Best- and worst-performing fixed-income funds
By category, ranked by one-year total returns.
CORE BOND
| Top 10 | 1-year return | 3-year return | 5-year return | Expense ratio* | Portfolio net assets ($M)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Canyon Total Return Bond Fund;Institutional (RCTIX) | 5.00% | 5.31% | N/A | 0.72% | $26.30 |
| Anfield Universal Fixed Income Fund;I (AFLIX) | 3.71% | 3.57% | 3.06% | 1.27% | $199.30 |
| Miller Intermediate Bond Fund;I (MIFIX) | 3.41% | 5.33% | N/A | 1.05% | $125.20 |
| Ladder Select Bond Fund;Institutional (LSBIX) | 2.68% | N/A | N/A | 0.95% | $13.40 |
| Osterweis Total Return Fund (OSTRX) | 1.81% | N/A | N/A | 0.76% | $99.20 |
| Bramshill Income Performance Fund;Inst (BRMSX) | 1.80% | N/A | N/A | 1.45% | $232.90 |
| American Beacon Garcia Hamilton Qual Bd Fund;Inst (GHQIX) | 1.48% | N/A | N/A | 0.45% | $227.30 |
| Putnam Income Fund;A (PINCX) | 1.17% | 2.47% | 2.60% | 0.88% | $626.70 |
| Highland Fixed Income Fund;A (HFBAX) | 0.43% | 3.03% | 2.64% | 1.01% | $97.40 |
| Diamond Hill Core Bond Fund;Y (DHRYX) | -0.03% | N/A | N/A | 0.35% | $36.80 |
| Bottom 5 | |||||
| DoubleLine Long Duration Total Return Bond Fund;I (DBLDX) | -3.59% | 0.43% | N/A | 0.65% | $59.30 |
| Virtus Seix Total Return Bond Fund;I (SAMFX) | -2.46% | 0.89% | 1.85% | 0.46% | $435.70 |
| Dreyfus Intermediate Term Income Fund;A (DRITX) | -2.28% | 0.77% | 1.44% | 0.93% | $373.40 |
| North Country Intermediate Bond Fund (NCBDX) | -2.21% | 0.39% | 0.96% | 0.89% | $73.70 |
| Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund;Inv (VBIIX) | -2.10% | 1.10% | 2.32% | 0.15% | $1,120.00 |
| Classification total/average | -1.23% | 1.45% | 2.04% | 0.72% | $833,425.70 |
| Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond TR | -1.22% | 1.31% | 2.16% |
GENERAL AND INSURED MUNICIPAL DEBT
| Top 10 | 1-year return | 3-year return | 5-year return | Expense ratio* | Portfolio net assets ($M)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oppenheimer Rochester AMT-Free Municipal Fund;A (OPTAX) | 7.09% | 6.47% | 7.30% | 1.03% | $1,163.40 |
| BlackRock Allocation Target Shares Series E (BATEX) | 3.82% | 6.08% | N/A | 0.08% | $178.70 |
| Nuveen Strategic Municipal Opportunities Fund;I (NSIOX) | 3.60% | 4.54% | N/A | 0.63% | $104.70 |
| Clearwater Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (QWVQX) | 2.98% | 4.73% | 6.41% | 0.66% | $537.60 |
| BNY Mellon Municipal Opportunities Fund;M (MOTMX) | 2.95% | 3.64% | 4.72% | 0.73% | $1,428.20 |
| Sit Tax-Free Income Fund (SNTIX) | 2.73% | 3.66% | 5.49% | 0.90% | $219.10 |
| SEI Tax-Advantaged Income Fund;F (SEATX) | 2.38% | 4.87% | 5.75% | 1.09% | $1,163.60 |
| Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund;I (NDNIX) | 2.23% | 2.59% | 2.13% | 1.35% | $59.30 |
| PIMCO Municipal Bond Fund;Institutional (PFMIX) | 2.05% | 3.78% | 4.72% | 0.48% | $206.50 |
| Wells Fargo CoreBuilder Shares – Srs M (WFCMX) | 1.99% | 3.21% | 4.99% | 0.00% | $634.80 |
| Bottom 5 | |||||
| Saratoga Municipal Bond Portfolio;I (SMBPX) | -2.37% | -0.33% | 0.24% | 3.74% | $0.60 |
| Manning & Napier Diversified Tax Exempt Series (EXDVX) | -1.13% | 0.40% | 0.83% | 0.58% | $272.40 |
| Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund;Inst (NMIIX) | -1.10% | 1.09% | 2.37% | 0.43% | $54.30 |
| Madison Tax-Free National Fund;Y (GTFHX) | -1.00% | 1.17% | 2.57% | 0.75% | $23.80 |
| First Investors Tax Exempt Opportunities Fund;A (EIITX) | -1.00% | 1.21% | 3.33% | 1.00% | $265.20 |
| Classification total/average | 0.56% | 2.28% | 3.66% | 0.89% | $147,656.60 |
| Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond TR | 0.35% | 2.24% | 3.54% |
HIGH YIELD
