Top 5 Government Bond Mutual Funds - Best of Funds

The risk-averse investor chooses debt instruments over equity not only to ensure safety for capital invested but also to receive regular income flows from these securities. Mutual funds investing in bonds bring a great deal of stability to an equity-heavy portfolio while providing dividends more frequently than individual bonds. U.S government bond mutual funds usually invest in Treasury bills, notes and securities issued by government agencies. They are considered to be the safest of all bond funds and are ideal options for conservative investors.

Below we will share with you 5 top rated government bond 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 government bond funds, then click here.

Transamerica Partners IPS (DVIGX) seeks real return. The fund invests the majority of its assets in inflation-protected securities and related investments. The fund utilizes an underlying mutual fund to purchase these securities which are instruments issued by the U.S. government and its agencies. The government bond mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 4.22%.

The government bond mutual fund has an expense ratio of 0.99% compared to a category average of 0.85%.

T. Rowe Price Inflation Protected Bond (PRIPX) invests a large proportion of its assets in inflation-protected bonds. The fund focuses on purchasing bonds issued by the US Treasury, but similar instruments issued by US government agencies and corporations may also be acquired. The government bond mutual fund returned 7.37% over the last one year period.

As of March 2011, this government bond mutual fund held 41 issues, with 10.34% of its total assets invested in US Treasury Note 2%.

Legg Mason Western Asset Government Securities A (SGVAX) seeks current return. The fund invests the majority of its assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies. U.S. Treasury securities and debt securities issued by federal agencies are some of the categories the fund invests in. The government bond mutual fund has a three year annualized return of 6.97%.

The Fund Manager is Stephen A. Walsh and he has managed this government bond mutual fund since 2006.

GMO Inflation Indexed Plus Bond III (GMITX) invests heavily in inflation-protected securities and related investments. The fund aims to provide total return greater than the Barclays Capital U.S. Treasury Inflation Notes index. The government bond mutual fund returned 13.04% over the last one year period.

The government bond mutual fund has an expense ratio of 0.38% compared to a category average of 0.85%.

Delaware Inflation Protected Bond A (DIPAX) seeks to provide current income and protection against inflation. The fund primarily invests in inflation-indexed bonds issued by the US government, its agencies as well as corporations. The government bond mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 6.65%.

The Fund Manager is Roger A. Early and he has managed this government bond mutual fund since 2007.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all government bond mutual funds, then click here.

About Zacks Mutual Fund Rank

By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find top 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