Powerfund Portfolios Performance Review

Powerfund Portfolios Commentary

August 2014 Performance Review

September 3, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

It seems the only record left to break is the old high in the NASDAQ, circa March 10th 2000. The tech-heavy benchmark finished that day at a delirious 5,048.62 — a mere 10% rise from today's level. If only Pets.com stuck around long enough to make an app with GPS tracking of your dog food order... ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)5.89%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)4.45%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.99%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)3.97%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)3.92%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)3.90%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.57%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)3.07%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)2.61%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)1.88%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)0.73%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.30%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)0.26%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)0.00%
Gold Short (DZZ)-0.46%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-0.65%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)6.98%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)3.98%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)1.13%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)1.06%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.48%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.21%

July 2014 Performance Review

August 3, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Stocks finally took a breather at the end of the month as investor enthusiasm for newer startup and growth stocks may have hit an old economy wall of debt problems in Argentina and political instability in multiple locations. The global stock and bond market can't live on Facebook earnings and iPhone 6 expectations alone.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)13.04%
Gold Short (DZZ)6.91%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)3.87%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)1.46%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)1.22%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)1.18%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-1.21%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)-1.29%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-1.39%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-2.27%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)-2.38%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)-2.42%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-2.46%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-4.32%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)-4.71%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)-5.80%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)1.48%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.19%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.01%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)-0.05%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.26%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)-0.28%

June 2014 Performance Review

July 1, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The market seems to be moving up on a combination of low interest rates, an economy that isn't quite as weak as feared, and a hot market for smaller growth stocks.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)3.83%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)3.58%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.00%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)2.74%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)2.59%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)2.16%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)2.14%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)2.11%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)2.05%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.06%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)0.31%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-0.09%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-0.16%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)-0.60%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-6.43%
Gold Short (DZZ)-12.64%
Bond Funds1mo %
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.36%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.23%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)0.17%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.13%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.11%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-0.28%

May 2014 Performance Review

June 2, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

In May, lingering global stock and bond market fears evaporated like air conditioner condensation on hot asphalt. We even had a (hopefully) weather-induced  negative first quarter GDP figure. Previously lagging emerging markets rebounded while the S&P 500 gained over 2%. More surprising (to some) was a retreat in interest rates, pushing bond prices higher and likely playing a role in stock prices rising. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)5.94%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)4.48%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)3.87%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.72%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)3.59%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)2.71%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)2.34%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)1.77%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.63%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)1.62%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)1.53%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)0.78%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)0.67%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)0.57%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)-1.76%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-7.58%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)4.10%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)2.07%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)1.50%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)1.05%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)1.02%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.43%

April 2014 Performance Review

May 3, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

April was similar to March in that conservative investments outperformed growth. This again played well into our Conservative portfolio, which posted a 1.28% return in April. That beat the stock and bond markets and continued this year's nice streak. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)4.16%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)2.84%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)2.62%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)2.26%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)1.76%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.51%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)0.98%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.72%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)0.55%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)0.51%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-0.68%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-0.81%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-0.86%
Gold Short (DZZ)-0.90%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)-3.94%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)-5.01%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)2.95%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)2.40%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.77%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)0.66%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.38%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)-0.06%

March 2014 Performance Review

April 1, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

There was particular strength in Utilities and Telecom (and value stocks in general) in March. We own these sectors in both of our portfolios. Interestingly healthcare - usually attractive to value oriented investors and those seeking safety (not including biotech) - was weak. We recently got out of healthcare because it has just had too many years of outperformance and the biotech area in particular was becoming volatile and too hot after very strong performance. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)5.91%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)5.33%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)4.06%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.86%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)3.49%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)2.26%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)1.43%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.82%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)0.71%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-0.42%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-1.41%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)-1.51%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)-1.77%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)-1.99%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-2.13%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-2.94%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)1.91%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.91%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)0.20%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.16%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.10%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.15%

February 2014 Performance Review

March 4, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The seesaw is back. A market that was looking a little scary in January and early February rebounded strongly, leaving the stocks basically flat for the year (until, that is, the start of March when Russian mischief sent stocks plummeting anew). ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)7.34%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)5.95%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)5.91%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)5.73%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)5.72%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)5.26%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)4.56%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.42%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)2.90%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)2.89%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)2.19%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)2.09%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)1.64%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-0.64%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-11.67%
Gold Short (DZZ)-12.81%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)1.01%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.59%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.48%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)0.35%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)0.30%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.03%

January 2014 Performance Review

February 4, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The almost uninterrupted upward run in U.S. stocks ended in January, with a 3.5% drop in the S&P 500, a slide that so far is continuing into February. While hardly severe by historic standards, this was the worst month for stocks since May 2012 and we’re now down about 5% from all-time highs. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)2.71%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)0.64%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)0.06%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)-1.93%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-2.72%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-2.80%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)-2.84%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)-3.38%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-3.47%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)-3.77%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-4.57%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-4.57%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-5.21%
Gold Short (DZZ)-6.63%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-7.27%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-9.13%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)9.71%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)5.38%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)1.61%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)1.54%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)1.32%
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.45%

Powerfund Portfolios Year-End Review

January 6, 2014
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

In hindsight, it was a year in which to invest wholeheartedly in U.S. stocks, the perfect cap to a multi-year trend of outperformance that began right about the time everyone gave up on America ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)7.25%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)4.67%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)3.39%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)3.36%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)2.93%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)2.51%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)2.18%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)1.88%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)1.66%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.59%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)0.86%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)0.71%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)0.17%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-0.96%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-1.84%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-11.30%
Bond Funds1mo %
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.22%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)-0.28%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.65%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)-0.66%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-1.02%

NOVEMBER 2013 PERFORMANCE REVIEW

December 3, 2013
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

2013 is turning out to be among the best calendar years for stocks ever. With November’s 3% rise in the S&P 500, we’re now up almost 29% for the year. But the excitement was mostly in U.S. stocks. Bonds sunk slightly and emerging market stocks dropped just over 2%. Larger foreign stocks also underperformed, up less than 1%.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)11.16%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)6.84%
Satuit Capital Micro Cap (SATMX)4.85%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.03%
PRIMECAP Odyssey Growth (POGRX)2.90%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)2.71%
Vanguard MegaCap Growth (MGK)2.58%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)1.02%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.69%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)0.66%
Wasatch Long/Short (FMLSX)0.55%
Wasatch Frontier Emerg Sm Count (WAFMX)0.32%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)0.16%
American Century Utility Income (BULIX)-1.43%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-1.69%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-2.02%
Bond Funds1mo %
DoubleLine Floating Rate N (DLFRX)0.41%
PIMCO Mortgage Opportunities D (PMZDX)0.31%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.35%
PIMCO BOND ETF (BOND)-0.39%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-1.76%
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