| Top 10 | 1-year return | 3-year return | 5-year return | Expense ratio* | Portfolio net assets ($M)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory High Yield Fund;A (GUHYX) | 6.39% | 8.79% | 5.41% | 1.00% | $22.90 |
| Ivy ProShares Interest Rate Hedged High Yld Idx;I (IIIRX) | 5.48% | N/A | N/A | 0.65% | $36.10 |
| Catalyst/SMH High Income Fund;A (HIIFX) | 5.45% | 13.69% | -0.95% | 1.47% | $14.60 |
| Diamond Hill High Yield Fund;Y (DHHYX) | 5.43% | N/A | N/A | 0.55% | $29.60 |
| Fidelity Advisor High Income Advantage Fund;M (FAHYX) | 5.07% | 8.80% | 6.57% | 1.01% | $355.50 |
| Morgan Stanley Inst High Yield Portfolio;I (MSYIX) | 5.01% | 7.68% | 6.00% | 0.65% | $91.40 |
| Western Asset Short Duration High Income Fund;A (SHIAX) | 4.97% | 5.75% | 3.00% | 1.00% | $264.20 |
| Virtus Newfleet Credit Opportunities Fund;R6 (VRCOX) | 4.97% | 4.95% | N/A | 1.11% | $86.10 |
| Nuveen Symphony Credit Opportunities Fund;I (NCOIX) | 4.92% | 8.02% | 4.84% | 0.74% | $587.00 |
| Artisan High Income Fund;Advisor (APDFX) | 4.84% | 8.85% | N/A | 0.82% | $1,941.10 |
| Bottom 5 | |||||
| Robinson Opportunistic Income Fd;A (RBNAX) | -1.04% | N/A | N/A | 3.56% | $3.80 |
| CMG Tactical Bond;I (CHYOX) | -0.96% | 1.98% | N/A | 1.76% | $10.10 |
| AB High Income Fund;A (AGDAX) | -0.61% | 6.67% | 4.69% | 0.82% | $1,420.40 |
| Toews Tactical Income Fund (THHYX) | -0.56% | 4.22% | 3.72% | 1.61% | $559.20 |
| Tortoise Select Income Bond Fund;Institutional (TBNIX) | -0.54% | N/A | N/A | 0.50% | $1.20 |
| Classification total/average | 2.24% | 6.41% | 4.31% | 1.04% | $238,604.80 |
| Bloomberg Barclays US High Yield 2% Issuer Cap TR | 3.05% | 8.14% | 5.54% |
INFLATION-PROTECTED
| Top 10 | 1-year return | 3-year return | 5-year return | Expense ratio* | Portfolio net assets ($M)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Abbett Inflation Focused Fund;I (LIFIX) | 3.32% | 3.36% | 0.39% | 0.50% | $686.60 |
| Eaton Vance Short Duration Inflation-Pro Inc;I (EIRRX) | 2.21% | 2.92% | 1.47% | 0.59% | $305.50 |
| Invesco Strategic Real Return Fund;A (SRRAX) | 2.02% | 3.80% | N/A | 0.82% | $21.10 |
| DFA Short-Duration Real Return Portfolio;Instl (DFAIX) | 1.61% | 2.27% | N/A | 0.24% | $1,377.00 |
| Federated Real Return Bond Fund;Class A (RRFAX) | 1.49% | 2.29% | 0.84% | 0.75% | $23.80 |
| Franklin Real Return Fund;A (FRRAX) | 1.12% | 2.59% | 0.26% | 0.93% | $134.50 |
| Wells Fargo Real Return Fund;Adm (IPBIX) | 1.05% | 3.06% | 1.91% | 0.60% | $18.40 |
| DFA LTIP Portfolio;Institutional (DRXIX) | 0.93% | 4.67% | 3.18% | 0.15% | $183.00 |
| PIMCO Fixed Income SHares Series R (FXIRX) | 0.90% | 3.01% | 1.59% | 0.62% | $139.90 |
| iShares Short-Term TIPS Bond Index;Inst (BIIPX) | 0.88% | N/A | N/A | 0.11% | $1.30 |
| Bottom 5 | |||||
| HC Inflation Protected Securities Portfolio;HC Adv (HCPAX) | -0.49% | 1.58% | N/A | 0.41% | $0.10 |
| MFS Inflation-Adjusted Bond Fund;A (MIAAX) | -0.40% | 1.31% | 0.58% | 0.80% | $45.40 |
| American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund;A (BFIAX) | -0.35% | 1.77% | 1.47% | 0.73% | $645.70 |
| Hartford Inflation Plus Fund;A (HIPAX) | -0.24% | 1.56% | 0.48% | 0.86% | $178.80 |
| Dreyfus Inflation Adjusted Securities Fund;I (DIASX) | -0.11% | 1.21% | 0.66% | 0.51% | $22.00 |
| Classification total/average | 0.48% | 1.97% | 0.76% | 0.76% | $116,757.60 |
| Bloomberg Barclays U.S. TIPS TR | 0.41% | 2.04% | 1.37% |
MULTISECTOR INCOME
| Top 10 | 1-year return | 3-year return | 5-year return | Expense ratio* | Portfolio net assets ($M)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlphaCentric Income Opportunities Fund;I (IOFIX) | 6.30% | 10.21% | N/A | 1.52% | $1,988.60 |
| Semper MBS Total Return Fund;Inst (SEMMX) | 5.27% | 4.71% | 6.43% | 0.85% | $1,636.20 |
| Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund;I (DPFNX) | 4.70% | N/A | N/A | 2.01% | $626.50 |
| Credit Suisse Strategic Income Fund;I (CSOIX) | 4.06% | 7.42% | 6.18% | 1.24% | $165.80 |
| Osterweis Strategic Income Fund (OSTIX) | 3.69% | 5.83% | 4.28% | 0.88% | $6,181.20 |
| Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund;A (ANGLX) | 3.68% | 4.02% | 4.40% | 1.37% | $612.80 |
| Voya Strategic Income Opportunities Fund;I (IISIX) | 3.43% | 4.81% | 4.67% | 0.66% | $365.70 |
| Opportunistic Income Fund;A (ENIAX) | 3.39% | 3.53% | 2.97% | 0.52% | $1,789.70 |
| Angel Oak Flexible Income Fund;Institutional (ANFIX) | 3.35% | 2.30% | N/A | 0.87% | $110.40 |
| Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund;A (LBNDX) | 2.82% | 7.11% | 5.66% | 0.80% | $4,701.50 |
| Bottom 5 | |||||
| Toews Unconstrained Income Fund (TUIFX) | -3.11% | 1.85% | 1.87% | 1.52% | $71.10 |
| GuideMark Opportunistic Fixed Income Fund;Svc (GMIFX) | -2.57% | 2.04% | 1.03% | 1.56% | $55.30 |
| Horizon Active Income Fund;Investor (AIMNX) | -1.88% | 0.27% | 0.41% | 1.47% | $270.30 |
| John Hancock Strategic Income Opportunities Fd;NAV () | -1.81% | 2.95% | 3.36% | 0.66% | $1,713.70 |
| Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund;A (OPSIX) | -1.49% | 2.96% | 2.26% | 0.99% | $2,704.10 |
| Classification total/average | 0.63% | 4.10% | 3.30% | 1.05% | $263,101.20 |
| Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond TR | -1.22% | 1.31% | 2.16% |
LOAN PARTICIPATION
| Top 10 | 1-year return | 3-year return | 5-year return | Expense ratio* | Portfolio net assets ($M)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Floating Rate Income Fund;I (CFRIX) | 7.25% | 4.91% | 3.74% | 1.18% | $30.00 |
| Fidelity Series Floating Rate High Income Fund (FFHCX) | 5.82% | 5.26% | 3.88% | 0.01% | $455.40 |
| Ziegler Floating Rate Fund;A (ZFLAX) | 5.37% | N/A | N/A | 1.00% | $8.20 |
| Victory Floating Rate Fund;Y (RSFYX) | 5.36% | 5.90% | 3.70% | 0.78% | $289.00 |
| Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Fund;Institutional (EIBLX) | 5.34% | 5.72% | 3.98% | 0.79% | $7,219.20 |
| Columbia Floating Rate Fund;A (RFRAX) | 5.21% | 5.18% | 3.89% | 1.04% | $384.30 |
| Pacific Funds Floating Rate Income;I (PLFRX) | 5.18% | 5.50% | 3.99% | 0.72% | $471.50 |
| Lord Abbett Floating Rate Fund;F (LFRFX) | 5.16% | 5.43% | 4.13% | 0.69% | $6,551.30 |
| Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Plus;A (OSFAX) | 5.09% | 5.36% | 3.94% | 1.61% | $30.30 |
| Natixis Loomis Sayles Senior Float Rt & Fxd Inc;Y (LSFYX) | 5.08% | 5.58% | 4.62% | 0.80% | $3,224.90 |
| Bottom 5 | |||||
| Palmer Square Income Plus Fund (PSYPX) | 2.71% | 3.09% | N/A | 0.78% | $525.50 |
| DWS Floating Rate Fund;C (DFRCX) | 2.76% | 1.14% | 0.70% | 1.80% | $84.10 |
| Dunham Floating Rate Bond Fund;A (DAFRX) | 3.45% | 3.65% | N/A | 1.30% | $19.30 |
| Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund;A (NFIAX) | 3.74% | 3.70% | 2.94% | 1.09% | $20.20 |
| Hartford Floating Rate Fund;C (HFLCX) | 3.78% | 4.49% | 2.78% | 1.74% | $921.20 |
| Classification total/average | 4.40% | 4.60% | 3.38% | 1.09% | $137,695.00 |
| S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan TR | 5.18% | 5.30% | 4.12% |
As of Sept. 30. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds. Funds closed to new investors have been omitted for the top-10 grouping. Rankings are based on unrounded figures. Three- and five-year returns are annualized.
In case of multiple share classes, the oldest share class is listed. N/A = not available (fund has been in operation for less than the period indicated). *Net prospectus. **As of Aug. 31.
Source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company
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