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How To Dissect Mutual Fund Returns
By Sam Subramanian
While total and compound annual returns are useful, savvy investors will look deeper, using a variety of metrics, to get a more complete picture on mutual fund performance. On January 1, 2006, a leading financial daily reported the trailing 1-year and 5-year returns of Fidelity Contrafund (Nasdaq: FCNTX), a no-load mutual fund, as 16.23% and 6.21% respectively. While the financial daily’s return information is useful, there is more to mutual fund returns. Is the performance of the fund superior or inferior?
How tax-efficient is the fund in delivering these returns?
Are the returns of the fund commensurate with the risk the fund manager has taken to achieve them?
Savvy investors will seek answers to such questions when evaluating mutual fund returns. Before getting into the nitty-gritty of mutual fund returns, it is good to understand what the data reported in the financial daily really mean.Total Return Fidelity Contra’s reported 16.23% 1-year return is the fund’s total return for the December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005 period. In practical terms, $10,000 invested in the fund on December 31, 2004 is worth $11,623 on December 31, 2005. The total return includes more than the increase (or decrease) in the fund's share price. It also assumes reinvestment of all dividends as well as short- and long-term capital gain distributions into the fund at the price at which each distribution is made. Compound Annual Return The reported 6.21% 5-year return is the fund’s compound annual return (also called the average annual return). The compound annual return is a calculated number that describes the rate at which the investment has grown assuming uniform year-over-year growth during the 5-year period. A $10,000 investment in the Contrafund on December 31, 2000 has grown to $13,515.34 on December 31, 2005. The ending value of $13,515.34 = $10,000[(1 + 0.0621)^5] where 6.21% is the compound annual return. The investment in the fund grew at an implied annual growth rate of 6.21% over the 5-year period. While total return and compound annual return are useful, they do not tell how a particular mutual fund has performed compared to its peers. They also do not provide information on the return actually earned by investors after accounting for taxes. Finally, they do not offer insight on how well the fund manager has managed risk while achieving the returns. Relative Return Relative return compares the performance of a mutual fund against its peers. It is the difference between the total return of the fund and the total return of an appropriate benchmark over the same period. Fidelity Contra is a large-cap growth fund that primarily invests in U.S.-based companies. It is therefore appropriate to compare its performance with that of an average large-cap growth fund. It is also relevant to benchmark the fund against the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 index, comprising of large U.S.-based companies. While Fidelity Contra has a compound annual return of 6.21% for the 5-year period ending December 31, 2005, Morningstar reports the average large-cap growth fund has an average annual loss of 8.48% over the same period. The S&P 500 index has an average annual return of 0.54% over the same period. Fidelity Contra has outperformed with a relative return of 14.69% over the average large-cap growth fund and with a relative return of 5.67% over an S&P 500 index fund. After-Tax Return Unlike assets held in qualified accounts such as 401k plans or individual retirement accounts (IRA), assets held in regular individual or joint accounts are not tax-deferred. For such non-qualified accounts, after-tax return is the return realized after accounting for taxes. Short-term capital gains and short-term capital gain distributions from a mutual fund are currently taxed at the same rate as earned income. Dividends, long-term capital gain distributions and long-term capital gains realized from the sale of fund shares are currently taxed at a lower rate. Fidelity states the compound annual return for Fidelity Contra before taxes is 6.21% for the 5-year period ending on December 31, 2005. When all distributions are taxed at the respective maximum possible federal income-tax rate, the after-tax return dips to
Lack of Greek Deal Sends EUR Tumbling
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<a href="http://www.forexyard.com/en/market-analysis/lack_of_greek_deal_sends_eur_tumbling-2012-02-07" style="font-size:1.2em">Lack of Greek Deal Sends EUR Tumbling</a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Forexyard</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">2 hours ago </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The euro was largely bearish yesterday, after Greece once again failed to come to an agreement with its creditors to restructure its debt.</div>
<a href="http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=20120205_forex_signals_usd_jpy_eur.htm">Forex Trading and Currency Exchange Rates ? USD/JPY rises as EUR/USD drops</a> - <span style="color:#888888">Best Syndication</span><br>
<a href="http://www.forexpros.com/news/forex-news/forex---euro-broadly-lower-as-greece-in-focus-229967">Forex - Euro broadly lower as Greece in focus</a> - <span style="color:#888888">Forex Pros</span><br>
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Canadian Dollar (CAD) Technical Major Currencies (2012-02-07)
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<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/294134/20120207/canadian-dollar-cad-technical-major-currencies-2012-02-07.htm" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian Dollar (CAD) Technical Major Currencies (2012-02-07)</a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">International Business Times</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">3 hours ago </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The pair has been fluctuating with narrow ranges recently, within the descending short term channel shown on image, while MACD indicator continues to provide a bullish divergence over the four-hour timeframe, and momentum indicators are within oversold ...</div>
