Legg Mason is one of the world’s leading investment management firms and manages more than $685 billion worth of assets. The company uses a multi-affiliate business model to provide a wide range of financial services to individual and institutional investors in 190 countries across six continents. Legg Mason affiliates are among the industry leaders in their respective areas of specialization. They operate with a high degree of autonomy and utilize unique strategies and processes which they feel are best suited to their clients.

Below we will share with you 5 top rated Legg Mason funds. Each has earned a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) as we expect the fund to outperform its peers in the future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all Legg Mason funds, then click here.

Legg Mason Western Asset High Income A ( SHIAX - MF report ) seeks high levels of current income. It invests heavily in corporate bonds, notes, debentures and related instruments. Up to 40% of its assets may be used to purchase foreign fixed-income securities. The fund returned 60.56% over the last one year period.

The Legg Mason fund has an expense ratio of 1.07% compared to a category average of 1.21%.

Legg Mason Western Asset Global High Yield Bond A ( SAHYX - MF report ) invests the majority of its assets in high yield bonds and related instruments. Up to 35% of its assets may be invested in sovereign debt issued by emerging market governments or their agencies. It invests in securities with a wide range of maturity periods. The fund returned 57.62% in the last one year and has a five year annualized return of 4.07%.

As of December 2009, this fund held 408 issues, with 1.72% of its total assets invested in Ford Motor Credit 12%.

Legg Mason Lifestyle Allocation 50% A (SBBAX) seeks both capital appreciation and income. It is non-diversified and invests in Legg Mason-affiliated mutual funds. It invests half of its assets in equity funds and the other half in fixed-income funds. The fund returned 46.22% over the last one year period.

Steven D. Bleiberg is the fund manager and he has managed this Legg Mason fund since 2006.

Legg Mason Western Asset Government Securities A ( SGVAX - MF report ) invests at least 80% of its assets in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government. These debt securities include U.S. Treasury and mortgage-related securities. The fund has a ten year annualized return of 5.38%.

The Legg Mason fund has a minimum initial investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 0.92% compared to a category average of 1.01%.

Legg Mason Western Asset Strategic Income A (SDSAX) seeks high current income by investing in a wide range of domestic and foreign fixed-income securities. Up to 50% of its assets may be invested in securities rated below investment grade. The fund returned 34.55% over the last one year period.

Stephen A. S. Walsh is the fund manager and he has managed this Legg Mason fund since 2006.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all Legg Mason funds, then click here.

About Zacks Mutual Fund Rank

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. Learn more about the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank at http://www.zacks.com/funds/mutualfund/