Spotlight - Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX)

Just weeks removed from the official start to summer, the fund score leadership in the U.S. continues to be found in both the Parnassus Equity Income Fund (PRILX) and the Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) funds.  Both of these funds are scoring above 5.70 at this time, and the ARGFX has risen the most in score lately, up over 1.50 points.  These funds remain the only funds in this universe that maintain a score above 5 and they offer the best strength through this weak seasonal quarter.  On the sector front, the First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN) continues to hold onto the pole leadership position with a score of 4.80.  It is also important to note that International fund scores are on the rise.  Domini offers the top choice in this space, as the Domini International Social Equity Fund Class (DOMAX) is the highest scoring International fund at 4.12. In addition, the DOMAX recently crossed the 4 score line this month, so it is improving on a relative strength and trend basis. The Calvert fund family is currently the dominant Fixed Income family at this time with four funds scoring above 3.  In order of strength they are Calvert Long-Term Income (CLDAX), Calvert Tax-Free Bond (CTTLX), Calvert Income (CFICX) and Calvert Bond (CSIBX).  

 

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High Strength, Low Risk
Fund Score > 3, Below average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds And ETFs      
    Parnassus Equity Income Fund Class Institutio (PRILX) 5.76 0.85  
    Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX) 4.57 0.95  
    Calvert Large Cap Core Portfolio Class A (CMIFX) 3.58 0.93  
    DFA International Social Core Equity Portfoli (DSCLX) 3.36 0.91  
    iShares FTSE KLD 400 Social Idx Fd (ETF): NYS - DSI 3.14 0.99  
    Pax World Balanced Individual Investor Class (PAXWX) 3.13 0.87  
    Calvert Balanced Portfolio Class A (CSIFX) 3.12 0.60  
  Bond Funds      
    Calvert Long-Term Income Fund Class A (CLDAX) 3.56 0.53  
    Calvert Tax-Free Bond Fund Class A (CTTLX) 3.35 0.40  
    Calvert Income Fund Class A (CFICX) 3.30 0.31  
    Calvert Bond Portfolio Class A (CSIBX) 3.18 0.30  
           

 

High Strength, High Risk
Fund Score > 3, Above average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) 5.70 1.63  
    First Trust Global Wind Energy (ETF): NYSEARC - FAN 4.80 1.91  
    Parnassus Workplace Fund (PARWX) 4.69 1.12  
    Parnassus Mid Cap Fund (PARMX) 4.45 1.06  
    Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund Inv (NBSRX) 4.42 1.11  
    Pax World Growth Fund Individual Investor Cla (PXWGX) 4.26 1.20  
    Domini International Social Equity Fund Class (DOMAX) 4.12 1.38  
    Domini Social Equity Fund Investor Class (DSEFX) 3.97 1.10  
    VALIC Company I Global Social Awareness Fund (VCSOX) 3.96 1.14  
    Calvert Small Cap Fund Class A (CCVAX) 3.83 1.31  
    Parnassus Fund (PARNX) 3.82 1.41  
    VALIC Company II Socially Responsible Fund (VCSRX) 3.71 1.04  
    Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX) 3.67 1.16  
    TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund Instituti (TISCX) 3.66 1.06  
    DFA U.S. Social Core Equity 2 (DFUEX) 3.59 1.25  
    Calvert Global Water Fund Class A (CFWAX) 3.52 1.20  
    iShares MSCI USA ESG Select Scl Indx Fnd: NYS - KLD 3.50 1.01  
    Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional (VFTNX) 3.42 1.05  
    PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy(ETF): NYS - PBW 3.40 2.53  
    DFA Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio (DFESX) 3.40 1.68  
    Calvert Social Index Fund Class I (CISIX) 3.34 1.02  
    DFA CSTG&E International Social Core Equity P (DFCCX) 3.30 1.15  
    Parnassus Small Cap Fund (PARSX) 3.25 1.44  
    Walden Equity Fund (WSEFX) 3.11 1.00  
    Calvert Capital Accumulation Fund Class A (CCAFX) 3.02 1.37  
           

 

Low Strength, Low Risk
Fund Score < 3, Below average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    Legg Mason Investment Counsel Social Awarenes (SSIAX)
 
2.93 0.74  
    Calvert Moderate Allocation Fund Class A (CMAAX) 2.84 0.72  
    Appleseed Fund (APPLX) 2.64 0.93  
           
  Bond Funds      
    Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX) 2.78 0.20  
    Pax World High Yield Bond Fund Individual Inv (PAXHX) 2.72 0.39  
    Calvert Short Duration Income Fund Class A (CSDAX) 2.47 0.16  
    Calvert Ultra-Short Income Fund Class A (CULAX) 2.41 0.05  
    Parnassus Fixed Income Fund (PRFIX) 2.29 0.25  
    Domini Social Bond Fund Investor Class (DSBFX) 2.24 0.18  
           

 

Low Strength, High Risk
Fund Score < 3, Above average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Calvert Equity Portfolio Class A (CSIEX) 2.93 1.09  
  Calvert International Equity Fund Class A (CWVGX) 2.91 1.26  
  Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (AVEMX) 2.80 1.19  
           

 

 

DWA Fund Score:    The DWA Fund score ranks the technical strength on a scale of 0 through 6 using an equation based on price trending and relative strength.  Funds with scores above 3 are considered by Dorsey Wright to be “investment grade”.   Funds with scores close to 6 are “market dominant."

  DWA rRisk Score:     The DWA rRisk score measures the risk of the group on a relative basis. The calculation uses the 3 year Standard Deviation average of the group or fund divided by the Standard Deviation of the Cap Weighted S&P 500 Equity Index. Ratios higher than 1 demonstrate higher risk than the market benchmark and ratios less than 1 demonstrate lower risk than the market benchmark.
 

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