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British Pound Sterling: Currency continues advance against EUR, safe haven <b>...</b>
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<a href="http://www.euro-exchangerate.com/british-pound-eur-safe-haven-06021355.html" style="font-size:1.2em">British Pound Sterling: Currency continues advance against EUR, safe haven <b>...</b></a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Euro Exchange Rate News</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">20 hours ago </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The Pound continued its advance against the Euro this morning, but the UK currency declined for a second day versus the US Dollar, as market speculation escalates over the prospect of further quantitative easing from the Bank of England this week.</div>
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Canadian dollar exchange rate (CAD) falls back vs USD as risk aversion takes <b>...</b>
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<a href="http://www.euro-exchangerate.com/canadian-dollar-cad-06021354.html" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian dollar exchange rate (CAD) falls back vs USD as risk aversion takes <b>...</b></a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Euro Exchange Rate News</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">20 hours ago </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The US dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate (USD/CAD) is 0.54% higher at 0.9987. The euro Canadian dollar exchange rate (EUR/CAD) is 0.39% lower at 1.3018, the pound Canadian dollar exchange rate (GBP/CAD) is 0.22% higher at 1.5746.</div>
<a href="http://www.forexpros.com/analysis/usd-cad:-canadian-dollar-down-on-greek-concerns,-weaker-oil-prices-113296">USD/CAD: Canadian Dollar Down on Greek Concerns, Weaker Oil Prices</a> - <span style="color:#888888">Forex Pros</span><br>
<a href="http://www.dailyforex.com/forex-articles/2012/02/USDCAD-Daily-Outlook-Feb-7-2012/10802">USD/CAD Daily Outlook Feb. 7, 2012</a> - <span style="color:#888888">DailyForex.com</span><br>
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Canadian dollar exchange rates (CAD) are a big winner following strong Non <b>...</b>
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<a href="http://www.euro-exchangerate.com/canadian-dollar-exchange-rate-non-farm-03021348.html" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian dollar exchange rates (CAD) are a big winner following strong Non <b>...</b></a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Euro Exchange Rate News</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">Feb 3, 2012 </span>
<div style="width:80%;">Canadian dollar exchange rate: Global markets have been caught by surprise following the release of strong US Non-Farm Payroll data.</div>
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2012 Forecasts: Canadian Dollar To Be Support By QE3 In 2H12
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<a href="http://www.actionforex.com/action-insight/special-reports/2012-forecasts:--canadian-dollar-to-be-support-by-qe3-in-2h12-20120203158825/" style="font-size:1.2em">2012 Forecasts: Canadian Dollar To Be Support By QE3 In 2H12</a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Action Forex</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">Feb 3, 2012 </span>
<div style="width:80%;">Canada will by no means escape from the recent global economic turmoil. As an economy heavily reliant on exports, the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone and the stringent fiscal consolidation to be adopted by the US are expected to hurt Canadian ...</div>
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Canadian Dollar (CAD) Technical Major Currencies (2012-02-03)
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<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/292363/20120203/canadian-dollar-cad-technical-major-currencies-2012-02-03.htm" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian Dollar (CAD) Technical Major Currencies (2012-02-03)</a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">International Business Times</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">Feb 3, 2012 </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The pair has been trading within a narrow range above the 200-days SMA; the pair is having difficulties breaching this support area around the average as see on chart, while price is clearly oversold as seen on Stochastic.</div>
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Canadian dollar exchange rate: CAD finds risk environment unconstructive <b>...</b>
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<a href="http://www.euro-exchangerate.com/canadian-dollar-exchange-rate-02021342.html" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian dollar exchange rate: CAD finds risk environment unconstructive <b>...</b></a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Euro Exchange Rate News</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">Feb 2, 2012 </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The CAD was not a participant in the overnight push up in risk currencies, with USD/CAD remaining well-entrenched in familiar ranges.</div>
<a href="http://www.forexpros.com/news/forex-news/forex---usd-cad-up-on-jobs-data-229907">Forex - USD/CAD up on jobs data</a> - <span style="color:#888888">Forex Pros</span><br>
<a href="http://www.actionforex.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=158866:mixed-reactions-in-the-us-dollar-to-the-non-farm-payroll&catid=191:daily-forex-technicals">Mixed Reactions in the US Dollar to the Non-Farm Payroll</a> - <span style="color:#888888">Action Forex</span><br>
