Mutual funds are often the best choice for meeting the needs of your retirement or other long-term accounts. The question is: Which ones are right for your portfolio from the nearly 8,000 mutual funds available? Our report on the seventh annual IBD Best Mutual Funds 2022 Awards can make your search for a fund a lot easier.
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Each award-winning fund has beat its benchmark — the S&P 500 for stock funds — for the past one, three, five and 10 years, showing it outperformed in recent market conditions as well as over the longer term. Among funds at least 10 years old, that's a feat only 18% of funds achieved.
IBD compared the performance of 3,673 funds that have been around for at least 10 years and found that 677 beat their benchmark index in those four periods. Funds in 11 categories qualified, including growth stock mutual funds, small-cap funds, bond funds and index funds. No value funds met the performance criteria.
For tips on using these lists and to learn more about the funds, read our IBD Best Mutual Funds 2022 Awards special report. And read our monthly ETF and Mutual Funds special reports for updates throughout the year.
Best Mutual Funds Awards By Category
The overview list below shows the the top five winners in each category based on their 10-year average annual returns. All returns are as of Dec. 31, 2021. But remember, all the funds that earned Best Mutual Funds Awards are worth reviewing. Be sure to click on the category links to see all the Best Mutual Funds Awards winners. That way, you can see if a fund that you already own made the cut, or if funds available to you in your 401(k) plan made the roster of winning funds.
Best U.S. Diversified Mutual Funds
View All 31 Best U.S. Diversified Stock Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average total return | 5-year average total return | 10-year average total return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
Baron Partners Retail | BPTRX | 31.39 | 67.92 | 43.58 | 27.89 | Large Growth | No |
Oberweis Micro-Cap | OBMCX | 53.38 | 34.44 | 22.20 | 19.56 | Small Growth | No |
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Gr Insghts Instl | GCGIX | 29.81 | 30.54 | 22.46 | 19.01 | Large Growth | No |
Columbia Large Cap Growth V | GAEGX | 28.72 | 32.83 | 23.45 | 18.80 | Large Growth | Yes |
Glenmede Quant US Large Cap Gr Eq | GTLLX | 33.20 | 28.66 | 20.94 | 18.78 | Large Growth | No |
Best Growth Stock Funds
View All 25 Best Growth Stock Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
Baron Partners Retail | BPTRX | 31.39 | 67.92 | 43.58 | 27.89 | Large Growth | No |
Oberweis Micro-Cap | OBMCX | 53.38 | 34.44 | 22.20 | 19.56 | Small Growth | No |
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Gr Insghts Instl | GCGIX | 29.81 | 30.54 | 22.46 | 19.01 | Large Growth | No |
Columbia Large Cap Growth V | GAEGX | 28.72 | 32.83 | 23.45 | 18.80 | Large Growth | Yes |
Glenmede Quant US Large Cap Gr Eq | GTLLX | 33.20 | 28.66 | 20.94 | 18.78 | Large Growth | No |
Best Blend Funds
View All 6 Best Blend Mutual Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
JHanco*ck Fundamental All Cap Core I | JFCIX | 30.15 | 31.38 | 19.93 | 17.69 | Large Blend | No |
Nationwide BNY Mellon Dyn US Core R6 | MUIGX | 30.29 | 28.79 | 21.79 | 17.32 | Large Blend | No |
JPMorgan US Large Cap Core Plus I | JLPSX | 29.20 | 28.37 | 18.98 | 17.05 | Large Blend | No |
Federated Hermes MDT All Cap Core IS | QIACX | 31.22 | 26.62 | 19.10 | 16.95 | Large Blend | No |
JPMorgan US Sustainable Leaders I | JIISX | 31.00 | 26.79 | 18.67 | 16.88 | Large Blend | No |
