Dunham Funds was founded by Jeffrey Dunham in 1985 as a privately held financial services company managing mutual funds, wealth of individuals and families, trusts, and asset allocation programs. It has over $7 billion in assets under management. 

Dunham offers a range of investment strategies through the Dunham Funds as well as the Dunham Asset Allocation Program (AAP). This strategic asset allocation program can include up to 15 different asset classes and 13 different institutional asset managers. The due diligence used to select sub-advisers typically follows a 10-step process, and their compensation is linked to investment performance. The mutual fund lineup offered by Dunham includes a variety of different investment strategies and asset classes, with funds having different objectives, investment positions, fees, performance records and risk profiles. 

We have picked three Dunham mutual funds — Dunham International Stock (DAINX Quick QuoteDAINX - Free Report) , Dunham Monthly Distribution (DCMDX Quick QuoteDCMDX - Free Report) and Dunham Small Cap Value (DASVX Quick QuoteDASVX - Free Report) — which investors should buy now for the long term. These funds have a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or Rank 2 (Buy), positive three-year and five-year annualized returns, minimum initial investments within $5000 and expense ratios considerably lower than the category average. So, these funds have provided a comparatively stronger performance and carry a lower fee.

Dunham International Stock fund invests in equities of international companies, including common and preferred stocks and depositary receipts, traded on stock exchanges, alternative trading venues and over-the-counter markets. 

Peter L. Rathjens has been the lead manager of DAINX since July 1, 2008. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (4.7%), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (2.7%) and Kioxia Holdings Corp (2.7%) as of April 30, 2026.

DAINX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 26.9% and 14.8%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 2.11%. DAINX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.

To see how this fund performed compared to its category, and other 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 Ranked Mutual Funds,please click here.

Dunham Monthly Distribution fund invests in equities and equity-related securities, including common stocks, initial public offerings, new issues, preferred stocks, options, swaps, forwards and warrants, across a diversified range of industries.  

Doug Francis has been the lead manager of DCMDX since April 1, 2021. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies, such as NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (5%), Webster Financial Corp (4.6%) and Norfolk Southern Corp (4.3%) as of April 30, 2026.

DCMDX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 4.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 2.78%. DCMDX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.

Dunham Small Cap Value fund invests in domestic, value-oriented small-capitalization companies through common stocks traded on U.S. exchanges or the over-the-counter market.  

Eric A. Gandhi has been the lead manager of DASVX since April 1, 2024. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies, such as Silicon Motion Technology Corp (1.2%), Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (1.1%) and CareDx, Inc. (1%) as of April 30, 2026.

DASVX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 14.6% and 9.5%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 1.43%. DASVX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2.

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