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Canadian Dollar (CAD) Technical Major Currencies (2012-02-02)
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<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/291619/20120202/canadian-dollar-cad-technical-major-currencies-2012-02-02.htm" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian Dollar (CAD) Technical Major Currencies (2012-02-02)</a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">International Business Times</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">Feb 2, 2012 </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The pivotal support around 0.9965 is still providing the pair with a good support as seen on the provided four-hour chart. The struggle around the middle line of the descending channel that dominated the movements from 1.0285 zones continues fixing RSI ...</div>
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Canadian dollar exchange rate: CAD is cross currency under-performer <b>...</b>
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<a href="http://www.euro-exchangerate.com/canadian-dollar-vs-australian-dollar-01021335.html" style="font-size:1.2em">Canadian dollar exchange rate: CAD is cross currency under-performer <b>...</b></a>
<br> <span style="color:#888888;">Euro Exchange Rate News</span> - <span style="white-space:nowrap">Feb 1, 2012 </span>
<div style="width:80%;">The pound Canadian dollar exchange rate is 0.02% higher at 1.5810, the euro Canadian dollar exchange rate is 0.22% higher at 1.3148, the US dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate is 0.5% lower with 1 USD = 0.9971 CAD.</div>
<a href="http://www.thestreet.com/story/11394595/1/usd-cad-susceptible-to-weakness.html">USD-CAD: Susceptible to Weakness</a> - <span style="color:#888888">TheStreet.com</span><br>
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6.10%. The after-tax return drops further to 5.33% after accounting for the long-term capital gain tax due on sale of the fund shares. Risk-Adjusted Return Some fund managers take more risk than others. It is important to assess a fund’s return in light of the amount of risk the fund manager takes to deliver that return. Risk-Adjusted Return is commonly measured using the Sharpe Ratio. The ratio is calculated using the formula (mutual fund return - risk free return)/standard deviation of mutual fund return. The higher the Sharpe ratio, the better is the fund’s return per unit risk. Based on returns for the 3-year period ending on November 30, 2005, Morningstar reports Fidelity Contra’s Sharpe ratio as 1.74. The fund’s Sharpe Ratio may be compared with those of similar funds to determine how the fund’s risk-adjusted return compares with those of its peers. Beyond Mutual Funds Return concepts such as relative return, after-tax return, and risk-adjusted return may also be used for evaluating separately-managed accounts, hedge funds and investment newsletter model portfolios. The AlphaProfit Sector Investors’ Newsletter, for example, tracks the total return and compounded annual return of its Core and Focus model portfolios. To provide Subscribers with a more complete picture of model portfolio returns, this newsletter also tracks the relative and risk-adjusted returns of the model portfolios. The newsletter’s model portfolios are constructed and repositioned with a view to maximizing after-tax returns. Summary While total return and compound annual return are useful, they do not provide a complete picture of a mutual fund’s performance. Metrics such as relative return and after-tax return offer insights on the fund’s relative performance and tax-efficiency. Risk-adjusted returns enable investors to assess how a fund’s returns stack up when risk is factored in. Notes: This report is for information purposes only. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities or to give individual investment advice. This report does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific person who may receive this report. The information contained in this report is obtained from various sources believed to be accurate and is provided without warranties of any kind. AlphaProfit Investments, LLC does not represent that this information, including any third party information, is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. AlphaProfit Investments, LLC is not responsible for any errors or omissions herein. Opinions expressed herein reflect the opinion of AlphaProfit Investments, LLC and are subject to change without notice. AlphaProfit Investments, LLC disclaims any liability for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information in this report. The third-party trademarks or service marks appearing within this report are the property of their respective owners. All other trademarks appearing herein are the property of AlphaProfit Investments, LLC. Owners and employees of AlphaProfit Investments, LLC for their own accounts invest in the Fidelity Mutual Funds included in the AlphaProfit Core and Focus model portfolios. AlphaProfit Investments, LLC neither is associated with nor receives any compensation from Fidelity Investments or other mutual fund companies mentioned in this report. Past performance is neither an indication of nor a guarantee for future results. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without written permission of AlphaProfit Investments, LLC. Copyright © 2006 AlphaProfit Investments, LLC. All rights reserved. Sam Subramanian, Ph.D, MBA is Managing Principal of AlphaProfit Investments, LLC. He edits the AlphaProfit Sector Investors’ Newsletter™. The investment newsletter is ranked #1 by Hulbert Financial Digest. As of December 31, 2005, the investment newsletter’s model portfolios have gained up to 87.8% since start of publication on September 30, 2003. The Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 index has gained 34.6% during the same period. To learn more about the newsletter, visit http://www.alphaprofit.com
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