Best Large Cap Funds
View All 27 Best Large-Cap Stock Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
Baron Partners Retail | BPTRX | 31.39 | 67.92 | 43.58 | 27.89 | Large Growth | No |
Goldman Sachs Large Cap Gr Insghts Instl | GCGIX | 29.81 | 30.54 | 22.46 | 19.01 | Large Growth | No |
Columbia Large Cap Growth V | GAEGX | 28.72 | 32.83 | 23.45 | 18.80 | Large Growth | Yes |
Glenmede Quant US Large Cap Gr Eq | GTLLX | 33.20 | 28.66 | 20.94 | 18.78 | Large Growth | No |
Federated Hermes MDT Large Cap Growth IS | QILGX | 30.38 | 33.53 | 24.87 | 18.77 | Large Growth | No |
Best Small Cap Funds
View All 4 Best Small-Cap Stock Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
Oberweis Micro-Cap | OBMCX | 53.38 | 34.44 | 22.20 | 19.56 | Small Growth | No |
Needham Aggressive Growth Retail | NEAGX | 37.54 | 44.18 | 22.37 | 17.95 | Small Growth | No |
Congress Small Cap Growth Institutional | CSMCX | 39.39 | 34.36 | 24.89 | 17.02 | Small Growth | No |
Oberweis Small-Cap Opportunities | OBSOX | 43.57 | 33.49 | 22.61 | 16.91 | Small Growth | No |
Best Sector Funds
View All 8 Best Sector Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund (top award winners in best performing sectors) | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
Fidelity Select Semiconductors | FSELX | 59.19 | 55.64 | 35.06 | 28.35 | Technology | No |
Fidelity Advisor Semiconductors I | FELIX | 57.91 | 55.16 | 34.58 | 27.99 | Technology | No |
Rydex Electronics Inv | RYSIX | 38.67 | 51.47 | 31.98 | 23.88 | Technology | No |
Fidelity Select Construction & Hsg Port | FSHOX | 57.55 | 40.80 | 24.34 | 20.52 | Consumer Cyclical | No |
Fidelity Select Brokerage & Invmt Mgmt | FSLBX | 40.61 | 31.39 | 20.16 | 17.11 | Financial | No |
Best International Stock Funds
View All 173 Best International Stock Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: MSCI EAFE | | 11.26% | 13.54% | 9.55% | 8.03% | | |
Wasatch Emerging India Investor | WAINX | 37.54 | 22.56 | 21.69 | 18.22 | India Equity | No |
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Instl | GPGIX | 21.86 | 32.50 | 20.44 | 17.59 | World Small/Mid Stock | Yes |
American Funds New Economy A | ANEFX | 11.92 | 23.61 | 19.44 | 16.97 | World Large-Stock Growth | No |
Artisan Global Opportunities Inv | ARTRX | 13.62 | 29.15 | 20.77 | 16.95 | World Large-Stock Growth | No |
Wasatch Global Opportunities Investor | WAGOX | 21.50 | 31.99 | 24.07 | 16.34 | World Small/Mid Stock | No |
Best U.S. Taxable Bond Funds
View All 335 Best U.S. Taxable Bond Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond | | -1.54% | 4.79% | 3.57% | 2.90% | | |
Virtus AllianzGI Convertible Inst | ANNPX | 5.28 | 27.52 | 19.74 | 14.43 | Convertibles | No |
Franklin Convertible Securities A | FISCX | 7.41 | 24.84 | 19.06 | 14.24 | Convertibles | Yes |
Lord Abbett Convertible I | LCFYX | 1.19 | 27.60 | 18.58 | 13.87 | Convertibles | No |
Columbia Convertible Securities A | PACIX | 3.87 | 24.67 | 17.16 | 13.55 | Convertibles | No |
Fidelity Convertible Securities | FCVSX | 10.05 | 26.36 | 16.86 | 12.73 | Convertibles | No |
Best Municipal Bond Funds
View All 94 Best Municipal Bond Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: Bloomberg Municipal Bond | | 1.52% | 4.73% | 4.17% | 3.72% | | No |
Nuveen High Yield Municipal Bond I | NHMRX | 9.89 | 8.33 | 7.76 | 7.90 | High Yield Muni | Yes |
Invesco Rochester Municipal Opps A | ORNAX | 6.72 | 8.77 | 8.46 | 7.78 | High Yield Muni | No |
Nuveen CA High Yield Municipal Bond I | NCHRX | 5.39 | 7.68 | 6.72 | 7.28 | Muni California Long | Yes |
Invesco AMT-Free Municipal A | OPTAX | 4.15 | 7.86 | 7.39 | 7.06 | High Yield Muni | No |
