The top scoring fund in the first quarter continues to be the PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy fund (PBW), as it is now scoring at a 5.62 and holding a significant lead over the next best score of the Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) at a 4.99. Interestingly enough, PBW ranks at the 97th percentile versus all other energy-related funds and at the 99th percentile versus any other kind of fund on a one-year rolling basis, indicating that it is outperforming 97 percent of all energy-related funds and 99 percent of all funds over the past 12 months.  The best scores for diversified equity funds are found between the Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) and the Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX), both of which are scoring in the high 4 range.  On the international scene, the strongest player is from Domini with the Domini International Social Equity Fund (DOMAX), which is scoring at a 3.74. This fund is also scoring well above the average score for international or global funds.  On the fixed-income side of the SRI marketplace, the two fund leaders are from Calvert: Calvert Long-Term Income Fund (CLDAX) scoring at 3.55 and Calvert Income Fund (CFICX) scoring at 3.41.  Both funds are well above the 2.38 average score of a U.S. fixed-income fund.  These two funds also offer excellent exposure for most fixed-income allocation strategies. All funds and ETFs in the ranking have assets of $100 million or more.  
 

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) 4.35 0.87  
    Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX) 4.28 0.94  
    Calvert Large Cap Core Portfolio Class A (CMIFX) 3.47 0.92  
    iShares FTSE KLD 400 Social Idx Fd (ETF): NYS - DSI 3.42 0.99  
    Legg Mason Investment Counsel Social Awarenes (SSIAX) 3.40 0.74  
    iShares MSCI USA ESG Select Scl Indx Fnd: NYS - KLD 3.30 1.00  
    Calvert Balanced Portfolio Class A (CSIFX) 3.15 0.60  
    DFA International Social Core Equity Portfoli (DSCLX) 3.11 0.97  
    Pax World Balanced Individual Investor Class (PAXWX) 3.00 0.87  
 

Bond Funds

     
    Calvert Long-Term Income Fund Class A (CLDAX) 3.55 0.52  
    Calvert Income Fund Class A (CFICX) 3.41 0.31  
    Calvert Bond Portfolio Class A (CSIBX) 3.22 0.29  
    Calvert Tax-Free Bond Fund Class A (CTTLX) 3.16 0.40  
    Calvert Short Duration Income Fund Class A (CSDAX) 3.06 0.16  
           

 

High Strength, High Risk
Fund Score > 3, Above average volatility
           
   

Name

DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
 

Equity Funds and ETFs

     
    PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy(ETF): NYS - PBW 5.62 2.46  
    Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) 4.99 1.62  
    Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX) 4.81 1.15  
    Parnassus Workplace Fund (PARWX) 4.38 1.38  
    Calvert Small Cap Fund Class A (CCVAX) 4.17 1.15  
    Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund Inv (NBSRX) 4.07 1.10  
    Parnassus Fund (PARNX) 3.92 1.08  
    Parnassus Mid Cap Fund (PARMX) 3.87 1.37  
    Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional (VFTNX) 3.76 1.03  
    Calvert Capital Accumulation Fund Class A (CCAFX) 3.76 1.09  
    Domini International Social Equity Fund Class (DOMAX) 3.74 1.14  
    VALIC Company II Socially Responsible Fund (VCSRX) 3.74 1.20  
    Domini Social Equity Fund Investor Class (DSEFX) 3.72 1.20  
    VALIC Company I Global Social Awareness Fund (VCSOX) 3.62 1.06  
    Calvert Social Index Fund Class I (CISIX) 3.54 1.24  
    Calvert Global Water Fund Class A (CFWAX) 3.49 1.19  
    TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund Instituti (TISCX) 3.47 1.17  
    DFA U.S. Social Core Equity 2 (DFUEX) 3.41 1.07  
    Pax World Growth Fund Individual Investor Cla (PXWGX) 3.34 1.00  
    Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (AVEMX) 3.27 1.19  
    Walden Equity Fund (WSEFX) 3.19 1.00  
    DFA CSTG&E International Social Core Equity P (DFCCX) 3.01 1.19  
           

 

Low Strength, Low Risk
Fund Score < 3, Below average volatility
           
   

Name

DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
 

Equity Funds and ETFs

     
    Calvert Moderate Allocation Fund Class A (CMAAX) 2.95 0.71  
    Appleseed Fund (APPLX)
 
2.60 0.93  
 

Bond Funds

     
    Calvert Ultra-Short Income Fund Class A (CULAX) 2.92 0.05  
    Parnassus Fixed Income Fund (PRFIX) 2.37 0.25  
    Domini Social Bond Fund Investor Class (DSBFX) 2.13 0.18  
           

 

Low Strength, High Risk
Fund Score < 3, Above average volatility
           
   

Name

DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
    Calvert International Equity Fund Class A (CWVGX) 2.73 1.27  
    Parnassus Small Cap Fund (PARSX) 2.54 1.44  
    DFA Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio (DFESX) 1.93 1.65  
           

 

  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.
 
Disclosures: The information contained herein has been prepared without regard to any particular investor’s investment objectives, financial situation, and needs.  Accordingly, investors should not act on any recommendation (express or implied) or information in this material without obtaining specific advice from their financial advisors and should not rely on information herein as the primary basis for their investment decisions.  Information contained herein is based on data obtained from recognized statistical services, issuer reports or communications, or other sources believed to be reliable (“information providers”).  However, such information has not been verified by Dorsey, Wright & Associates, LLC (DWA) or the information provider and DWA and the information providers make no representations or warranties or take any responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of any recommendation or information contained herein.  DWA and the information provider accept no liability to the recipient whatsoever whether in contract, in tort, for negligence, or otherwise for any direct, indirect, consequential, or special loss of any kind arising out of the use of this document or its contents or of the recipient relying on any such recommendation or information (except insofar as any statutory liability cannot be excluded).  Any statements nonfactual in nature constitute only current opinions, which are subject to change without notice.  Neither the information nor any opinion expressed shall constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation or an offer to buy any securities, commodities or exchange traded products.  This document does not purport to be complete description of the securities or commodities, markets or developments to which reference is made.

Past performance is not indicative of future results.  Potential for profits is accompanied by possibility of loss.    You should consider this strategy’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing.  The examples and information presented do not take into consideration commissions, tax implications, or other transaction costs.

Each investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and expenses of any Exchange-Traded Fund ("ETF") prior to investing. Before investing in an ETF investors should obtain and carefully read the relevant prospectus and documents the issuer has filed with the SEC. ETF's may result in the layering of fees as ETF's impose their own advisory and other fees. To obtain more complete information about the product the documents are publicly available for free via EDGAR on the SEC website (http://www.sec.gov).