Top 5 Energy Mutual Funds - Best of Funds

Energy mutual funds offer an attractive opportunity to investors with a long term horizon since they represent a stable industry with a bright future. The demand for energy continues to rise steadily and this is particularly true of nations growing at a rapid pace such as China and India. Along with this trend, the pressure on natural resources which are harnessed to provide energy and related services has also increased considerably. With the advantages of professional management and well diversified portfolios mutual funds are the most viable route to invest in this sector.

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

Calvert Global Alternative Energy A (CGAEX) seeks capital appreciation over the long term. The fund invests a large share of its assets in domestic and foreign companies from the alternative energy sector. It focuses on common stocks and is non-diversified. The energy mutual fund returned 8.32% over the last one year period.

The energy mutual fund has a minimum initial investment of $2,000 and an expense ratio of 1.85% compared to a category average of 1.64%.

JHancock2 Natural Resources 1 (JINRX) invests heavily in equity and related securities of companies across the world whose primary operations involve natural resources. The fund selects firms which are expected to gain from increasing demand for natural resources. The energy mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 5.58%.

As of June 2011, this energy mutual fund held 49 issues, with 4.03% of its total assets invested in BG Group PLC.

Fidelity Select Energy (FSENX) seeks capital growth. It invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal operations are related to the energy sector. The fund may purchase foreign securities. The energy mutual fund returned 55.42% over the last one year period.

The fund manager is John Dowd and he has managed this energy fund since 2006.

Vanguard Energy Index (VENAX) invests in approximately all of the equity securities which make up its target index, the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index. This index is made of large, medium and small domestic companies from the energy sector. The energy mutual fund has a five year annualized return of 7.54%.

The energy mutual fund has an expense ratio of 0.24% compared to a category average of 1.64%.

ProFunds UltraSector Oil & Gas Investor (ENPIX) seeks to return daily investment results which are one and a half times the daily performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index. The fund primarily purchases equity securities and derivatives whose daily returns correspond to its investment objectives. The energy mutual fund has a ten year annualized return of 9.95%.

The fund manager is Todd Johnson and he has managed this energy fund since 2008

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all energy 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.