Fund Spy

Decisive central bank action and investor optimism for a swift economic recovery spurred a titanic rally for riskier sectors in fixed-income markets.

The comeback was uneven, however.

Echoes of the financial crisis reverberated across short-term and ultrashort bond funds in March 2020.

U.S. stocks have pulled off an astounding recovery.

This gutsy fund retains its Gold rating.

All the gory details on losses at some of the biggest funds.

T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth's longtime manager and thoughtful approach have served investors well.

Our winners have produced topnotch results for investors.

Why adding more asset classes isn't always helpful.

An investigation into a common complaint of active managers.

Morningstar recognizes five of the industry’s best portfolio managers.

These three firms are in the running for our 2020 award.

Four managers to keep an eye on.

Helmed by Joel Tillinghast, this massive fund--both in terms of asset size and portfolio holdings--continues to defy the odds.

Improved processes take T. Rowe Price New Horizons and Polen Growth up a notch.

Asset-weighted fees dropped to 0.45% in 2019, according to Morningstar’s latest fund fee study.

A new comanager has joined out-of-the-box thinkers Bill Nygren and Kevin Grant at this attractive fund.

Sustainable investing strategies have gone mainstream; here's how some of the best money managers are doing it.

This multisector bond fund is still a top choice for income-seekers.

For some college savers, state tax incentives might outweigh their investment fees.

An uncertain future should not deter college savers from capturing 529 tax benefits today.

While many fixed-income funds wobbled in this year's sell-off, these three Morningstar Medalists performed as expected.

A Morningstar Category grapples with its future.

Although a manager change looms large, JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend has responsibly planned for succession.

Why actively managed dividend-growth strategies may be income-oriented investors' best bet.

Two Vanguard funds get downgrades.

Usually a relatively stable part of the market, munis have seen an uptick in volatility in the past several months.

The SECURE Act opens the door for annuities in target-date funds.

Top-rated BlackRock Lifepath Index follows a path worth traveling.

A surprise retirement and our updated methodology lead to a shake-up of series with Morningstar Analyst Ratings of Gold.

Silver-rated Vanguard Dividend Appreciation provides investors with a diversified portfolio of highly profitable U.S. dividend-paying stocks.

Market history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes.

Large losses highlight that these strategies aren't immune to market shocks.

A look at some of the industry leaders' recent moves.

PGIM's bond funds have performed much as we would have expected.

These mutual funds own the same stocks as the Oracle of Omaha.

The promise and peril of holding big cash stakes in open-end mutual funds.

Fidelity U.S. Bond Index now earns a Gold rating. Here's why.

And some surprising results from two not-so-defensive offerings.

This fund quietly continues in its role as a flagship offering.

The past few years have taken a toll on these four funds, but they should shine bright once again.

A look at how the industry's largest active equity mutual funds have fared in the coronavirus bear market.

Investors within 15 years of retirement pulled more than $9 billion in March.

The global pandemic caused fixed-income market volatility not seen since the global financial crisis.

The star rating appears to succeed in steering investors toward funds likelier to outperform their average peer and away from those more likely to lag.

Results met expectations and improved since the last bear market, though outcomes diverged for near-retirees.

International equity markets cratered as the world grappled with the adverse health and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus.

Investors grappled with record-breaking volatility in a historic quarter.

The firm has been here before.

Looking at key manager changes to see what we've learned along the way.