Powerfund Portfolios Performance Review

Powerfund Portfolios Commentary

March 2017 Performance Review

April 4, 2017
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The rally in stocks fizzled in March and bonds didn't offer much help as rates drifted up slightly. Foreign stocks performed better as the valuation gap — after years of underperformance to the U.S. stock market — may be attracting more money. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)10.00%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)8.84%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)4.43%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)3.06%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)3.06%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)3.00%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)2.88%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)2.57%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)2.49%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)2.25%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)1.42%
Gold Short (DZZ)1.04%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.10%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-0.05%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-0.62%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-0.72%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-0.92%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-2.11%
Bond Funds1mo %
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)0.76%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.18%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.10%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.06%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.70%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-0.97%

February 2017 Performance Review

March 3, 2017
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

Maybe it is the buzzy Snap IPO, maybe the daily stock market record highs, but we seem to be getting closer that ole' irrational exuberance again. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)5.68%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)4.95%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)4.75%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.96%
Vanguard Value (VTV)3.58%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)3.51%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)3.28%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)1.06%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.99%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)0.74%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)0.59%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-0.38%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-1.29%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-2.77%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-3.69%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-4.25%
Gold Short (DZZ)-6.20%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-12.73%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)1.95%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)1.80%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)1.29%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.66%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.48%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)0.30%

January 2017 Performance Review

February 4, 2017
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The interest rate increase that accelerated when President Trump won in November ended in December. Rate-sensitive investments across the board have performed well in recent weeks, pushing our Conservative portfolio up more than our Aggressive portfolio in January. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)7.31%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)6.79%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)4.94%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)3.67%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)3.66%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)3.09%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)2.96%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)1.88%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)1.36%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)1.17%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)0.55%
Vanguard Value (VTV)0.49%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)0.38%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-0.89%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-1.94%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-4.37%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-10.20%
Gold Short (DZZ)-10.58%
Bond Funds1mo %
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)1.64%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)1.46%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)1.25%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.56%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.29%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.17%

December 2016 Performance Review

January 4, 2017
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

The Powerfund Portfolios started 2016 well and ended 2016 well, but the underperformance during the interest rate increase was a post-election drag on our bond and foreign funds which lowered both portfolios' annual return numbers.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)12.33%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)7.43%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)5.52%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)4.92%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)4.79%
Gold Short (DZZ)4.02%
Vanguard Value (VTV)2.73%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)2.49%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)2.45%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)2.02%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)1.96%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)0.66%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)0.32%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-0.16%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-2.29%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-3.59%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-6.17%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-12.47%
Stock Funds1mo %
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)1.45%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)0.80%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.26%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.10%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-0.27%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-0.36%

November 2016 Performance Review

December 7, 2016
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

November was Donald Trump's month in the markets. Nobody saw him winning much less U.S. stocks going up in the wake, but weirdly many of the stocks that did well after the surprise Trump victory started doing so before the election. Maybe this oddity — which could be a mere coincidence — will show up in the fake news that permeates the conspiracy circles online. Talk about a bull market… ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)17.05%
Vanguard Value (VTV)6.00%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)5.66%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.70%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)3.25%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)1.22%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-1.19%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-1.51%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-1.53%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-2.34%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-3.26%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-3.37%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-3.90%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)-4.36%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-4.54%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-7.04%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-16.03%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-19.77%
Bond Funds1mo %
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)-0.23%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-1.82%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-2.64%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-5.72%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-6.30%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-11.49%

October 2015 Performance Review

November 3, 2016
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

October was a strange one — and not just for the elections. Pretty much everything that was recovering this year slipped in last month. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)24.89%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)9.30%
Gold Short (DZZ)6.03%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)4.60%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)4.26%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)2.82%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)2.36%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)0.90%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)0.63%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)-0.37%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-1.09%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)-1.83%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-2.33%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-2.41%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-3.00%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-3.39%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-3.53%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-3.61%
Bond Funds1mo %
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.71%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.36%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.81%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-3.06%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-4.20%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-6.18%

September 2016 Performance Review

October 4, 2016
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

September was one of the dullest months in quite some time in the markets. The only broader fund categories up more than 3% where China and Japan funds. Most fund categories were within plus or minus 1%. Even in sector funds no category gained or lost over 5%. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)2.12%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.40%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)1.27%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)0.94%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)0.80%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)0.79%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)0.59%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)0.30%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.01%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-0.01%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-0.34%
Gold Short (DZZ)-0.93%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)-1.78%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-2.10%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-2.77%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-3.08%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-6.53%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-16.02%
Bond Funds1mo %
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)0.70%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.54%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.10%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.07%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.59%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-2.50%

August 2016 Performance Review

September 5, 2016
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

August was not much of a month for bonds or stocks and was surprisingly tame given swings in global markets over the last year or so. Slightly rising interest rates pushed bond prices down, and with not much in stock market upside to overcome the drag, we had fractional losses in both portfolios.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Gold Short (DZZ)6.35%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)4.70%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)4.68%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)1.67%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)1.61%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)1.49%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)1.25%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)0.75%
Vanguard Value (VTV)0.55%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)0.51%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.13%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-0.24%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-1.08%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-1.17%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-3.95%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-4.65%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-5.84%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)-6.34%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)2.11%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)-0.12%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.17%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.61%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)-0.88%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-1.33%

July 2016 Performance Review

August 5, 2016
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

July was another month that the Conservative Powerfund Portfolio outpaced our Aggressive Portfolio. This is largely because rates keep declining globally and the Conservative portfolio is heavier on bonds and rate-sensitive stocks.  ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)30.65%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)4.81%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)4.67%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)4.67%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)4.41%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)4.16%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)4.13%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)3.68%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)3.51%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)3.47%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)3.13%
Vanguard Value (VTV)2.81%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)2.69%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)0.73%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)-0.89%
Gold Short (DZZ)-3.34%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-11.39%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-22.35%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)3.35%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)2.72%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)2.65%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)1.12%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)0.64%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.22%

June 2016 Performance Review

July 6, 2016
Category: 
Powerfund Portfolios

With a sharp rebound following a fast drop, a casual market observer reviewing one-month performance numbers might not think much happened in June. But recent days have been anything but ordinary. The cause was Brexit, the British referendum to leave the EU not going as market players though it would. ...read the rest of this article»

Stock Funds1mo %
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)15.42%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)7.66%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)7.17%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)5.04%
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)4.01%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)2.94%
Vanguard Value (VTV)1.12%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.25%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)-0.31%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)-1.01%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-1.44%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)-2.10%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)-2.25%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-4.16%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-5.85%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-5.90%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-7.91%
Gold Short (DZZ)-17.89%
Bond Funds1mo %
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)9.68%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)5.13%
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)3.77%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)1.94%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)1.03%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.90%
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