Top 5 Energy Mutual Funds

With every passing year, the world’s appetite for energy continues to increase steadily. Governments and corporations alike are therefore constantly on the lookout for new energy sources or more efficient technology in this domain. For fast growing economies such as China and India, the situation is even more acute. Thus, prices of these invaluable resources are surging and investors could benefit from the situation by investing in the energy industry. Energy mutual funds are a superior option for forays into the industry as they reduce risks involved by holding widely diversified portfolios.

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

Fidelity Select Natural Gas (FSNGX - MF report) seeks capital growth. The fund invests heavily in securities of companies involved in the production of natural gas as well as transmission and distribution activities. The fund also purchases securities issued by explorations companies. The energy mutual fund returned 20.27% over the last one year period.

The energy mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.88% compared to a category average of 1.64%.

Vanguard Energy Index (VENAX - MF report) invests in approximately all of the equity securities which make up its target index, the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index. This index is made of large, medium and small domestic companies from the energy sector. The energy mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 5.75%.

The fund manager is Jeffrey D. Miller and he has managed this energy mutual fund since 2010.

Putnam Global Natural Resources A (EBERX - MF report) seeks capital growth. The fund primarily invests in common stocks of energy and natural resources companies across the world. It focuses on acquiring value stocks and invests in large and mid-cap companies. The energy mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 9.52%.

As of June 2011, this energy mutual fund held 131 issues, with 8.44% of its total assets invested in Exxon Mobil Corporation.

JHancock2 Natural Resources 1 (JINRX - MF report) invests heavily in equity and related securities of companies across the world whose primary operations involve natural resources. The fund selects firms which are expected to gain from increasing demand for natural resources. The energy mutual fund returned 16.02% over the last one year period.

The energy mutual fund has an expense ratio of 1.11% compared to a category average of 1.51%.

ProFunds UltraSector Oil & Gas Investor (ENPIX - MF report) seeks to return daily investment results which are one and a half times the daily performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index. The fund primarily purchases equity securities and derivatives whose daily returns correspond to its investment objectives. The energy mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 9.49%.

The fund manager is Hratch S. Najarian and he has managed this energy mutual fund since 2011.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all energy mutual 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.