First, we select the top trending category from more than 200 categories listed on MutualFunds.com based on the percentage increase in monthly viewership. Next, we choose the top three funds from the top trending category with the highest one-year trailing total returns from the top trending category. To ensure the quality and staying power of funds, we only look at mutual funds with a minimum of $250 million in assets and a track record of at least one year. We also remove mutual funds that are closed to new investors and not available for investment outside registered accounts, such as retirement or 529 accounts.
In this week’s edition, we analyze the top three Tactical Allocation Funds. These funds aim to deliver better absolute or risk-adjusted returns by adjusting exposure among asset classes. Portfolio managers might use relative valuation, economic indicators, or other metrics to guide these decisions.
Our breakdown of each fund includes critical aspects, such as one-year performance, fund expenses, investment style, and management teams, to give you an overview of how these funds hold up against their peers.
Be sure to check out the Tactical Allocation Funds page to find out more about other funds in this category as well.
Trending Funds
The top fund on our list this week is the Horizon Active Asset Allocation Fund (HASAX). It generated a solid 38.65% trailing one-year total return with a 1.56% expense ratio and a 0.27% yield, making it the best performing and most expensive fund on the list.
The fund uses a multi-disciplined global asset allocation strategy that primarily leverages exchange-traded funds to implement its objectives. Its active asset allocation strategy seeks to navigate volatile market swings, capture upside price movements in rising markets, and reduce downside risk when markets decline.
The fund is co-managed by Scott E. Ladner, Michael Dickson, and Zachary F. Hill, who have an average tenure of about two years. Mr. Ladner has the longest tenure at three years with 12 years of industry experience.
The fund’s portfolio consists of exchange-traded funds across a wide range of sectors and regions. The largest sector weightings include technology (17%), financial services (15%), industrials (13%), and consumer cyclical (13%). In addition to the U.S., the fund has significant exposure to emerging and other international markets.
Source: Barchart.com
Learn more about different portfolio management concepts here.
The number two fund on our list this week is the USAA Target Managed Allocation Fund (UTMAX). The fund delivered a solid 32.60% one-year total return with a 0.78% expense ratio and a 0.63% yield, making it the lowest cost fund on the list.
The fund invests primarily in exchange-traded funds and futures contracts to maximize total returns through capital appreciation.
The fund is co-managed by Lance Humphrey and Mannik Dhillon, who have an average tenure of two and a half years. Mr. Humphrey has the longest tenure at three years with a decade of investment experience, a CFA designation, and a B.A. in Finance from Texas State University.
The fund’s portfolio primarily consists of equities and exchange-traded funds with a concentration in financial services (19%), technology (16%), consumer cyclical (12%), and industrials (11%). Its most significant holdings include the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (18%), Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (15%), and the S&P 500 Emini Futures (15%).
Source: Barchart.com
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3. Pioneer Flexible Opportunities Fund (PMARX)
The third place on the list belongs to the Pioneer Flexible Opportunities Fund (PMARX). The fund generated a robust 30.85% trailing one-year return with a 1.23% expense ratio and 0.99% yield, making it the worst-performing but highest-yielding fund on the list.
The fund seeks to generate positive and consistent real returns with lower volatility relative to the market through strategic asset allocation to a broad range of asset classes expected to have low to negative correlation.
The fund is co-managed by Michele Garau, Kenneth J. Taubes, and Howard Weiss, who have an average tenure of over 10 years. Mr. Garau has been an investment professional since 1984, while Mr. Taubes previously served as Senior Portfolio Manager at Putnam Investments before joining Pioneer in 1998.
The fund’s portfolio consists primarily of domestic and foreign equities concentrated in financial services (19%), real estate (15%), consumer cyclical (15%), and technology (14%). In addition, the portfolio includes more small- and mid-cap companies relative to the category average, as well as lower price-earnings ratios.
Source: Barchart.com
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The Bottom Line
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Note: Trailing one-year total returns (daily) as of June 17, 2021.