We used to bring in mutual fund wholesales at PaineWebber where I worked as a SVP. One day while the wholesaler was giving his introduction to the class of wet behind the ear’s brokers, I interrupted his presentation.
“Every time you come in here, you tell us about your best performing mutual funds. I want to do something different this time. Tell us about your worst performing funds. We keep selling your best performing funds to our clients and they turn into your worst performing funds. Let’s start with the worst first and maybe we’ll have better luck.”
I said that with a certain amount of cynicism and humor I hope but there is a great amount of truth to that. There is a whole body of discrete science devoted to the study of reversions to the mean. Have you ever heard of DOGS of the DOW? With that in mind, I thought this article was interesting. Read further on and find my complete list of last year’s losers who might have a shot at being future winners.
By LAWRENCE C. STRAUSS | MORE ARTICLES BY AUTHOR
The Barron’s/Lipper one-year ranking of fund families offers some dramatic moves and big surprises. Putnam, Pimco and Hartford top the list, while last year’s winners slid to the bottom.
The past two years could hardly be more divergent — in both market terms and in the results of the Barron’s/Lipper Fund Family Ranking.
Last year marked a significant — and much-needed — change in the markets. Stocks surged (the S&P returned 16%), driven by financial and consumer-discretionary companies, as investors became more comfortable with risk and consumers became more comfortable spending some money. High-quality fixed income finally lost some steam, returning just 4%, though there was some money to be made further out on the risk curve, particularly in junk bonds and private-label mortgages that aren’t guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The bullishness was refreshing.
via All in the Family – Barrons.com.
| Fund Name | 1 Year Return |
Sales Charge | Lipper Leaders | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Asset Strategy;Inv | -58.9% | 0.0% |   |
877-832-6952 |
| USX China;C | -52.9% | 0.0% |  |
877-244-6235 |
| USX China;A | -52.8% | 4.5% | |
877-244-6235 |
| Jacob Small Cap Gro;Inst | -44.2% | 0.0% | |
888-522-6239 |
| Guggenhm Solar ETF | -42.9% | 0.0% |  |
800-345-7999 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Japan;Svc | -42.1% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Japan;Inv | -41.6% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| Midas Fund | -39.3% | 0.0% | |
800-400-6432 |
| ProFunds:Prec Metals;Svc | -38.5% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| ProFunds:Prec Metals;Inv | -37.9% | 0.0% |  |
888-776-3637 |
| Encompass Fund | -37.2% | 0.0% | |
888-463-3957 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Md-Cp;Svc | -32.5% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Md-Cp;Inv | -31.8% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| ProFunds:UltraBear;Svc | -31.3% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| ProFunds:UltraBear;Inv | -30.6% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| Rydex:Inv S&P 2x;C | -29.8% | 0.0% | |
800-820-0888 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Sm-Cp;Svc | -29.8% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| Rydex:Inv S&P 2x;H | -29.4% | 0.0% | |
800-820-0888 |
| Rydex:Inv S&P 2x;A | -29.4% | 4.8% | |
800-820-0888 |
| Dynamic Gold&Prec;I | -29.2% | 0.0% | |
888-572-0968 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Sm-Cp;Inv | -29.0% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| ProFunds:UltSh Intl;Svc | -29.0% | 0.0% | |
888-776-3637 |
| Rydex:Inv Rus 2x;H | -29.0% | 0.0% | |
800-820-0888 |
| Rydex:Inv Rus 2x;C | -29.0% | 0.0% | |
800-820-0888 |
| Rydex:Inv Rus 2x;A | -28.8% | 4.8% | |
800-820-0888 |