Best- and worst-performing international equity mutual funds

JUN 15, 2014

Emerging Markets

Top 10Portfolio net assets ($M)1-year return3-year return5-year returnExpense ratio*
Forward Frontier Strategy Fund Institutional (FRNMX)$141.726.46%9.65%7.69%1.01%
T Rowe Price Institutional Africa & Middle East Fund (TRIAX)$230.725.50%13.60%12.86%1.25%
T Rowe Price Africa & Middle East Fund (TRAMX)$202.825.02%13.35%12.41%1.47%
Morgan Stanley Frontier Emerging Markets I (MFMIX)$451.724.94%13.50%13.96%1.85%
Harding Loevner Frontier Emerging Markets Port Institutional (HLFMX)$424.519.00%9.68%13.27%1.80%
Delaware Emerging Markets Fund Institutional (DEMIX)$2,734.113.93%2.64%11.07%1.45%
Baron Emerging Markets Fund Retail (BEXFX)$686.113.45%7.46%N/A1.50%
Brandes Emerging Markets Fund I (BEMIX)$799.212.29%2.94%N/A1.12%
American Funds New World Fund A (NEWFX)$23,969.511.77%4.96%11.20%1.06%
Institutional Emerging Markets Portfolio I (HLMEX)$1,275.111.52%4.60%11.35%1.30%
Bottom 5
BlackRock Emerging Market Long/Short Equity Fund Institutional (BLSIX)$625.8-6.66%0.00%N/A1.93%
Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund Investor (WAEMX)$1,562.2-5.80%2.04%17.57%1.95%
T Rowe Price Emerging Europe Fund (TREMX)$274.1-2.78%-6.41%8.88%1.47%
US Global Investors Emerging Europe Fund (EUROX)$102.1-2.62%-8.24%3.56%2.15%
Touchstone Emerging Markets Equity Fund Institutional (TMEIX)$372.9-2.37%-1.82%N/A1.29%
Classification total/average$284,206.65.07%-0.55%8.50%1.63%
MSCI EM (Emerging Markets) Total Return USD 6.56%-0.84%8.57%

International Small/Mid-Cap Growth

Top 10Portfolio net assets ($M)1-year return3-year return5-year returnExpense ratio*
Oppenheimer International Small Company Fund A (OSMAX)$2,532.030.04%15.05%21.82%1.24%
Oberweis International Opportunities Fund (OBIOX)$370.628.80%19.54%25.10%1.60%
Munder International Small-Cap Fund Y (MYSIX)$365.826.59%12.55%19.15%0.98%
Transamerica International Small Cap I2 $677.725.44%7.47%14.41%1.20%
Vanguard International Explorer Fund Investor (VINEX)$2,649.524.65%8.09%14.25%0.36%
DFA International Small Cap Growth Portfolio Institutional (DISMX)$61.622.78%N/AN/A0.55%
MainStay Epoch International Small Cap Fund I (EPIEX)$139.322.58%6.53%14.54%1.32%
Hartford International Small Company Fund A (HNSAX)$378.522.31%11.13%16.44%1.54%
American Century International Discovery Fund Investor (TWEGX)$695.122.29%7.21%13.64%1.50%
Forward International Small Companies Fund Institutional (PTSCX)$206.821.61%7.38%13.14%1.30%
Bottom 5
Wasatch International Opportunities Fund Investor (WAIOX)$334.910.48%10.47%18.31%2.25%
Wasatch International Growth Fund Investor (WAIGX)$1,638.510.88%11.38%20.79%1.49%
Invesco International Small Company Fund A (IEGAX)$550.714.34%7.20%15.60%1.47%
Federated International Small-Mid Company Fund A (ISCAX)$213.514.40%5.53%14.06%1.85%
MFS International New Discovery Fund A (MIDAX)$5,195.714.73%9.30%16.19%1.39%
Classification total/average $41,226.219.22%8.87%15.93%1.58%
MSCI EAFE Small Cap Total Return23.68%9.25%14.99%

Japanese

All fundsPortfolio net assets ($M)1-year return3-year return5-year returnExpense ratio*
DFA Japanese Small Company Portfolio Institutional (DFJSX)$380.314.44%9.90%9.36%0.56%
Matthews Japan Fund Investor (MJFOX)$429.412.24%10.41%12.24%1.20%
T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX)$295.311.79%9.98%10.19%1.06%
Fidelity Japan Smaller Companies Fund (FJSCX)$447.411.33%15.05%13.57%1.01%
Nomura Japan Fund S (SJPNX)$156.910.41%7.41%8.38%1.67%
Fidelity Japan Fund (FJPNX)$464.28.92%6.89%6.23%0.93%
Classification total/average $3,151.612.56%8.38%8.44%1.70%
MSCI Japan Total Return10.35%7.72%6.72%

Assets as of April 30, returns as of June 3. Distinct classes and funds with $100 million portfolio minimum only. 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 year indicated). *Net prospectus Source: Lipper

Latest News

Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Nine-month electronic trading freeze and share lending program at the center of dismissed claim.

RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone
RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone

Meanwhile, Rossby Financial's leadership buildout rolls on with a new COO appointment as Balefire Wealth welcomes a distinguished retirement specialist to its national network.

Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500
Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500

With a smaller group of companies driving stock market performance, advisors must work more intentionally to manage concentration risks within client portfolios.

Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker
Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker

Professional athletes are often targets of scam artists and are particularly vulnerable to fraud.

Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day
Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day

The brokerage giant tells Wall Street it will use artificial intelligence to reach clients it has never been able to serve — and turn the technology's perceived threat into a competitive edge.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline