NATURAL RESOURCES
BEST OVERALL NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
T. Rowe Price New Era (PRNEX)
A FAVORITE BECAUSE: The grand old damme of the Natural Resources sector, T. Rowe Price New Era has been giving budget minded investors access to the sector for over forty years. PRNEX boasts one of the lowest expense ratios of any non-ETF natural resources fund, solid (if unspectaular) performance versus peers, and an initial investment requirement of just $2500. It gets top honors in a category we think has real upside potential in 2010 and beyond.
WE DON'T LIKE: At over $4 billion in investor assets, New Era is just too fat. We believe an natural resources fund is most effecient when it limits its assets under management to $1 billion or less.
| Named Favorite: | 09/01 |
| Return While Favorite: | 302.48% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | 156.90% |
| MAXrating: | 96 |
| Outlook: | 5% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.69% |
NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIAL CRITERIA WINNERS
BEST OPEN-END NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
T. Rowe Price New Era (PRNEX)
| Named Favorite: | 09/01 |
| Return While Favorite: | 302.48% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | 156.90% |
| MAXrating: | 96 |
| Outlook: | 5% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.69% |
BEST NATURAL RESOURCES ETF
iShares S&P NA NaturalResources Idx (IGE)
| Named Favorite: | 04/04 |
| Return While Favorite: | 581.38% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | 459.67% |
| MAXrating: | NA |
| Outlook: | NA |
| Expense Ratio: | NA |
BEST LOW MINIMUM NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
ICON Energy (ICENX)
| Named Favorite: | 11/09 |
| Return While Favorite: | 54.75% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -46.02% |
| MAXrating: | 28 |
| Outlook: | 6% |
| Expense Ratio: | 1.41% |
BEST NTF NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
ICON Energy (ICENX)
| Named Favorite: | 11/09 |
| Return While Favorite: | 54.75% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -46.02% |
| MAXrating: | 28 |
| Outlook: | 6% |
| Expense Ratio: | 1.41% |
NATURAL RESOURCES PREVIOUS FAVORITES
| Fund Name/Ticker: | Added | Removed | Return | Vs. S&P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz RCM Global EcoTrends D (AECDX) | 11/09 | 01/12 | -13.47% | -38.28% | ||
| Vanguard Energy Inv (VGENX) | 05/05 | 11/09 | 44.72% | 51.29% | ||
| Guinness Atkinson Glob Energy Fund (GAGEX) | 05/05 | 11/09 | 51.90% | 58.47% | ||
| Columbia Energy & Nat Res Z (UMESX) | 09/01 | 05/07 | 251.30% | 191.16% |
NATURAL RESOURCES TRANSACTIONS
07/12 - Removed Allianz RCM Global EcoTrends D (AECDX). Reason for removal: Merged with another fund.
11/09 - Removed Vanguard Energy Inv (VGENX). Reason for removal: Better option in special criteria sub-category.
11/09 - Added ICON Energy (ICENX). Added as Best Natural Resources No-Transaction Fee Fund.
11/09 - Removed Guinness Atkinson Glob Energy Fund (GAGEX). Reason for removal: Better option in special criteria sub-category.
11/09 - Added Allianz RCM Global EcoTrends D (AECDX). Added as Best Natural Resources Low Minimum Fund.
