Spotlight - Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX)
The Ariel Fund Investor Class (ARGFX) and the Ave Maria Growth (AVEGX) remain leaders among the socially responsible genre, and they are the only funds in this universe that have a Fund Score above the 5 score level.  Relative strength trends often last for a while as the market demonstrates investment themes.  This higher beta growth theme has been consistent throughout the 2013 market session.  However, a lower beta alternative is the Ave Maria Dividend Fund (AVEDX), which is now scoring at a 4.60 and is the relative leader of those funds that historically have shown less risk that the core market over the last 3 years.  From the fixed income universe, the Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX) continues to hold the best Fund Score compared to all of the other fixed income funds in this universe. This score is well above the 1.83 average score for fixed income funds available to investors.  The most improved Fund Score in recent months is the PowerShares Wilderhill Clean Energy ETF (PBW), which is up over 4 points over the last several months and this fund can provide you more focus on a niche sector.

Figures in the charts below are as of September 25, 2013.

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) 4.65 0.86  
    Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund (AVEDX) 4.50 0.94  
    Calvert Large Cap Core Portfolio Class A (CMIFX) 4.22 0.91  
    iShares FTSE KLD 400 Social Idx Fd (ETF): NYS - DSI 3.32 0.99  
    Walden Equity Fund (WSEFX) 3.09 0.99  
    Pax World Balanced Individual Investor Class (PAXWX) 3.07 0.88  
    Calvert Moderate Allocation Fund Class A (CMAAX) 3.00 0.70  
    Appleseed Fund (APPLX) 3.00 0.95  
  Bond Funds      
    Ave Maria Bond Fund (AVEFX) 3.33 0.20  
           

 

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) 5.62 1.63  
    Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX) 5.25 1.14  
    Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund Inv (NBSRX) 4.69 1.09  
    Domini International Social Equity Fund Class (DOMAX) 4.69 1.39  
    PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy(ETF): NYS - PBW 4.66 2.37  
    TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund Instituti (TISCX) 4.58 1.04  
    Calvert Global Water Fund Class A (CFWAX) 4.49 1.18  
    Parnassus Workplace Fund (PARWX) 4.49 1.19  
    Parnassus Mid Cap Fund (PARMX) 4.26 1.08  
    Calvert Capital Accumulation Fund Class A (CCAFX) 4.16 1.39  
    Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (AVEMX) 3.99 1.19  
    Parnassus Fund (PARNX) 3.69 1.47  
    Calvert Small Cap Fund Class A (CCVAX) 3.66 1.33  
    VALIC Company I Global Social Awareness Fund (VCSOX) 3.59 1.14  
    Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Institutional (VFTNX) 3.57 1.05  
    Calvert International Equity Fund Class A (CWVGX) 3.52 1.26  
    DFA U.S. Social Core Equity 2 (DFUEX) 3.46 1.27  
    VALIC Company II Socially Responsible Fund (VCSRX) 3.45 1.03  
    Calvert Social Index Fund Class I (CISIX) 3.44 1.00  
    Domini Social Equity Fund Investor Class (DSEFX) 3.35 1.08  
    Parnassus Small Cap Fund (PARSX) 3.15 1.53  
    iShares MSCI USA ESG Select Scl Indx Fnd: NYS - KLD 3.12 1.01  
       
       
           

 

Low Strength, Low Risk
Fund Score < 3, Below average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    Calvert Balanced Portfolio Class A (CSIFX) 2.99 0.58  
    DFA International Social Core Equity Portfoli (DSCLX) 2.81 0.00  
    Legg Mason Investment Counsel Social Awarenes (SSIAX) 2.71 0.73  
           
  Bond Funds      
    Calvert Short Duration Income Fund Class A (CSDAX) 2.56 0.16  
    Calvert Ultra-Short Income Fund Class A (CULAX) 2.39 0.05  
    Calvert Income Fund Class A (CFICX) 2.19 0.30  
    Calvert Bond Portfolio Class A (CSIBX) 2.07 0.29  
    Calvert Tax-Free Bond Fund Class A (CTTLX) 2.06 0.42  
    Domini Social Bond Fund Investor Class (DSBFX) 2.00 0.18  
    Calvert Long-Term Income Fund Class A (CLDAX) 1.69 0.49  
    Parnassus Fixed Income Fund (PRFIX) 1.59 0.28  
           

 

Low Strength, High Risk
Fund Score < 3, Above average volatility
           
    Name DWA Fund Score DWA rRisk Score  
  Equity Funds and ETFs      
    Calvert Equity Portfolio Class A (CSIEX) 2.95 1.04  
    DFA Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio (DFESX) 2.79 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.

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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.


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