MainStay MacKay High Yield Muncpl Bd I | MMHIX | 6.36 | 6.96 | 6.80 | 6.88 | High Yield Muni | No |
Best International Bond Funds
View All 33 Best International Bond Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond | | -4.71% | 3.59% | 3.36% | 1.77% | | |
GMO Emerging Country Debt III | GMCDX | -1.29 | 6.55 | 5.06 | 6.82 | Emerging Markets Bond | No |
Stone Harbor Emerg Mkts Corp Dbt Instl | SHCDX | 1.95 | 7.77 | 5.44 | 5.55 | Emerging Markets Bond | No |
Janus Henderson Developed World Bond A | HFAAX | -0.78 | 5.85 | 4.71 | 5.40 | World Bond-USD Hedged | No |
Franklin Emerging Market Debt Opps | FEMDX | 1.58 | 5.08 | 5.06 | 5.13 | Emerging Markets Bond | No |
Transamerica Emerging Markets Debt I | EMTIX | -3.99 | 5.28 | 4.17 | 5.06 | Emerging Markets Bond | No |
Best Index Funds
View All 3 Best Index Funds For 2022
Mutual Fund | Symbol | 1-year total return | 3-year average annual return | 5-year average annual return | 10-year average annual return | Morningstar Category | Closed to New Inv |
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Benchmark: S&P 500 | | 28.71% | 26.07% | 18.47% | 16.55% | | |
Voya Russell Large Cap Growth Idx Port I | IRLNX | 30.66 | 34.95 | 26.15 | 20.13 | Large Growth | No |
Praxis Growth Index I | MMDEX | 31.97 | 32.36 | 24.16 | 19.46 | Large Growth | No |
ProFunds Large Cap Growth Inv | LGPIX | 30.01 | 29.78 | 21.85 | 16.98 | Large Growth | No |
Sources: IBD, Morningstar Direct
The 2022 Best Mutual Funds logo and accolades are available for licensing through Investor's Business Daily's partner, The YGS Group. For more information and ordering, please visitwww.IBDlicensing.comor call 800-290-5460.
FAQs
The top performing funds that beat the S&P 500 in Q1
Fund | Q1 Return (%) |
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Artemis (Lux) US Select | 16.32 |
Artemis (Lux) US Extended Alpha | 16.24 |
MFS Meridian U.S. Growth | 15.82 |
Alger Focus Equity | 15.79 |
11 more rowsApr 5, 2024
What is the best performing mutual fund over the past 10 years? ›
No. 1 on the list is the ProFunds Semiconductor UltraSector Fund, which yielded 29.21% over the past decade. In second place is the Direxion Monthly NASDAQ-100 Bull 1.75X Fund, with 28.16%. And the bronze medal goes to the Rydex NASDAQ-100 2x Strategy Fund, which yielded 26.58%.
Which mutual funds beat the index? ›
The top-performing value mutual funds include HSBC Value Fund, JM Value Fund and Nippon India Value Fund. The ability to beat the benchmark index is one key criterion for determining whether a mutual fund scheme is worth investing in.
Which mutual fund has the best returns in the last 3 years? ›
Fund House Fund Category Fund Rank and Ratios Fund Parameters Investment Parameters Filter
Scheme Name | Plan | 3Y |
---|
Kotak India EQ Contra Fund - Direct Plan - Growth | Direct Plan | 26.92% |
JM ELSS Tax Saver Fund - Direct Plan - Growth | Direct Plan | 26.24% |
Motilal Oswal ELSS Tax Saver Fund - Direct Plan - Growth | Direct Plan | 26.35% |
22 more rows
Does Vanguard outperform the S&P 500? ›
Vanguard Growth & Income Fund (VGIAX)
VGIAX's one-two punch of investment goals helped it beat the overall stock market in 2022 and 2023. Over the past 10 years, this fund's average annual return beats the S&P 500's by a nose.
What has outperformed the S&P 500? ›
However, one income gem has managed to outperform the S&P 500 over the past 10 years. This gem is Waste Management Inc (NYSE:WM), a North American waste management company with a market cap of $83.38 billion USD. Waste Management has consistently paid its shareholders for the last 26 years.
Should a 70 year old invest in mutual funds? ›
Conventional wisdom holds that when you hit your 70s, you should adjust your investment portfolio so it leans heavily toward low-risk bonds and cash accounts and away from higher-risk stocks and mutual funds. That strategy still has merit, according to many financial advisors.
Which mutual fund gives the highest return in 10 years? ›
Nippon India Small Cap Fund, the largest small cap fund based on assets managed, gave the highest return of around 24.91% in the last 10 years. SBI Small Cap Fund gave 24.39% return. Aditya Birla Sun Life Small Cap Fund gave the lowest return of around 16.36% in the last 10 years.
What if I invest $10,000 in mutual funds for 10 years? ›
Mutual Fund SIP calculator shows a regular monthly SIP of ₹10,000 in Nippon India Small Cap Fund in ten years could have made investors millionaires. It has given 25.96 % annualised returns in ten years. The calculator shows that a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 in this fund could have grown to approx. ₹57,53,702 in ten years.
Which Fidelity mutual funds outperform the S&P 500? ›
On average, the Fidelity Contrafund has beaten the S&P 500 Index by 2.78% per year. Growth of $10,000 invested in Contrafund versus S&P 500 Index, September 17, 1990 to March 31, 2024. Total value March 31, 2024 for Contrafund was $751,828 compared to $327,447 for the S&P 500 Index.
Top 25 Mutual Funds
Rank | Symbol | Fund Name |
---|
1 | VSMPX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund;Institutional Plus |
2 | FXAIX | Fidelity 500 Index Fund |
3 | VFIAX | Vanguard 500 Index Fund;Admiral |
4 | VTSAX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund;Admiral |
21 more rows
Which mutual fund is best for long term? ›
Employment Type
Name of the fund | Nature of the fund | 10-year returns (in %) |
---|
Nippon India Small Cap Fund | Small cap fund | 26.43 |
Quant Small Cap Fund | Small cap fund | 22.54 |
Baroda BNP Paribas Large Cap Fund | Large cap fund | 16.44 |
Franklin Build India Fund | Thematic fund | 22.85 |
3 more rows23 hours ago
What is the best mutual fund for retirees? ›
- The Best Retirement Income Funds of July 2024.
- American Funds Tax-Aware Conservative Growth and Income Portfolio (TAIFX)
- Schwab Balanced Fund (SWOBX)
- Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWELX)
- Dodge and Cox Income Fund (DODIX)
- PGIM High Yield Fund (PHYZX)
- T. ...
- Schwab International Index Fund (SWISX)
What is the safest investment with the highest return? ›
Here are the best low-risk investments in July 2024:
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Money market funds.
- Short-term certificates of deposit.
- Series I savings bonds.
- Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
- Corporate bonds.
- Dividend-paying stocks.
- Preferred stocks.
Which mutual fund doubles in 3 years? ›
Quant Small Cap Fund - Direct Plan - Growth
The fund tops the list with 40.47 per cent annualised returns in the three years. The small-cap mutual fund has assets under management (AUM) of Rs 2,0164.09 crore, while its net asset value (NAV) is worth Rs 276.4327. It has an expense ratio of 0.64 per cent.
Does anything beat the S&P 500? ›
Only 23% of equity ETFs have managed to beat the S&P 500, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence's Athanasios Psarofa*gis.
Is there anything better than the S&P 500? ›
The S&P 500's track record is impressive, but the Vanguard Growth ETF has outperformed it. The Vanguard Growth ETF leans heavily toward tech businesses that exhibit faster revenue and earnings gains. No matter what investments you choose, it's always smart to keep a long-term mindset.
What stocks consistently beat the S&P 500? ›
S&P tech stocks beaten the index over the past decade
This includes the heavy hitters, such as Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, as well as many others. And over the years, focusing on that section of the S&P has been very profitable. Here's how the fund has performed versus the broader S&P 500 index.
Which fund beats the S&P 500 year after year? ›
Marshfield has an R2 of 75 in the past three years, low for a large-cap fund. It also has proven excellent in downside risk control. In 2022, when the S&P 500 declined 18.2%, the fund actually rose 5.1%. Its 17.1% five-year annualized return beats the S&P 500's 15.2%.