Top Mutual Funds for Investment Opportunities

Explore the top mutual funds ideal for investors seeking diversification and strong performance. This guide highlights leading funds across various durations, performance metrics, and investment strategies, helping you make informed investment choices. Discover the best options for long-term growth and understand the advantages and drawbacks of mutual fund investing.

Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of securities. Managed professionally, they offer increased liquidity and diversification. Unlike stocks, mutual funds trade once daily, with their share price known as the net asset value (NAV). With approximately 9,000 funds managing around $16 trillion, they include index funds tracking specific indices and actively managed funds aiming to outperform the market through strategic buying and selling. Investors often include mutual funds in retirement planning for long-term growth.

Leading industry sources like Kiplinger list top-performing mutual funds across categories. Some of the best large-cap funds based on recent performance include: Biondo Focus Inv (BFONX), Fidelity OTC Portfolio (FOCPX), CGM Focus (CGMFX), Ridgeworth Aggressive Growth Stock A (SAGAX), Vanguard Capital Opportunity Inv (VHCOX), ICON Fund S (ICNZX), Edgewood Growth Retail (EGFFX), Fidelity Growth Company (FDGRX), Invesco Value Opportunities A (VVOAX), and Primecap Odyssey Growth (POGRX).

Over a three-year period, top large-cap mutual funds include: Fidelity OTC Portfolio (FOCPX), Parnassus Endeavor (PARWX), USAA Nasdaq 100 Index (USNQX), Shelton Capital Nasdaq 100 Index (NASDX), Polen Growth Inv (POLRX), Edgewood Growth Retail (EGFFX), DoubleLine Shiller Enhanced CAPE N (DSENX), Janus Forty T (JACTX), Fidelity Growth Company (FDGRX), and Rydex Nasdaq 100 H (RYHOX).

In the past five years, consistent leaders have been: Fidelity OTC Portfolio (FOCPX), Vanguard Capital Opportunity Inv (VHCOX), Parnassus Endeavor (PARWX), Edgewood Growth Retail (EGFFX), Vanguard Primecap Inv (VPMCX), Morgan Stanley Instl Growth Portfolio A (MSEGX), Vanguard Primecap Core Inv (VPCCX), Shelton Capital Nasdaq 100 Index (NASDX), Catalyst Dynamic Alpha I (CPEIX), and Transamerica Capital Growth A (IALAX).

Looking back twenty years, top funds include: Vanguard Capital Opportunity Inv (VHCOX), Oakmart Select I (OAKLX), Calamos Growth A (CVGRX), Fidelity New Millennium (FMILX), Vanguard Primecap Inv (VPMCX), Quaker Strategic Growth A (QUAGX), LeggMason ClearBridge Aggressive Growth A (SHRAX), Principal Capital Appreciation A (CMNWX), Amana Growth (AMAGX), and Janus Forty T (JACTX).

For the last decade, leading funds are: Parnassus Endeavor (PARWX), Fidelity OTC Portfolio (FOCPX), Shelton Capital Nasdaq 100 Index (NASDX), USAA Nasdaq 100 Index (USNQX), Reynolds Blue Chip Growth (RBCGX), Fidelity Growth Company (FDGRX), Monetta Young Investor (MYIFX), Rydex Nasdaq 100 H (RYHOX), AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth A (APGAX), and AMG Yacktman Focused S (YAFFX).

Over twenty years, top performers include Vanguard Capital Opportunity Inv (VHCOX), Oakmart Select I (OAKLX), Calamos Growth A (CVGRX), Fidelity New Millennium (FMILX), Vanguard Primecap Inv (VPMCX), Quaker Strategic Growth A (QUAGX), Legg Mason ClearBridge Aggressive Growth A (SHRAX), Principal Capital Appreciation A (CMNWX), Amana Growth (AMAGX), and Janus Forty T (JACTX).

According to TheStreet, as of May 2017, the best mutual funds include AQR Long Short Equity N (QLENX), DoubleLine Shiller Enh CAPE (DSENX), Matthews Emerging Asia Inv (MEASX), Fidelity Japan Small Cap (FJSCX), Hennessy Japan Small Cap Inv (HJPSX), DFA Japanese Small Co Inst (DFJSX), ProFunds-Consumer Good Ultra (CNPSX), AQR US Defensive Equity N (AUENX), Lazard Global Listed Infr Op (GLFOX), Gurtin National Mun Oport Vl (GNMFX), Glenmede Large Cap Growth (GTLLX), Performance Trust Strat Bond (PTIAX), GMO Opportunistic Income VI (GMODX), Vanguard Global Minimum Vol (VMVFX), SA US Core Market (SAMKX), Saturna Idaho Tax-Exempt (NITEX), T Rowe Price Japan (PRJPX), NWM Momentum (MOMOX), Vanguard Russell 1000 Gro Ix (VRGWX), and PIMCO Income Fund A (PONAX).

The U.S. News Mutual Fund Score offers a reliable rating system based on fund performance and future potential. It assesses around 100 major funds with insights from managers, analysts, and investors, updating data monthly to assist investors in making informed decisions.

While mutual funds are popular, they have drawbacks such as high costs, tax inefficiency, and sometimes outdated strategies. Nonetheless, their popularity remains. Forbes highlights top mutual funds, like Pimco Total Return (PTTAX), known for long-term performance but also higher expenses. Investing decisions should consider these factors, but the significant $16 trillion invested indicates their ongoing value for many investors.