|
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences
|
#1 Strong Buy
|
24.8%
|
ProFunds Biotechnology UltraSector (BIPSX) invests in
equity securities and derivatives that in the opinion of the fund
advisors possess daily return characteristics identical to one and
a half times the daily return of the Dow Jones U.S. Biotechnology
Index. The healthcare mutual fund is non-diversified and returned
22.58% over the last one year period.
The healthcare mutual fund has an expense ratio of 2.87%
compared to a category average of 1.50%.
Rydex Biotechnology (RYOIX) seeks capital growth. The
fund invests a large share of its assets in equity securities and
derivatives issued by domestic biotechnology companies. The fund is
non-diversified and seeks long-term capital growth. The healthcare
mutual fund returned 23.16% over the last one year period.
Michael P. Byrum is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 1998.
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (FBDIX) invests the
majority of its assets in securities issued by biotechnology and
drug discovery companies. The fund primarily purchases equity
securities, focusing on common stock. Not more than 20% of its
assets may be invested in securities from other sectors. The
healthcare mutual fund returned 23.68% over the last one year
period.
The healthcare mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of
$1,000 and an expense ratio of 1.26% compared to a category average
of 1.50%.
Fidelity Select Biotechnology (FBIOX) seeks appreciation
of capital. The fund invests a large share of its assets in
companies seeking to benefit from advances in the biotechnological
sector. It focuses on acquiring common stocks and may also
purchases securities issued by foreign companies. The healthcare
mutual fund returned 22.33% over the last one year period.
As of June 2012, this healthcare mutual fund held 151 issues,
with 9.74% of its total assets invested in Gilead Sciences Inc.
T. Rowe Price Health Sciences (PRHSX) 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
but may also purchase stock of smaller companies. The healthcare
mutual fund returned 16.99% over the last one year period.
Kris H. Jenner is the fund manager and has managed this
healthcare mutual fund since 2000.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all healthcare
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
(BIPSX): ETF Research Reports
(FBDIX): ETF Research Reports
(FBIOX): ETF Research Reports
(PRHSX): ETF Research Reports
(RYOIX): ETF Research Reports
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