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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
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As a seasoned financial expert with a proven track record in the investment industry, I've dedicated my career to understanding the intricacies of mutual funds and helping investors make informed decisions for their long-term financial goals. I've closely followed the market trends, analyzed numerous fund performances, and possess a comprehensive understanding of the nuances that distinguish the best-performing mutual funds.
Now, delving into the information provided in the article about the IBD Best Mutual Funds 2022 Awards, let's break down the key concepts and categories used:
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Benchmark Performance:
- The benchmark used for stock funds is the S&P 500.
- Funds are evaluated based on their performance against the benchmark over various periods: one, three, five, and ten years.
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Fund Categories:
- U.S. Diversified Mutual Funds: These funds cover a broad spectrum of U.S. stocks, and winners are selected based on their 10-year average annual returns.
- Growth Stock Funds: These funds focus on companies with high growth potential, and winners are chosen based on their 10-year average annual returns.
- Blend Funds: These mutual funds combine growth and value investing characteristics, and winners are determined by their 10-year average annual returns.
- Large Cap Funds: These funds invest in large-cap stocks, and winners are identified based on their 10-year average annual returns.
- Small Cap Funds: These funds focus on small-cap stocks, and winners are chosen based on their 10-year average annual returns.
- Sector Funds: Winners are recognized in various sectors, such as technology, consumer cyclical, and financial, based on their 10-year average annual returns.
- International Stock Funds: These funds invest in stocks outside the U.S., and winners are selected based on their 10-year average annual returns.
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Award Criteria:
- Funds that receive the IBD Best Mutual Funds Awards have outperformed their benchmarks (S&P 500 for stock funds) consistently over the past one, three, five, and ten years.
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Performance Statistics:
- Annual returns for each category are provided for the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods.
- Morningstar categories are mentioned for each type of fund.
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Closed to New Inv:
- Indication of whether the fund is closed to new investors.
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Top Winners in Each Category:
- The top five funds in each category are listed, showcasing their 10-year average annual returns.
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Additional Information:
- Information is provided on how to use the lists and read special reports for more insights.
- The article encourages readers to explore funds in their 401(k) plans and review all the award-winning funds.
This breakdown helps investors gain insights into the methodology behind the IBD Best Mutual Funds Awards and aids in making informed decisions tailored to their investment objectives.
