Top Flexible Balanced Funds

Today we are featuring top-performing "Flexible" balanced mutual funds, which primarily seek income or total return and can invest in stocks, bonds, or cash without limitation.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Flexible Balanced Funds./>

3 Fine Samples

Changing Parameters (CPMPX) seeks total return. The fund invests primarily in futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swap contracts, exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") and U.S. Treasury instruments.

The fund is non-diversified. It typically invests in U.S. Treasuries with maturities of any duration, or their derivatives, and the allocation of its investments between equity and fixed income market segments may vary without limitation.

Robert Levenson has been lead manager at the fund since October 2006. The fund has outperformed the total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-year period.

Gabelli ABC (GABCX) was incepted in May 1993. It seeks to achieve total returns that are attractive to investors in various market conditions without excessive risk of capital loss.

The fund invests in securities of domestic and foreign issuers that provide attractive opportunities for appreciation or investment income. It may invest in value-oriented common stocks, convertible securities and virtually risk-free U.S. Treasury Bills.

Genentech Inc. (DNA), Wyeth (WYE) and Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) are among the top equity holdings at the fund.

Berwyn Income (BERIX) is designed for investors seeking a high level of current income while maintaining some potential for capital appreciation. The fund's balanced, income-oriented approach affords a greater level of price stability than an all equity portfolio.

While the majority of its portfolio is invested in bonds, Berwyn Income fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in dividend-paying common stocks. The fund distributes dividends and capital gains quarterly

Unit holders have to make a minimum initial investment of $3,000 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank ("Strong Buy") fund. It has an expense ratio of 0. 73%.

Discover Many More Funds

Learn more about the new Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and discover some of the best market-beating mutual funds by browsing our new mutual funds section. This part of Zacks.com offers a variety of tools, including mutual fund research, a new mutual fund screener, helpful answers to frequently asked questions and quick access to prospectuses and other information.

By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also expected to outperform going forward.