Top 5 High Yield Mutual Funds - Best of Funds

High yield securities are the preferred option for investors who have a reasonable appetite for risk and who are willing to forgo equity growth for current income. This category of securities comprises of corporate bonds of low quality, convertible securities and preferred stock, all of which carry a significant amount of risk. Mutual funds are a prudent method to invest in this class of funds as they significantly reduce the risk involved by holding a well diversified portfolio. Such funds may also seek capital appreciation as a secondary objective.

Below we will share with you 5 top rated high yield 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 high yield funds, then click here.

MFS High Yield Opportunities A (MHOAX) invests heavily in debt securities which provide high income flows. The fund may purchase foreign securities, including those issued form emerging markets. The high yield mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 5.92%.

The high yield mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 0.93% compared to a category average of 1.18%.

Nuveen High Yield Bond A (NHYAX) seeks highest possible total return. The majority of the fund's assets are utilized to purchase domestic and foreign corporate debt. These securities are typically of the high yield variety, rated below investment grade. This high yield mutual fund returned 17.02% over the last one year period.

Andrew John Stenwall is the fund manager and she has managed this high yield mutual fund since 2004.

T. Rowe Price High-Yield (PRHYX) invests a large proportion of its assets in a wide range of high yield corporate bonds, preferred stocks and convertible securities. The average maturity range of the portfolio is between 5 to 10 years. The high yield mutual fund has a three year annualized return of 11.2%.

The high yield mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.76% compared to a category average of 1.18%.

USAA High-Yield Opportunities (USHYX) seeks high current income with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. At least 80% of its assets are used to purchase high yield securities such as bonds, convertible securities and preferred stocks. The high yield mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 7.58%.

As of October 2010, this high yield mutual fund held 481 issues, with 7.23% of its total assets invested in iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bd.

Catalyst/SMH High Income A (HIIFX) invests primarily in high-yield corporate bonds, as well as in convertible and asset backed securities. It may invest heavily in securities rated below investment grade and those which have defaulted. The high yield mutual fund is non-diversified and returned 21.09% over the last one year period.

Dwayne A. Moyers is the fund manager and has managed this high yield mutual fund since 2008.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all high yield 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.