Harbor Asset Management has been in the asset management business for approximately 40 years. Harbor’s role in asset management is to select and manage investment managers for portfolios of assets on a global basis. Harbor primarily employs a manager-of-managers approach and hires external investment teams to cater to specific investment strategies following Harbor’s rigorous due-diligence process. In addition, Harbor continues to monitor and evaluate the performance of the investment managers on an ongoing basis. As a result of this approach, Harbor’s mutual fund lineup comprises primarily actively managed investment portfolios offered on a variety of different investment processes in numerous geographic regions and investment styles. All these factors make it a diversified investment option.

We have picked three Harbormutual funds — Harbor Small Cap Value Investor (HISVX Quick QuoteHISVX - Free Report) , Hartford Small Cap Value (HTSCX Quick QuoteHTSCX - Free Report) and Hartford Real Asset (HRLAX Quick QuoteHRLAX - Free Report) — which investors should buy now for the long term. These funds have a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong 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. 

Harbor Small Cap Value Investor fund seeks long-term total return. HISVX invests primarily in equity securities, principally common and preferred stocks, of companies selected from the Russell 2000 universe with market capitalizations in the approximate range of $250 million to $2.5 billion at the time of initial investment.

Paul Viera has been the lead manager of HISVX since Dec. 14, 2001. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies, such as FormFactor, Inc. (4.3%), Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (3.9%) and Amkor Technology, Inc. (3.6%) as of April 30, 2026. 

HISVX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 14.2% and 9.1%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 1.22%. HISVX 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. 

Hartford Small Cap Value fund invests most of its assets in common stocks of small-capitalization companies, defined as those with market capitalization within the range of the Russell 2000 Index.

Sean M. Kammann has been the lead manager of HTSCX since Nov. 1, 2018. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies, such as iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (5%), Adeia Inc. (4.6%) and Kaiser Aluminum Corp (4.3%) as of April 30, 2026. 

HTSCX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 13.4% and 7.5%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 2.05%. HTSCX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.       

Hartford Real Asset fund invests its assets in investments related to real assets and real asset companies. Real assets are investments that, in the judgment of Wellington Management, are affected directly or indirectly by the level of and changes in the rate of inflation and are expected to provide real returns.

Brian M. Garvey has been the lead manager of HRLAX since May 28, 2010. Most of the fund’s holdings were in companies, such as Shell PLC (2.5%), TotalEnergies SE (2.2%) and Exxon Mobil Corp (1.9%) as of April 30, 2026. 

HRLAX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 11.3% and 8.9%, respectively. Its net expense ratio is 1.25%. HRLAX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.

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