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5 Best-Performing Fidelity Mutual Funds of Q1

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Fidelity Investments is expected to get more attention from investors in the coming months. After all, Fidelity offers a variety of investment options from sector-based funds to key actively managed funds.

The company provides investment advice, discount brokerage services and wealth management services to its clients. Low expenses, effective fund management and the ability to survive market volatility have resulted in strong fund performance. Moreover, strong performance in the first quarter makes Fidelity mutual funds a strong investment choice.

Fidelity Fund’s Performance in 2018

In the first quarter, Fidelity Investments had more than $1.7 trillion of assets under management. The initial investment of majority of Fidelity mutual funds ranges from $0 to $2,500. As of Mar 31, 2018, out of the total number of funds under Fidelity, only 3.8% were load funds, while the remaining 96.2% were no load funds.

Per the Investor’s Business Daily, Fidelity Investments “earned the top Customer Experience Index rating” and received the Best Online Broker award for fourth straight year in 2018. The fund family’s ability to offer effective research and tools, low rate investment and excellent services makes it highly sought-after.

Additionally, in the 2018 U.S. Lipper Fund Awards, 18 Fidelity mutual funds ended up winning 22 awards. In the StockBrokers.com 2018 Online Broker Review, out of 13 different online brokers, Fidelity secured the top spot. Barron's best online broker award for 2016 and 2017 was received by Fidelity, while in 2018 the company received the second-best online broker award. Also, the Morningstar U.S. Domestic-Stock Fund Manager of the Year Award 2017 went to Fidelity.

Further, one of the best-performing mutual funds from the Fidelity family, Fidelity Latin America (FLATX - Free Report) , registered strong returns in the first quarter. FLATX, which invests a bulk of its assets in securities of Latin American companies, returned 7.4% in the first quarter and has added 10.5% so far this year.

What Boosted Fidelity Fund’s Performance?

Fidelity invests in a variety of sectors that are sensitive, cyclical and defensive. From the sensitive sectors, most investments are made in the technology sector. In the cyclical sectors, the fund family invests the maximum in the financial sector, while in defensive sectors it invests heavily in the healthcare sector.

Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) climbed 2.4% in the first quarter and was one of the key gainers among the S&P 500 sectors.Also, technology mutual funds collectively delivered first-quarter returns of 5%, according to Morningstar. The financial and healthcare mutual funds too registered first-quarter returns of 0.2% and 1.6%, respectively.

Buy These 5 Strong Buy Fidelity Mutual Funds

Here, we have selected five Fidelity mutual funds that carry a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and are expected to outperform their peers in the future. Remember, the goal of the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank is to guide investors to identify potential winners and losers. Unlike most of the fund-rating systems, the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank is not just focused on past performance but also on the likely future success of the fund.

These funds have encouraging first quarter and year-to-date (YTD) returns, and its minimum initial investment is within $5000. Also, these funds have low expense ratios.

Fidelity Select Technology (FSPTX - Free Report) seeks capital growth over the long run. FSPTX invests a large chunk of its assets in common stocks of companies primarily involved in production, development and sale of products used for technological advancement. The fund invests in both U.S. and non-U.S. companies.

The fund has first-quarter and YTD returns of 3.6% and 5.6%, respectively. FSPTX has an annual expense ratio of 0.74% as compared with the category average of 1.38%.

Fidelity Select Defense & Aerospace Portfolio (FSDAX - Free Report) invests a big portion of its assets in securities of companies involved primarily in the research, manufacture and sale of products and services as per the defense or aerospace industries. The fund seeks capital growth by investing in both U.S. and non-U.S. companies.

The fund has first-quarter and YTD returns of 7.2% and 7.3%, respectively. FSDAX has an annual expense ratio of 0.79% as compared with the category average of 1.24%.

Fidelity Select IT Services Portfolio (FBSOX - Free Report) seeks growth of capital. FBSOX invests a huge part of its assets in common stocks of companies that are involved in providing information technology services. The fund invests not only in U.S. companies but also in non-U.S. companies.

The fund has first-quarter and YTD returns of 6.1% and 6.4%, respectively. FBSOX has an annual expense ratio of 0.77% as compared with the category average of 1.38%.

Fidelity Series Growth Company Fund (FCGSX - Free Report) invests mainly in those companies that the Fidelity Management & Research Company expects to have above-average growth prospects. FCGSX invests in both U.S. and non-U.S. companies. The fund evaluates the financial strength and economic condition of the company before investing in them.

The fund has first-quarter and YTD returns of 4% and 5.6%, respectively. FCGSX has an annual expense ratio of 0.00% as compared with the category average of 1.25%.

Fidelity Select Semiconductors (FSELX - Free Report) invests the bulk of its assets in common stocks of companies involved in manufacture, design and sale of semiconductor equipment and components. FSELX seeks growth of capital. The fund invests in both U.S. companies and non-U.S. companies. The fund evaluates the industry position and financial condition of companies to select for investments.

The fund has first-quarter and YTD returns of 1.8% and 4.4%, respectively. FSELX has an annual expense ratio of 0.74% as compared with the category average of 1.38%.

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