JAPAN
BEST OVERALL JAPAN FUND
SPARX Japan Fund Inv (SPXJX)
A FAVORITE BECAUSE: Due to persistent lack of investor interest in Japan funds, the choices are pretty slim here. Indexing isn't a bad way to go in this category but there are a few interesting funds. We've liked SPARX Japan (now of Hennessy funds) for some time, and sat through a slow patch in 2006-2007. We also like the new small cap SPJSX by the same manager.
WE DON'T LIKE: Unlike larger, more index-like peers, this fund can underperform the benchmark by a wide margin (it can outperform as well). Foreign funds tend to be too expensive, especially when there is not much competition in the category.
| Named Favorite: | 09/04 |
| Return While Favorite: | 28.25% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -23.18% |
| MAXrating: | |
| Outlook: | % |
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JAPAN SPECIAL CRITERIA WINNERS
BEST OPEN-END JAPAN FUND
SPARX Japan Fund Inv (SPXJX)| Named Favorite: | 09/04 |
| Return While Favorite: | 28.25% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -23.18% |
| MAXrating: | |
| Outlook: | % |
| Expense Ratio: | % |
BEST JAPAN ETF
Vanguard Pacific ETF (VPL)
| Named Favorite: | 11/09 |
| Return While Favorite: | 43.05% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -57.72% |
| MAXrating: | NA |
| Outlook: | NA |
| Expense Ratio: | NA |
BEST LOW MINIMUM JAPAN FUND
T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX)
| Named Favorite: | 09/02 |
| Return While Favorite: | 95.32% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -113.65% |
| MAXrating: | 74 |
| Outlook: | 9% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.97% |
BEST NTF JAPAN FUND
T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX)
| Named Favorite: | 09/02 |
| Return While Favorite: | 95.32% |
| VS. S&P While Favorite: | -113.65% |
| MAXrating: | 74 |
| Outlook: | 9% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.97% |
JAPAN PREVIOUS FAVORITES
| Fund Name/Ticker: | Added | Removed | Return | Vs. S&P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Inv (VPACX) | 09/01 | 11/09 | 63.46% | 50.06% | ||
| Warburg Pincus Japan Small Company (WPJPX) | 09/01 | 09/02 | -6.76% | 13.73% |
JAPAN TRANSACTIONS
11/09 - Removed Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Inv (VPACX). Reason for removal: Better option in special criteria sub-category.
11/09 - Added Vanguard Pacific ETF (VPL). Added as Best Japan Exchange Trade Fund.
09/04 - Added SPARX Japan Fund Inv (SPXJX). Named a favorite Japan fund.
09/02 - Added T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX). Named a favorite Japan fund.
09/02 - Removed Warburg Pincus Japan Small Company (WPJPX). Reason for removal: Merged with another fund.
