Mutual Funds

Types of Mutual Funds

Most funds have a particular strategy they focus on when investing. For instance, some invest only in Blue Chip companies that are more established and are relatively low risk. On the other hand, some focus on high-risk start up companies that have the potential for double and triple digit growth. Finding a mutual fund that fits your investment criteria and style is important.

Types of mutual funds are:

Value stocks

Stocks from firms with relative low Price to Earning (P/E) Ratio, usually pay good dividends. The investor is looking for income rather than capital gains.

Growth stock

Stocks from firms with higher low Price to Earning (P/E) Ratio, usually pay small dividends. The investor is looking for capital gains rather than income.

Based on company size, large, mid, and small cap

Stocks from firms with various asset levels such as over $2 Billion for large; in between $2 and $1 Billion for mid and below $1 Billion for small.

Income stock

The investor is looking for income which usually come from dividends or interest. These stocks are from firms which pay relative high dividends. This fund may include bonds which pay high dividends. This fund is much like the value stock fund, but accepts a little more risk and is not limited to stocks.

Index funds

The securities in this fund are the same as in an Index fund such as the Dow Jones Average or Standard and Poor's. The number and ratios or securities are maintained by the fund manager to mimic the Index fund it is following.

Enhanced index

This is an index fund which has been modified by either adding value or reducing volatility through selective stock-picking.

Stock market sector

The securities in this fund are chosen from a particular marked sector such as Aerospace, retail, utilities, etc.

Defensive stock

The securities in this fund are chosen from a stock which usually is not impacted by economic down turns.

International

Stocks from international firms.

Real estate

Stocks from firms involved in real estate such as builder, supplier, architects and engineers, financial lenders, etc.

Socially responsible

This fund would invests according to non-economic guidelines. Funds may make investments based on such issues as environmental responsibility, human rights, or religious views. For example, socially responsible funds may take a proactive stance by selectively investing in environmentally-friendly companies or firms with good employee relations. Therefore the fund would avoid securities from firms who profit from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography etc.

Balanced funds

The investor may wish to balance his risk between various sectors such as asset size, income or growth. Therefore the fund is a balance between various attributes desired.

Tax efficient

Aims to minimize tax bills, such as keeping turnover levels low or shying away from companies that provide dividends, which are regular payouts in cash or stock that are taxable in the year that they are received. These funds still shoot for solid returns; they just want less of them showing up on the tax returns.

Convertible

Bonds or Preferred stock which may be converted into common stock.

Junk bond

Bonds which pay higher that market interest, but carry higher risk for failure and are rated below AAA.

Mutual funds of mutual funds

This funds that specializes in buying shares in other mutual funds rather than individual securities.

Closed end

This fund has a fixed number of shares. The value of the shares fluctuates with the market, but fund manager has less influence because the price of the underlining owned securities has greater influence.

Exchange traded funds (ETFs)

Baskets of securities (stocks or bonds) that track highly recognized indexes. Similar to mutual funds, except that they trade the same way that a stock trades, on a stock exchange.