Fund Spy

The team at Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond has largely put its flexible mandate to good use.

Across the board, Morningstar Medalists got defensive in the third quarter.

Some managers went the extra distance and committed more than $1 million to their niche funds.

ESG Commitment Levels help investors find the right strategies and asset managers.

This niche corner of the bond market may be worth a look.

Despite recent hiccups, Boston Partners Small Cap Value II's deliberate approach should reward investors over a full market cycle.

As the year winds down, growth-fund investors are most likely to get socked with tax bills.

Gold-rated Dodge & Cox Income's relatively patient and at-times contrarian approach has rewarded investors.

Record issuance and more defaults may warrant a rethink of high-yield exposure.

Vanguard Health Care manager Jean Hynes is taking on a much larger role at subadvisor Wellington.

A look at how 529 investments stack up under our enhanced methodology.

Low fees give the largest active funds a big boost.

The managers of the firm's first actively managed environmental, social, governance fund take a sensible, concentrated approach.

We've updated our methodology -- and low-cost options benefit.

A personnel exodus spurs widespread change.

Even well-rounded active managers can get better.

Fidelity continues to stand out as the best HSA for investing and for spending.

Fed policy shift sets the stage for years to come.

Strong growth in Asia, especially China, drives stellar emerging-markets returns.

Investors pile into what's working.

Templeton Global Bond's high-conviction approach amplifies the potential risk as well as reward in the short run.

Fidelity Real Estate Income's wide-ranging and eclectic strategy makes this fund stand out.

Diversification is the best defense against the unknown.

The average U.S. stock-fund allocation to IT and communication sectors is rising and some funds have increased exposure well above their benchmarks.

Consistently good stock selection over the long haul has earned Harbor Capital Appreciation an enviable track record.

Bronze-rated LKCM Small-Mid Cap Equity features a veteran leader and a strong supporting cast.

The pros and cons of using dividend-paying stocks as bond replacements.

Real assets are often thought of as an inflation hedge, but their diversification benefits are a plus, too.

This year’s top asset-gathering sustainable ETF plays a supporting role in the firm’s models.

History casts doubts on the reign of the five biggest companies.

More managers and analysts have come aboard American Funds Europacific Growth, bolstering its already deep team.

I set the bar really high and only 36 funds made the cut.

Most of us have never seen a bond market like this.

An experienced manager and low costs make Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities a solid choice for inflation protection.

Silver-rated Columbia Dividend Income boasts stable leadership and a well-defined approach with staying power.

Foreign companies tend to have less debt than their U.S. counterparts.

Our FIEA tool can help you dig deeper into a strategy's interest-rate and credit risk.

We found the results fund investors have experienced in dollar terms were within close range of reported total returns overall.

Since March 2009, investors have collectively paid $1 billion more in fees to liquid alternative mutual funds than what they’ve gained in return.

Our FIEA tool allows you to dissect funds in multiple ways, offering an eye-opening look under the hood.

Primecap Odyssey Growth's successful high-conviction multimanager system contributes to its Gold rating.

Get to know some equity funds and fund managers that have impressed our analysts this year.

These are the ESG funds our analysts think are worth watching.

Is the spike in outflows just a spike or the start of something big?

Succession plans are on the horizon at T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth.

Asking these questions about sustainable strategies will get you a step ahead of most investors.

How we've modified our methodology for rating 529 plans.

Gold-rated Oakmark International can try the patience of investors--but it delivers over the long haul.

Some funds' fees are falling faster than others'.

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